As the years went by, I changed. As I became more and more secluded, not communicating with others, I also became more… dense when it came to noticing anything outside of my own interests. I also became more secluded, more introverted. The bullies changed as well. Boss Gang didn’t act alone when he harassed me anymore. By the time I turned eleven, he gained his own band of bullies, three ponies who always went along with him wherever he went: Sol Spots, Nova Rays, and Flame Buster.
All three of them were more skilled in magic than I was. Even Sol, who was quite a bit smaller than me, and smallest of the four Gangsters, could easily knock me out of my senses if he wanted to.
The biggest change happened with their bullying methods. They became stealthier, craftier. Crueler, too. I guess they kind of adapted, seeing that I managed to be liked by the teachers. I was getting good grades, I always worked hard, and tried not to be swung around regardless what the bullies did to me. That last part always seemed to piss them off, and now they were coming up with new methods to bully me. For fun.
They began to trip me in the halls, shove me whenever I was carrying loads of books, somehow get through my deflection shields and hit me in the head with their magic, go and talk nonsensical crap behind my back, I could go on and on. Sometimes they’d even insult me in the face, saying how I was “very incompetent” with magic and that I “shouldn’t have been qualified to be here”. One time, Boss even said that I must have “cheated and bribed my way in”.
I ignored them, as usual. But, truth be told, it was getting harder for me to entirely ignore me when they were throwing so much shit right in my face. Sometimes, although I didn’t show it, those comments hurt me. It hurt my feelings, to watch those four go around and talk foul things about me to other ponies.
I tried telling the teachers. But that didn’t help in the least. After they got off from being scolded by Miss Hackney, they blocked me in the hallway and pushed me towards a wall. And there was no one in the hallway other than the five of us. In this situation, anypony would be scared out of their minds. I mean, I thought I had been through everything they had to offer so far. I hadn’t been expecting the situation to become… physically threatening.
“So,” said Boss Gang, placing a forehoof on the wall, right next to my face.
“So?” replied I, trying to keep my voice from shaking.
“Look who it is, it’s the colt who cheated his way in!” Sol Spots chimed in, a devilish smirk on his face.
“And now look at him, going around, telling the teachers that we were bullying him when all we wanted was to be friends with him,” Nova Rays added, feigning disappointment towards me.
“‘Friends’?” I spat. “What kind of ponies shove their friend around? What kind of ponies insult their friends right in the face? You are not my friend; you were never my friend!”
“Whoa, whoa, that’s pretty aggressive, especially coming from an incompetent pony like you,” said Flame Buster, feigning surprise by raising a hoof.
“Pretty brave as well,” added Nova.
“Listen carefully, Shux, I don’t give a damn about what you think about us. However, one more word I hear from the teacher that says you tried to frame us—” Boss started.
“Frame you? Excuse me, but what you’re doing is bullying, and I’m pretty sure I told Miss Hackney the absolute tru—” I indignantly shouted.
“I said,” Boss growled in a low, threatening voice, “I don’t give a damn whatever you think of us. However… I will not be so generous the next time I hear another word from Miss Hackney, or any other teacher for that matter. You know our skills in magic, don’t you?”
I thought quickly. So far, telling the teachers about the bullying had no effect at all, obviously. How could I guarantee that it would actually be effective the next time I told Miss Hackney about it? And their expressions looked like they could use a good punch, just so they could relieve the stress. So I slowly nodded, as much I hated to.
“Good. Remember, Shux, we’re keeping an eye on you… come on guys, let’s go,” said Boss, finally allowing some space between me and the wall.
After I was let free, I retreated to my room, pacing around and thinking. This… this was the first time I had submitted to their demands. And it didn’t take a genius to guess that once I had finally given in, they would harass me even harder.
I considered writing to my parents. After all, an adult speaking to another adult had a better effect than a foal talking to an adult, didn’t it? So I started writing a letter.
Dear mom,
Hi, mom! It’s been a while since I wrote to you. I wonder how you are doing.
Actually, I’m writing this letter because I have some issues. Some of my peers are constantly bullying me. They shove me around, talk behind my back, insult me in the face, so on. It’s kind of making life hard—
But then, I stopped. After thinking it several times over, I decided to not tell my parents.
Did I mention I have a little sister? Because I do, a younger sister named Aurora. She’s two years younger than I am, and she’s already such an adorable bright spot. I mean, how could you not be fond of her; she’s smart, kind, cute, everything one could ask for a little sister. We used to pull pranks on each other. We took turns in covering for each other’s mischievous pranks and wrongdoings. We even soothed each other whenever one of us had a bad nightmare.
Unfortunately, she also has a rather severe heart condition. Even before I came to Canterlot, I had seen her go through a heart attack in the middle of the day. It was chaotic; mom trying to get Aurora to calm down; dad calling the EMS; Aurora lying on the ground, clutching her chest with her hooves, struggling to breathe. And I just stood there, watching. Too terrified to do anything. That was when I was eight. And now, four years later, she had another one of those heart attacks.
Her pacemaker had malfunctioned, sending out electrical pulses when it shouldn’t have. It ultimately caused my sister’s heart to fail, and once again I was unable to do anything, being so far away from home, so far away from her.
I didn’t want to worry my parents. For all I knew, they were staying in the hospital Aurora was in, watching her 24/7. Aurora was in a coma, and they didn’t know when she would be waking up. Even the doctors didn’t know. And I knew that, by telling them of the bullying that was going on, I would be giving them another issue to deal with. And I didn’t want that. Not when my parents were praying for their lives to have their younger child saved.
So I tore up the letter, threw the pieces into the trash bin, and wrote a new one:
Dear mom,
Hi mom! It’s been a while since I wrote to you.
I heard that Aurora’s in the hospital. I was always worried what would happen when that pacemaker of hers failed. Hope she wakes up from her coma soon, because I really want her to be awake by the time I get her a cake and a present for her eleventh birthday. I want her to see for herself what I got her. Not to mention that she needs to be the astronomer she always wanted to be. I mean, her cutie mark’s a ringed gas-giant with three stars. She will be a great astronomer, I can guarantee that.
On the other news, school’s going great. Everypony is nice and kind here, and my friends are helping me out with my assignments. Although, I can’t wait until summer break arrives so I can see you again.
So don’t worry about me, since I’m doing great. Tell dad I said hello, and Aurora that I’ll bring her birthday presents when she wakes up.
See you in a few weeks!
With lots of love
Lux
After I finished writing the letter, I read it through once more. Then I rolled up the scroll and used my magic to send it on its merry way. Throughout the process, I struggled to keep my vision from becoming misty.
After sending the letter, I watched it fly away into the purple twilight sky until it was no longer visible. Then I broke down. I fell onto my haunches, and dragged myself to a dark corner of the room. I wrapped my forelegs around my hind knees, and sobbed. I had never felt so utterly lonely and helpless. I rocked back and forth, crying into my forelegs. I was so afraid, so alone.
Just then, a chirping sound reached my ears. I looked up. Echo was chirping from his cage, looking at me. Even though I was crying, I couldn’t help but put on a little smile when I saw him. He did know how to cheer me up, the little fella. I walked up and opened the cage. Echo hopped onto my forehooves and chirped.
“Oh, you cute little fella. Don’t you worry, Lux is perfectly fine. It’s just… it’s just that I… don’t know what to do.” I choked through tears and sniffles. “But don’t you worry, I’ll be by your side, no matter what.”
Echo chirped and flew up to my cheeks, and gave little pecks on each side. That did make me smile. “Thanks.”