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// Chapter 3 
// Story: The Book that had Never Been Read 
// by Unwhole Hole 
//------------------------------//

	School was almost impossible. The need Dinky felt to return to her project was gnawing and incessant; every second she was not doing her homework she could not stop thinking about it. This was endlessly frustrating in that she knew that she desperately needed to focus. That was the point of school, after all. To sit still and be quiet. 
School, of course, was just as bad as it always had been. Despite her academic aspirations, Dinky had never been a fan of school. Not the concept, of course, but rather the limitations of Ponyville’s education system. Her desire to actually do real homework only made it harder to sit through another trite, boring lesson as Ms. Cheerilee described yet another thing that Dinky already knew in ridiculously simple terms. 
In any other situation, Dinky could have at least done something productive while Cheerilee was speaking. Unfortunately, though, she was forced to devote all of her energy to taking notes. This was perhaps the only thing that kept her from getting up and leaving from boredom, the fact that she was almost entirely unable to write. With quills and magic it was easy, of course, but Cheerilee had insisted that the students take notes manually. That meant that despite having a fully functional horn, Dinky was forced to write all of her classwork by using a pencil held in her mouth. 
Much to her chagrin, Dinky’s hoofwriting grade was at best a C. It was her lowest mark, and although she knew that hoofwriting was a pointless skill it still bothered her. The only reason that she could get anything done was because she sat in the back corner of the class and sometimes take notes covertly under her desk with a quill and ink suspended in her magic. It was especially easy on Mondays; that was the time of the week when Cheerilee was least likely to notice the dim yellow glow from Dinky’s horn. 
On this day, that was especially true. Cheerilee looked even more exasperated than usual. 
“No, Snails,” she said. “For the last time, I will NOT define that word for you. Ask your parents!”
“Aw,” said Snails, seeming thoroughly let down. “But I wanted to know…”
“Ah know what it means,” said Applebloom. “Mah brother- -”
“PARENTS!” sneaked Cheerilee, blushing profusely. 
Scootaloo, who for once was actually awake, piped up. “That isn’t exactly going to work for Applebloom or me, Ms. Cheerilee.”
“Applebloom and I,” muttered Dinky through her pencil. 
“Why?” asked Sweetie Belle, utterly confused. “I don’t get it.”
“Really?” said Applebloom. “You didn’t know that mah parents are- -”
“Oh, look at the time!” cried Cheerilee, looking at a watch that she was not wearing. “It’s recess!”
“Um…rethess dothent start for another halfth hour,” said one of the other students in the room. 
“RECESS! NOW! Get out of my classroom! Have fun outdoor fun! NOW!” 
The students, though initially confused, were more than happy to oblige after they realized that they were being allowed to play outside. They stampeded toward the door, shoving and pushing each other as they tried to get out simultaneously. Within a few minutes, the only ponies remaining in the room were Dinky and Cheerilee.
“Thank Cadence,” muttered Dinky, spitting out her pencil. Instead of getting out of her seat, she leaned back and levitated the unnamed book onto her desk. Something about reading a book like that in school felt wrong and somehow indecent, but she could not stop herself. The need to understand was simply too intense. 
“Um, Dinky,” said Cheerilee, walking down the aisle between the desks. “I said you could have early recess.”
“And I’m having it. By reading.”
Cheerilee sighed. “But wouldn’t you rather go outside and play with the other children?”
“If that can make me get my book report done faster, than yes.” Dinky remained planted in her seat. 
“Book report?” Cheerilee looked down at the book that Dinky was reading. “Wait, you mean the one I assigned last Friday? It’s not due for three weeks!” 
“And with this book I’m going to need at least two of those,” muttered Dinky. 
Cheerilee appeared confused, but then reached up and closed Dinky’s book.
“Hey!” cried Dinky, immediately realizing that she was not using her inside-voice. 
“Go outside,” said Cheerilee. “Run. Play. Have fun with the other children. That’s what recess is for.”
“But I am having recess,” protested Dinky. “Indoor recess.” 
“Go,” ordered Cheerilee, pointing. 
Dinky did as she was told. As unorthodox as she could sometimes find herself being, there was no way she could resist an order from an adult, especially her teacher. “Fine,” she said, levitating the book to her side and approaching the door. 
Once she had left, Cheerilee let out a long sigh and retrieved a bottle of Sweet Apple Acres cider from behind her desk. She pulled the cap off and took a long swig. “The children are being especially adorable today,” she said to the empty room. 

