Chapter 3: Benjamin's School Times
Pinkamena is reading but was also writing a letter to somepony as she says, "I wish I could go and hear the tale myself but I have many things to do and such."
Golden Heart nods as he speaks, "Well you know Omega keeps things in check and our own gang."
"Yeah but still after what happen, I rather be more careful." Pinkamena remarked, referring to what happened to her recently. The others nod as she is done with the letter and puts it away and says in mind, 'Later I will send this to Arctic Gem. I wonder how will she react to knowing somepony dear to her is alive and well.'
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Celestia enters her son's room, ready to tell him the most exciting news. She came in just in time to see Ben drawing a picture. Upon seeing her, the young colt grins and said, "Mommy, look! I made a picture of us!"
Ben holds up the picture that he just finished: one of himself and Celestia which said the words 'Mommy and Ben Mare'. The princess grins, finding her son's work so wonderful.
"You did wonderful, Ben." Celestia said, nuzzling Ben happily. "Oh, I got good news. I have arranged for you to go to school at a normal place for fillies and colts."
"What? Mommy...I don't know..." Ben said shyly and scared. "I wanted to stay here with you."
"Ben, I can't keep you in the palace forever. You need to be with foals of your own age, make some new friends and have fun. Don't worry. The school staff has promised not to let anypony knows of your connection to me. You will be as if you were a regular Earth pony."
"But mommy...what if the foals don't like me?"
"Nonsense, I am sure that you will find a friend or so at your school." Celestia assures her son Ben gently. "Besides, you are getting lonely, even with Cadance and the servants here. It's about time that you meet somepony who would have an impact on your life."
"Are you sure?" Ben asks Celestia hopefully. The colt is lonely and it would be nice to have some new friends at last.
"I'm sure. I'm your mother after all."
Ben grins as he nuzzles Celestia, his mother, and said, "Mother, I will try to make some new friends. I will be the best pony at the school."
"Let's settle for the best friend for some lucky pony...and the best son ever." Celestia said as she nuzzles Ben. The mother is confident that her baby foal will find a new friend at his new school.
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Ben explains to Flash that his mother Celestia has enlisted him to a school in Canterlot, which means the Earth Pony colt won't be able to stay at home all the time anymore.
"So let me get this straight: your mom is going to enlist you to school?" Flash ask Ben curiously.
"Yeah," Ben said with a slight nod.
"That's great! You should get more friends. It would be awesome!" Flash exclaims eagerly. It would be great for his best friend to get more friends at last! He noticed Ben's look. "What's with the face? Aren't you happy?"
"Happy; I don't want to go, Flash. I want to stay here with my mom, with my cousin, with everyone I know, and especially you. You're my best friend."
Flash sighed, "Look, Ben, I know you care for us so much, but it doesn't mean it change our friendship. Going to school means making some friends, and also it might also be your chance to find special somepony too."
Ben sighed, "I don't know." What filly in her right mind would want to be seen with somepony like him?
"Don't say 'don't know'! Say I believe in it. Trust me, Ben, having new friends in your friendship doesn't make me angry or upset, it makes us strong. It gives you confidence. It will never change our friendship."
"How do you know that?"
"Simple: always had faith no matter what. I'd always had faith that you will be fine, and find your friend. But remember, if there's a bully, kick his flank." Flash said to Ben with a smile. He is confidence that his best friend will do fine in his school.
Ben chuckled, "Yeah, you're right. So you're sure that I can make one?"
Flash smiled while repeating a familiar line, "Now why would I lie to you when we're best friends?"
Ben and Flash chuckled happily as they hugged together.
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"And so, afterwards..." Ben begins to say, though Phobos interrupts.
"Hold it. Nyx and I already heard of your school time. Do we have to hear it again?" Phobos ask Ben impatiently, not wanting to hear the same thing. "And I betcha the rest of the Mane Six heard the story from Twilight before as well."
"Well, true, but even some stories are worth hearing again." Nyx remarks to Phobos with a chuckle.
"Plus, I wasn't really paying attention to Twilight when she told me about her crush." Rainbow comments, making Twilight frown at her a bit.
"Typical." Twilight mumbles a bit.
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"Mom, I don't want to come." Young Ben said to his mother meekly. "The other foals won't like me. Can't I stay at the castle with you?"
"Ben, I know how hard it is, being around new foals besides me and the servants." Celestia assures her adopted child while nuzzling him. "But I can't keep you at the castle forever. You need to be with other foals your age. No worries, the staff here are sworn to secrecy. If you want others to know, you can do so on your own free will."
