//------------------------------// // I'm No Hero // Story: Finding Home // by Auto-Buscus //------------------------------// It had been two months since Violet and Singer's "pretend" kiss, and they had both since moved on. Things went on as they normally did, but yet they couldn't help but wonder if there wasn't something else there. However, things like school work and extra activitie put their thoughts on such things on hold. Singer's father had urged him to find a sport he could do and become the best at it. For Singer, the only logical sport that he could think of doing was racing. He was full of energy and always wanting to zip around, so this would be the perfect sport for him to try. He walked out to the practice course where all of the young colts and fillies practiced their flying. There were several pegasai there, so this appeared to be a popular elective. Becoming the best wouldn't be easy for Singer to do here, but that's okay. Singer was one who appreciated a good challenge. As he looked around, watching the others fly above him, he noticed a young filly who stood out above the rest of them. A character that we all know very well. Rainbow Dash, one of the most popular kids in school flew through the air, flying perfectly through cloud hoops and over large buildups of clouds. It had been a few years ago that she had successfully done the Sonic Rainboom, which was part of the reason for her popularity, and she was still recieving compliments about it. Singer had heard alot about Rainbow Dash and he himself would have loved to ask her some questions. He had a good chance to at that instant when she had stopped to take a breather and was surrounded by several other ponies, who were wooing her for some of her skills that she had been showing off previously. Singer started off toward her, hoping to ask her a question or two but by the time he was able to reach her to talk to her, she had to leave. "Darn!" said Singer, disappointed. "Oh well. I'll try again tomorrow." "Hi Singer." said Violet flying up behind him. "What are you doing?" "Still trying to ask that question to Rainbow Dash. Missed her again. How was your class?" "Boring." She replied. "Ready for lunch?" "You know it!" As Singer and Violet made their way to the lunch table, they noticed that a new student had shown up at the school. He was a taller and more muscular pegasus colt, black fur, white tips on his hooves and a white muzzle. His mane was silver with a streak of yellow, same for his tail. He went by the name of Thunder Clap. Everypony he looked at, he made them shake with fear. His attention drew him to a smaller pegasus colt with white fur and mane, a small red t-shirt, and a video game controller as his cutie mark. This young colt was called Gameboy. Gameboy had been minding his own business when Thunder Clap leaned over him and freaked him out. He then whispered something in his ear and walked away. Gameboy immediately grabbed his lunch and ran outside. Singer and Violet were surprised at this, unsure of what to make of it. After a few minutes of silence, they both dismissed it and went on to talk about other things. "So... how was the first day of race practice?" inquired Violet. "It went well." He replied. "Just going to take some time to get used to. You know when somepony like me runs out of breath in the middle of practice, especially with the amount of energy that I've got, you know it's a tough sport." "I know right? You're one of the most energetic guys around!" "That's what I'm known for." "Also one of the cutest." she murmered to herself, Singer not able to make out what she was saying. "What was that?" "Oh... um... nothing..." she said moving her eyes back and forth. "Okie dokie then. Hey you gonna eat that?" He said while eying her pudding. "Oh... no... I'm not in the pudding mood, you may have mine." "Oh thank you!" Violet sat there looking at her now empty tray. She then let out a small sigh and looked up at Singer again. She admired him, the way he was always being the "glass half full" guy and how he always tried to make people laugh. One thing, she knew, was that Singer was meant to be her friend, and despite her random bursts of butterflies in her stomach every time they hung out, she was greatful for that. Still she had to wonder. Was he feeling the same way? The final bell of the school day had rang and all of the children were flying home to their homes from the school building. One pegasus colt in particular, was acting real sneaky. Singer had noticed Gameboy's peculiar behaviour and decided to check up on him. "Hey... uh Gameboy is it?" "Yeah, what's it to you?" "I was just wondering what was wrong." "Nothing..." "Are you sure?" "Yes, I'm sure now leave me alone!" said the small white pegasus as he ran off. Singer watched as he flew off in the direction of the park. Singer didn't believe that nothing was wrong for one second, so he decided to follow the small colt and see what was going on. During the persuit, Violet had flown up behind him. She didn't look very happy. "Singer" she said softly. "Why didn't you show up at the library?" "I'm sorry Violet" he whispered. "I got sidetracked. I don't like what appears to be going on with Gameboy." "You could be assuming things." "Could be, and could not. Piper wouldn't let this go uninvestigated." "Neither would Rosemary" said Violet finally giving in. As they got closer to the park, a small mist developed and began to make vision a bit more difficult, but the small white colt was still visible enough. They had finally arrived when Gameboy stopped and swooped down. Singer and Violet had hid behind a slide and kept a safe distance from the colt. "What is this?" whispered Violet. "I don't know. But I don't like it." Just then three more pegasai appeared from the mist. One of them was Thunder Clap and the two others were a large chubby brown pegasus colt and a small