//------------------------------// // Chapter 3 // Story: Rainbow Dash: Before the Awesome // by redpackman4421 //------------------------------// It didn't take long for the conversations to heat up again. It also didn't take long for the rest of the filly's to notice that Gilda, Rainbow, and Ditzy Doo were all sitting close together in the back of the room. Their chatter quieted down, and they began to whisper to one another, stealing glances at the group of fillies every now and again. After a few minutes, a small crowd of them wandered over to the two pegasi and griffin. The three of them were deep in conversation, and each of them seemed to forget about each others differences. They were just happy to have friends. Their talking quickly ceased however, when they noticed the small group of colts that had formed around them. The group consisted of a pegasus with a dark brown coat and light gray mane, one with a gray coat and a black mane, and finally, the ringleader of the group, a tall Pegasus filly with a light brown coat and a dark brown mane. The tall one took notice of Ditzy, and exclaimed, "Whoa! What's wrong with you eyes you freak?!" This exclimation set off the same chain reaction that it did before with Rainbow Dash, as all of the other fillies in the room pricked up their ears and looked towards the source all the commotion. Rainbow sat their, knowing how awful it felt to be in her position. "Heh heh, and I thought that Rainbow freak was weird! You sure this is the flight academy, or the Cloudsdale center for misfits and losers?" said the gray one. This was met with an eruption of laughter from the other ponies. "Misfits." Dash thought to herself. "That hurts.." She looked back over to Ditzy Doo and noticed tears swelling up in her googely eyes. She looked over at Gilda who was frowning in response. She saw through the look of sternness in her eyes though, and realized that she was hurt by these comments as well, but she just didn't want to show it. It was strange how Rainbow already felt so close to her. "No." she thought to herself once more, "I'm not just going to stand here And watch these jerks harass her!" "Hey, feather-brains!" Dash spoke aloud addressing the three colts. They were jolted by this sudden exclimation, but they quickly turned around and faced the little cyan filly. "What did you just call us, pipsqueak?" the taller one said aggressively, pressing his face right up to Dash's. Dash examined him once more. He looked even bigger up close. A pang of fear ran through her as she realized what she had just said. "No!" she thought to herself once more, "I'm not going to give in! You mess with my friends, you mess with me too!" "You heard what I said! You guys are nothing but a bunch of stupid jerks! Just 'cuz we look different from the rest of you doesn't mean that you get to treat us like garbage!" Dash said angerly. By this time the rest of the fillies were all standing around, watching intently as to how this encounter would pan out. Right then, the stallion grabbed Rainbow by her chest area with one hoof, and held her up in the air. "Nobody talks like that to me!" the stallion retorted, his pride clearly bruised by the sudden retaliation. "You think you're tough? I'll show you tough!" he said, raising his hoof to strike Rainbow. Gilda and Ditzy looked up at him in horror, paralyzed with fear. Gilda prayed to Celestia inside her head, Somepony, something, save her!!!" Right as the colt was ready to slam his hoof into Dash's face though, he heard the sound of the classroom door opening. At that moment, everything stopped. He instantly dropped Dash to the floor and quickly scurried over to his seat, as did the rest of the ponies that had gathered around the scene. Right as the last pony had dived into her seat, Ms. Moonbeam had walked into the classroom with Fluttershy underneath her wing. "It's okay, we're all nice and kind here," she said, trying to console the yellow filly who was still wiping tears from her eyes, "Isn't that right everypony?" she said, addressing the whole class. They all nodded tentatively, with big cheesy smiles on their faces. "That's what I love to see! You're all such wonderful students! I have a feeling that we're going to have a great year together!" she said brightly, oblivious to the obvious guilt that was practically oozing out of each and every one of them. But then she suddenly noticed Rainbow Dash, still lying on the floor where the colt had left her. "You silly filly! It's not naptime yet! You'll have to wait like everypony else, now get back to your seat so that we can start class." she said, her voice still full of cheer. "But I-" Rainbow Dash began. "No buts. Back to you're seat young mare." she spoke, this time a bit more sternly. Giving up, Rainbow trotted back to her seat next to Gilda and Ditzy. But a new filly joined the in their row. The small yellow pegasus that had ran out of the room before had just sat down to the right of Ditzy Doo. "We're growing, slowly but surely." Rainbow thought to herself. She reclined in her seat and looked longingly out of the window as Miss Moonbeam resumed her activities with the othe fillies.