//------------------------------//
// Family Support 
// Story: Those Awkward Teen Years 
// by Blue Breeze 
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If it's not one thing, then it's another. I finally get out of school after surviving through six periods and lunch just to nearly get my flank kicked by some stupid bullies that I thought I was done with for the day. When my parents see my face, they're gonna freak. Not because they'll be mad at me, but because they'll freak out over something so small. My parents sure are over-protective oveer a kid with supernatural powers who beat up three manticores when he was only twelve.

*sigh* Why is Celestia so cruel? Well, no changing what's been done. All I can do is deal with as it comes. But Dumb-bell is definitely going to pay for this. I'll go see if Blaze has any ideas on that later.

As I continue to walk down the ccloud road, I come across a store window. I look at my reflection in the mirror and put a hoof up to my bruised face. Oh man. Why couldn't I have purple fur like Blaze?

I exhale as I drop my head and continue walking down the street. Oh great. As if the day couldn't get any worse, I have to walk by Mrs. Not's house to get home. As I walk by, the violet pegasus mare with the grey mane and tail and phonograph cutie mark sits on a rocking chair on her porch.


"You stupid kid! Stay away from my house!"

I stop and turn to her. "Crazy old bat! I'm nowhere near your house!"

"Is that any way you talk to your elders, you little brat?!"

"Exactly! You're elderly! Can't you just act your age and die already?!"

"Die?! HA! I've got another hundred years still left in me! I ain't dyin' anytime soon!"

I growl before I continue my trot passed her house. Well, at least she didn't sick her pet bird on me this time. There's something.

As I walk for a bit longer, I reach my two story cloud house and walk inside, trying not to alert anypony that I'm home just yet.

I quietly make my way upstairs to my room and unstrap my saddlebags from my back. I toss them onto my desk and then plop down onto my bed.

I sigh in relief. "Ah, this is what I've been waiting for all day."

Just then, my door suddenly opens as my mom walks in. "Blue?" she asks, raising an eyevrow.

"Oh, h-hey, mom." I reply nervously, making sure to not let her see my right cheek.

"Well, not that I'm not glad to see you, but when did you get home?"

"Oh, just a minute ago. I had a long day, so I just rushed up to my room for a nap. What are you doing in here?"

"I heard a noise coming from inside as I was walking through the hall."

I really need to work on my stealth.

"Oh, sorry about not letting you know I was home."

"It's fine." she walks up and takes a seat on the foot of my bed. "So, how was your first day of school? Haily had a nice time at her's."

I make sure to have my face turned during this to continue hiding my face. "Well, it started off with the principal beating up one of the students."

She giggles. "Oh, honey. Enough with the joking."

Great, so even the idea of the principal being a psycho is so crazy that she won't believe it. That's perfect.

"*sigh* I did make some friends today."

"Oh, that's wonderful. I just knew you would. Any girls?" she asks curiously.

"Mom!"

She giggles again. "Oh, you know I'm just teasing you, honey." she gives me a quizzica look as she notices my head. Blue, why do you keep turning your head in that position?"

"Oh, uh, no reason."

She leans over and reaches out her forelegs, using them to grab my head. "Blue, turn your head. I know you're hiding something."

"No, I'm not!"

She turns my head around and gaps as she sees my bruise. "What happened to your face?!"

I exhale as I look down and back to her. "Look, it's no big deal. I had a bit of a scuff with some bullies, but one of my friends helped me out. I'm fine."

"Fine?! That bruise is nearly as big as your eye!"

Which is saying a lot for ponies.

Haily walks by the front door as my mom continues looking at me. "Hey, mom. What's with all the-" she stops as she notices me. "Hey, Blue. When did you get home?"

"Minute ago." I answer nonchalantly.

She walks up to us. "Well, how was-" she stops again, this time from seeing my face. "Woah! Where'd that come from? Did you get in a fight and lose?"

"Opposite. I got in a fight and won."

"That's so cool."

"Haily, don't encourage your brother to do those kinds of things." my mom tells her.

"It's not such a big deal, mom. It's just one bruise."

"One bruise is one too many. Maybe I should get in contact with the school and talk to them about this."

"NO!" I shout, smacking her hooves away.

She stares at me in shock. What do you mean?"

"I don't need you making this a bigger deal than it is. You already made me a laughing stock when you dropped me off."

"Really?"

"Yes."

"Oh, I'm sorry."

"Ugh, you don't get it. Let's just drop it, please?"

"But, Blue, this is serious."

"No, you making me an even bigger laughing stock than I already am because you decided to fight my own battles for me is serious. If it's even possible for me to be an even bigger laughing stock!" I get up from my bed in a huff. "Just drop it and leave me alone."

I leave the room and my mom and sister, the two of them shocked at my reaction. "I was just trying to help."

"Mom, you really don't understand kids." Haily says.

"What do you mean?"

"If we were still little, getting involve would be okay, but being teenagers is totally uncool. Blue doesn't need help, just support."

She puts a hoof to her chin as she thinks about it. "Hmm, I'll have your father talk to Blue about it when he gets home from work. He's always been better at getting through to him than me."

Haily nods at her. "I think that'd be a good idea."

Several hours later

It is now late in the evening, the sun barely up and now making the sky a bright orange mixed with dark blue. I sit on top of the house, the place I always go when I like to think in silence.

I look over the nearby buildings as I think, the light shrining through their windows and everypony now inside.

As I sit, my dad flies up and takes a seat next to me. "Hey, bud. What's up?"

I shrug. "Not much."

"That's not what your mother tells me. She says school didn't go so well. And I can tell from your bruise that it's true."

I sigh. "Yeah, it's no big deal. I'm fine. I can handle any bullies."

"I know you can."

"It's the teachers I'm worried about."

"Oh, really?"

"Yeah, the principal is a maniac who beats up the students."

He chuckles. "Really now?"

"Yeah, I know. You don't believe me either."

"No, I do."

"Really?"

"Yeah, I know you wouldn't lie about something like that."

"Well, not just him. My other most of my teachers are also really crazy."

"Do tell."

I definitely got my smart flank attitude from him. "Well, does the name Vein ring any bells."

"Vein? As in, the Vein I mentioned to you was in the guards with me before I got a ob at the weather factory?"

"Yeah, he's my P.E. coach. He's taking his grudge against you out on me."

His look hardens. "Doesn't surprise me. He's always been a real snake."

"That's being a bit too nice."

He chuckles again, lightening his mood. "Yeah, I guess you're right. Back when we were in the guard, we were always butting heads. He was a tota show-off and he was really bull-headed. We were always getting into arguements and even a few fights. Then one day, your mom told me she was pregnant with you. I wanted to quit my job as a guard so it didn't continue to worry her and so that I could help take care of her and you. Vein was really against the idea, but I didn't care. The only thing I cared about were you guys. I'd even put my life on the line for you guys. To me, you're even more important than the princess."

"Really, dad?" I ask.

He nods. "Really. Blue, I know you can get through all this. Mom told me you made some good friends who really helped, right?"

"Well, yeah."

"See? You're not going through it alone. I know you're tough enough to get through this. Don't let anypony, especially Vein, get in your way. Understand?"

I give him a determined look. "Yeah, I got it."

He pulls me into a hug. "That's my boy." we break the hug as he puffs out his wings. "Well, I'll see you inside. Mom's making macaroni for dinner."

Macaroni? "Um, I think I'll pass."

He chuckles. "Alright, suit yourself."

He flies back inside to meet my mom in the kitchen. "So, how'd it go?"

"I think he'll be just fine."