skinny pink pegasus filly. All three of them looked down at the small colt, who was shivvering like one would in the snow. "So... did you bring the money?" said Thunder Clap. "I told you, I used my money during lunch!" "Oh that's a shame..." said Thunder Clap. "I guess we'll have to find another way of payment then. After all you did agree to pay me protection from the other bullies in school, did you not?" "Um... no, not really... I don't really get bullied that much." "Oh that wasn't you? Oh... well I am sorry, but still. I want money, and you are going to give it to me." "I told you, I'm all out!" "Then your painful screams shall be alleviation for your insilence." "NO!" "Mocha, Taffy... it's stretchy time!" Mocha and Taffy each quickly grabbed one of Gameboy's wings and started to slightly tug on them. "Please, don't do this. I didn't do anything to you!" "Oh boo hoo!" said Taffy, the filly, uncompassionately. "I'm going to enjoy this!" said Mocha, the fat colt. Singer and Violet witnessed this with great disgust. The former even more than the latter. Singer then stood up and started over to them. Violet, looking over at him noticed this and attempted to stop him. "Singer, what are you doing? Stop!" "No... I once made the mistake of not standing up for a poor innocent filly once. I'm not going to make that mistake a second time." "But..." "I have to Violet. It wouldn't be very knightly of me to just walk away and let these fiends harm this poor nave." "Singer, this isn't role play, it's real life!" "I'm sorry, Violet. But I am in anything but a playing mood now. Please stay back." "Singer! No!" she reached out for him, but he continued on. She sat there by the slide and watched nervously. She knew that she wasn't going to change his mind. "HEY!" yelled Singer. "Leave him alone, now!" A smirk came across Thunder Clap's face as he looked over at the challenger. "Well, well, well... a lost bird. A lost bird who's forgotten how to fly!" said Thunder Clap. "What makes you think you can stop us from doing our jobs as bullies to this loser?" "He's not a loser! And you guys arent' doing your jobs, you're doing this for pleasure and it's just plain sick!" "Little colt blue doesn't approve of our antics, you two." said Thunder Clap as he began to burst into laughter, being joined by Mocha and Taffy, still holding Gameboy's wings. "Release him." He said at last. "What?" said Mocha. "But..." "Don't ask questions, just do it." He then walked over to the small white colt. "You lucked out today, kid. Be thankful that this idiot stepped in and offered to take the beating for you. Now if I were you, I'd scram before we change our minds." Gameboy didn't waste a second, he dashed off and flew away before another word was spoken. He looked back at Singer, who appeared unfazed by this action. "Now... I'm going to show you what happens to the nobodies at this school who dare try and step in and ruin the balance of my reign. I am king where ever I go. And you best remember that!" "You don't scare me, you big jerk!" "Not yet, anyway." he said this motioning Mocha and Taffy to attack. "Get him!" Violet, still standing by the slide watched in horror as Mocha and Taffy began to hit Singer in the face and pushed him to the ground. "Singer, get up! Fly away!" she yelled. "Somepony go shut her up!" said Thunder Clap. "With pleasure!" said Mocha, heading off after Violet. The latter began to back up as the big brute in mention inched closer to her. Singer watched as Violet began to back up at the sign of the approaching brute, his rage meter was about to go over the roof. "I don't think so!" said Singer as he darted up and sped after Mocha, tackling him and knocking him down. "You better not ever touch her! EVER!" "Thunder Clap?" said the dazed colt. "Don't let that beanpole take you down, throw him off!" yelled Thunder Clap. Mocha then stood up and fell back over, rolling over Singer and then getting back up again. "Funny how you are letting your goons do all your dirty work, Clap. Why don't you face me colt to colt?" "Singer don't..." blurted Violet. "I have to agree with your friend over there. It would be unwise to take me on." "Why? Are you chicken?" "Very well, then. I tried to warn you. Mocha, Taffy, back off." The two lackies obeyed and walked back behind their leader. Thunder Clap then chuckled, while getting into a charge attack stance. "You just made a very big mistake, little kid." Thunder Clap took off after Singer. Singer just stood there, calmly. He waited for Thunder Clap to get closer. As he did, he rared up his back legs and prepared to kick him. The fast approaching Thunder Clap would be unable to avoid it if he did it right. Singer's wait was over as Thunder Clap had just come into range, he quickly extended his legs out with all the force he could muster and successfully nailed him in the face. Thunder Clap felt a ton of pain hit his face as Singer pulled his legs back in and turned around to face his foe. The black stallion then lied on the ground and held his face in pain. Singer then looked up at the other two with angry eyes, thus intimidating them. They didn't stick around much longer. It didn't appear that Thunder Clap would be getting up any time soon, so they fled the scene. Thunder Clap appeared to be defeated, so Singer trotted off, heading back to Violet. But that's just what Thunder had wanted him to do. Thunder then tackled Singer and pinned him to the ground and hit him twice in the face, nearly knocking him out. "You think you've won?" he then stood back up and kicked Singer in the side. "Think again you little slime. I'm going to make your life miserable from here on out. I'm going to make an example out of you, to make sure that nopony ever stands up to me again. Thanks alot, pal. You're little act of chivalry just earned you a life time of beatings from yours truly. Enjoy your school year, lame-o." Thunder