The force of my father’s punch to my face was enough to make me fall to the ground, tears flowing down my face. He was screaming something I could not understand, and it made him angrier. Another hoof came in contact with my face, sliding me across the floor. I screamed out of pain, feeling my face began to swell. Still not answering him, I laid sprawled out on the floor, which must of made him even angrier. I felt his leg kick my side, rolling me over to my back. The pain that I felt on my face was becoming unbearable, my tears still falling out of my eyes. Out of the corner of my vision, I could see my mother, cackling like a mad mare. As I looked at her, a strong pressure began to push down on my back, hurting my spine. I screamed out of pain once more, only furthering my father’s anger. He began to kick me while he stood on top of me, screaming at the top of his lungs “Scream again, you little fucker! Watch what happens!”
Biting my tongue out of fear, the beating continued. The entire time they were doing this to me, they were laughing out of pure ecstasy, as if they enjoyed this little sick game of theirs. Feeling one last sharp kick on my side, my father spat down at me, his spittle going into my mane. Laughing one last time, they slowly walked out of the room, blowing out the candle that was on the table near me. As the light faded away, I continued to cry on the floor, my tears forming a puddle around me. My constant crying affected my breathing pattern, causing me to sob to myself. Holding myself, I curled up into a ball, and softly fell asleep, the beating wearing down my body to the bone. Why were they doing this to me? What have I done to deserve this?
***
I don’t think I can handle this much longer. The constant beatings, they are destroying my spirit. Whenever I walk to school with Applebloom and Sweetie Bell, they barrage me with questions about my bruises that covered my body like a blanket, and I do not know how to answer them. Once the question rises, tears just come to my eyes again. I had a reputation to hold, and Scootaloo never cries. I could not let anypony see me weak... I just couldn’t. Everypony else had so many problems, I shouldn’t add on to the massive pile with my problems.
I laughed at myself at these thoughts as I walked with my two friends. I am sounding just like my favorite insult, a dictionary. Applebloom looked over at me with her eye raised, and I started to laugh again. Sweetie Belle now turned over to my direction, and said
“Scootaloo, are you feeling alright? Did you catch a cold or something?”
Laughing at her confusion, I waved off the question with my hoof. “Nah, I just feel good today! Is that a crime?” She must of felt weird she did not know what I was talking about, and she joined in my laughter. Applebloom shortly joined in as well, the three of us laughing like mad fillies. Smiling at my three friends, I felt the luckiest I have ever felt in my life. How did I ever get such wonderful friends like these?
***
Arriving at the school house, I set the bag I kept on my back into the closet Cherilee had set up for us. Taking out a small pencil from the front of the bag, I put it into my mouth and walked back to my desk. Setting it down on the desk, I rested my haunches on the seat. Looking behind me, I saw Sweetie Belle smiling back at me already. A smile grew across my face, my grin spreading across my lips. I must of looked very goofy, because she started laughing extremely hard. Joining in with her laughing, every pony around us began to stare. The filly beside me, Silver Spoon, laughed in her snooty voice, and said-
“Just like a stupid pegasus and unicorn to laugh about the stupidest things. You two should really take it somewhere where ponies care.” Around the room, the reaction was the same. Everypony began to cackle in their evil tones, taunting Sweetie and I. While Sweetie slumped in her seat, I almost jumped out of mine. I got directly in front of Silver’s face and said,
“I would love for you to say that again. I dare you.” Catching my bluff, she replied with,
“Oh, but making fun of a chicken is not something a lady does!” As if she lit the fuse around the room, everypony burst into insane laughter. Scattered chicken sounds were coming from a few ponies, making me back away from Silver Spoon. I could feel my heart sink in my chest, and tears start to rush to my eyes. Pride on my mind, I decided not to let anypony see me crying. So I wiped my eye, saying,
“Dust got in my eye...” The moment I said this, I trotted through the door of the school and to the nearest tree out in the clearing of the yard. Letting the tears stream down my face felt good, as I let the sadness escape my body. Why was everypony so mean to me? Why do they feel the need to put me down... What point do I have in life?
***
I ended up skipping school, just walking away from my problems felt like the right thing to do. I really needed to breathe some fresh air, so I slowly walked in any direction to where nopony would go. In the distance of the planes, I could see the Everfree forest loom in on me. It felt weird looking at it, as it felt like it was beckoning me over, as if it wanted me to explore it’s deep contents. At first, I rejected this thought the second it crossed my mind. Nopony went into the Everfree forest but Applebloom, and she is always scared silly when she comes out! How could I possibly survive in there?
Shaking these thoughts away, I knew that inside, I wanted to go in there. I truly wanted to be alone. I wanted to be around nopony. To be in complete silence. To experience true tranquility. Smiling at this thought, I made it completely clear in my mind that I was to go inside. Reaching the entrance to the forest, I turned around to make sure that I was not followed. Satisfied when I was nopony, I slowly walked in, the darkness engulfing me like a blanket.
***
Silence is golden. That is what every pony that was older than me used to say. I could now see what they meant. Walking through Everfree forest was the most peaceful experience that I had ever experienced in my life. The silence around me gave me time to think, gave me time to reflect at my actions earlier. I do regret what I did, but I do not see how things could have went any worse. At least I did not punch Silver right on the nose...
Laughing at the thought of that, I layed down on the grass of the forest. Looking up at the trees above me, I was now peaceful as could be. I regret nothing about coming into the forest. I really don’t see why everypony is so afraid of it, it seems calm enough out here. My head began to nod on it’s own, and my eyes began to shut on their own. The sweet embrace of sleep crept over my mind, the peaceful nature of this place getting to me. At the back of my mind, I was screaming that I should not sleep in this place. My body did not respond to me, as each limb began to shut down. My eyes slowly closing, the last thing I saw was the sun shining through the trees.
