- >Walking down the halls, you look up at the posters on the walls.
- >You stop as you notice those two terrible word, written in bright markers.
- >Prom Tonight.
- >It's what everyone's been talking about lately, and you won't even be able to get a date.
- >Just like every other dance this school has.
- >You continue trudging down the hallways, passing many other ponies you knew.
- >Well, you knew who they were, not really much about them.
- >They didn't even talk to you.
- >Passing down the hallways, you head down to the science room.
- >This would be your favorite class if it wasn't taught by Mr. Battington.
- >He's not bad, he's just a little hateful towards you since Amber and you started hanging together.
- >The fact that she doesn't really like you anymore doesn't stop him from being over protective of his daughter.
- >You turn a corner as you see something brown fly at your face.
- >Getting hit in your muzzle, you fall back holding it to look up to see you books fly around you.
- >As you hit the floor, you see a bat pony walk out the door, not even noticing you as you hear ponies snickering as the walk by.
- >You pick up your books and dust yourself off as you continue walking.
- >You were heading to your class of the day so it wasn't even worth fussing about.
- >Finally reaching the door, you walk inside to see other ponies looking at you.
- >Why were they staring at you?
- >They all stare at you, trying to hold back laughter as you head to your seat.
- >Ponies laugh at you a lot, but not like this.
- >Looking around the room, you see the sink and stand up.
- >As you walk over to it, you can see yourself better, revealing a large black eye.
- >You sigh and walk back to your seat.
- >You wait for a while as more ponies come into class followed by Mr. Battington.
- >A bat pony with short, red hair sits next to you.
- >Lullaby.
- >You pay no attention and turns back to Mr. Battington.
- >He walks over to the chalk board and turns back to the class.
- >"Today, we will be having a pop quiz."
- >Groans fill the room around you.
- >You didn't really mind, you were pretty good at this stuff.
- >Mr. Battington walks around the room, placing papers on everyone's desk.
- >He stares for a moment at you before placing the sheet of paper on your desk with his hoof.
- >As you look down at the paper, you can hear snoring.
- >Turning to face Lullaby, you see her asleep on her desk, as like every other day.
- >How she even passes, you have no idea.
- >You pick up the pencil in your mouth and get back to your quiz.
- >It's just a simple review, only ten questions, nothing you can't handle.
- >Let's see...
- >A
- >C
- >A
- >D
- >B
- >C
- >A
- >A
- >D
- >B
- >That wasn't so hard.
- >Setting down the pencil, you pick up the paper in your mouth and walk up to the front of the room.
- >You look back at the class, seeing that you're the first one done.
- >You turn back around to face Mr. Battington and set you paper down on his desk.
- >He looks up from the book he's reading.
- >"Finished first as usual I see?"
- >Looking up, your eyes meet his.
- "Uh, yes sir."
- >With a gurnt, he continues reading.
- >You head back to your desk, sitting there as the rest of the class continues their quizes.
- >After everyone had finished their quizes, the bell rings, signaling the end of the day.
- >Picking up your books and setting them in your bag, you walk out of the classroom.
- >Heading down to your locker, you open the door to and put your books away.
- >You do carry one thing in your backpack however.
- >Your costume.
- >The situation to use it hasn't come up yet, but you remain hopeful.
- >This whole town can't be perfect, something bad has to happen eventually.
- >Exiting out the doors of the school, you head down the dirt road.
- >Better head home, don't want Jasmine getting mad at you.
- >Walking down the path, you take your time.
- >Hollow Shades was a very beautiful village, expecially at this time of night.
- >Watching the moon bathe the trees around you in silver light, you can see every single little detail.
- >The locust sing as you walk down the paths.
- >Pure beauty like this was rare lately in your life.
- >You stop for a moment and look around.
- >You didn't recognize where you were.
- >Were you lost?
- >Walking more, you see the moonlight reflecting off of a large body of water.
- >How far have you wandered out here?
- >Looking around, you can see flower around the lake, their petals closed for the night.
- >You come across a wooden dock, sticking out with some tools on the edge of it.
- >As you walk down the dock, the wood creeks underneath you.
- >The tools looked like fishing equipment.
- >You walk to it and pick a fishing rod up.
- >You'd never got fishing before.
- >Looking over the shining lake, you could see little ripples in the water.
- >You sigh and sit at the edge of the dock, holding the line in your hand.
- >As you drop it, you lands in the water, the bobber floating on top of it.
- >Sitting back, you wait for a little bit.
- >The hook wasn't even baited, but this was still relaxing.
- >Birds fly over the lake as you watch the moon.
- >All of your surroundings seem at peace, enjoying the night that cloaks the sky.
- >Everything was perfectly calm.
- >You jump at the sudden break of the silence, a sharp scream piercing through the silence like a knife.
- >A feminine scream.
- >Dropping the fishing rod, you run towards the sound of the scream, not thinking twice.
- >You stop for a moment, remembering your costume.
- >Reaching into your saddle bag, you pull it out and put on your mask.
- >As you run towards the source you try to put on your suit, tripping over several times.
- >Finally putting on the entire costume, you continue running towards the soucrce of the scream.
- >It seemed to come from the way you came.
- >Your leg stops as you suddenly fall forward through some branches.
- >You pick yourself up, looking back to see your hoof stopped on a root.
