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// Entry #021 
// Story: Silent: Windy Chyme's Story 
// by Phoenix Heart 27 
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Dear Diary,

Well well well….would ya look at this? Once again, it’s my birthday. Officially a teenager. And how do I spend it? In a hospital. Did I ever mention how much I HATE hospitals? No? Well I hate them for many reasons! Reasons I won’t bore you with because that would take a lot of time. Well as for the reason, that’s gonna take a necessary explanation.

Okay...so it started this morning. As usual, I was alone at the apartment. Or...so I thought. Anyways, as is my yearly tradition, I pulled out my matchbox and candles and lit one. After quietly singing “Happy Birthday” to myself and making a wish, I blew out the candle. Do you want to know my wish? I really shouldn't speak on it, but since you are a diary, you can’t talk, therefore it can still come true. This year’s wish was actually the same as it's been for the past 8 years: That this year will be better than the last age. Of course, in some ways it did come true, though at the same time that would be a no. Anyways, I did that then got ready for the day. As I was getting out of the shower, my dad all of a sudden busts into the bathroom. I didn't even need to be out of the shower to smell his dirty and obviously drunk self. So of course I scream at him to get out only for him to yell something I couldn't understand at me before he yanked me out of the shower (thank Faust I had a towel on) before tossing me into his room. He then started ranting at me about how I’m not pulling my weight around here. I called bullshit on that one, but nevertheless let him continue. While I’m no longer on serious “grounding”, he still had the audacity to grab a belt from nearby and he struck me hard across my back. The buckle almost tore my skin and fur (though now I have a pretty nasty gash on my back). I kept shouting at him to stop but he didn't listen. That is...until he did. Eventually, he did resolve to just throwing me out onto the balcony and locking me out there. Mind you, I should let you know it was pouring rain outside and instead of me flying back in through my bedroom window, I just said fuck it and braved the conditions as I flew towards the hangout. 

After barely making the 20 minute flight in pouring rain and horrible air traffic, I did indeed make it to the hangout. Lemme tell ya, everypony who was there at that time of morning were more than a little shocked to see me soaked near to the bone by rain, shaking and bleeding from my back. It must’ve surprised them more that I still had a very sinister looking smile on my face. So when Quick Draw came up to me with towels and a concerned look on his face, I only replied with “It’s been one hell of a morning and y’all should know that I’m not going into school looking like something a manticore dragged through a briar bush”. That got a good chorus of laughs before I heard the unmistakable sound of Dusty flittering towards me with a big grin on her face. I found myself being unceremoniously scooped into the air and nearly having the air knocked outta me as she gave me her “special birthday hug”. I swear, despite not being related to a Earth pony, that mare has the strength of a full grown stallion! I even can’t stop her from enveloping me into a somewhat softer pegasus hug. Telling me she had a surprise for me later before practically dragging me towards the showers to dry off. I probably should’ve expected that she’s not only help me dry off, but she went as far as getting me completely decorated and dressed for my big birthday. So she along with Zeta (a zebra), Pansy (an Earth pony), Magnolia (a Unicorn) and Kaia (a changeling) went to work on me and when they were done, I swear I looked like something you’d see in Vanity Mare magazine! The finished product was a sky blue dress with a silver chain around the middle. My mane in a simple prench braid with some lilies woven into it. My tail in a happy bun. I had had my ears pierced a second time last year as a “treat yourself” birthday gift so in one ear I had an intricate chain in both holes and on the other ear was two simple diamond studs that I stole a week ago. To say I looked good, would be being modest. I looked smoking! 

They then did my make-up quickly before all but forcing me into a very nice cart. I asked who’s this belonged to and I was a bit surprised to hear that this was Dusty’s cart (whilst explaining that her cart worked on both ground and clouds). So she just drove me to school with the rest of my squad trailing behind like the freaking Royal Guard. I was truly feeling like a queen yes I said QUEEN because princess doesn’t fit today. Anyways, I get to school to a sight that actually broke my heart. There were 2 foals. I think one was in 3rd grade and one was actually a old classmate who got held back (he’s still in 7th grade) fighting over a stupid chair in the hallway. I very quickly and quietly broke it up and knocked both of them upside the heads for their stupidity before actually making an effort to head towards my locker. 

When I got there, I wasn't surprised to see a trio of balloons on the handle and a single rose stuck in the slots. I smiled and immediately knew what was next as I opened my locker to find 6 big beautifully wrapped presents (I really gotta have them fix my locker so no one can break in again. That or change locks) piled on the floor of it with a label saying “do not open til’ AFTER school”. I respected that as I got my books and put my saddlebags (which I quickly stopped back at home to grab. Silently thanking Faust that my dad was passed out as I did) away before heading to my first class: Math. Whatever entity that invented math should NEVER be praised! It wasn’t all bad as my entire class sang “Happy Birthday” to me and my beloved brought cupcakes in for everypony (of course I got first pick). The teacher allowing that was what surprised me the most. Anyways, everything went well until lunch/recess, that’s when...things went to Tartarus very quickly.

I had just finished my carrot dog and hayfries when I heard it. The unmistakable sound of gunshots. Next thing I know I’m being shoved by a crowd of ponies towards the school building as shots rang out. I didn't have my gun on me nor did I think to grab my switchblade, otherwise I’d have joined in the fray. Though I suppose now as I lay here in my hospital bed, that no matter what I did I couldn't have prevented what happened next. Two of my “bodyguards” were killed in the fray and the school was on “Active Shooter Lockdown” soon after. I didn't know who started blasting ponies, but I have a feeling that the North Detrot's are the culprits. Either them or the Wendigos. No matter because I had only been put into a random classroom and the door barricaded, that that very door came crashing down and multiple colts and fillies were scrambling for cover. Only myself, a 4th grader and the teacher got injured. I was injured protecting the younger colt, who I recognized as one of my tutoring charges, Firelight. He has a graze wound. The teacher (I don’t know her name) was shot in the hind leg. I am probably the worse off as I’ve been shot 3 times: Once on the left forearm, Once on my back, right above my right shoulder blade and once on my left flank, right next to my cutie-mark. I had to play dead in order for them to leave as it was obvious that I was the target for this room. I don’t know where the others are or their status because I don’t have my phone. I’m scared. I hope Stormy, Lightning and Wave are safe. I really hope my friends in the Dragon Shields are uninjured. As it is multiple members of the Shields have foals and I am friends with a few of them who attend my school. They had better had stayed safe or I swear I’ll kill ‘em myself. I have to go now. The doctor says he’s gonna give me something to help me sleep. Before I stop completely, I’ll let you know what I got for my birthday. 
Love,
Windy Chyme (age 13)

P.S.: Stuff I got 4 my B-day:
A purse (from Aunt Twister)
Some more videogames (from Stormy)
A pearl necklace (from Lightning)
A new flight suit (from Wave)
A music player (from Quick)
A music box (from Dad [still shocked on that one])