Complicated

by rustyluck


Fine Tuned

I sat there, oblivious to the ranting physics teacher before me; I wasn't always one for school work, and besides that, how could I pay attention when next to me sat the most amazing mare I've ever laid eyes on?

I came to Ponyville with Lyra and Bon Bon when I was eight, I transferred right into Ms. Cheerilee's class, where I met the Cutie Mark Crusaders; more importantly, where I met Sweetie Belle. Since then, about seven years, she's blossomed and eventually got her cutie mark when we were about eleven, it's a pair of bells, which mirror her chiming voice when she sings. I always knew she could sing, eventually Applebloom and Scootaloo discovered their talents as well, but that story is for another day.

I myself have had my cutie mark before I was even adopted; it's a quaver symbol, yes, I'm pretty musically inclined. Luck be it I have Chorus with Sweetie Belle, the class itself is boring, but to be with her it's worth it; it's not like I really talk to her much though, I've always been the background pony of the class. It'd sit in the back, my unkempt turquoise mane shielding my face, and sometimes covering one of my light, red-hued eyes from direct contact with others. Quite frankly, my only real friend is Feather Weight, it's note-worthy that he had a crush on Scootaloo once... That is, until she came out of the closet.

I'll admit: I'm a bit of an introvert, if you couldn't tell; bullies have taunted me more than once, and Luna forbid if they'd embarrass me, the blush would easily show on my face with my slate colored mane in contrast. On one occasion a few years back, Sweetie Belle told them off... It made my day, only then for the bullies to continue with "Gonna have your girlfriend fight for you, emo?" Yeah, they called me emo, the jackflanks.

The memory played back in my head, only for me to recount that it was in fact a terrible one.


Sweetie Belle stood in between the bully, Chiseled Wing, his lackeys, and myself. She stated simply "I won't let you harm one hair on his cute little head!" Chisel's response was one I wish I could erase from my mind, but instead it's now engraved into my thought process.

Chiseled Wing glared daggers at Sweetie Belle, demanding "Get out of my way, now!" Sweetie Belle merely shook her head, and in one swift motion, Chisel struck her across the face with his forehoof.

Sweetie Belle fell to the floor, blood dripping from her nose, and tears streaming down her face. In an instant, my inner rage boiled to it's peak, and my horn glowed with an aura of gray power. I faced Chisel, my eyes wide and nostrils flared as I mustered my inner strength and enveloped him in my gray aura, pulling him close, an uneasy feat for a young unicorn.

My muzzle touched his own, from his view, fire whipped wildly in my red irises; inhaling deeply, I said to him, "I'll kill you for this you prepubescent pegasus!" My voice ironically squeaked.

He chuckled slightly, yet unable to move against my adrenaline powered strength, he said to me "Bring it, fuckface." My eyes narrowed, we'd soon see who'd be laughing.

I hit him multiple times, his so called "friends" watching from the side lines while I beat Chiseled Wing to a pulp. It being completely unnatural of me, I panicked when I saw what I had done to him. Chiseled Wing laid on the floor, face a bloody mess, one of his wings was bent funny, and on top of it all, Sweetie Belle was watching me... So I ran home.


I don't know what happened after that, I was suspended for two weeks, although I heard Chiseled Wing was expelled and Sweetie Belle had to go to therapy, and it's all my fault.

Snapping back to reality, I was gazing aimlessly into space; Mr. Wheatly, my said physics teacher, loudly cleared his throat, demanding my attention.

I turned my sight to him, taking notice of everypony in class... Staring at me. "Y-Yes Mr. Wheatly?"

He rustled his mustache, clearing his throat again, asking me "Would you care to pay attention to my lectures, Mr. Heartstrings?" I vigorously nodded my head, he then turned around and began to rant on again.

I propped my head against my forehoof, carelessly trying to look attentive as possible; since then, Sweetie Belle and I have been good friends, I can't say for sure I'll ever win her over by being as good a friend as I can be. I only wish I could show her I can best the rest of dudes, it's not like I can just walk away, she's deserves better than what she has now.

The bell rung before I could continue mentally ranting, I quickly scooped up my saddle bag and went for the door, only to bump into the school's Hoofball Quarterback... Rumble.

"Watch it dweeb!" It's illiterate douchebags like this guy that make my school life hell, did I forget to mention that Sweetie Belle's dating him?

"Look Rumble, chill out already." He raised an eye-brow, pushing me with one hoof.

"No you look, I see you trotting around, eyein' my girl! Who the hell do you think you are huh?" Ponies started to circle us, their curiosity peaked.

"She deserves better than you, you braggart! I could see him getting angrier, but I couldn't care less.

"I am not a bag of art! What the fuck does that mean?!" I facehoofed, seriously, how stupid could you get?

He continued on with "That's it, flag pole, you and me, 4 o'clock faggot!" Well, I'm fucked. Then again, I do have magic on my side...

"Oh, and no using that fancy horn of your's!" I take that back, I'm fucked.

He then proceeded to walk away, and the mini-crowd around us disbursed, mumbling about the inevitable fight this afternoon. It was just then that my best friend, Feather Weight, came zipping towards me.

"Strum!-" He stopped in his tracks, huffing and puffing in between words. "S-Strum... I heard you're gonna... Gonna fight Rumble!" What? The news spread that fast?

"Um... Yeah, why?" He looked astonished; he put his hooves on my shoulders, and shook me while yelling "ARE YOU NUTS?!" I pushed him off me, shaking my head.

"I wasn't crazy until I met Sweetie Belle, besides, I can handle myself!"

"Strum, Rumble is pumped, hence the fact that he's the Hoofball Quarterback, he can pummel you! What are you gonna do, serenade him?" We began walking to lunch, we're already late as it is.

"No, I'll fight him, but he said I can't use my horn." I then quoted Rumble, noting that he called my horn "fancy".

Feather Weight stopped the both of us, turning to me with a sly grin on his face. "Rumble said you couldn't use your horn, and technically he didn't say you couldn't use magic!" I caught on to he was saying, and man was it genius,

"Feather you're a genius!" He beamed proudly, and we continued walking,

"Hey Strum?"

"Yeah Feather?"

"Mind telling my Mom I'm a genius, she's still peeved over my last report card."

"... Sure Feather."