Dinky was not happy about being forced to leave. As she did, she resorted to her normal fantasy of what her life would soon be like. Instead of a cramped, single-room classroom in some insignificant town, she would see herself sitting in a grand and storied auditorium, taking notes freely with her quill as she listened to the deep and profound thoughts of one of Equestria’s most distinguished wizards as he gave a lecture on something she actually cared about. 
While immersed in this fantasy, Dinky almost did not hear herself being addressed by another pony. When she heard her name being called, though, she looked up- -and then immediately looked slightly down. 
“Pip,” she said, mildly surprised that he had bothered to talk to her. “Hi.” 
“Wow,” said Pip. “You must have been thinking really hard about something, weren’t you?”
“Not really,” said Dinky. She smiled. It was hard not to. Pip was adorable. Not in the sense that Dinky found Spike adorable, but cute nonetheless. He was the only student who was smaller than she was, and Dinky had always found his clear Trottingham accent and his painted coloration both quite exotic.
“We were going to play ball,” said Pip, pointing at the other ponies. A few of them waved back. “We were wondering if you wanted to play?”
“Oh,” said Dinky. “No.” She held out the book in front of her. “I’m just going to find a spot to do some reading.” 
Pip looked disappointed. “Okay,” he said. He smiled. “Well, if you change your mind, we’d always be happy to have you. With your magic, you’d be really good at it!”
“Thanks,” said Dinky, feeling slightly awkward at having to refuse yet another offer to join the other children in whatever it was that they did. “I’ll let you know if I do.” 
He ran off, and Dinky returned to her path toward the trees at the edges of the school’s property. The day outside was actually reasonably nice, although for some reason the light made Dinky’s eyes and head hurt. She quickly decided that it was probably better that Cheerilee had forced her out of the schoolhouse. It was an excellent day for reading beneath a tree, and Dinky reasoned that doing so might actually help her focus on committing the contents of the book to memory. 
Her optimism, though, did not last long.
“Hey, horseface!” called a voice behind her. 
Dinky immediately sighed and lowered her head. The ache in her head increased significantly. The last thing she had wanted to deal with on this otherwise mildly terrible day was Diamond Tiara. 
Slowly, Dinky turned around. There was no point in ignoring them. Instead, she faced Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon. 
“Wow,” said Diamond Tiara, shielding her face. “You look terrible!”
“So what else is new?” said Silver Spoon. Both of them laughed. 
“Hello, Silver Spoon,” said Dinky. 
Diamond Tiara seemed to take offense to the fact that Dinky had not acknowledged her first. “What is that?” she said, pointing at the book at Dinky’s side. “A BOOK? You are such an egghead! No wonder nopony wants to be your friend!” 
“Yes, I know. Friendless blank-flank. We go over this every day. I’m going to go now.”
Dinky Started to turn, but Silver Spoon had already moved behind her, preventing her from leaving. 
“You think you’re so smart, don’t you?” said Diamond Tiara. 
“I do have the highest grades in the class,” said Dinky. She looked at Silver Spoon. “Although I think some ponies might be able to put up some competition, if they weren’t so concerned about the opinions of others.”
“Of course I could get better grades than you!” said Diamond Tiara. “I just don’t want to. That’s why I don’t. I mean, I’m already perfect.”
“Clearly.”
“But you don’t get good grades because your smart.”
Dinky raised an eyebrow. “Then how else do I get them?”
“Well, you certainly don’t pay for them,” said Silver Spoon. 
“You get them because you’re a witch. You use magic to cheat!”
This offended Dinky slightly. “I do not. That’s not how magic works!” She had tried to control her tone, but she had let her emotion slip out slightly. Diamond Tiara immediately picked up on it; Dinky could tell by the slight upturn of the corners of her mouth. 
“We’re not stupid,” said Diamond Tiara. “Well, Silver Spoon is, but I’m not. Do you really think we can’t see you casting spells from the back of the class?”
“I’m writing. As in, taking notes?”
“She’s right,” said Silver Spoon. “That really isn’t how magic works- -”
Diamond Tiara’s eyes widened. “What did you just say to me, Silver Spoon?”
“N- - nothing!” squeaked Silver Spoon. “J- -just that I saw her using magic too!”
“That’s what I thought.” She paused. “Now, where was I?”
“Calling me a witch,” said Dinky.
“Oh yeah. You defiantly are. A weird little witch. Doing magic. Studying all the time. I bet you’re learning how to curse us all. That’s what you unicorns do, isn’t it? That’s how your people got all their money. By stealing it with magic. You’re probably planning on doing that to me, aren’t you?”
“I don’t know what good that would do,” said Dinky. “Clearly your money doesn’t lead to improved grades.”
Silver Spoon snickered slightly at this, but Diamond Tiara shot her a look that made her stop immediately. 
