//------------------------------// // XIII: Anacrusis picks it up // Story: The Flutterheart Diaries // by lilinuyasha //------------------------------// Trey sighed heavily, looking at the letter delivered to him shortly before school ended. Dear parent/guardian, Your child, ANACRUSIS, needs a parent-teacher conference immediately after school. Please meet Cheerilee at the schoolhouse after school hours to discuss your child’s misconduct. Cheerilee. P.S-Sorry, Trey. I’m not sure what got into him, but he pushed the envelope a bit far this time. Sorry if this is inconvenient. Trey recognized Cheerilee’s hoofwriting at the end of the note, at the bottom of the pre-made note the school sends out for misbehavior. What could Anacrusis have done? And why? Trey set the letter aside, rubbing his face with his hoof in frustration. “Hey, Flutterheart?” “Yes?” asked Fluttershy, popping her head out from the other room. “We have to go up to the school. Anacrusis needs to have a parent-teacher conference.” “Why?” asked Fluttershy, concerned. It was unlike their children to misbehave. “Misbehavior, apparently.” “Oh...” said Fluttershy, pinning her ears back. “...I hope it isn’t serious...” “Nah. Probably just learned a few new words that aren’t school-appropriate.” “Oh. Well, at least we didn’t teach those to him.” “Where he learned it is what I’m concerned about.” began Trey, heading out the door, Fluttershy shortly in tow. They discussed various possibilities of what Anacrusis could have done, working themselves up to a state of readiness, where they’d figure out a talk to give him later. As the two of them strolled in the schoolhouse, where Anacrusis sat in front of Cheerilee’s desk, Cheerilee greeted them, a small look of...was that fear or respect? “Please, take a seat.” she said sternly, as though she still had some built up anger in her. “Did Anacrusis say something bad?” asked Fluttershy, starting to worry. The calm mood she got into earlier flew out the window as she and Trey were faced with the problem head on. “Kind of, but that’s not the issue. Let’s start off with some of the good things I’ve noticed about both of your children.” she began, hoping to calm them before the bad news. “Anacrusis and Flutterwing, who’s playing outside with some other foals, by the way, both show tremendous intellectual capability. They’re both excelling in school. Anacrusis excels in math and science, both technical things, while Flutterwing shows extreme deftness in creativeness, both in art and literary projects. Both of them do fairly well in the music class, but Anacrusis doesn’t seem interested. Sometimes he just doesn’t participate. Honestly, I think he generally has a lack of interest for most activities. I really haven’t found anything that he likes to do. Flutterwing, on the other hoof, participates wholeheartedly.” “That’s good to know...” said Fluttershy, trying to put on a happy face. Anacrusis fidgeted in his seat, knowing what would come next would upset his parents, especially Trey. He didn’t want to upset his dad... “Yes. They’re doing very well. Now, I’m afraid we have to go to the bad news...” Trey sighed, motioning for her to continue. Cheerilee cleared her throat, preparing her speech. “Anacrusis seems to have a bit of a short temper, and has been showing signs of aggressiveness on more than one occasion. I’ve let it slide, seeing as nopony seemed to find it too bothersome, but I’m afraid he crossed the line today. Anacrusis picked a fight with a few of the other school colts today, giving one a nosebleed, and the other bruises.” Fluttershy shrank back in her seat. Hopefully ponies wouldn’t think she was a bad parent... Trey sighed, asking “Why? What started the fight?” “I’m not exactly sure. Anacrusis hasn’t said a word since I broke up the fight. He’d only just stopped crying when you showed up.” “I’m not trying to make excuses...” began Trey. “...but why would Anacrusis be crying if he started the fight?” “He probably got hurt. Fights tend to do that.” “Um...” began Fluttershy. “...we’ll talk to him about it...please don’t blame us...” she continued, shrinking into herself, like she did years ago. “Of course not. Foals make mistakes. We’re only equine. Just do your best to make sure this doesn’t happen again, or else I’ll have to suspend him.” “Yes Ma’am.” said Trey, getting out of his seat. “I’m sorry for his behavior.” “Yes...sorry...” began Fluttershy. “I’m going to get Flutterwing...and meet you at the house...” “Ok. That’ll give Anacrusis and I some time to talk on the way home.” said Trey, looking down at his soon, who looked elsewhere, his eyes red from crying. “C’mon. Let’s go.” he said, to which Anacrusis reluctantly hopped up, following his dad home. *** “Son, if you don’t say anything, I won’t understand.” Anacrusis continued his slow trot, dragging his hooves along, looking elsewhere. Trey sighed. “The more I understand, the less angry I’ll be at you.” Anacrusis’ ears perked, and he looked up at Trey, a small beam of hope in his eyes. He returned to looking at the ground, mumbling. Trey knelt down to listen to him. “What?” he asked. Anacrusis couldn’t say anything cohesively, and started crying again. Trey managed to pick out an “I’m sorry” before Anacrusis shut down completely and hugged his father tight. Trey returned the gesture. “C’mon. Let’s go inside.” said Trey. They weren’t too far from the cottage. Trey gently helped Anacrusis inside, where he instinctively went to his room. “Alright. I’m not going to yell or scream. I just want to know what happened.” said Trey in the kindest tone he had. “They were picking on her...” he said, avoiding eye contact. “Who was picking on who?” “They were picking on Flutterwing...” “Can you tell me who they were?” “I don’t know their names...Mrs. Cheerilee does...” “Ok.” began Trey, realizing he’d stuck up for his sister. “Why were they picking on her? What were they saying?” “I don’t know...when I got there, Flutterwing was crying.” he said, tears forming in his eyes. “I told them to stop but they started calling me names and they kept picking on Flutterwing.” “Why didn’t you get Mrs. Cheerilee?” “...I don’t know...I thought she’d get mad...and then they’d pick on her and me some more...is she ok? I didn’t get to see her...” “I’m sure she’s fine, Anacrusis.” said Trey, smiling at him, wiping a tear from Anacrusis’ face. “I think you did a very nice thing, sticking up for your sister. Next time, get Mrs. Cheerilee. I don’t want you getting in any more trouble, ok?” “...ok...” “I mean it.” “Yes, Dad.” “Alright. Now give me a hug.” he said, extending his arms. Anacrusis promptly jumped to him, hugging him tight. “Now, get ready for bed.” “Can you check and see if Flutterwing’s alright?” “Sure thing. Sleep well. Mommy’ll be in to tuck you in later.” Trey promptly trotted to Flutterwing’s room, where Fluttershy was still talking to her. “You really have to be more careful where you walk, Flutterwing. You could get seriously hurt like that.” she said, kissing her forehead. “Now, get ready for bed and I’ll bring you something to make you feel better.” “Is she alright?” asked Trey. “Oh, she’s fine. She just tripped and fell is all. I’ll be right back.” Trey trotted over to Flutterwing. “Hey, are you ok?” “Yeah, I just...tripped...” she said, hesitating on that word. “...and fell.” she continued, turning her cheek to him, revealing a moderately sized bruise on her face. “Flutterwing...” began Trey, his tone getting serious and concerned. “...that didn’t come from falling. I know it. What really happened?” “I can’t tell you...” she said, looking away. “...they’ll hit me again if I tell anypony.” An unknown sense of anger grew within Trey as the dark reality of his sweet daughter being hurt weighed heavily upon him. He quickly hugged her tight, a single tear falling from his eye as he embraced her, almost expecting the bruise to undo itself, expecting his love to take away the hate. Fluttershy soon put her to bed while Trey furiously paced about their room. He had to do something. Tomorrow, he’d have a talk with Cheerilee.