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// Don't let them see you cry 
// Story: Don't let them see you cry 
// by I am not a Dalek 
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Don't let them see you cry

I drag my hooves as I walk down the busy hallways of Cloudsdale's Flight Academy, keeping my head down low, avoiding all possible contact with other ponies. My rainbow mane falls across my face, working as a shield from the cruel comments and mean looks shot at me.

They call me Rainbow Crash, the pony who can't fly without causing an accident. Despite the fact that I'm the only pony to have performed the legendary Sonic Rainboom. No pony seems to believe that I did it; they all say that it was a fluke, a hoax. They say the loud boom must have been me crashing into something, as per usual.

I don't understand, why do they hate me so much? I'm the fastest flier in the school yet they still insult me. They call me useless, worthless. They say that I'm so terrible at flying that I should be sent back to kindergarten. Sometimes I believe them, only sometimes though.

The only reason the name 'Rainbow Crash' came about was because when I was in the middle of my first race, I got overexcited and crashed into a massive barrier which caused half the gym to collapse. In the end, the name stuck and every little mistake or tumble I would make would send the class chanting 'Rainbow Crash' over and over again; haunting me forever.

As I'm walking a grey hoof, belonging to Rain Tumble, the school's bully, appears in front of me, sending me falling to the floor. Groaning in pain, I glance up and find that a crowd of ponies have gathered around me, laughing at my 'accident.'

"Rainbow Crash!" they chant and taunt, giving me no way of escape.

I blink back the tears as I stumble to my hooves. I try to carry on walking but Rain Tumble stands in front of me, blocking my way. He's a couple of years older than me so he has a slightly larger build, looming over me like some dumb goliath.

"Where are you trying to go, Rainbow Crash?" he sneers, pushing me back to the ground.

Rain Tumble has me cornered and he swings his foreleg forward, hitting me square in the jaw. Laughs from my peers fill my ears as the crowd grows bigger and bigger, they're glad to have a show.

I sometimes look back on the day of that big race; I was so brave when I stood up for Fluttershy. I sounded so confident, so cool. What happened to the brave Rainbow 'Danger' Dash? All that is left of her is this weak filly who can't even win a fight. I don't want to fight though, I just want everypony to like me, and I want everypony to believe me.

No, I'm not going to allow this to go on for any longer, I'm going to stand up for myself and be the bigger pony. Squeezing my eyes shut, I climb to my hooves again and throw my wings out. I take a deep breath and fly towards him as fast as I can, sending him crashing to the ground. I still feel weak, I'm running away from the situation, nonetheless, I've escaped it and I'm being the better pony by not starting a fight.

Gasps of shock from by-standing ponies fill the air as I continue to fly away. I fly home as fast as I can.

Finally, our tiny family home comes into view, its cloud structure is sitting peacefully on the street. Around it, are other homes which are almost identical but the differences are obvious. Its darker colour and broken slates on the roof made it stand out from the other picturesque homes. We would have fixed it, but we decided that it isn't putting us in any danger so there is no point. Plus, it makes our house more unique that way.

Dragging my hooves as I walk in through the threshold, the sweet scent of cinnamon instantly fills my nose, indicating that my mother is home. I see her cyan blue hooves first, before I glance up into her rose eyes. Her candyfloss pink hair falls across her face as she looks at me with concern.

"Dash? What are you doing home so soon, sweetie?" She asks with her sweet voice.

Unable to hold back the tears anymore, I collapse onto the floor, sobbing uncontrollably. Mum crouches down beside me and embraces me in her soft wing as she gently strokes my mane with her hoof. She waits for a few moments as she rocks me back and forth until, finally, my tears subside.

"What's bothering you, Dash, did something happen at school?" She brushes away my tears with the tip of her wing; her soft feather tickles my cheeks.

Sniffling, I glance up at my mum and blurt out the whole story, "Nopony believes me about the Sonic Rainboom, even though half of them were there. They all laugh at me and call me 'Rainbow Crash' because of that one time I hit the barrier. Then they trapped me and pushed me over and punched me, so I flew away. Why does everypony hate me momma?" I sob into her cyan chest.

Mum stays silent for a few moments, thinking about what to say to make me feel better.

Then she finally says, "Rainbow, I'm sure that there has to be somepony who likes you and wants to be your friend."

I shake my head sadly and look up at her through watery eyes. "No, nopony likes me; they all think I'm a silly filly who always crashes." I sniffle and wipe away the tears in my eyes angrily with my hoof.

"Well, sweetie, all they want is this sort of reaction out of you, they want to see you hurt." She whispers gently.

I frown slightly, not completely understanding her words. "What do you mean? What can I do?"

She gently ruffles my hair with a cyan hoof and smiles her sweet warm smile which I love to see. "They only bully you because you give them the reaction they want. So, don't let them see you cry, no matter how much you're hurting just put a brave face on. You're a strong little filly, Rainbow, so I know you can do it. Don't give them what they want."

I take in her words and cherish them; I'll bring this advice with me throughout my life. I won't give them the satisfaction of seeing me cry. When I'm afraid I'll pretend I'm not because my mum knows best.

"Okay, I promise that I'll always do that," I whisper and relax against her.

"Thank you, Rainbow. Now, go and practice flying, you want to be in the Wonderbolts don't you?" She beams as I instantly jump out of her forelegs and run outside.

I give my wings a powerful flap and soar into the sky as I think: Don't worry, mum, I'm going to make you proud. They'll never see me cry again and neither will you. I promise.