Bittersweet Memories

~17 Years Ago~

Knock! Knock! Knock! After a short moment the door opened. Behind the door was an older mare with a brown coat and a white curly mane. "Hello, Bon-Bon." She said. Bon-Bon galloped up to her and hugged her as hard as she could.

"Grandma." Bon-Bon said with excitement. Her voice was a bit high pitched, but not to high.

"What are you doing here? I thought you were getting ready for your first day of school."

"Grandma, I'm scared." Bon-Bon said with a worried tone.

"Why?"

"Because, what if it's not like preschool and everypony makes fun of me?"

"Why would they make fun of you, deary?" Bon-Bon's Grandma asked in a very sweet tone.

"Because I'm different. Because of my voices." Tears were building up in her eyes and her voice was getting shaky.

"Well, I happen to love your voices." her grandmother said. She wiped the tears from Bon-Bon's face.

"You do?"

"Of course. It's what makes you you, and I love you."

"I love you too." Bon-Bon said and they shared another hug.

"Now," the older mare said. "come in side, I was just about to make home made chocolate."

"Oh, boy." Bon-Bon said and she darted, happily, into the house. Inside the house were hundreds of antiques. There was an old grandfather clock in the corner, a dresser with little dolls resting on top, also there was a a wooden table with designs craved into its legs to make them looks like vines and flowers. This was only the living room. There were to doorways, one led to the stairs and the other led to the kitchen.

Bon-Bon waited for her grandmother and then followed behind her to the kitchen.

After making a wonderfully delicious bowl of chocolate Bon-Bon went home. The streets of Canterlot are much safer now than  they used to be due to Princess Celestia's increase in security.

On the way home Bon-Bon passed the school she would be attending the next day. For a moment she stopped to just stare at it and go deep into her thoughts. What if they do make fun of me? she thought. Bon-Bon lowered her head and continued walking down the streets.

The young filly turned a corner and up a head was one of the fanciest mansions in all of Canterlot. She went through the gate and continued up the path towards the big white stone door. She knocked on it and waited. After a short wait the door was answered by a gray coated stallion who wore a butler's uniform.

"Ah, Master Bon-Bon, welcome home." he said.

"Thanks." Bon-Bon said and walked right inside. The living room was painted all white and a large golden chandelier hung from the ceiling, lighting up the whole room. There were potted plants up on tables and the floors were made from the finest wood in Equestria.

"Bon-Bon, where have you been?" asked Luck.

"Over at Grandma's house." Bon-Bon responded.

"Well, we're suppose to be getting you ready for school tomorrow and you haven't even put you books in your saddlebag yet."

"I'm sorry, Daddy." Bon-Bon's head was lowered.

"Hey, are you alright?" her dad asked, looking a bit concerned.

"Yes, Daddy."

"Are you sure?"

"Yes."

There was a long pause between the two and then silence was broken. "Come on, Bon-Bon, tell me what's wrong." Luck said.

"Well," Bon-Bon started. "I'm nervous."

"Oh, I see." Luck said. He sat down on the floor to get to her eye level. "First day of school is always frightening, but then, as the day goes on, you'll notice that it's not so bad after all. You'll make a bunch of new friends and learn so many new things. You'll be fine tomorrow."

"What if things don't go alright?" Bon-Bon asked.

"OK, I'm gonna teach you a little trick that got me through my first day of school. When ever I felt scared or nervous I just closed my eyes and count to ten."

"Did it work?"

"It sure did. Now, why don't you go get ready for bed. I'll finish packing your saddle bag for you."

"Thanks, Daddy." Bon-Bon said and she and her dad shared a hug. Luck kissed Bon-Bon on the head and then let her go. Bon-Bon raced through the kitchen and up the stairs. She brushed her teeth and went to sleep in her nice warm bed.

The next morning Bon-Bon was woken up by her mother. "Bon-Bon, it's time to get up." Life said. The sleeping filly groaned then just rolled to her side. "Come on, Bon-Bon. You're five years old, you shouldn't be this tired. Life grabbed her daughter's blanket and pulled it off the bed. "Now get up, you'll be late for school."

