//------------------------------// // The Newbie // Story: Angel of Fire // by memphisgurl //------------------------------// At first, I thought I was dreaming - engulfed in murky images of golden light that felt more like a gentle caress - until a deep voice, sounding as if it came from far away, penetrated the silence. "Scootaloo, can you hear me?" the voice inquired with a general lack of concern. Drifting back to reality, I gradually became aware of my surroundings. Realization that my body laid all sprawled out on the floor - and the reason why - came flooding back to me. My breath hitched as both eyes flew open. Scrambling to get away from my attacker, I kicked off with both back hooves in one swift motion, causing my back to skid briefly along the floor in a backwards motion, until my head crashes into the bottom edge of a row of lockers. "Ouch!" I wasn't dreaming. The pain was real. "Are you okay?" This question from a female. Why do ponies insist on asking suck stupid questions? If I'm passed out on the floor, do you really think I'm okay? "Yeah," I grumbled. It wasn't worth arguing about. Besides, what did she expect me to say? I just felt like taking a nap. Shaking the remaining cobwebs from my brain, I finally recognized the first voice. I also knew it didn't belong to a teenager. It had way too much authority. Gee, I wasn't sure which was worse; passing out at school after being attacked, or being discovered by the Punisher. I decided it was a toss up. "Don't try to get up too fast," Mr. Harper insisted. "I'm okay," I lied. Ignoring him, I sat up anyway - hooves skimming nervously over my body as I checked for injuries. No obvious broken bones. Neck still intact. And when I held up my hooves - I wasn't covered in blood. Bonus! Free if injuries with just one tiny exception. My head hurt like hell. Ever so hesitantly, I swung my gaze left then right, searching the hallway for my assailant. Thankfully, Beastie was gone. I realized only then that I'd been holding my breath and exhaled deeply. With my over active senses still on high alert, I wanted...no, scratch that...I needed to know whether or not Beastie was coming back. I hate surprises. Me. Harper cleared his throat. I glanced up for the first time to see him standing next to some girl I didn't know. Unless I'd hit my head harder than I thought. I snuck a peek at her again. Nope, definitely didn't know her. Lovely. As if passing out wasn't bad enough, I had to be found by a newbie. This day just keeps getting better and better. I smiled up innocently at Harper, as if it was normal to find me lying in the floor when I was supposed to be in class. But judging by the flint hard look in his steel-grey eyes - not to mention the frown tugging at the corners of his mouth - he wasn't buying my act. Geez, what was it gonna take to get a little sympathy around here. "Let me help you," Mr. Harper said in a tight voice, thrusting one perfectly sculpted leg in my face. For a Principal, he was pretty ripped. But for a pony, he had about as much compassion as a rock. Or maybe he was still pissed from our last encounter. Either way, I definitely didn't want him touching me. "Do you want to tell me what happened?" He didn't make it a question so much as a demand. I considered telling him the truth and then realized how it would sound. "A stallion that used to go to our school and who, by the way, is no longer alive - but still breathing ferociously - just tried to make me dead." Nah. Better keep that little but of information to myself. For now anyway. "I tripped," I mumbled, staring at Harper's offered hoof. Truth be told, I didn't line touching other ponies. Period. Unfortunately, my legs felt like rubber and I knew I couldn't get up on my own. So, with no other option, I took a deep breath - holding it as I accepted his hoof. Just as I'd expected. Harper's touch was scalding hot, just like his personality. I not only sensed, but felt, his anger towards me for embarrassing him. Simmering just beneath the surface, I became convinced that the only reason he'd held himself in check this long was because a witness was present. Otherwise, I'd be toast. Lifting me off the ground, he didn't help me up so much as yank me to my hooves like a sake of potatoes. Big mistake. The sudden movement had been so unexpectedly jolting, that the hall started to swirl around me, white fading to black. Oh no, not again! My knees gave out, and just as I was about to fall, Harper wrapped one iron-like leg around my waist. Yes, on one hoof, I was thankful he'd saved me from kissing the floor. But trying to look cool while slumping against the Principal in front of the newbie was out. As u leaned helplessly shading Harper's rock hard body, waiting for my vision to return to normal, I felt every muscle in his chest pressing firmly against my body. I tried, but I couldn't stop staring at his shirt. At least two sizes too small, the navy blue polo he wore with the Ponyville High School emblem proudly displayed over his heart, stretched so tightly across his bulging chest and leg muscles, that it looked like it could burst apart at any moment. It became obvious to me only then that he'd borrowed a clean shirt from somepony else. Somepony much smaller than him. "Do you want to sit in my office?" Harper asked, voice abrasive as if he'd caught me doing something wrong. Since when was fainting a crime? I quickly regained my senses. "I'd rather be hung upside down by my ankles than sit in your office," is what I wanted to say. Instead of mouthing off, I took a deep breath, willed myself to stand up straight and answered with a simple, "I'm good." Sometimes, simple was better. Harper hesitated, then slowly released his protective his protective grip - afraid I might fall over again. I was happy to disappoint him. Finally convinced I could stand on my own, he turned his attention to the newbie. "Scootaloo, I