A Bat's Life - 3

>You run down the dirt path, the weight of your saddlebags hitting your sides with each step.

>Twenty minutes late.

>This was the latest you had ever been.

>It was all Jasmine's fault.

>If she didn't have those late night parties with her friends, you could have studied and slept at a reasonable time.

>She's been having parties every night since your parents leftf for their vacation to Neighagra Falls.

>She was so irresponsible.

>Hard to believe she was going to study in Canterlot next year.

>Turning a corner, you feel your hoof stop on something.

>You look down just in time to see your hoof on a root.

>You topple over as your glasses fly off your nose into the dirt.

>As you lay there for a moment, you catch your breath before standing up.

>Grabbing your glasses, you dust them off before putting them back on your nose as you continue running.

>After a few more minutes of running the brick building comes into view.

>Oh, how you hated this place.

>High School was hard enough without all the horrible things all the other ponies did.

>At least some of the teachers were nice.

>Reaching the doors, you pull on one only to find it locked.

>Other door, idiot.

>Grabbing the door on the right, you pull it open and jog inside.

>The hallways were barren except for the lockers lined against the walls.

>It takes a matter of seconds to find yours and you open it, quickly shoving in your saddlebag and grabbing your books.

 

>You shut the locker and run as fast as you can down the hallways, slowing to a brisk walk whenever you pass a window.

>You didn't want to get in any more trouble than you already were.

>The door comes into sight as you slow down.

>Room 252.

>Stopping in front of the door, you take a deep breath.

>Here we go.

>You turn the handle and walk inside, the entire class as silent as a cemetary as they all look at you.

>Feeling your face turn warm, you hang your head as you walk to your desk, next to a girl's with familiar dark blue hair.

>"And why are you so late today, Aux?"

>You look up to see your teacher staring straight at you with eyes that showed nothing more than annoyance.

"I... um... overslept?"

>"Keekeekee."

>Your teacher's head shoots up and looks around for a minute.

>"Who laughed? Was it you Orchid?"

>Trying to hide his smille, he covers his muzzle.

>"No ma'am, keekee."

>She slowly walks back to her desk and sits down, all the while still staring at the laughing bat pony.

>"Might I remind you how many times you've been late for class?"

>With that, Orhcid's expression of amusement was replaced with a scowl as he slumpt in his desk.

>Stupid Orchid, always mean to you for no reason.

>You've even helped him with his homework before, and for what? Him to break your glasses?

 

>As you look around the room, your eyes meet a certain purple haired pony.

>She waves to you with that genuine smile you've seen so many times through out the years.

>You wave back, a smile on your face.

>A hoof touches Amber's shoulder, and she stops for a moment before she puts her hoof down and looks away.

>It's been like this ever since high school started.

>She's hung out with you less and less each year.

>She came over to your house sometimes, but that was most likely to see Jasmine and for the nostalgia.

>Her new friends were mean to you.

>The popular crowd was never nice to ponies like you anyways.

>Hearing the bell ring, you look up, noticing you day dreamed throught the entire class.

>With a sigh, you pick up your books and walk out.

>You had a free hour next.

>Might as well go to the library and study since you weren't able to study from Jasmine's shenanigans.

>You walk down the hallways as you pass many other bat ponies.

>Walking on the side of the hallway, you notice Orchid walk up next to you.

>He doesn't say a word as he passes you.

>But not before making sure to trip you, making you stumble, but not fall over all the way.

>He's not really that mean to anyone else, just you.

>As it's like with everyone else.

>Walking up to the doors, you walk inside to see the rows of old books.

>You wave to the librarian with a smile as you go to sit at a desk.

>She was always so nice to you.

 

>You sit down and set down your books on the wooden table, setting the Equestrian history book in front of you.

>Your class was currently studying how Hollow Shades was founded, but it was pretty boring.

>Turning to the seventh chapter, page two hundred and twenty-three to be exact, you begin reading the top of the page.

>Something about bat ponies coming out of an old cave in the mountains, wanting a new life, finding a forest with delicious food, building a village.

>You'd heard this a thousand times, but they still want you to study it.

>Don't see why.

>You come back to reality as you realize that you just read three pages without even paying attention to the words.

>Sighing, you drop your head on the table.