"But...what if I get bullied and hurt?"
"Then they will answer to me. Come on, let's go on."
Ben gulps a bit as Celestia enters the school through another way. The little colt is worried that today may be the worst day of his life...but unknown to him, he is only half right.
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Twilight was in class with her other classmates, studying in a book when a teacher makes an announcement.
"All right, class; settle down." The teacher said as the foals quiet down to allow him to say his announcement. Now then, we got a new student joining us today so try to make him feel welcome. Class, this is Ben Mare."
A little colt came into the class looking a bit meekly while his supplies are on his back; he is a brown coated Earth Pony and has a spiky like brown mane, green eyes and a long tail. Twilight notes how he tends to cross his legs a bit as if he's shy.
"Hi...everypony," Ben said meekly. This causes some of the students to laugh a bit. The colt looks down as if wanting to hide or just leave already.
"Okay, class, come on; stop that." The teacher said sternly as the class quickly calms down. "Ben is new here so let us at least try to be nice to him like Celestia would all her subjects. Now, Mr. Mare, you can take a seat near Miss Sparkle."
Ben nods meekly as he heads to a seat that so happens to be near Twilight. A younger Boris smirks as he sticks one lower hoof out...causing the poor Earth pony to trick and land onto the floor. The students laugh at this...minus Twilight who doesn't find what happened funny at all.
"Boris, I told you before; don't do that to the new students!" The teacher scowls at Boris who chuckles at his cruelty.
"What? Sorry, is it my fault that he doesn't watch his four hooves?" Boris asks innocently.
Ben got up sadly as he gets his stuff and sat near Twilight. The purple unicorn smiles while saying, "Hi, my name is Twilight Sparkle. Welcome to our school."
"Uh, hi," Ben said a bit meekly as he took out a book to hide himself in it. Twilight sighs sadly. The poor colt has a rough first day.
For some reason, Twilight felt...some sort of connection to Ben...like she should do her best to help him.
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At recess, Twilight plays on the swings while her focus appears to be off. Normally, she wants some learning and studying done...but the purple unicorn couldn't keep her eyes off of Ben who is under a tree doing some reading, away from the other students. It seems like it's hard for him to make some friends.
Unfortunately for poor Ben, his first day is about to get worst. Twilight saw Boris, his boys Boxco and Dum-Dum as well as some students heading to him. This is not good. That red unicorn is considered a popular student by some foals at school. He prefers unicorns and Pegasi over Earth ponies but wouldn't hesitate in making fun or bullying them!
And unfortunately, Ben Mare has become his new target.
"Well, well. Check this out, everypony; it's the new Earth pony." Boris remarks. Ben looks up at him as some of the bully's group chuckles a bit. "What are you doing here, pray tell?"
"More like he's being a geek, staying away from the other ponies," Dum-Dum said to Boris with an evil smirk.
"Yeah, the bum thinks that he himself is safe. Boo pony who!" Boxco remarks with a sneer.
"Please leave me alone. I didn't do anything wrong." Ben said meekly. He yelps in alarm as Boris uses his magic to force him into the air. He likes doing this to Earth ponies, making them helpless for him to bully.
"We got one big rule here at the school: unicorns and Pegasi rule while the Earth ponies are just filth whose just need to stay out of our way." Boris sneers to Ben who looks down in worry. "But I digress. Who wants to see me turn him around until he's sick?"
Some of the students, even the dimwit minions, cheers as Boris laugh cruelly as he begins spinning Ben around. The poor Earth pony groans as the bully then drops him then picks him up via magic as if wanting to do this all day.
Ben then yelps as if Boris was trying to pull a wedgie on him by pulling on his tail...despite the fact that the poor colt isn't wearing any clothes! Twilight frowns as she leaves the swing. This has gone far enough!
"How do you like that, Earth Pony moron?!" The red Unicorn taunted.
"Boris, Boris, enough!" Twilight snaps angrily. Boris stops his tormenting of Ben to look at her. "Leave him alone! What did he ever do to you?"
"Nothing, we just wanted torture him like using sand on ants with the moon!" Dum-Dum explains as Boxco laughs with him.
"That's magnifying glass with the sun, Dum-Dum." Boris groans to Dum-Dum in annoyance. His minion, even Boxco, is always getting sayings wrong! "Is that supposed to be funny, Boxco?! To answer your question, Twilight, I need to teach this Earth pony colt how things are in Canterlot, especially when it comes to what's more better."
"No pony is better than the other, Boris! You know that! Princess Celestia tells us to love and tolerate one another!" Twilight snaps angrily to Boris. "We shouldn't harm or pick on ponies just because we think we're better than them. Now put Ben down!"
