Chapter 4 – The start of problems
It’s been five years since Bass started school, for the most part, he liked it, he had two good friends he was doing well in his subjects. It was his last year of primary school before he left for his new school, but he still had to last another year.
It was just another average day, the rooms of the orphanage were woken up by the simultaneous ringing of alarm clocks. But as per always one of the many foals of the orphanage was all ready up, he didn't usually get much sleep or in some cases none at all, this was one of those nights and it was a school night, so that made it all the worse. The little foal trotted out of bed and into his place in line for one of the bathrooms of the orphanage, after waiting what seemed like an eternity he went into the bathroom to have a short shower and to brush up and his hygiene.
As he trotted down the stairs he met up with his buddy Static as they always did in the morning to have breakfast together, a bowl of oats and a choice of fruit was the meal of the day, well actually it was the meal of every day. The two spoke and joked for a bit before Bass had to head off for school. Bass wouldn't of minded school, if it wasn't for a colt named Acrimony joining at the same time he did, he hated everything and everyone, it was unfortunate because the one thing he did like was music, same as Bass. Acrimony was a bully, for some reason he specifically targeted Bass and made his school life a living hell.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
“Right” said Bass “I’m off, don’t get into trouble at school.” He gave Static a smirk and flew out the door. Static didn't get into Cloudsdale School so he went to the nearby Ponyville Primary. He had made some friends that walked home with him, Bass would see him wave good bye to them, one was an orange pony with a golden mane and green eyes she had the end of her mane and tale in hair bands and spoke with Southern accent, the other one was a white unicorn with a purple mane and blue eyes, she had a very upper class accent.
Bass waved good bye to Mrs Primrose as she looked on from the second floor window. She knew about Bass’ bulling problem by seeing his bruises and scrapes, it wasn't difficult to put two and two together, and she was trying to confront him about it but could never find the right time or place.
Bass could only dread what was going to happen today. His best bet was to stay close to Rainbow and Fluttershy and speed the way home to avoid the bully.
Lessons passed with no problems, but they rarely did, but close to the end of the lesson, Rainbow was causing trouble, there was no change there but this time she decided to start a paint fight in arts and crafts, this got a her a break time with the teacher as punishment, which throw Bass’ plan all out of order.
“How is this gonna work now, I can’t defend myself against him and Fluttershy is about as helpful and a leaf trying to put out a furnace.” Bass thought to himself. “I’m gonna die, the last few times Rainbow stepped in before things got to serious but she isn't here this time, i’m screwed!”
The bell rang, the little chimes echoed in the mind of the young colt “oh god” he whispered to himself as he left the class room and into the playground. He scanned the vast space for his tormentor but he was nowhere to be seen, relief filled Bass followed by skepticism “what if he was being let out late, what if he is waiting for after school, what can I do?” Bass frantically thought to himself.
“G-guess it will just be me and you today Bass.” Said Fluttershy “I don’t know why Rainbow gets into trouble all the time.”
Bass pushed the thoughts of getting beaten up to the back of his mind. “Yeah I know.” Replied Bass “You've been round her house right?”
“Yes, once”
“Did her parents seem fine, any fighting?”
“No not at all, they all seemed very happy.”
“hmm, oh well. What do you want to talk about?”
“Oh I don’t mind, whatever you want to talk about is fine”
The two sat for the beak talking and laughing almost forgetting the absence of Rainbow. The thought of Acrimony was festering in the back of his mind throughout the whole day, and he showed it. All throughout the break he seemed somewhat distant form the conversations with Fluttershy, she would ask if he was fine but he would just shrug it off with an “oh yeah, just tired” but she knew something was wrong.
The end of the day came around and every one said their goodbyes and went their separate ways.
“R-rainbow?” said Fluttershy
“Yeah?” Replied the rainbow pony
“Have you noticed anything.... different about Bass?”
“Yeah, actually now that you say it I have.”
“I’m very worried about him.”
“Maybe we should follow him home?”
“umm, if you think it won’t be invading his privacy.”
“Na, we are doing this to help him.”
The two made a sudden u-turn in the direction of Bass. They stealthily followed him home, hiding behind clouds.
Bass got about half way home before he was stopped in his tracks.
“HEY!” shouted Acrimony
Unfortunately Rainbow and Fluttershy fell behind after getting lost on a swarm of rain clouds, now they were searching for him round the sky, as far as they thought he would go.
“What do you want?” replied Bass
“To hurt you!” said Acrimony with a sadistic smile pasted across his muzzle
Acrimony flew closer to Bass he had only one goal and that was senseless violence, Acrimony had something wrong with him, he was not all there he just craved violence.
Bass darted off, trying to get away from Acrimony hiding behind clouds and swooping down to the ground weaving between houses but that didn't work.
After a five minute chase Bass’ wings started to tire, Acrimony grabbed Bass’ hoof and threw him down on a cloud, it was hard impact rendering Bass unable to move. Acrimony landed on top of Bass kicking him in the stomach as he landed, Bass let out a loud scream, coughing up a little blood as he did. Rainbow and Fluttershy herd the scream and flew off in its direction. Acrimony landed a hoof on Bass’ cheek, Bass let out a groan. Bass retaliated with a sharp hoof to Acrimony’s chest in an attempt to get him off but it didn't work, all it did was prompt a more violent response from Acrimony delivering a hoof to the stomach, another groan was let out by Bass. Acrimony readied his hoof for a knockout blow to Bass’ temple, He raised his hoof when a flash of multicolored filly smacked Acrimony off of Bass soon after delivering a volley of hoofs to Acrimony stomach, he pushed off the rainbow pony and flew away.
When Rainbow turned around Fluttershy was already with bass, trying to pull him up to his hooves. Rainbow dashed over to them also going to the aid of Bass. As he stumbled to his feet he coughed up a small amount of blood and pushed the two fillies away.
“I’m fine, just let me stand.” Snapped Bass
“Okay dude, don’t get angry at us!” said Rainbow
“I’m sorry, thank you.” Bass looked up at them both giving a smile
“Do you want us to fly you home?” asked Fluttershy
“No, thank you, I will be fine”
The colt clumsily fluttered back to the orphanage Mrs Primrose was waiting on the door step, Bass was a bit later than usual and she was worried. Bass stumbled to the floor in front of the old pony. She hastily picked him up and bought him inside shouting “Clear the way!” and gently shoving foals out of the way.
Bass was fine; he had a few bandages and a day or so off of school. The school sent a message to Mrs Primrose informing her that Acrimony had been expelled from school and we being tried in a young offenders court for premeditated GBH and he was looking at two years away in a young offender institution. But, after that day Bass changed, he was quieter, more seclude, he seemed so angry, but sad at the same time.
In the following weeks Bass stopped starting conversations, he would respond to people, but he was quieter when he spoke, and his sentences were not as long or as detailed as used to be. Static was the first to notice these changes.
“Moring Bass, how are you doing today?” asked Static
“Fine, thank you.” Replied Bass almost at a whisper
“First day back at school, right?”
“Yeah.”
“cool, cool.”
“yeah, I better be off, see you later.”
“Yeah see you later.”
Bass flew off to school; he was dreading this day coming around. He couldn’t bear to face his friends, he was mortified for them to see him like that, so helpless.
“Hay Bass, you’re back. Great to see you buddy!” Yelled Rainbow from across the playground
Something was telling Bass to not show his emotions, to stop showing his true emotions all together when he is around people, just lie.