//------------------------------//
// A Sense of Reality 
// Story: Granddaughter of Discord 
// by Fantasy Stars 789 
//------------------------------//

A few years later, Ophelia began school, but she was nervous about it. It seemed nice at first, but...

"Do I have to go to school?" Ophelia said. 

"Yes, you need education." Screwball said.

"And besides, it's not that bad." Mothball said. 

"O- okay," Ophelia said.

Ophelia walked into the classroom, with a bit more confidence. Some of the ponies there already had their cutie marks.

"Oh hello," Cheerilee said.
"You can sit right over there." she pointed to a desk up front.

Ophelia sat next to a unicorn, with a blue coat, and purple mane. The unicorn turned and smiled, but before she could say anything class started.  Zany, Jewel, Applespike, and Twinkle also were at Ophelia's school. 

"Okay class, since many of you are new here, everypony will introduce themselves," Cheerilee said. "I am Mrs. Cheerilee."  

The unicorn was first to speak.

"I'm Rain Star."   

The others also said their names. Some ponies laughed, and some ponies stared when they saw Ophelia, as she spoke.  
During recess, Rain Star walked up to Ophelia. 

"Hi, um, Ophelia-" Rainstar said.

"Oh, hi. Rainstar was it?" 

She nodded. 

"Anyway, want to go play basketball with me?"

"Sure, but don't you mind my appearance?" 

"My mom told me that it doesn't matter what a pony looks like, as long as they have a good heart."

Two colts were picking the basketball teams. A yellow Earth pony with a brown mane, named Comet, and an orange unicorn with a blue mane named Haco. They looked over at Ophelia and Rainstar as they approached the court.  They picked everypony except for Ophelia and Rainstar. 

"Let's play," Comet said. 

"Hey wait! What about us?" Rainstar said. 

"Oh, sorry we would let YOU play but then it would be uneven teams!"  Haco said. 

"Why can't I play!?" Ophelia said.

"Pssh! Are you kidding! We're not letting a stupid changeling play with us!" 

"But-" 

"Let's just go Ophelia." Rainstar interrupted. 

"Go back to where you belong freak!" Haco said. 

After recess, Comet and Haco began to tease Ophelia in class, though the teacher didn't see it. 
To make matters worse, after school Mothball was there to take Ophelia home. Comet and Haco saw him and continued to bully her. 

"See? There's your changeling dad so you can take over Equestria with him!" Comet said. 

The two laughed at her as she walked away.

"How was your first day of school?" Mothball said. 

"Nopony likes me because of how I look..." 

Mothball frowned. 

"Don't listen to them, they're trying to get into your head."



 At home, Mothball began to teach Ophelia how to fly.

"But Dad, how am I supposed to fly with holes in my wings?" Ophelia said.

"It's easy once you get the hang of it."

Ophelia tried again, but her wings couldn't lift her. 

"Can't I just use my magic?" 

"No, you must learn."

Ophelia tried again, and again, but still nothing.

"Maybe you just need to jump?" 

Ophelia tried jumping, but still, no difference. She climbed up a small rock for more leverage, then hopped off.

"Ugh! I just can't fly!" 

"It was hard when I first tried as well, but eventually you will get there."

Ophelia jumped again, with more confidence. Her hooves didn't touch the ground, she was flying!

"I'm flying! I'm actually flying!"  

Screwball had been watching them from the house and ran out to Ophelia. 

"Ophelia! Your flying!" Screwball said. 

Ophelia's wings grew exhausted, and she fell.  

"Ouch, I'm alright." 

"We're so proud of you." Screwball said.

They all smiled and hugged.