"All right, all right. I will lay off the pony with the female last name...if you go out with me next weekend."
"Ugh! I ain't humiliating myself by doing that!"
"Fine, have it your way." Boris remarks with a shrug as he lets Ben go, causing him to hit the ground. "You got lucky, Ben. But stay in your place or next time, I'm going to get rough."
Boris's group took their leave; Ben sniffs sadly as he got up to get his things. Twilight helps him while asking, "Are you okay?"
"I'm fine, I am really." Ben sighs sadly. "Why does that creep hate me?"
"Boris has some dumb idea that unicorns and Pegasus ponies are more better than Earth ponies all because of the fact one species used magic and the other can fly. Horse feathers to that! Earth ponies are very important in the history of our world!"
"And...why did you help me?"
Twilight pauses to think. Why did she help him? The purple unicorn usually stay out of Boris's bullying but this time it's different as if something is calling her, telling Twilight to step in and stop the creep this time.
"The truth is, I can't stand what Boris is doing...I mean picking on you all because you are an Earth pony and new here." Twilight said while stomping one hoof on the ground. "It's just not right!"
"It's okay...you don't have to help if you don't feel like you should." Ben sighs in sadness.
"I don't have to...I don't want to. I won't let Boris and his pals torment you and bully you around. I will keep you safe no matter what. I promise."
Ben pauses and smiles a bit. For some reason, this is the first time that he has ever made...a friend. Well, first time outside of Flash Sentry anyway.
"Thank you." Ben said as he and Twilight hug each other. And thus, it's a start of a new friendship.
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Ben and Twilight became good pals. To avoid Boris and his goons, they hung out in a certain place at school.
"This is my secret spot!" Twilight giggles as she led Ben into the place. "I never led any other ponies in here."
"Really, how come," Ben asks Twilight curiously.
"Because it's a secret," Twilight adds with a happy giggle.
"That's pretty cool." Ben said with a smile.
"Thanks." Twilight said as she took out a donkey like doll. "This is Miss Smartypants. I got her as long as I could remember; she is my closest thing to a friend besides my big brother Shiny. Look! She even comes with her own notebook so she can help you with your homework."
"Wow, nice. I got a doll myself..." Ben said then looks a bit sheepish. "Please don't make fun of me..."
"Oh, come on. Only meanies would make fun of ponies for having dolls." Twilight giggles a bit, making Ben smile a bit.
"Thanks..." Ben said with a grin. Suddenly he yelps as Twilight pokes him on the nose. "Hey!"
"Tag, you're it!" Twilight laughs as she gallops off quickly.
"Oh, you rascal; I'll get you for this!" Ben shouted playfully as he started chasing after Twilight.
Ben chases around Twilight for a while then tackles her. The two laughs as the colt has pinned her...then stop to look at each other, giving friendly smiles...
Just then, a bell is heard ringing, making Ben get up while saying, "Uh oh. There's the bell."
"Right," Twilight said with a nod as she got up, giving another smile. "How about next recess, it will be you and me? Come on."
"Yeah. Right," Ben nodded as he and Twilight headed off to class.
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School is over as Ben was taken home a while later. After telling his mother as to what has happened, he then tell his friend who isn't pleased...mostly because of Boris's bullying of him.
"So this Boris is bullying you? Ben, why the hay didn't you fights back?" Flash ask Ben in disbelief. "I taught you everything you know of; Wait, don't say it again; still shy, again?"
Ben meekly answers, "Yeah......"
Flash slapped his face, groaning in disbelief, "Aw man! Benjamin Mare! Seriously! Why am I gonna do?! I should have been there for you! But I can't because my dad said that it would give you problems! If those ponies find out of your connection as well as mine, then you would be in critical situation!"
Ben sighed, "Sorry."
Flash sighed, "Never mind. Anything else you should tell me?"
"Well, I did make a friend with Twilight Sparkle."
"A filly?"
"Eeyup," Ben said to Flash, making the Pegasus colt amused upon hearing that. So his best friend did make a new friend. And from the blush coming from Ben's face...
Flash smiled, speaking, "Alright. What is she? Is she a unicorn, Earth Pony or Pegasus?"
"A Unicorn; She's beautiful......."
Flash whistled, "Someone sure know how to pick a filly. Looks like my Benny boy's got a little crush, huh?"
"Excuse me?!" Ben asks Flash, startled by the question as if wondering what his best friend is suggesting.
Flash chuckled, "Ben and Twilight sitting on the tree."
