"Dusk! Oh Dusk! You are going to be late!" The soft voice emanating from the white mare below carried surprisingly well as a small pony beaming with excitement rushed down the stairs at the call of his mother's voice. Today was his first day at a new elementary school. His family had just moved in from the country because of a new job his mother had been offered. The school year was already halfway over sadly and that meant that he would not be able to have as much time to meet new ponies but he was determined to make it count. This year, he would make something of himself!
"Mama! Mama! Is it time to go?!? Huh? Is it, is it?!?", said Dusk Star as he bounced up and down with a fervor that seemed to build up energy rather than burn it. His mother's deep red eyes smiled warmly at him and she finally followed with a gentle nod that called for him to release all pent up excitement. "YAAAAAY!!!!!" The loud bursts coming from such a little pony seemed almost unreal to Morning Star and she quietly chuckled to herself as she led her son to the door. The school was not far away, in fact it was just a couple of doors down, so they arrived rather quickly and his mother looked at him with her eyes half closed in a way that shows both support and comfort. "You be good now and play nicely with the other ponies, OK?", her voice soothed his tensed body and he calmed down enough to nod in agreement before tensing up again with excitement. Morning knew her son well and knew that nothing would calm her boy down now, he had too many fond memories of his old friends and she knew he was eager to fill the void with new ones.
She had began her return to home when the shrill ring of the bell made her jump and she gave a little shriek. She collected herself and returned to her normal pace as she walked out of the classroom. A couple of fillies in the corner began to laugh loudly at her. "Now children, come on, she was only startled a bit it wasn't funny. Anyways, we have a new student today and I'm sure he is ever excited to see you!", the teacher pointed to the young colt. "We already know. We had to listen to him scream all morning!", said a voice from the same corner where the laughter had come from before. "Now Goody Good you be nice.", the teacher proclaimed with a certain firmness in her voice that commanded respect without having a threatening tone. She turned her attention to the grey colt that stood by her side with a mature patience, "Tell us what your name is honey..." Dusk, who was still embarrassed slightly by the comments from Goody Good, said in a voice that was just a notch lower than the voice he was using earlier, "My name is Dusk Star and I can't wait to be your friend!" From the same corner that seemed to be spawning problems for everypony came a hushed whispering followed a round of laughter. It was that laughter that comes from making fun of others. The teacher struggled to regain control of her class and the laughter spread. Dusk's heart sank quickly. 'Great, now I look like an idiot.' He knew the fun was poked at him but he tried his best to ignore it as he was directed to the only empty seat in class. The seat in the corner, right next to Goody Good and all of her friends.
The teacher began to scold the fillies harshly as this was the third time they had caused an outburst. Goody Good and her friends lowered their heads in shame and joined together in a chorus of apologies. The act was very convincing Dusk noted to himself. Then the teacher turned and the whole group targeted him and stuck their tongues out, make obscene faces, and whispered insults and jests. In an attempt to ignore the ridicule he turned his head to the other side and hoped to see a face who wished to help him. Instead, most didn't even notice the jests and those who did were either indifferent or quietly chuckling to themselves as Goody Good and the other ponies continued their "merriment". Dusk lowered his head periodically throughout the day as the chuckles grew in volume and the insults became more direct, until finally his head was rested upon his desk. All optimism and excitement that had built up before had been long since gone and now he only wished that he could go home. The bell ring and he rose with the excitement of believing that his prayer had been answered, at least until he realized it was the bell telling everypony that it was time for recess. All of the young colts and fillies rose up and rushed outside in mad dash, cheering the whole way, and often bumping against each other. Dusk watched as ponies rushed past him and saw how each acted and took instant mental note. He had always noticed small details and he could always put 2 and 2 together, some had even called him a genius for his age because of this. A colt and filly with a white body and red manes stayed as closely as possible as they moved (he guessed they where twins as both had the same foreign accent and never did anything separately), a large brown colt moved slowly as some other ponies traveled around him (judging by his stature and limp, Dusk guessed he was an athlete and had recently wounded himself judging by the bruise near his back left hoof), then he saw a young purple filly sitting in her desk holding all limbs close as to not be touched (by the way her head was held high and her green mane braided with eccentric patterns, he figured she came from a prestigious background and simply wanted to avoid contact with others). Before he could study the next pony he felt a heavy push on his left side and as he tumbled he caught a glimpse of Goody Good giggling with her friends. Then one of the ponies who were rushing for the playground tripped over his head with enough momentum that for a few moments his vision was blurred, then he blacked out.