The Letter
On the beautiful, sunny day of a perfect, cloudless, February did a young girl be spotted with her one and only friend. This girl’s name was Cinder Ash and she made her residence with her mama and papa in the large, towering and bustling city of Manehatten.
Cinder was not the ordinary teenage girl that many might expect her to be, she was only the age of 16, stood only at the height of 145cm tall and unlike most girls of her age, she was extremely unsocial and the amount of friends she did not possess was nearly laughable. In appearance she was regularly normal except for a few noticeable physical traits about that will be explained a little later on.
Her fur was dyed the colour of light yellow, much light Fluttershy’s, except Cinder’s was brighter and more vibrant, even if a little dull. Her mane was deemed the tint of gold and an occasional yellow stipe traced through it. Her mane was long but tied back into a ponytail so it wouldn’t dangle any further than past her nape. He facial features that stood out were her shining, amber eyes, a line a freckles starting from one cheek and ending at the other and her smile she was missing a tooth of the far right of her mouth.
It wasn’t because she looked different from the greys and browns that surrounded her that made her stand out, no, it was th fact that she possessed the ears and tail of a light grey wolf.
These features were not uncommon upon the growing population of Equestria but nor were they normal. These people of whom possessed certain physical traits of any chosen animal were not know as Unicorn, Earth Pony, or a Pegasi, they were known simply as Palphony.
Palphonies was one of the newer races that were only recently introduced to the populace of the world. Unlike most races, their appearance was not passed down through generations and genes, but instead nature chose randomly who would be burdened by such traits.
I say burdened because Palphonies were not respected among society, they were discriminated against and were accused of not being pure or worthy of the rights of normal people. They were accused of being attention seekers and were normally denied the basic rights of work or a primary education. Yet, there were people out there who didn’t care whether or not if they had an Elephant trunk or a Cat tail and still saw them as people who had emotions, feelings, rights, wants and needs. Unfortunately, there weren’t enough people like that in the world and the growing population of Palphonies meant that common folk might start seeing them as a threat... they were not.
However, such people that didn’t mind of the Palphonies were a beacon of light and hope in the eyes of those who suffered discrimination. One of these people was Cinder’s best and only friend, Lil’ Dew who was walking by her shy and timid friend.
“Beautiful day, isn’t it?” Lil’ Dew announced to break an awkward silence that had been lingering between the two of them for a while.
“Yeah... I guess.” Cinder replied quietly and she held her wolf tail between her fingers.
Lil’ Dew sighed, “It’s so rare that we get sunny days like this, don’t you think?”
Cinder looked up, “It’s been continuously sunny for over a month.”
Silence dripped between them once again as Lil’ Dew knew that this conversation was not gong to last for much longer. Instead, she was going to start up a new topic, one that she knew would make Cinder talk.
“So did you hand in your application?” she asked.
Cinder looked away from the sky and back to her friend. “Yeah,” she nodded.
“Great, me too. Do you think we’ll get in?”
“Not really... they prefer seventeen year olds... you know that.” Cinder sighed.
Lil’ Dew rolled her eyes. “I know that silly, but would you really hand in your application if you didn’t think you were going to get in?”
“Well I just want to be like the great Hunters, Shadow Wing and Silver Blaze... I heard that they were teaching at the school this year...”
Dew sighed and giggled slightly, “Yeah that’s my reason too. They’re so heroic and brave.”
Cinder smiled a little, “Well what do you think, we will get in?”
Lil’ Dew thought to herself for a little, pondering all the facts and how good her application was. “Well, I think that we will get in. As in, I’m awesome and you’re a determined gal.” she nudged Cinder’s shoulder and grinned. “C’mon Cinder, we’re amazing.”
Cinder eyed Dew weirdly and suspiciously, for her that wasn’t an adequate explanation. “Dew... I’m serious. What if we aren’t good enough?”
Lil’ Dew stopped in her tracks and faced Cinder, holding her shoulders. “Cinder, we are amazing, we have what most people don’t.”
“And what’s that?” the light yellow Palphony asked curiously.
“Well, you have determination and I have courage. We’re a perfect team.” Dew replied vigour.
“I doubt that’s enough.” Cinder rebutted.
Lil’ Dew looked down at Cinder’s wrists and eyes a pair of black bracers.
“What do your bracers do again?” she asked sternly.
Cinder looked down and sighed, she knew where this conversation was going.
“They form a shape of which I want... I’ve told you so may times already.”
“Exactly. You can do whatever you want with them.”
Cinder’s eyes widened a little in realisation and looked Dew in the eyes. “So...?”
“So...?” Dew rolled her eyes, “So it means that your weapon has the greatest potential, they can teach you anything with that.” Lil’ Dew smiled at her uncertain friend. “I may only have a simple bow, and it may not be anything fancy. But I know how to write a convincing report about myself.”
“I guess you’re right.” Cinder admitted and looked up at the clear blue sky, wondering what was in store for them. Would they be accepted into the academy of hunters, or would they have to remain normal people?
Never the less, all would be revealed when they finally get their letter within the next few weeks.
When the letters finally came in the mail, it was the 15th of February and both Cinder and Lil’ Dew were lying under a tree, on the grass in the middle of the local park.
