Ebony yawned, stretching as she sat up in bed, groggy and bleary eyed. As she turned her head, she was surprised to see Quill's bed already made. Curiously, she got up to look for him.
Passing the mirror, she stopped in her tracks. No way was she letting Quill see her with her mane tangled and crumpled up. Quickly, she dashed over to her unpacked bags as quietly as she could and took out her blue hairbrush, untangling the whirlwind mess on her head. Grunting in pain, she struggled to undo a thick knot in her hair. However, her efforts were fruitless, and seemed to make things worse.
With horror, Ebony realized her hairbrush was stuck in a clump of her hair. Tugging and tugging, Ebony couldn't seem to undo her mess. She finally resorted to nimbly undoing the web of multiple knots her hairbrush was strangled in. However, her clumsy hooves weren't able to free it, and instead, her hooves got stuck in as well.
With a moan, Ebony realized that she should have listened to her stepmare when she scornfully advised her to cut her wild, glossy mane short. Why did Ebony have to be so stubborn?
Growling out of frustration, Ebony gripped her hairbrush with her teeth and harshly tried yanking it out. The force caused Ebony to thud onto her back, but that didn't stop her. With her front hooves stuck in her messy mane, she continued to wrestle around for her brush.
Quill, curious by the sudden noise, walked from the small kitchen into the room, where he watched, amused, by the door frame. When it was obvious that, in her struggles, Ebony wouldn't notice him, he lightly cleared his throat. All it took was that small, discreet noise, and Ebony froze in her awkward position. Her pupils slowly slid to over where Quill was standing, still frozen. All that moved were her eyes.
"Ebony, do you need help?" Quill asked.
"What makes you think I need help?" grunted Ebony, trying to get off her back.
Quill raised an eyebrow. When Ebony gave him no response, he just sighed and walked over. Ebony, still struggling to get off her spine, didn't notice Quill walking over until she felt his presence closer to her.
"Why do you have to be so stubborn?" he sighed, gently untangling her mane. Ebony's eyes widened in surprise when she saw how quickly he worked, freeing her hooves and brush from the wild mane. Once Quill was done, he got up and smirked. "Amazing how I can do your hair better than you," he remarked.
Ebony rolled her eyes, slightly turning pink. "Whatever," she dismissed him.
"Oh, I got breakfast ready," Quill remembered.
Ebony turned to look at him. "Wow, that's great!" she grinned.
Quill led Ebony into the minuscule kitchen that Ebony had never bothered to take a look at. The smell of roasted turnips and carrots wafted through the air. Ebony's mouth watered, her nose filled with the delicious scent of the food.
Quill took two plates out of the cabinet, reminding Ebony that she had yet to unpack everything. Yesterday's events kept her too occupied. Especially Vinyl's late night concert.
"So, where are you from?" she asked Quill, attempting to start a conversation.
"Seaddle," he replied, heaping our breakfast onto a baby blue plate. "Born and raised there, and I planned to enroll in Golden Horseshoe college,"
Ebony nodded her head. Golden Horseshoe college was by far the most prestigious. Of course she'd never be able to join one.
"What made you come here to Pale Hearts?" she asked, eyeing the carrots as Quill set them on the table.
"Ah, well.." he trailed off. "Got in some bad business there. I figured I could come to Manehatten to let go of some bad memories,"
"Okay, then," Ebony didn't press farther, seeing the conversation was already making Quill nervous. Instead she finished up her breakfast quietly, since Quill didn't ask her anything about herself.
"Well, I'll go now" Ebony quickly announced, grabbing her worn saddlebag before trotting out the door. She felt Quill's gaze burn into her, but she was just imagining it, she was sure.
"Well, look what the cat dragged in," a haughty snicker filled the air behind Ebony. She turned around, coming face to face with two mares, one an earth pony and one a unicorn. Both of their faces were tight and mean looking, yet undeniably beautiful.
"Um, hi, I'm Ebony," she awkwardly started off. The unicorn gave her a disgusted look.
