//------------------------------// // First Day Of School // Story: A Change In Scenery // by TaylorTheFailure //------------------------------// There I sat, using my hooves to cover my face, trying to hide myself from the pony who had just opened the school’s door. Unfortunately, I could still feel my entire body shaking intensely, which definitely echoed my fright to the other three around me. “Is this our new student?” asked a comforting voice that came from the door. “Uh, yes. P-Please take good care of her.” said an unassured Fluttershy “Don’t worry, she’ll be in good hooves.” responded the voice at the door. “She likes to run off a lot too, so try to keep an eye on her.” mentioned Rainbow. I was kind of hoping they wouldn’t say anything about that. I was planning on using the breaks, or recess to escape, but it’s going to be a bit harder now, especially with this pony knowing my intentions. “I’ll be sure to keep her in my sight at all times.” responded the voice at the door. Then Fluttershy began to speak in an obviously concerned ramble. “Oh, okay, bu-but make sure that she’s comfortable, an-and that nobody is mean to her because….” “Fluttershy!” interrupted Rainbow. “She’s going to be fine. Okay?” Fluttershy took a deep breath before responding, “Okay.” A long pause formed after Fluttershy’s answer. Then Rainbow spoke up, “Alright. Are you ready to go?” “Y-Yes. I think so.” responded Fluttershy Then, I could hear the two of them behind me, moving away from me and the school. No, don’t leave me here! I removed my hooves from my face as I began thinking of what to call out at them. However, rather than yelling after them once I removed my hooves, I looked up at the figure standing right in front of me at the door. She was a familiar magenta horse with a pink mane, containing a strip of white, and she had a cutie mark of three smiling flowers. It was Cheerilee, which makes sense. I didn’t recognize her voice at first, mostly because it’s been a while since she was present in a recent episode. But, I do remember her character. She was very nice, with the assertiveness of a teacher, which probably explains why she is one. Anyways, Cheerilee called out to Rainbow and Fluttershy, who quickly stopped when she said, “Wait! I have one last question.” She then paused, waiting for both Rainbow and Fluttershy to turn around before asking her question. “What’s her name?” Oh, wow! I completely forgot that I still don’t have a name here. Hmm, I wonder if I have any say in what it would be. I’d like something that’s a single word, like Taylor, but I’m pretty sure that something like my real name wouldn’t work here, because firstly, I’m a pony, and secondly, I’m a damn filly! But, I really don’t have any idea whatsoever as to what it could even be. “Uhh... well, we don’t really know what her name is.” said a melancholy Rainbow “Really?!” responded Cheerilee with pure surprise and amazement present. Rainbow just looked at Fluttershy, who thought for a second, only to come up with nothing. They ended up deciding that it’d be best to figure it out later. So, I guess I still don’t have a name for now. A moment passed before Fluttershy and Rainbow decided to say their goodbyes to me and Cheerilee, and I swear I could see Fluttershy getting a little bit emotional before they flew off. I remained sitting there for a second, watching as they disappeared in the pure blue sky. Once they were truly gone, I just sat there, away from Cheerilee and the school, still looking at the sky, as if they were going to come back and take me home. But no one came. I only ended up turning around when Cheerilee sweetly asked me, “Are you ready to come in? I’d love to introduce you to your new classmates!” With sadness present in my voice, I responded “Okay.” She turned around, heading into the school house, with me following in turn. As I followed behind her, my emotions immediately changed from sorrow and sadness, to pure fear and anxiety when I thought about what she had just said. She wanted to introduce me to my new classmates!? Something was just so unnerving about having to stand in front of a whole bunch of new people, be the center of attention, and remain there without knowing what to do. My thoughts continued to wander as we made our way towards the school’s door. On entering the school, my eyes immediately began to scan the one small room. To our right was a teacher’s desk and chalkboard, which is most likely where Cheerilee spends her time. Across the room, on the wall opposite of us, were several windows, each with their own set of curtains. Additionally, there were numerous dressers and shelves with books and other school supplies beneath them. And then, to our left was…. Oh god! On the left of the room were ten pairs of eyes, all fixated on me. They were all foals, situated in small, but nice, wooden desks. They all began either whispering to one another, most likely about me, or they were expressing wonder as they watched me walk across the room. When I saw that they were staring at me, I immediately looked away and turned my gaze towards the floor. I could feel my heart beat kick up as well. As I continued walking, I remained staring at the ground in front of me. At least until I found the hooves of Cheerilee, who had stopped right in front of her desk. I looked up to see her eyes staring back at mine. She looked at me for a moment before she turned her head towards the group of seated foals and began to speak. “I’d like you all to meet our newest student who will be joining us today! She’s new to Ponyville, so I hope that you can all give her a nice and warm welcome!” She then turned back to me and asked, “Would you like me to show you where you’ll be sitting?” With me wanting to get out of the center of attention, I quickly responded “Yes!” She then walked me over to the back row of desks, while most of the foals kept their eyes on me. I just kept trying to avert my eyes from looking back at them. We eventually made it to my seat. It was in the last row, where only one other foal was. The three rows of desks in front of mine were filled with numerous ponies that I recognized, such as the Cutie Mark Crusaders, Diamond Tiara and several others. However, the only other foal in my row was separated from me by an empty desk in between us. And this pony seemed strange to me. Not in a bad way though. They just seemed different in comparison to the vibrant and colorful personalities of the other foals. This pony was a colt. He had grayish blue fur and long dark blue flowing hair that came close to dropping over his lively purple eyes. There was also a horn that protruded through his long hair. He seemed to be an introvert, similarly to me, so he didn’t look like he would say much. But, he did seem intrigued by my presence just like the other foals. Out of