“You’re weird, and wrong,” said Diamond Tiara. “You’re not normal. Reading, hanging out in dark rooms. And you stink like muffins all the time. Do you even bathe? You shouldn’t even be here. We don’t want you here. NOPONY wants you here!”
“I don’t care what other ponies want,” said Dinky. “Not terribly much, anyway. I’m just here to learn.” 
Diamond Tiara smiled evilly. “Well, of course you are. You have to make up for a lot, don’t you?”
Dinky’s eyes narrowed. “What’s that supposed to mean?”
“Oh, I think you know what I’m talking about. The fact that your mother’s a- -”
Dinky inhaled sharply. “Don’t you dare say it!” she cried.
“- -retard.” 
Silver Spoon gasped. “Diamond Tiara!”
“What? Come on, everyone in town knows she is.” She turned to Dinky. “That’s why you don’t have a dad. Because she’s too stupid to remember who he is.” 
Dinky was now actually angry. She could deal with the constant insults directed at her, but having her mother dragged into it was a step too far. Dinky glared at Diamond Tiara, and then took a step forward. 
Diamond Tiara immediately took a step back, as did Silver Spoon. The look of sudden confusion and fear that crossed both of their faces somehow made Dinky feel good, to know that they were afraid of her. 
“What are you doing?” stuttered Diamond Tiara.
Dinky took another step toward her. Despite being smaller than both Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon, Dinky was still a unicorn, and even as children Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon knew what she was capable of. Or at least had an idea. 
For a moment, Dinky considered charging her horn. A number of spells were running through her head. She could perform a long-term levitation charm and leave Diamond Tiara suspended in the air for the better part of recess at least, or make her coat fall out, or dye her hair green. And that was just the actual spells. Even by just striking with the energy of her horn, Dinky could easily produce a blow that would sting quite significantly and perhaps even bruise. 
She stopped herself, though. It took everything she had, but she was able to. When she did, she closed her eyes and took a deep breath, suppressing the anger that she refused to permit herself to feel. 
“You know what?” she said. “I can’t afford any marks on my disciplinary record.”
“So…you’re just going to take that?” said Silver Spoon, sounding quite impressed.
“Of course,” said Dinky, turning around and walking past Silver Spoon. “Why wouldn’t I? You’re just earth-ponies, it’s not like you know any better.” 
Diamond Tiara did not take that insult lightly. She came up behind Dinky quickly, almost overtaking her before slamming her body into Dinky’s side. Dinky was much smaller and lighter than Diamond Tiara, and she was sent sprawling with a cry. As she did, her telekinesis was disrupted and she dropped the book that she had been holding. 
“What is this?” said Diamond Tiara, picking up the book.
“Don’t touch that!” screamed Dinky, surprised and frightened by the sound of her own voice. She did not know why, but the idea of the book leaving her possession terrified her- -and the idea of allowing someone else to touch it made her feel absolutely sick. 
Dinky raced forward, but Silver Spoon caught her.
“Silver! Let me go!”
“Just hold on,” whispered Silver Spoon. “She’ll get bored soon enough. I’m sorry…”
“NO!” Dinky struggled against Silver Spoon’s grip, but as an earth-pony Silver Spoon was easily able to overpower her. In her now outright panic, Dinky also found herself unable to produce any manner of spell at all. She simply could not focus without the book in her possession. 
“Heh,” said Diamond Tiara, relishing Dinky’s distress. She flipped open the cover. “I wonder what this is? With a freak like you, I bet it’s dirty.” 
“Don’t read that! GIVE IT BACK!”
Diamond Tiara did the exact opposite. She looked down, and Dinky saw her eyes scanning across the lines. She continued to smile viciously as she did, knowing what it was doing to Dinky- -but her expression quickly changed. Her smile fell, and her eyes grew wide. For a moment she just gaped, her hooves shaking as she still held the book.
That was when the screaming started. To Dinky, the whole world suddenly seemed to move in slow motion. She had never heard pony make that kind of sound, nor had she ever realized that a pony could. It was too high and too raw, and it made every hair on her body stand on end. For a moment, she even forgot about the book. She just wanted to make that sound stop. 
Except that was not what her body did. The next thing Dinky was fully conscious of was her sitting in the grass, clinging desperately to the book. She held it to her chest, but her eyes were unable to leave Diamond Tiara. The other students were coming, and Cheerilee had left the schoolhouse in a full gallop. 
Dinky saw them, distantly aware of their presence, but what truly filled her vision was Diamond Tiara as she writhed on the ground before finally curling into the fetal position. The screaming never stopped, though. Nor did her eyes. They kept scanning, drifting back and forth- -as though she could not stop reading.