Bon-Bon let out another moan and proceeded to get up out of bed. She went to her private bathroom, showered and the brushed her teeth. After getting ready she went downstairs to he dining room where her family was already seated at the table eating breakfast. Her dad was reading "Equestria Today" newspaper and her mom was talking to Starlight, telling her that if she needs help with homework she can always ask her.

"Ah, the sleeping princess has finally awoken." Life said. "We got to leave for school soon, so, hurry up and eat your breakfast."

"Yes, Mommy." Bon-Bon said. The navy blue and pink maned pony sat down and ate the plate of eggs and biscuits in front of her. At the instant Bon-Bon finished eating the maid came in and used her unicorn magic to take the plate to the kitchen. Bon-Bon and Starlight left the table and went back to their rooms to grab their saddlebags. When they returned they found their mother standing by the door.

"Come on you two." Life said, waving one of her front hooves towards her. "We're going to be late." The two fillies hurried to the door and when they went outside they were met by a carriage hooked up to a white stallion.

"Morning, madams." Said the white stallion.

"Morning, Dutch." Life said with a smile on her face. The three mares got into the carriage and the moment the door shut it started moving. "Ok, remember to be on your best behaviors. Starlight, no throwing pencils at the teacher or putting frogs in other children's lunch bags." Starlight rolled her eyes. "Bon-Bon, relax and just pay attention to the teacher. Remember, just be yourself."

"Ok, Mommy." Bon-Bon said.

"You'll be fine." Life said putting a hoof on her youngest daughter's shoulder. The carriage hit a small bump, making the three ponies rock in their seats. Shortly after the bump the carriage came to a complete stop. Seconds later Dutch opened the door. "Alright you two, have a good day, I love you." Life said to her daughters. She kissed both of them on the cheek and then let them step out of the carriage.

Bon-Bon stepped onto the hard stone path that lead to the entrance of the two story tall school. The school grounds were large for an elementary school. Bon-Bon took a deep breath and slowly let out. She then proceeded down the path to the school.

The halls were filled with young fillies and colts with saddle bags on their backs. Many of them were either standing in the middle of the hall or walking to their class rooms. Bon-Bon made her way down the hall to her classroom. The door was wide open, so Bon-Bon walked into her classroom. Inside were about thirty desks, more than half of them filled. In the front row was a cerise colored filly who looked completely ready for class.

Bon-Bon went to the back of the class, put her saddlebag under a desk in the center of the back row and took a seat. There was no pony sitting next to her but there was a red coated pony sitting just in front of her. Not much later the room became filled many colored fillies and colts.

Finally an adult unicorn mare, who had a black coat and a book for a cutie mark. "Morning Class," she said. "My name is Ms. Literate and welcome to your first day of kindergarten." With her magic she levitated chalk from the desk and wrote her name on the chalkboard. "To start, I'd like us all to share our names with the class, starting with you." She pointed a hoof at the cerise earth pony.

"Cheerilee." the cerise pony said. The next pony was a colt with a silver coat.

"Sparks" he said. Eventually almost everypony had shared their name and it all came down to Bon-Bon. Bon-Bon didn't say a word. Sweat build up on her forehead and a worried look appeared on her face.

"And how about you sweetie?" Ms. Literate said to Bon-Bon. The whole class was looking at her, waiting for a response. There was so much pressure on her. "What's your name?"

"Bon-Bon." She said finally, but her voice was now deeper and sounded more like a colts. The class burst out with laughter. Tears began building in her eyes. Her worst fears had come true.

"Her voice is ridiculous." Somepony near the center of the room yelled out. Bon-Bon burst into tears and instantly ran out of the classroom. She went down the hall, tears quickly falling onto the ground, and went into the mares restroom. She went into one of the stalls and locked the door behind her. There she cried her heart out.

It was half an hour before Bon-Bon came out of the stall. She went up to one of the mirrors to take a good look at herself. Her eyes were red and half shut from all that crying. The depressed pony grabbed some paper towels and wiped away the remaining tears from her eyes.

She put the now ball of paper towels into the trash and stepped out into the hall. She wasn't alone in the hallway. By the lockers were three ponies ganging up on a younger mare who she recognized from her own class room.

"What's you name filly?" The largest pony said.

"Dits...Ditzy Doo." The surrounded filly said.