>You raise you head to the sound of the chair next to yours being moved.

>As you look up, you see Night Watch sitting next to you.

>Why was she in the library?

>And why was she sitting next to YOU!?

>"Hey, there Aux."

>You pause for a moment.

>Why was her voice like that?

>It was almost... seductive.

"H-hey Night W-watch."

>"What are you doing in here?"

>She raises her eyebrow as she scoots closer to you.

>You can feel sweat beginning to form on your forehead.

"N-nothing much, j-just studying..."

 

>You try to look down at you book to continue reading, but you feel her hoof on your chin.

>She moves your face to where you're looking at her.

>"It's not very nice to ignore a lady when she's talking to you."

>You can feel your face getting warm.

"S-sorry..."

>She rubs her nose against yours.

>"You're such a cutie, you know that?"

>Was she really doing this?

"R-really...?"

>She pauses for a moment.

>"Nope!"

>Realing back her hoof, she punches you right in your crotch with more force than the royal army.

>You fall out of your chair, holding your crotch as you hear Night Watch and multiple other bat ponies laughing.

>"Keekeekee! Aux, you're so gullible!"

>You wince in pain as they all walk past you.

>Taking deep breaths, you try to stand up, the pain still lingering as you sit in your chair.

>As you close your book you sigh.

>Guess it was your fault, actually believing a popular girl like Night Watch would like you.

>You take out your notebook and flip through the pages.

>If only there was a way to get them to like you.

>As far as you know, you've never done anything bad to them.

>You stop flipping through the notebook when you come across a certain page.

>On it was a drawing of Bat Horse.

>Pausing for a moment, you look at the simple drawing of the superhero.

 

>Are you serious thinking this?

>You hear the bell ring as you close your notebook.

>Throughout the day, you pay no attention to your teachers or classmates as you draw in your notebook.

>As soon as the final bell rings, you jump out of your seat and run as fast as you can, past every one else.

>You fly faster than the Shadowbolts, as you head towards your house.

>Stopping for a moment, you realize that you forgot your books at school.

>As you turn around, you come face-to-face with a pair of amber eyes.

>"Hey Aux!"

>You take a step back, looking at Amber.

>She had grown up gracefully, not a single blemish on her face.

>Her hair was still the same, and it looked stunning on her.

>"H-hey Amber..."

>"Why'd you run out of school so fast? I wanted to talk to you."

>She hasn't spoken to you in a month, what could she possible want?

"About what?"

>"Well, I heard about what Night Watch did to you..."

>Her smile disappears as she looks at you.

>"I'm sorry about what she did. I don't like how they treat you, especially when you wouldn't hurt a fly."

>You rub your foreleg as you stare into her beautiful Amber eyes.

"D-don't worry about, it's n-not that b-bad."

>She sighs as she walks past you.

>"I know I don't hang out with you that much anymore, but you're still my friend. If they do anything, please tell me, okay?"

 

>You pause for a moment, as you look down.

"O-okay, I w-will..."

>Turning around, you walk slowly back to school, where you walk in and grab you books for the night.

>You head back home without anymore problems, barely seeing a single pony.

>As you get home, you notie your sister in the kitchen.

"Hi Jasmine!"

>She turns around, holding a mango.

>"Hey Aux, how'd it go at school?"

>You lower your head as you walk past her.

>Sitting down at a table, she sighs.

>"That bad?"

>You nod as you walk upstairs, leaving her alone to enjoy her mango.

>She wouldn't even understand.

>She was popular in highschool, all the other ponies loved her.

>As you you head upstairs, you pass your room and head into your parent's, grabbing your mother's fabric.

>You walk back down the hallway into your room.

>You lock your door behind you as you sit at your desk and pull out your notebook.

>Setting it down, you dig through your closet, pulling out some needle and thread.

>As you cut out shapes in the fabric, you check your notebook, looking at your drawings.

>You finish cutting and pull out the thread, sewing it all together to look like you drawing.

>Slipping over you head, you can see through the two holes in the mask.

>You look in the mirror, looking at the mask.

>Not the best, but it still looked pretty nice.

>And it was perfect for your new identinty.

>You were the hero of Hollow Shades now.

>If they wouldn't love you, they could love you as another.

>You are The Mango.