A unicorn colt watches the soft, white snowflakes fall from the sky. The setting sun makes each and every flake glow like gentle embers. The colt is supposed to be studying for a test, but the setting is just so beautiful. It sweeps his mind away from everything, causing him to lose his worries and fears amidst the tranquil and quiet of the evening.
This is his third year in Ponyville, but his first year at The School of Friendship. He hasn’t made a single friend yet. Instead, he struggles to fit in. The other students tend to make fun of him for his birth defect.
Feeling upset suddenly, he frowns. Would he ever make friends? Why are there bullies at a school about friendship? How come the headmare won’t make it stop? The questions swirl around his head like waves, crashing into each other, creating doubt.
He slams the book shut and limps to his bed. He climbs into it and tugs the blanket over his body with his teeth, kicking his legs to spread the blanket over his whole body. After he gets settled, he hears a knock at his door.
"Hey, Nathaniel. It's Twilight. I’m just checking in on you to see how you’re doing. If you need anything, I’ll be in my office. Remember that your test is tomorrow. Good night." He heard a voice from outside the door say.
Nathaniel sighed. Tomorrow the bullying would continue. Since he was disabled and required special attention, some of the other students at the school disliked him. Often they would follow him as he went about his day, making fun of his lack of a horn and attempting to trip him.
Nathaniel glanced out the window at the night sky, wishing that he could talk. Wishing he had a horn. Maybe then they would stop saying mean things to him.
He sighed again and turned off the light on his bedside table. He tried to fall asleep, but he couldn't find peace. Nathaniel was too worried about what was going to happen tomorrow. He didn’t want to deal with the bullies. He just wanted to fit in.
Nathaniel got up to find Twilight. As he trotted down the beautiful crystal halls of the Academy. He passed by the kitchen, where Pinkie taught cooking classes. Voices stopped him in his tracks. Nathaniel pressed his ear against the door to hear what they were saying.
"So far Nathaniel has been doing well. The only problem is that he hasn't made any friends yet." Twilight's voice explained from inside the room.
"Well, maybe he just needs more time to adjust," Fluttershy's voice responded. “Not everyone makes friends during their first year of school.”
Without being noticed Nathaniel opened the door and entered the kitchen. He made his way into a corner of the room quietly and sat down. He was suddenly overcome by emotion and burst into tears.
"Nathaniel, what are you doing in here?” Twilight asked, noticing the colt. Both mares trotted up to Nathaniel and sat down next to him. Fluttershy rubbed his back consolingly. “What’s wrong? Are you worrying about the test tomorrow?"
"Remember, two taps for ‘no’, one for ‘yes’," Fluttershy reminded him.
Nathaniel tapped on the floor gently once to indicate yes.
"Oh dear. Is it because you are afraid that the other students will make fun of you?" Fluttershy asked. Nathaniel nodded.
"Well, we will make sure that doesn't happen." Twilight said, standing up. She draped a wing over Nathaniel’s back and gave him a quick embrace.
The colt leaned into the hug. He burrowed his face into her neck, her soft coat stifling his cry. Twilight hugged him until his crying stopped. Then she leaned back and gave him a motherly expression.
"Do you want to stay here until you feel better? I can make some hot chocolate,” Fluttershy said.
Nathaniel shook his head. He gave Fluttershy a weak smile.
“Do you think you’re alright now?” Twilight asked.
One tap.
Fluttershy made to stand up. “Well, then, Nathaniel, it’s time to go back to bed, okay?”
The next morning, Nathaniel woke up to Twilight knocking on his door.
"Hey Nathaniel, time to get up," Twilight said coming into his room.
Nathaniel moaned softly to show that he didn't want to get up for the test.
"Now Nathaniel remember what I said last night, don't let the other students bother you, and don't worry, I'll be there if you need me", Twilight said coming over to Nathaniel and sitting on the bed.
Nathaniel managed a small smile then he got up and went out the door and down to the dining room.
As he got closer to the dining room he could hear voices. Nathaniel hid behind Twilight to try and keep from crying.
"Nathaniel everything will be fine," Twilight soothed him. Nathaniel nodded and walked into the dining room to see six creatures sitting at a table, Twilight followed him just to make sure he was ok.
A young yak ran right up to him.
"Hi, me Yona, what your name?" The yak asked. Nathaniel didn't say anything instead he just looked at the ground.
"Hey there, my name is Sandbar, welcome to the first year of school," A green earth pony said.
Nathaniel started to cry and ran out of the dining room.
Twilight ran after him to his room, Nathaniel ran into his room and slammed the door. "Nathaniel, please let me help you," Twilight said from outside the door.
Nathaniel was screaming so loud that the whole school could hear it. Twilight went back to the dining room.
"Hey everycreature I understand that you just wanted to make Nathaniel feel welcome, but you have to be gentle," Twilight addressed the whole dining room.
In Nathaniel's room, he was sitting on his bed crying, Fluttershy had come into the room and was trying to understand why Nathaniel was so upset.
"Nathaniel why are you mad?" Fluttershy asked. "Did something happen?"
Nathaniel's biggest obstacle was his speech, all his life ponies made fun of him for it, when his parents died, he had to move in with his aunt and uncle, but even they would bully him, then 2 years ago, his aunt and uncle send him to live in Ponyville.
Nathaniel shook his head to Fluttershy's question.
"Oh dear, I understand that communicating is hard for you, I'll talk to Twilight about getting you a communication board, ok?" Fluttershy said getting up from the bed.
Nathaniel nodded and followed Fluttershy out of his room back to the dining room.
Author's Note
I'm back, this is my first story, since I'm back, please comment and tell me what you think
