Author's Note

this is the first chapter of my new story, and I am going to try something new,

1 like = 1 chapter, so if this story get's two likes I will post the 2nd chapter 3 likes and I will post the 3rd and so on

Chapter 2: My Sad Reality

Ponies say that being an orphan is easy—everything is done for you, you don't have to worry about food, and you never have to think about where you have to sleep. Well, I'll tell you from experience that life as an orphan isn't easy. Don't believe me?

Here is my story.

hello my name is Neon Glow, and I am an orphan at the canterlot orphanage, Miss Heartless is the headmare, and she runs the place, everypony likes her... well everypony except me,

One day at the cafeteria, as I was eating a sandwich I got for lunch, I heard a voice over the intercom: "Miss Glow, report to the Headmare's office immediately. That's Miss Glow, please report to the Headmare's office." My eyes widened as I felt my heart race. I put down my half-eaten sandwich shakily and got up from my seat. I walked over to Miss Heartless’s office, placing a hoof on my chest and letting out a soft sigh feeling a bit panicked as I thought to myself, "What does she want now?"

I continued to her office, wincing with pain as I walked. I didn't know what I did last night, but I must have slept on it wrong and got myself a black eye. I continued walking to Miss Heartless’s office. When I realized I was there, I stopped right in front of the door, putting a hoof to my chest and trying to calm myself down before entering. When I did, I saw Miss Heartless behind her desk. I spoke in a shaky voice, "Y-you... you wanted to see me, Miss Heartless?" I said feeling a pit in my stomach as she looked at me, which I didn't quite understand

"Ah, Neon, just the foal I wanted to see," Miss Heartless said with a warm smile. She continued, "If you would be a dear, please close the door behind you. NOW."

I froze at her request before fully entering the room and closing the door behind me. After I did, Miss Heartless continued, "Good. Now, can you please remind me how old you are, Neon?" She asked with a generous smile.

"I am 12 years old. I'll be 13 in a few months," I replied with a hint of pride in my voice, but that quickly faded with what she said next.

"That doesn't matter, Neon. Look, I know this might sound harsh, but I'm telling you this now so you won't be giving up your hopes later in life." I tilted my head, not understanding where she was going with this, as she continued, "Your chances of being adopted at your age are basically zero to none." The moment she said that I felt my heart drop as I tried to reply with tears in my voice,

"But... I-I... I thought—" I began to cry, unable to hold back my tears at the thought that no pony wanted me. But soon after, Miss Heartless shouted at me, and I felt something hard hit my cheek, sending me crashing into the wall. I landed on the ground and looked up at her as she shouted, "Neon, enough with the crying! That’s no way for a mare to act. Now get ready for bed; it’s already 10 p.m."

I nodded my head and quickly ran out of the office, crying my eyes out. As I rushed past the kitchen, my stomach growled loudly, reminding me of how little I'd eaten that day. The empty feeling in my gut only made the pain worse. I barely noticed the kitchen staff glancing at me with pity as I bolted past them, tears still streaming down my face.

Finally, I reached my dorm room and stumbled inside. I closed the door behind me before climbing into my bed and curling into a tight ball as I cried myself to sleep.

As I finally drifted off to sleep, the world around me seemed to dissolve into a swirl of colors and shapes. I found myself standing in a bright, sunlit park, surrounded by lush greenery and the distant sound of laughter. The scene felt oddly serene, a stark contrast to the turmoil I’d just left behind.

I noticed a couple sitting on a bench nearby, their faces illuminated by the warm sunlight. They looked like the kind of parents I had always dreamed of—kind eyes, gentle smiles. The sight of them filled me with a strange sense of hope, and I found myself walking toward them, drawn by an inexplicable yearning.

As I approached, I could hear snippets of their conversation, their voices filled with excitement and affection. I felt a flutter of anticipation in my chest. Maybe, just maybe, they were here to adopt. As I drew closer, I gathered my courage and mustered up the most hopeful expression I could.

“Excuse me,” I said softly, trying to catch their attention. “I’m Neon. Are you looking to adopt?”

The couple looked up at me, their smiles momentarily freezing. The woman’s eyes narrowed slightly as she took in my appearance. Her expression shifted from warm to one of mild confusion, while the man’s face turned to a look of outright disbelief.

“Well,” the woman began, her voice dripping with condescension, “you’re quite a bit older than what we were hoping for. We were looking for a younger foal, you see.”

The man chuckled, shaking his head. “Yeah, you’re just too old. At your age, it’s unlikely anyone would want to adopt you. You’re practically a grown-up.”

The words cut through me like a knife. I felt a cold emptiness spreading through my chest as their laughter echoed around me. I tried to protest, to explain that I was just a child who needed a family, but no sound came out. My voice was trapped, stuck in the pit of my throat.

The couple's laughter grew louder, more mocking. Their faces twisted into cruel masks of amusement, and I felt the dream world around me darken and shift. The park, once bright and welcoming, turned into a cold, desolate place. The once-comforting sunlight now seemed harsh and unfeeling.

I turned away from them, my heart sinking as I stumbled through the darkness. The laughter of the couple faded into the background, replaced by an overwhelming sense of loneliness. I tried to call out for someone, anyone, to come and help me, but my cries were swallowed by the encroaching darkness.

Suddenly, I was back in my dorm room, curled up in bed, tears still fresh on my cheeks. The dream had shattered my fragile hope, leaving me with the crushing weight of reality. I closed my eyes tightly, trying to escape the hurt, but the lingering echoes of the couple's laughter haunted me, even in my sleep.