the corner of my eye, I could see him glance at me every one and a while, only to look away when I turned my head towards him. He made me feel like I wasn’t the only frightened one in the room, which was nice. Eventually, Cheerilee made her way back to the front of the class and began. “Good morning everypony! Today we’re going to begin by talking about cutie marks!” she said with a smile. “But we’ve already learned about cutie marks!” cried out Diamond Tiara. “Yes, but we have a new student who may have not learned this yet. And don’t worry, I’m only going to give a brief summary of them.” Responded Cheerilee Then she began to give the class a “brief summary” on the history of cutie marks and how they define who we are, and basically everything I already knew from the show. I didn’t learn anything new, but it did make me curious as to how many foals in the class had cutie marks. I proceeded to look around the room at all the flanks of the other foals, and strangely enough, only two were blank: mine and the shy colt’s across from me. Strange. Anyways, after the “brief” half hour refresher on cutie marks, we began a lesson on addition. Yes, really, addition! It seems like school here is very easy. Understandably, I got bored very quickly. So, I started to lay my head on the nice wooden desk after only the first couple minutes. I could even feel my eyes slowly begin to shut, only to suddenly reopen when Cheerilee appeared next to me. “Would you like to answer the question?” she asked me, pointing her hoof towards the chalkboard at the front. On the board was an addition problem that read “13+7=”. I’m in pre-calculus, so I’d hope that I’d be able to solve an easy addition problem. However, everypony in the class had their eyes on me and I really don’t like being the center of attention, as you may have guessed. So I quietly whispered so that only Cheerilee could hear, “No thank you.” Cheerilee looked at me for a second after my response, only to try and encourage/coerce me to do it. I don’t know how, but she somehow managed to get me to attempt the easy question. I looked up at the board, and once I read the question, “13+7=” one more time. I instinctively said “20”. Cheerilee immediately congratulated me, while the other foals in the class looked at me as if I had just won the lottery. I don’t know why everypony was so surprised that I answered the question, but it definitely made me feel good. But then, I figured out why everypony was staring at me like that. Cheerilee had pulled out a piece of candy and proceeded to put it on my desk. “Good job! Whenever somepony answers a question right, they earn a piece of candy!” she said with a jovial look. I picked up the candy in between both of my hooves, as I somehow managed to get it in my mouth, and wow! The candy is really, really, really good. I mean, wow! It was the sweetest thing I’ve ever tasted, but it didn’t seem overwhelmingly sweet. I don’t know if my new palate makes sweet things taste amazing, or what. But, I do know that it was absolutely delicious! Once Cheerilee went back up to the board, she continued teaching the class on the “wonders” of addition. I looked over to see the colt across the row look at me for a second before turning his head as quickly as he could. He tried to act as if he had been paying attention to the lesson the whole time, but the blushing of his cheek gave him away. Well, and the fact that I actually saw him looking at me. I just let out a short giggle that didn’t attract much attention. I decided that I would try and pay attention so that Cheerilee wouldn’t call on me again, so I turned my gaze back to the chalkboard where she stood. She had written another question down and was asking students if they could solve it. Now this question was a little bit harder, because now it was the addition of two two-digit numbers. The question on the board read, “11+23=”. I didn’t raise my hoof, but just about every other pony in the class did. Me and the colt across the row were the only two foals who didn’t raise our hooves. Cheerilee first called on Applebloom who got the question wrong, and then she called on Diamond Tiara, who also got it wrong. Cheerilee continued calling on every pony with their hand up, and every time they got it wrong. Eventually, Cheerilee realized that there were only two foals in the room who hadn’t tried to answer the question. Thankfully, she didn’t call on me first! “Blue Shade, do you want to try to answer the question?” asked Cheerilee. Blue Shade, that’s his name? Hmm, okay. He sat frozen for a moment, not moving out of shock of having been called on. Then a few seconds passed before he realized that he still needed to offer a response. “O-Okay. I-Is it 37?” “No, sorry. Very close though!” said Cheerilee, trying to comfort him. The young colt across the row, Shade, then turned his head down towards his desk, disappointed that he missed the question. “How about you?” said Cheerilee, staring directly at me. I really hope it doesn’t become a reoccurring thing that she calls on me. I took a deep breath and reread the question written on the chalkboard in my head, “11+23=”. Oh, well the answer is 34. “It’s 34” I told Cheerilee. Her face lit up with a smile as soon as the words left my mouth, as if she didn’t expect anypony to actually get the question right. “That’s right! You get two pieces for being able to solve such a hard question!” There were numerous reactions from the foals in front of me. Some gasped while others were jealous, and a few even tried to coerce me into giving them a piece. Cheerilee trotted over and placed the two pieces of candy on my desk before walking off again towards the front of the room. I felt a large amount of pride while staring at the sweets in front of me. I satisfyingly plopped one of the delicious sweets into my mouth. Wow, these are so good! Then, I squeezed the second piece in between my hooves, preparing to consume it as well. But, as it got closer and closer to my mouth, I gazed over at Shade, who was still sadly staring at his desk for having gotten the question wrong. Instinctively, when I saw him looking so sad, I halted my hooves from delivering the second delicious piece of candy into my mouth. I paused for a moment. And then, I offered him the piece with my hoof. It took him a moment to realize that I was holding the piece of candy out to him, but once he noticed, he looked up at it, and then at me. “Thank you.” he said, slowly grasping the candy from my hoof. I just smiled in response. I watched as Shade devoured the candy, a smile quickly growing on his face. A couple seconds passed, and then the bell rang. Yay, I get to go home! I began to get up from my desk, but I quickly stopped once Cheerilee began to speak, “Alright everypony, time for recess!” Wait, what! No, I wanted to go home!