"Can't you tell that we don't wanna talk to you?" she scoffed, before walking away, the other pony following her.
Ebony stayed where she was, cocking her head slightly in confusion. Was it something she said?
"Uh, wait! I'm sorry if I've done anything to upset you!" she scampered up to them, an apologetic look clinging to her face.
"Oh, you're sorry? Then why don't you get your pathetic blank flank outta my face?" spat the unicorn. Ebony blushed, realizing that in her haste, she had forgotten to put on clothes.
"Why don't you losers go bother somepony else, huh?" a familiar voice echoed throughout the corridor.
Ebony turned, shocked to see Octavia shooting the mares daggers with her eyes.
"Who do you think you are?" the pony stood up for her friend, thought it was quite obvious she knew she was talking to the famous Octavia.
Octavia raised an eyebrow. "Let me put this simply," she calmly began. "Open up your mouths again to talk trash about Ebony here, and I'll carve out your cutie marks so you can be blank flanks too!"
Ebony recoiled slightly at Octavia's words, and so did the mares.
"Come on, Firework, let's go," the unicorn muttered, slinking off into the shadows.
"You didn't mean that, did you?" Ebony turned to Octavia when they were gone. Worry was clouding her face, making Octavia's lips slightly turn upwards into a genuine smile.
"No way, smart one," she giggled. Octavia, giggle? Ebony was truly surprised.
"Wow, why'd you.. stick up for me?" Ebony asked. "I thought you hated me!"
Octavia smiled and rolled her eyes. "No way. I just have to be the sarcastic, sensible one, since Vinyl is a bit..." she trailed off, searching for the right word. "Eccentric,"
"A little?" laughed Ebony. Octavia quietly joined in too, but then suddenly stopping.
"Um, you do realize that everypony in Manehatten wears clothes, right? I saw you wearing them yesterday," she said.
Ebony turned red again. "Yeah, I forgot," she explained. "I was.. distracted,"
Octavia wiggled her eyebrows, obviously suspecting something. "Go put something on," she sighed.
Ebony nodded, heading towards her dorm. Octavia's sense of fashion was shocking, really. It's strange how much she never knew her that well. Up until today, she never thought Octavia would wear a caramel colored halter top and a black, frilly skirt.
Unlocking the door, Ebony headed inside to see Quill talking and laughing with a pink mare. Thankfully, he didn't hear her come in, so she didn't have to disturb him. A stab of jealousy made her gasp softly, but she recomposed herself and silently carried herself into their bedroom.
Opening her suitcase, she took out the skirt she had originally tried on- from 'Luna's Inspiration' and tugged on a black strapless top. Ebony really didn't feel any different with her clothes on. If anything, she felt even more naked. Shrugging off the feeling, she silently escaped the dorm, wincing as she heard Quill and the mare laugh in unison.
Class started in fifteen minutes, which really wasn't a whole lot of time. Looking around the hall, she saw that Octavia was nowhere in sight, so she probably left.
Pulling out her map, she carefully studied it, wishing she could levitate it so it didn't take away her ability to walk. Naturally, ponies were terrible at balancing on their hind hooves. Every few feet she'd walk, Ebony would whip out her map and carefully examine it. After a few minutes of struggling with directions, Ebony growled in frustration. The map really wasn't getting her anywhere.
She pulled it out again, sitting down as she squinted at the map, as if something magical would happen if she did. Nothing magical happened, but something sure did.
"Can I tell you a secret about maps," a deep voice asked behind her. Ebony whipped around to see a red stallion peering over her shoulder.
Breathless from her shock, Ebony agreed. "Sure, what?"
The stallion calmly approached her, taking the map out of her hands and turning it around. "Don't hold them upside down, you just might understand it better," he chuckled, making Ebony laugh too.
Blushing fiercely at her stupidity, she looked up into his emerald eyes. "Thanks," she let out a nervous giggle.
"No prob." he nodded his head. "I'm Tornado. You are?"
"Oh, I'm Ebony," she introduced herself, shaking hooves with his.
