(Ash Sonnet)
Keep your eyes on the floor. Head down, ears folded back and tail practically between your legs.
This is how I’ve been staying safe in the world I live in.
My name’s Ash Sonnet. I’m a bit tall, have long, unruly, dark-brown hair with glasses that frame my apple-green eyes. Freckles splash across my cheeks and nose, the little tan dots accentuating exactly how pale my coat is.
I seem pretty good, yeah? Well, that’s because I didn’t tell you about my extra pointed ears, mashed up wings with webbing and feathers, plus my slitted eyes and sharp canines.
‘Less than enough’ said the stares of the ponies that I caught sight of when I looked up to be sure of where I was going. That was true enough, I was a half-breed after all.
Half pegasus, half bat pony, complete freak. Half-breeds were seen as less than Pure-Breds and were often banned from certain businesses or even denied jobs or placement in schools based on their DNA and strange looks.
This was my first day at my new school, Dragon Hearts Academy, or DHA. I was the first and so far only half breed to make it into the school on a full scholarship.
DHA was at the forefront of monster hunting schools in America. It was prestigious, and expensive to go to. Good thing you could take a series of tests to get a partial or full scholarship. Me? I was never told what score I got, only that I had passed enough to get the full ride scholarship I needed.
I walked into my first class, P.E, and took a deep breath before sitting down on the bleachers away from everyone else.
Some Unicorn guy with ultra-curly rust red hair and a dark brown coat sat next to me and smiled as the teacher approached to call roll. He was a large, burly orc pony with deep green skin, long black hair pulled into a ponytail, and small tusks jutting out from his lips. “Verity Alter.” His deep, resonant tone called out.
“Here!” The apparent Verity called out, her voice echoing off the gray concrete walls and high ceiling. I looked up and gazed at the floor, which was covered in blood stains, scorch marks and scuffs.
He continued to call various names in alphabetical order as I spaced out, wondering if the ginger next to me dyed his hair.
“Ash Sonnet.” The teacher said. I raised my hoof in reply instead of speaking. He rolled his eyes. “In the future, I look forward to hearing your voice.”
“Yes sir.” I said quickly, turning slightly red.
After a few more names… “Rusted Shots.” The teacher called out.
The red haired boy next to me gave a wink. “Right here, ladies.”
The orc laughed, a huge roaring sound and gave a smile. “First time I’ve heard that one!” He complimented the jokester.
Russel smiled back and then looked at me. In response, I quickly looked back down.
The last of the names were called and I lifted my head to our teacher. “Alright kids, I’m Mr.Salec, Class S monster hunter, melee category. If you’re here, you’re gonna learn how to fight with swords, clubs, fists and more. None of that wimpy magic stuff.”
Mr.Salec surveyed us and looked me in the eyes, at which I looked back briefly before looking away. “Sonnet. Get up here.”
I obeyed instantly, getting out of my seat and standing about four feet away from Salec. He turned me to face the class and gave me a hard slap on the back. “This is the filly who got in on a scholarship, a full scholarship, might I add.”
Rusted cheered, which caused me to turn redder than before and instantly move my head to look down. “That’s right! I want you all to know this for one reason and one reason alone. Even though she is the only one here with that achievement under her belt, I expect all of you to be just as good.”
“S-sir…” I tried to say, shifting from foot to foot. “I don’t think it’s that big of a deal, I’ve heard of lots of people who get in here on full scholarships.”
“Nonsense!” Salec boomed. “Look at you! You might be small, but you instantly surpassed D class and almost obtained B class. I can’t wait to see you in action!”
I nodded in agreement, even though I didn’t believe him. My scholarship probably came from the written portion of the exam.
“Now, who wants to spar her first?” He asked, eyeing me with a strange twinkle in his eyes. Another, more gentle pat came to my back and Mr.Salec gave me a reassuring smile.
My stomach dropped as soon as I realized what was happening. Spar? My first day?
“I’ll do it.” Rusted said in a way he probably thought was slick.
“Perfect!” Salec said. “Come up here, and I’ll go get some weapons for you guys to choose from.”
The teacher walked off as Rusted came up to me. “Listen, “ He started, “Just cause you’re a pretty girl doesn’t mean I’ll go easy on you.”
I snorted and gave a chuckle. “Seriously? That’s your line?”
As Rusted turned a light pink, Mr. Salec returned with several sizes of swords, spears, a trident, a shield, plus an axe and a set of… Hoof knuckles! I quickly snagged them and put them on, to the many snickers of the crowd.
Rusted levitated a balanced sword and took stance while Salec got the weaponry out of the way. “Rules! No killing, maiming or getting help. If you lose, no hard feelings.” He yelled. “Start!
Rusted thrusted at me, which I did an aerial to dodge. I dashed in from the side and gave him a shot to the face. He let out an “OOF!” and tried to swing at me, which missed after I hit the ground and did a backwards somersault into a standing position.
I was too slow to get onto my hooves and next thing I knew there was a sword aimed at my stomach. There was only one hope.
With a reaction fast as lightning I uppercut the flat of the blade, knocking the sword out of my way and punched Rusted in the chest, knocking him back and onto the ground. I kicked his sword out of the way and picked it up with my mouth, aiming it for his throat as he tried to get to his feet.
“Rematch?” He offered with a weak smile.
“I don’t think so.” I replied around the weapon, throwing the sword to the side before approaching the teacher.
Suddenly applause hit the air. “Nice work, Serena, I’d expect nothing less of you.” Mr. Salec said with a grin.
“Thank you, sir.” I said stiffly, going into a straight backed pose.
“No, thank you.” He replied in a mysterious way.
*** *** ***
On my way to the female dorms, I couldn’t help but admire the courtyard in front of the school. Despite summer’s end being near, it was warm out and there were flowers aplenty in their beds. In the middle of the marble tiles, there was a large fountain with a statue of a wise old dragon with its claws on a rotating granite ball, on the ball’s pedestal were several streams of water flowing into the fountain.
After one more look at the water, I walked down the path to the dorms, taking in a deep breath of fresh air. Glancing up to the sky proved to be useless, as thickening trees blocked it. Yet, the sunlight filtering through them had a beauty of it’s own to it.
Eventually, the path sloped upward and I saw a building in the distance. Much like the school, it had Greek-like columns and a large door that looked like dark oak.
I went up the stairs and opened the door before heading up some more stairs towards room 514. There were 1,000 rooms, 10 floors, 100 rooms on each floor and anywhere for 2-4 ponies per room. DHA was a pretty crowded school alright.
My fetlocks were stinging by the time I reached the 5th floor and I was thanking the gods I was only in the 7th room on the right side.
I opened the door and was instantly attacked by… Silence?
*** *** ***
