All My Tears

“Wakey, wakey, A.B. It’s time to get ready fer school.”

An orange mare shook her younger sister awake. The yellow filly was almost as tall as the former, but not quite full grown. She rubbed the sleep out of her eyes with her hoof.

“Wha’ time is it, sis?”

“Seven in the mornin’! Ya need ta get yerself ready and get yer hindquarters downstairs fer breakfast ASAP!”

The filly jumped at this and climbed out of bed. She walked unsteadily to her dresser, brushed her rose colored mane and tail, and placed a magenta flower just behind her forelock. She scrambled to the bathroom to brush her teeth. The floor of the old cabin creaked noisily as she descended the stairs to the dinning room.

“Mornin’ Big Macintosh. Mornin’ Granny Smith. What’s fer breakfast Apple Jack?”

Apple Jack’s blonde tail swooshed from side-to-side as she prepared the family’s meal.

“You’ll see soon enough. Now, wipe yer hooves and sit down.”

A moment later Apple Jack carried out four plates full of scrambled eggs and apple fritters. They ate their fill. The doorbell rang right as Apple Bloom finished her last bite.

“I’ll get it!”

She ran to the door and was met by her two best friends. There was an orange pegasus named Scootaloo, and an ivory unicorn named Sweetie Belle.

“Hey ya’ll! Come on in.”

They all clamored inside the building and were met by Apple Jack. She smiled at them and then started talking.

“Now, as ya’ll know from yer sisters, the Elements of Harmony have been assigned by Princess Celestia herself to protect her niece, Princess Nova. Nova is staying with the Sparkles fer now. She has disguised herself as a bat pony so’s ta protect herself from those who want ter hurt her. I’d be mighty thankful if ya could try to befriend her. Also, she’s never been to regular school before, so if she needs help, try and help her. Ya got that?”

                                                                        *

“Class, please settle down! Thank you. I am Ms. Rosemont. I know for some this is your last semester of high school so I wish to give you the best. I would like to introduce our newest pupil. She’s visiting from Canterlot and wishes to acquire some education. Oh come, come dear. They won’t bite.”

The class giggled at this. Narisa stepped in front of the desk tentatively. The class stared at her curiously and one smaller mare shrieked. Ms. Rosemont continued.

“Class, this is Narisa. I would like you to try to be friendly to her. Now dear, can you tell us a little about yourself?”

Narisa cleared her throat and began to speak.

“As you know, my name is Narisa. What Ms. Rosemont has told you is true. I live in Canterlot. You might be wondering why I have come to Ponyville. Well, my parent’s died when I was little. Ever since, I’ve been staying at the palace- with the royal guard, of course. I’ve never gone to regular school, but I’ve learned how to read from my friend Abendigo.”

Narisa continued her ‘story’ to the best of her ability. She told the truth about most of it. Abendigo had taught her how to read.

Lunch came all too soon for Narisa. She absorbed Ms. Rosemont’s teaching like a sponge with water. She gathered up her sandwich that Twilight had made for her. She usually ate on a cloud, an odd habit, true. She set her lunch down and flapped her webbed wings effortlessly and grabbed a small cloud. She brought it down close to the ground. Meanwhile, Apple Bloom munched her apple fritter with Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo.

“All right! I can’t stand it! I’m going to go ask her over. I mean, look at her. She’s so lonely, and that’s not cool.”

Scootaloo flew over to Narisa and asked her to join. Naturally a bit tentative, Narisa hesitated. Finally, she joined them. They talked about themselves and Narisa started to feel a little more comfortable. Ms. Rosemont was a nice mare and gave them an extra half hour of free time on sunny days. They were in the middle of a game of twenty questions when Diamond Tiara and her ‘friend’, Silver Spoon, walked over. They had grown taller and plumper since elementary school, but were still the same snooty, bullying brats.

“Aah- Silver Spoon- look at the new-girls hair. Black. What an awful color,” she turned to face the other three, “You don’t have to hang around with the new pony. I mean look at her.”

“She’s a freak of nature!”

Silver Spoon finished and they both snickered.

After they grew tired of “standing in the sun and letting their coats absorb it’s rays”, they walked back into the schoolhouse. Narisa let out a sigh. Sweetie Belle patted her back and said,

“Don’t bother with them. Their just stuck up and rude. You’re not a freak of nature. Personally, I love the color of your hair it’s really pretty.”

Scootaloo joined in.

“Yeah! And your wings are awesome! Rainbow Dash would even be jealous.”

Narisa chuckled. When the bell rang all four mares hurried inside to complete the school day.