Clap, then sped off angrily at the others, apparently ticked that they fled the scene. Violet rushed over to Singer's side feeling worried for her friend. She teared up as the extremely disoriented colt tried to get up. "Violet? Have you seen my bag?" he said as he fell back over onto the soft cushy cloud surface. One positive thing about Cloudsdale was that falling didn't hurt, unless you fell through the clouds and were unable to regain your flying capabilities before hitting the earth below. Violet helped Singer back up from lying on his back and helped him sit up. "Are you okay?" she said to him. "I'll be okay." he said as he sniffed and tears were coming out of his eyes. "Singer come here." Violet said as she hugged him. "Don't worry, I've got you." "Thank you, Violet." said Singer still crying. "I... tried to do the right thing, but..." "You did do the right thing. It was stupid, but it was the right thing to do. You felt it was right and you trusted your instincts. So... why don't you tell me about your previous experience with the said filly you mentioned earlier. Get it off of your chest." Singer told Violet about how shortly before he moved to Cloudsdale from Canterlot, he witnessed a group of bigger unicorn fillies picking on one smaller filly. And how awful he felt after failing to make a stand for her and of his mother's advice to him that day. "Wow. That's touching, Singer. You really are a brave knight aren't you? You're starting to remind me more and more of Piper McCloud." "And you are starting to remind me more of Rosemary." At the mention of that book, both of them remembered the small "pretend" kiss again. They both blushed and giggled together for a couple of minutes. "Are we ever going to get past that?" said Singer. "I think so..." said Violet. "Now come on, let's get you home and get you cleaned up. You have a little blood smeared all over you." "Oh... my mom's going to freak out." "I've got your back, buddy." "Thanks, buddy." As the two friends walked together, they both smiled as warmly as they could when they glanced at one another. They didn't realize it yet, but they were starting to gradually fall in love with each other and they weren't even a couple yet. Dealing with Singer's mother had been the easy part of the post drama. The hard part came when it came time for school the next day. Word of Singer's brave reistance to Thunder Clap had spread around the school. Singer either got a high five from his fellow peers or got something chunked at him, due to the various versions of the story. Violet stayed by his side, both of their front legs locked together as they walked down the hall. She wasn't about to let her best friend face the consequences alone. She was then pulled away from him by Taffy when Thunder Clap and his goons arrived in the hallway. "Well, well, well Singer." said Thunder Clap. "I see you had the guts to show up at school today. Mommy didn't want you to come today I bet." Said Thunder Clap mockingly. "Let my friend go..." "Or what? You doing to do like you did, yesterday? Because you will NEVER have a chance to do that again, I promise you that. Due to the three or four different versions of what happened yesterday I have half of the school thinking I'm a wimp. Which means you are about to get some serious punishment!" "Do your worst, Thunder Clap. I'm not going to stoop to your..." He barely got his words out as Thunder Clap nailed him in the face. "Thunder Clap!" yelled the principal. "Get in my office, NOW! The both of you!" Singer sighed sadly. Mocha and Taffy had fled the scene once again when they heard the principal yell. Only Violet stood with him in the hallway as Thunder Clap and the principal waited for him to enter the office. "Ms Pedals, go to class. Your friend will join you shortly, maybe." She obeyed, but not without walking by and patting Singer on the back for comfort. As Singer got up he glanced back at his friend and walked into the office. The door then shut and it seemed to echo throug out the halls. All Violet could do at that point was head on to class. Later on, that day. Violet had learned that both Singer and Thunder Clap had been suspended, and she went to his house later to check on him. She politely knocked on his door and waited for an answer. "Oh, Violet" said Belle. "Please come in. Singer's grounded, but he needs a friend right now. I'm sure that's why you are here." "I am. But I do need to say something. I feel that Singer is being unjustly punished by the school. All he did was defend himself." "I know, Violet. But the school said that Singer added to the fight. I disagree with the reasons they gave, but I can't do anything about it." "Then why is he grounded?" "He forgot to clean his room." "Oh..." she giggled. "Sorry." "It's fine. He's in his now clean room if you wish to see him." "Thank you, Mrs Case." she said politely as she made her way back to his room. She knocked on his door. "Go away Brawn!" he yelled. "I told you, I don't want fighting lessons!" "It's not Brawn." she said. Singer quickly got up out of his bed when he heard her voice and opened the door and invited her in his room. But the talking didn't start until Singer embraced her in a warm and welcoming hug. He had been wishing that she was there to comfort him, and there she was. Violet, graciously returned the hug. Singer needed a friend right now and she was the friend that he wanted to be there with him. "While Thunder Clap was an oppressing force, nothing he could do could compare to the friendship that I shared with that special filly, Violet Pedals. I loved her... even back when I didn't even realize that I did. She made me feel important, and I can only assume that I did the same for her. This sweet pony had become the best friend that I would ever have. But I'm not going to give away anymore information. There is still much, much more to my story."