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// Chapter 1: Laughing Stalk 
// Story: Memories: A Soarin Dash Tail: Part 1: The only friend is a dead one. 
// by Soarin Blaze 
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Today was the Annual Pegasus Exam for all colts and fillies. I was nervous, I knew I would never pass, everypony was waiting and saying “Can’t wait for that loser to come out.” As I walked passed, each group huddled into whispers about me, I knew they hated me. The entire group knew I would fail miserably, as if my own failure was just a sick game to them playing as their daily entertainment. I waited in the massive line, shaking nervously as the line slowly shrunk to nothing as each pony went. When there was only one pony ahead of me, I looked back to see the line had formed again; wishing I could just take off and run away in fear. I wish something would just come and free me from my nightmarish situation, but it never came. Before I could muster the courage to run, it was my turn, I knew I had to overcome my fear and do my best, even if I would fail. I looked around the entire academy, a thousand eyes now gazing at me like needles prying into my psyche as I stepped forward. I saw the entire academy laughing at me before I had even begun; I was too scared to move. The instructor snapped me, “Hurry up, we don’t have all day!” He clearly had no positive emotions about me, as if he already knew I would fail. I looked at the platform and walked on, clearing my mind as I tried to calm myself. I summoned all my will and drove all my energy into my wings. I closed my eyes, hoping not to feel the ground as I strained harder and harder. After what seemed like an eternity as I fought gravity, I gave up. I opened my eyes to see I didn’t lift a single inch off the ground; I failed the exam instantly as the stallion next to me shook his head in disapproval and the crowd laughed at me. Everypony was laughing at me, the entire facility pointing at me as I sat there, absorbing every miserable second of it as I tried to hold back my tears. I was never more embarrassed in my life. I wished at that moment I would just disappear, never seeing any of them again. My dad came and talked to the instructor, hoping he could defend me. “He failed the test.” said the instructor as my dad looked at me in disbelief. I couldn’t quite hear what they were saying as I sat down, they both agreed to something as they shook their heads and glared at me. Then, out of the blue, two pegasai like me took me away from my dad as he looked emotionlessly. “Daddy!” I yelled of the top of my lungs, hoping he would snap out of his almost dazed state. I was shocked to see my dad just turn his back on me, expressionless as a statue.