Both girls firmly gripped their letters and eyed each other, they couldn’t conceal their excitement and so they were both bouncing in joy. Over the past few weeks, they had been thinking nothing but positive thoughts about this academy and how they would be able to personally meet their favourite heroes.
“Ready?” Lil’ Dew said, shaking with anticipation.
“Yeah!” Cinder replied excitedly and she tore the top off her letter.
Cinder gave Lil’ Dew a small smile of reassurance and pulled out her letter, instantly racing her eyes over the accepting, handwritten words of the letter.
Dear, Miss Cinder Ash.
You application for acceptance into Everfree Forest School of Exemplary Hunters has been successfully approved by the Headmaster Tinder Box and Deputy Principles Shadow Wing and Silver Blaze.
Congratulations on your acceptance into our prestigious academy, you will be to meet at you local train station on the 23th February at the following times.
Canterlot City: 9:00 am
Ponyville: 9:30 am
Manehatten: 10:30 am
Appleloosa: 11:00 am
Hoofinton: 12:00 pm
Los Pegasus: 1:00 pm
White-Tail Woods: 1:30 pm
Fillydelfia: 2:00 pm
You’re estimated time of arrival at our school will be at 3:00 pm.
For equipment you will be required to bring your own clothes, weapons and battle attire. You textbooks, stationary and food will be provided for you at every class. We hope you enjoy your journey and will greatly anticipate your arrival.
Yours Sincerely: Headmaster Tinder Box
Upon reading her acceptance she squealed in excitement like a little girl. “I got in... I got in!”
There was no reply from Lil’ Dew who was blankly staring at her letter with wide, shocked eyes as she was transfixed upon what it seemed to be one, simple sentence.
“What does yours say, Lil’ Dew?” Cinder questions, realising that the answer to follow may not be good.
Lil’ Dew gulped and faced her innocent friend with somewhat teary eyes. “I... didn’t get in...” she admitted.
“What...?” Cinder said in monotone, shocked at what she had just heard. She was hoping that it was a joke that Dew would often play; she really didn’t want to go to a school with no friends... she knew no one else.
“Please don’t make me repeat it....” Lil’ Dew begged a little and stood up, glancing over to the other end of the park.
“Oh... y-your serious....?” Cinder spoke sadly and she looked down.
There was no reply from Lil’ Dew, instead, she began to run. To where, Cinder didn’t know, but she assumed that it was to home.
“W-Wait!” Cinder called after her, “where are you going?”
Again, there was no reply, the only thing that she saw was her best and only friend running off in either frustration... or what it seemed, sadness, maybe even both.
Cinder wanted to run after her, but two things were stopping her. One of those things was the very fact that Cinder was not a fast runner and the other was that even if she caught up to Lil’ Dew, she would have no idea what to say or do. It was at this point that Cinder felt helpless and useless. She couldn’t help but let a wave of guilt flood over her, as she knew that it was she that got in, and not Dew.
That night, Cinder began to feel better about what had happened, but she still couldn’t help but feel guilty, even though she had been told constantly by her mama and papa that it wasn’t her fault.
At this point, she was lying in bed, pondering about her new school and fiddling around with her wrist weapons.
She was wearing a short, sleeveless, soft pink nightdress with a purple hemline and light blue lace. On her finger sat a black ring with a centred red ruby. Around her neck hung a simple, silver necklace with a locket concealing a picture of Shadow Wing and Silver Blaze.
On the side table next to her was a pair of black earrings and a small case of contact lenses.
It was late at night, past midnight in fact and yet she was still wide-awake. This was due to the fact of her being a Palphony. As well as receiving the burden of physical aspects of an animal, she also inherited the abilities of common animals and heightened senses. For instance, she had enhanced night visions, acute hearing and a heavily accurate sense of smell. All of which allowed it to be extremely hard to sleep.
Now, lets skip ahead a week or two to the day of Monday on February the 23rd. Cinder Ash was standing on Manehatten platform awaiting for the arrival of her train at the time of 10:20 am. Beside her stood her mama, and on the other side, stood her papa.
“I’m so proud of you, sweetie,” squealed her mama.
“I know you’ll do great. Just remember, we’ll support you as much as you can.” spoke her papa performing a large, goofy smile.
“Thanks, mama, thanks papa...” Cinder said dully and held her large suitcase in her hand ready to roll it towards the train when it would finally come.
“Are you nervous?” asked mama.
Cinder nodded slightly, but barely noticeable “A little.”
“You’ll be fine. I’m sure you’ll make plenty of friends.” her mama reassured.
“How do you know that? I’m a Palphony, no one likes me...”
“That’s not true sweetie, Lil’ Dew likes you... and I’m sure that there are plenty of other people eager to meet someone as unique as you.”
“That’s reassuring.” Cinder replied sarcastically.
“As I said, Cindy. You’ll be fine.” she repeated. “I know you will.” moving Cinder’s hair as she planted a small kiss upon her nervous daughter’s forehead.
CHEW!! CHEW!! Sounded the train as it slowly rolled into Manehatten station. Cinder eyed it as the breaks screeched and came to a stop. There was a carving on the front engine that read, ‘Everfree Forest School for Exemplary Hunters’.
Her body filled with excitement as she kissed her parents goodbye and slowly walked toward a carriage with her suitcase rolling behind her.