"More like Derpy, if you ask me." The shorter colts said. The three ponies laughed while Ditzy was cowering in fear.

"What's wrong with her eyes? Just look at them." said the third colt. "Duuuuuuuuuuuu," they all burst out laughing again.

"Hey, leave her alone." Bon-Bon shouted. The three bullies turned around to look at her.

"Hey, look everypony, it's Bon-Bon." said the larger colt, but when he said 'Bon-Bon' he deepened his voice. "Now, get lost peewee."

"No, now leave her alone!" Bon-Bon said, trying her best to be intimidating.

"Oh yeah, and what if we don't?"

"Then...then I'll tell on you."

"Oooh, I'm so scared." the larger colt said and they all laughed. "Come on, let's put this hero in her place." The three colts began ganging up on Bon-Bon. Bon-Bon began to panic as the three bullies drew closer and closer to her. She quickly reacted. She turned around and bucked the larger colt right in the face. He flew backwards.

Bon-Bon turned back and saw the colt's nose was bleeding. The three bullies panicked and ran away. Bon-Bon walked up to  Ditzy Doo and held out a hoof for her to take. She took it and Bon-Bon helped her up. She saw that Ditzy's eyes were looking in separate directions, but she said nothing about it.

"Are you alright?" Bon-Bon asked Ditzy Doo.

"Yeah." Ditzy said sniffling and wiping the tears from her eyes. "I think so."

"What were you doing out here?"

"Ms. Literate sent me to check on you, but then those bullies cornered me."

"Well, here I am and I'm fine now." Bon-Bon said smiling. "Come on, lets get back to class."

Soon after returning to class the lunch bell went off and all the fillies and colts left the room. When Bon-Bon was about to leave the room, Ms. Literate stopped her and wished to speak with her. "Bon-Bon," she said. "I am terribly sorry about what happened earlier. It was extremely rude of them to do what they did and I'm glad to say I had a little talk with them when you left."

"Thank you." Bon-Bon said.

"Now go along and eat, you must be starving." Bon-Bon took off to the cafeteria. She saw Ditzy sitting by herself at a table and decided to sit with her.

"Hello Ditzy." Bon-Bon said.

"Hello Bon-Bon." Ditzy said.

"You feeling better?"

"Yes, thank you"

The cafeteria was very noisy and loud so Ditzy and Bon-Bon had to speak loudly for them to hear each other.

"May I ask about the...the..." Bon-Bon try to say.

"About the eyes?" Ditzy finished Bon-Bon's sentence. Bon-Bon nodded. "Well to be honest I'm not exactly sure. My mom told me I was born with them. I think it's the reason she sent me here instead to flight school in Cloudsdale."

"So when are you going to learn to fly?"

"My mom says when I'm a little older we'll move to Cloudsdale so I can take flight school."

"Well at least you get to take it."

"Yeah."

The conversation between the two fillies went on for another fifteen minutes before interrupted by the bell. They through away their trash and went back to class. During class they learned about the different areas in Equestria and the significant role they play in their every day society. Soon the bell rung again the whole class went outside to the play ground.

"So, Ditzy, what do you want to do?" Bon-Bon asked her new best friend.

"Wanna play hide and seek?" Ditzy suggested.

"Sure."

"Not it." Ditzy said quickly.

"Not...darn." The two laughed and then Bon-Bon closed her eyes and started to count to ten. "One...Two...Three..." Ditzy took off in a dash. "Four...Five...Six...Seven...Eight...Nine...TEN! Ready or not here I come." Bon-Bon started her search by the slides. She wasn't there so she looked by the teeter totter, but she wasn't there. Eventually she found her burried under the mulch by the swings. "Found you." Bon-Bon shouted.

"Aww, you found me. I guess that I'm it." They went back and forth hiding and seeking each other out and eventually the bell rung once again. The ponies went back inside to their classrooms and an hour later it was time to go home.

"See you later, Ditzy." Bon-Bon yelled as she waved goodbye to her new friend. She and her sister got into the carriage, closed the door, and the carriage began to move. Bon-Bon and her sister didn't say word the entire way home, but Bon-Bon couldn't help but smile.

Looking past all the ridicule and torment, it was a really good day. She had a new friend, not only was Ditzy a new friend but she was her first friend ever.