Chapter Eight: Settling In
Stardust and Sunflare were given a house of their own in the town they discovered. It was a simple one story house that had plenty of room for the two with a stone fence in the front and a wooden gate. The only green around their house was in their backyard lined with a wooden fence. The front yard was covered in cobble stone much like like the rest of the streets. The house had a kitchen, a living room, and two bedrooms, one for them and one for their foal.
Two days had passed and the couple tried to be friendly with their neighbors, but because of their appearance, none of the ponies seemed to want anything to do with them as if they were diseased or something. Some either just ignored them out right or insulted them, telling them to leave. It was hard getting food and supplies for their home but they did manage.
The two were currently in their home sitting on their couch. “Stardust, maybe this place isn’t so great. Sure it looks nice and all but none of the ponies seem to want to even talk to us.” Sunflare pointed out.
Stardust looked to his love. “Sunflare, these things take time. We just have to keep being friendly and show them we’re no different from them.”
“But what if they don’t warm up to us?” Sunflare said with worry in her voice. Her concerns were starting to grow with each passing day.
“Sunflare, we can’t really go anywhere else. We don’t know how far away any other towns are. Plus, with you about to have our foal, it just wouldn’t be good for you to do so much walking.” Stardust nuzzled Sunflare to try and comfort her. “I know things look bad now, but we gotta have faith they’ll get better.”
“*Sigh* I hope you’re right. I’m just worried how the others would act towards our foal.”
“Then we’ll just have to do our best to raise him or her right and hope they grow strong.” Stardust said with confidence.
Five years passed since that day. Over time, the citizens seemed to grow accustomed to the two former alicorns. Some were still a bit wary but for the most part, some of the citizens grew to find they were just fine. Different looking but just like every other pony. The two even managed to make some friends. The fact Stardust also shared his heating stone idea with everypony helped some as well. In this town, he was free to explore new ways to use magic and help better life. Because of this and his genius so far with magic, the king appointed him the court wizard. Stardust couldn’t be happier.
Their foal turned out to be a colt with a blue coat like his father and a red mane and tail like his mother. The couple decided to name him...Dusk.
Dusk was born looking just like his parents with a pair of curved horns, black slit irises, and dragon like wings. He grew to be a curious boy like his father was, but was a good child and never disobeyed his parents. It was finally time for their son to go to the school the town had and begin his education. Stardust walked with Dusk as he excitedly skipped along. “I’m so excited! I can’t wait to start my first day of school.”
Stardust chuckled. “Be glad there actually is a school here.”
“Didn’t you have a school where you grew up dad?”
“Yes, but not many towns these days do have schools if I’m not mistaken. Thanks to some of the knowledge I was granted access to, I found out about other towns nearby and not all of them have schools.”
“Gosh, then how does any pony learn anything?”
“Good question.” Dusk replied.
They soon neared the school and could see other young ponies heading inside as a teacher stood near the door ringing a bell. It was a unicorn mare with a grey coat and white mane and tail. She was rather lanky for a mare with a pair of glasses resting on her nose. Her cutie mark hidden by the grey and white dress she wore. “All right every pony, inside.” She called out. She then noticed Stardust and Dusk approaching. “Ah, and who do we have here?”
“Greetings mam.” Stardust greeted.
“You’re the court wizard of our king, correct?” The mare asked looking Stardust up and down with a discerning eye.
“I am. And this is my son, Dusk. He’s ready to start school here.” Stardust said with a smile.
“Well, I hope he can handle it. I run a strict school while still trying to provide a healthy and educational environment for the students.” The mare said looking to Dusk.
Suddenly feeling a bit shy from the look, Dusk cringed back a bit. “I...I promise to do my best mam.” Dusk replied.
“Very well, in you go. Find a seat and make sure you pay attention.”
“Yes mam.” Dusk replied. “Bye dad, see you after school.” He and Stardust shared a hug before Dusk ran inside to find a seat.
“Take care son, be good!” Stardust called after him.
Once inside, Dusk could see the kids already seated and talking amongst themselves...at least until he was noticed. The class fell dead silent as all eyes turned on Dusk. This sudden attention filled Dusk with unease.
“Is that weirdo seriously taking this class?” A filly whispered to another.
“Great, looks like we get a freak for a classmate.” A young colt whispered to another.
“What a weirdo.” Another whispered.
Dusk felt his heart sink hearing these words. “Maybe...school isn’t going to be as fun as I thought.” Dusk thought to himself.
The teacher came in behind him. “All right class, take your seats and pay attention. Dusk, find a seat please.”
Dusk quietly made his way through the classroom. He could feel the eyes on him as he walked to the back right corner where the only desk available was.
“All right, before we begin, we have some new faces today so I will introduce myself then call roll. I am Miss Mulberry. I expect you all to listen well and no goofing around. I want you all to treat each other with respect and try to get along seeing as we’ll be together for a while.”
“Yes mam.” The class chorused out except for Dusk who seemed to be sulking.
Mulberry took roll and began the lessons. As class went on, Dusk did perk up some as he didn’t get any more words of criticism from the other students. Lunchtime rolled around and Dusk had his sack lunch out. He looked around the lunchroom where the tables were rounded to see if there were any available spots. The first he tried had a few of the students sitting with one spot open. He gave a small smile as he went over. “Excuse me, may I join you?”
A filly closest to him looked to Dusk with a sneer. “Ewe, no way freak, beat it. No room here for weirdos.”
Dusk frowned as his ears flattened. “Oh...okay. Sorry to bother you.” He then turned and walked off to another table where he saw a spot or two open with some ponies. He put on another small smile and walked over. “Hey, mind if I join you guys?”
“Beat it freak, we don’t want some monster near us.” A colt said.
“Yeah, he’s probably diseased or something.” A filly stated.
Dusk fell silent as his ears flattened again and walked off. He found one table with no pony else sitting at it. So he went over and took a seat. Looking around, he could see all the students were sitting as far away from him as possible while eating. Dusk closed his eyes as a small tear fell. He just opened his bag and began eating his lunch in silence.
After lunch came recess where things seemed to only get worse. Dawn was pushed into a mud puddle by a colt accompanied by another colt and filly. “Ugh!” Dusk cried out as he landed in the mud and getting covered in it.
“Freak!” The earth pony colt exclaimed after pushing Dusk. “Get lost weirdo. We don’t want you here in our school.”
“Yeah freak. You’re not normal. What are you, a monster?” The pegasus filly asked.
Dusk was crying and sniffling. “I...I’m not a monster. I...I’m a pony just like you guys.”
“Whatever. You’re just a weirdo.” The other earth pony colt said. The three then laughed and walked off.
Dusk was left sniffling and crying as he picked himself up and went over to hide behind a tree for the rest of recess. “I hate school.”