- >Turning back around, you can see an old bat mare with a very frightened look on her face, staring at you.
- >Standing next to her in another bat pony, wearing a black mask, holding a saddle bag as he stares at you.
- >As you look at your surrounding more, you seem to be back at Hollow Shades.
- >You stand up and face towards the old mare.
- "Where did that screaming come from?"
- >She points at the bat pony wearing the black mask in response.
- >"He stole my saddle bag!"
- >This looks like a job for The Mango!
- >Extending your hoof, you point at the masked pony.
- "Stop right there criminal!"
- >You push out your chest and stand as tall as you can, trying to look as tough as possible.
- >He blinks a few times staring at you before his face contorts into a look of anger.
- >The pony reaches back with his neck, turning back to reveal a knife in his mouth.
- >He has a knife.
- >That was the one thing you didn't prepare for.
- >Looking down, you realize you aren't prepared for anything.
- >You don't even have something to fight with.
- >You couldn't rely on fighting skills, you've never been in a fight before.
- >There was only one thing you could do at a time like this.
- >Turning around as fast as you can, you take off sprinting.
- >You didn't even dare looking back to see if he was chasing you.
- >Trying your best to lose him, your turn around as many corners as you can.
- >As you turn around a corner for the third time, you see a familiar brick building.
- >Your school!
- >You run towards it to see light on inside it.
- >What were they doing on at this time of night?
- >It didn't matter, you just needed to get inside.
- >Getting to the doors of the building, you open them and run inside to see many ponies you knew staring at you.
- >Oh, you were still in your costume.
- >You look around as fast as you can, trying to find a bathroom.
- >You come across one near the gym and enter it, running straight through the door and turn into a stall.
- >Closing the door behind you, you rip off your costume, not caring for it and throw it in the toilet, trying to flush it down.
- >The toilet begins filling with water as the clothe stops clogs the pipes.
- >That was not what you wanted.
- >Better leave before anypony see this.
- >Opening the door behind you, the sound of quiet sobs meets your ears.
- >You walk through to see a mare in a blue dress with silver trim.
- >Oh yeah, today was the prom.
- >She was bent over and crying in the sink with her purple curly hair covering her face.
- >It was Amber.
- >Why was she crying?
- >She was the most beautiful mare in the school, it's not like she couldn't get a date.
- >Wait, this means you're in the girl's bathroom.
- >Maybe you could sneak out without her seeing you.
- >Creeping towards the door, you step as soft as you can.
- >You reach the door and try to push it open, but the door creaks as you do.
- >Amber lifts her head and turns towards you and meets your gaze.
- >...
- >"Aux?"
- >You could feel your face becoming warm.
- "Uh... y-yes? I c-came in here w-when I saw you c-crying..."
- >She turns back to face the mirror, seeing her cheecks wet with her own tears.
- >"That's nice of you Aux."
- >Maybe you should stay.
- "Y-yeah, what happened?"
- >She faces you and uses her hoof to push the hair out of her face.
- >"My date left me for a prettier mare, and he didn't even tell me before tonight."
- >What!?
- >What person would leave Amber for anypony else?
- "But you're the most beautiful mare in the entire school!"
- >Amber's face goes blank as she stares at you, a blush appearing on her face.
- >"Um, what?"
- >Pausing you realize what you just said.
- "I-it's true!"
- >You can feel your face beginning to grow red as you back slowly towards the door.
- >"Wait, don't go!"
- >She steps towards you and reaches out to you.
- >"That's the nicest thing anypony has ever said to me."
- >Stopping, you step towards her.
- >"Would you like to be my date, Aux?"
- >Was this seriosuly happening?
- "O-okay..."
- >A smile spreading across her face, she wipes the tears from her eyes.
- >"Yay! Aux, you're amazing!"
- "Uh, s-sure..."
- >Taking your hoof, she pulls you through the bathroom door and down the halls.
- >She heads towards the gym, pulling you in to wear the lights are dimmed, banners on the walls, and disco lights everywhere.
- >This was the last place you expected to be tonight.
- >She pulls you out towards where a lot of ponies your age were dancing.
- >You follow her until she stops and looks back at you, a huge smile across her face.
- >"I can't thank you enough for this!"
- "Y-you too..."
- >She giggles and takes you with her to the edge of the dancing ponies.
- >The song was a slow one, and all the ponies were dancing together.
- >It was obvious lots of them were in love.
- >Or teenage love, which doesn't last that very long.
- >Stopping, Amber turns towards you and takes your hooves and begins stepping in confusing ways.
- >You try to keep up with her, having no idea what to do.
- >Tripping over your own feet, you stumble as Amber giggles.
- >"Don't you know how to dance?"
- >You look up at her in acknowledgement.
- "N-no pony has ever asked me to dance..."
- >She gives a worried frown and extends a hoof out to you.
- >"Here, I'll show you."
- >She takes your hoof and guides you, telling you exactly where to step with your hind legs until you begin to do it more smoothly.
- >After a few minutes, you begin dancing as good as she does, keeping up with her.
- >You were always a fast learner.
- >As a few minutes of dancing, she rests her head on your shoulder.
- >"Aux, you're a great friend."
- >Yeah, friend.
- >Seems like even the most perfect night can't change that...