want you to meet Ilyrana. Her family just moved here from Las Pegasus." Ilyrana nodded, "Wassup?" Letting my name sink in, she wrinkled her brow. "What's the matter, your parents not like you or something?" Yeah, as if I'd never heard that one before. I shot her a sideways glance. "What possessed your parents to move here to Hickville?" The words tumbled out of my mouth before I could stop them. Mr. Harper glared at me in obvious disapproval. Grown-ups didn't like it when we made fun of their town. I could almost hear them droning now. "Ponyville - voted best small town in Equestria." Blah, blah, blah, whatever. My point remains the same. It doesn't get much hi kier than Hickville. I flashed Ilyrana a wide grin. "I mean...how do you like Ponyville?" She smiled back, looking uncomfortable. "It's like living on another planet." I bet. I had to give her props for speaking her mind in front of Harper. Besides, what teenager in their right mind would rather live in Ponyville than Las Pegasus? With rosy cheeks, a golden tan, and long, vibrant red hair, it was obvious Ilyrana worshipped the sun. I couldn't help but notice how dark her fur looked against the bright white color of her thin shirt. She looked barfably adorable. I guess somepony didn't get the memo that it was cold in Ponyville this time of year. It may not have been winter yet, but the wind chill made it feel like we were in the middle of a blizzard. Truth be told, I'd be lying if I said I didn't secretly wish I looked more like her. I'd like to lie out in the sun and get a tan too. But one thing's for sure - it had to be really annoying to walk around all day looking so nauseatingly perfect. I was just glad I didn't have that problem. Like everypony else at school, Ilyrana stared at me like the star attraction in a freak show. And the sweet irony was that today - of all days - I just happened to be wearing a wet, black jacket and not have paid one iota of attention to my mane. I couldn't help but squirm under her intense gaze. Then mysteriously, whatever had been holding her motionless finally released it's spell. "Nice to meet you," she said, extending a perfectly shining hoof. We shared a long awkward silence. I had issues with shaking hooves too. Not because I could read pony's minds by touching them. I'd actually welcome that ability. No, it was more of the fact that when I came in contact with ponies, they had a way of leaking their emotional garbage all over me like toxic waste. School being the worst, of course. Surrounded by so much personal drama on a daily, friggin' basis made me feel like a prisoner trapped in a perpetual windstorm of emotions. Unfortunately, it didn't just happen from touching either. I also absorbed ponies' feelings if they got too close. From what I could tell, the only benefit of experiencing the emotions of everpony I came in contact with, somehow saved me from the wreckage of having to face my own feelings of rejection. And, trust me, that is something I absolutely did not want to do. I was pissed-off most of the time as it was. Ignoring Ilyrana's hoof, I quickly bent down to retrieve my papers and empty, caffeine-fueled beverage containers - scattered all over the hall. I hoped (prayed was more like it) that nopony noticed the dried blood on the floor. Ilyrana surprised me badly when she started helping. Kneeling in such close proximity to her, either it was just my imagination, or she smelled like coffee. Toasted hazelnut to be exact. Weird. I must have caffeine on the brain. When finished, Ilyrana handed me my newly stuffed book bag. "Thanks," I managed, pathetically. I turned to Mr. Harper. "I'm sorry; I have to get to class." I walked away, beating myself up inside. Why the crap did I apologize? Could I help it if he made me a little jumpy? Okay, a lot jumpy. When he got his hooves on me, I was going to be toast. "Actually, Scootaloo," Harper called out, interrupting my stream of mental babble. I stopped abruptly - pivoting about - my hooves slipping against the floor. I almost fell over. Almost, but not quite. When I turned back around, I blushed like crazy. "Huh?" "Since fifth hour is almost over, I'm going to dismiss you for the day," he explained, eyeballing me carefully. "Do you need someone to pick you up?" Well, he was just full of surprises. Instead of being grateful, I found myself wondering why he was being so nice. Maybe he was just biding his time. Like the calm before a storm. "No thanks, I'll walk," I lied. If I had a choice between my mother nagging me at me to tell her why she had to come to school to pick me up early, and walking...Trust me, I would much rather walk the eight and a half miles home in peace and quiet - thank you very much. Harper moved forward and patted me firmly on the shoulder. "Okay then, I'll see you in the morning." His voice may have sounded amiable, but the look in his eyes was pure darkness. Spinning around in his heels, he walked away, leaving me to stare after him. A couple seconds later he must've realized that Ilyrana wasn't following, because he barked her name as if he expected her to heel. "Harper doesn't like to be kept waiting," I muttered. Ilyrana regarded me evenly, obviously unaware of the danger of holding up the Punisher. Eyes narrowing, she asked, "Are you sure you're gonna be okay? You look paler than white bread." Gee, thanks. "No, I'm fine. Really." I insisted. "Pale, but fine." She hesitated. "See you tomorrow?" I nodded. Flashing me a mega-watt smile that made me suddenly wish I'd worn sunglasses, she strode away. I lingered in the hallway, watching her until she turned the corner. Part of me wondered if that would be the last time she ever talked to me. Of course, there was always the remote possibility that she wouldn't believe all the gossip about me when she heard it. Yeah, right. There wasn't a snowflakes chance in hell of that ever happening.