"Well, it was nice to meet you, Ebony, but class is starting in a minute, so I'd better get a move on," he grinned, then left.
Ebony carefully studied the map again, though it was still as confusing as ever. The bell rang, making her jump in surprise. All the other ponies were in their classes already, so nopony had seen her jump high up in the air at the ring of the bell.
She slowly walked down the hall, hoping to see her homeroom number: 372. She trudged by, stopping when she heard a teacher yelling.
"No, Vinyl! You can't describe air as airy!" an elderly woman screeched, annoyed.
'This must be Vinyl's homeroom,' Ebony thought to herself, laughing. Who knew Vinyl sucked at writing adjectives?
She continued walking, until she finally stopped at room 372. Sighing in relief, she entered, not expecting to see Quill in the front seat.
"You are late," an annoyed voice made her head turn in the direction of the teacher's desk.
"Oh, sorry," Ebony muttered, her ears turning slightly pink.
"May I have your name?" the professor snapped irritably.
"Ebony Waters,"
"Very well, Ebony Waters. One more late from you, and I'm going to have to write you a detention. I'm Snaps, by the way," he briskly nodded his head before shooing her away to a desk.
Snaps. Suitable for him.. Ebony sat down right behind Quill, who was tapping his hooves rhythmically on his desk. Ebony was tempted to do the same, but stopped herself. Following Quill's pattern would just be.. awkward.
The bell rang again, surprising Ebony.
'What? I just got here!' she thought. Then she remembered she was late, and she slowly rose from her desk. Taking out her schedule, she realized she had Classic Literature next. 'Great.'
Ebony followed random ponies around, hoping they had the same class as her. Unfortunately, they kept entering the wrong classes, so Ebony couldn't find her way. She spotted the two mean mares that had scorned her earlier and followed them reluctantly, praying they'd lead her in the right direction.
Both mares stopped outside of a classroom, one that read 'Classic Literature'. Nice to know she'd have a class with those two snobs.
She entered just as the bell rang, galloping to a seat near the back. Ebony was hoping to go unnoticed, but she was out of luck. Of course, Ebony had to sit right in between the two mean mares. The unicorn on her right, pony on her left.
"Alright, class! I'll be taking attendance now!" The teacher announced. She was a stout purple mare with dull brown eyes and a scruffy, green mane.
The unicorn turned to glare at Ebony.
"You know, Jewel Crisis was supposed to sit here," she hissed. Jewel Crisis? What kind of name was that?
"Jewel Crisis," the professor called out.
"Here!" a snow white pony with a vibrant pink mane raised her hoof just as she entered the classroom. Her crystal blue eyes twinkled, and her clothes looked ridiculously expensive, yet not revealing.
"Miss Crisis, you are tardy," the teacher notified. Jewel nodded and took a seat right next to a light blue mare, glancing towards Ebony's direction with a disappointed look on her face.
"Sun Kiss,"
"Here!" the golden unicorn raised her hoof, before glaring at Ebony again. Ebony was starting to feel guilty- not for the mean mares, but for Jewel Crisis. She definitely looked like a nice pony.
"Dewdrop,"
"Here!" the silvery earth pony called out. Ebony glanced over, now knowing their names. Ebony intently studied both of the mares, but both of their gazes were set on Jewel, who looked like she was trying to memorize the names of everypony in the class.
"Ebony Waters,"
"Here!" Ebony's hoof shot up reflexively. Jewel Crisis looked over at Ebony, interest sparked in her eyes. Now Ebony could only wonder what that interest was..
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Author's Note: optional read
Sorry for not uploading in while, is my first thing to say.
Secondly, this chapter is so far unedited, so please point out mistakes, and make it easier on my editor ^_^
Third- thanks for reading! Your comments really got me going, 'cause I was about to quit this story. You guys are amazing! I must admit, I'm not very happy with this chapter, it feels boring... -___-
But oh well! You got some Octavia action. And Quill. Be happy :D
I may not upload in a while, we'll see. Anywhooz, thanx!