"I'm gonna get you for that, Flash!"
"Be a warrior, Ben! Show me what it takes for you to become one. If you can, then Boris won't know what hit him!"
"You ask for it!" The Earth pony laughs as Ben chased after Flash. The Pegasus colt loves doing this!
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It was the next day as the foals return to school, even Ben. The colt notices how some of the students seems to ignore him but that's okay. As long as Twilight is around, Ben has nothing to fear.
Of course, things got a bit rough. As Ben was heading to class, he was knocked down by three familiar bullies. Boris taunts, "Hey, still not watching your hooves, Girly Pony?"
"Ha ha ha," Boxco laughs stupidly. "He is blind as a monkey!"
"Yeah, and dumb as a warthog," Dum-Dum remarked in agreement with his pal.
Boris groans as he rolls his eyes saying, "It's 'blind as a bat' and 'dumb as an ox', you nitwits. Ugh, why are you two still living?"
"Boris, come on, leave me alone." Ben said to Boris with a frown. "I just want a normal school day...and if I did anything to upset you yesterday that also made you make fun of me, then I'm sorry. I was hoping we would be pals."
"Pals; PALS; Ha ha ha! You hear him, boys? He wants to be pals."
Boxco and Dum-Dum laughs cruelly, making Ben feel a bit sheepish and concerned. Some students nearby watch the action, the colt feels like he wants to be elsewhere right now.
"Benny, let me tell you something about yours truly: I don't make friends with Earth ponies." Boris sneers at Ben making him a bit worried. "They are useless, Earth filthy who are better off staying in low-dirt towns like Ponyville where they belong. Those species has no place in Canterlot."
"But I heard of Earth ponies whose got important roles in Canterlot and..." Ben said meekly before Boris cuts him off.
"Doesn't count; Those Earth ponies are lucky but they are still Earth filth to me. And so are you, so if I were you, I would know my place, got it?"
"Leave them alone, Boris the Animal!" Somepony is heard shouting, much to Boris's annoyance. He hates being called 'Boris the Animal'; it makes him feel so...angry.
"It's just...Boris! And who said that?!" Boris demands angrily as he looks around to see who spoke.
"I did!" The one who spoke, Twilight, snaps as she pushes Boris aside. "I told you before, leave Ben alone!"
"Ooooh, looks like the boss is getting told to by a girl." Dum-Dum remarks stupidly and mockingly.
"Yeah, ha ha ha," Boxco laughs along with his pal but the two morons stops as Boris gives his pals a glare.
"Boris, you even think of laying a hoof on him, I will tell the principal!" Twilight demands to Boris, getting in the school jock's face. "And don't think I won't because I will! I will even tell the princess if I have to!"
"Fine, fine, Twilight, I will leave him alone...for now. Just make sure Ben learns his place." Boris said to Twilight with a frown. The last thing he wants is to get to the point that his chances of being with the filly are gone. "Boys, come on!"
Boris leaves with Boxco and Dum-Dum quickly following him. Twilight sighs as Ben looks a bit concerned. Would she really tell the princess...and find out that Celestia is his mother? The colt doesn't feel like getting any attention if that information were to come out.
"Thanks...for saving me." Ben said to Twilight with a smile. The colt is always happy to see her there for him.
"Ben, don't worry, I promise to keep you safe and I will keep my promise." Twilight said to Ben with a smile. "We better hurry for class."
The two foals quickly rush off, ready for a new day of learning and fun (during recess).
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"And thus, that is how Equestria was made once the three tribes stopped fighting." Twilight explains while reading off a book to Ben who listens in amazement.
"Wow...and the princess was around back then?" Ben asks Twilight in interest.
"Yes, though as a filly. The princess is ancient; she appeared to be around for a long time."
"I know; How weird!"
The two foals giggle and laugh, being as if the best friends since birth. Of course, a familiar colt is nearby using magic to open some nuts, growling at the scene before cracking the nuts, splitting them into pieces.
One thing that you should never do to Boris: hang with Twilight whom he likes and wants for himself!
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As school was let out for the day, Ben was preparing to go home but as he passed by an alley, magic caught him. The colt yelps as he got dragged into the alley.
Ben screams as he was hit by stuff via magic and was hit by hooves before being send to a wall. The Earth pony looks up frightened as Boris, Boxco and Dum-Dum confronts him.
"Ben Mare, I was taking it easy on you before but when you started breaking one of my rules, you have to pay." Boris said seriously to Ben, "Boys?"
"Never hang out with Twilight Sparkle." Boxco and Dum-Dum laughs evilly as Boris prepares to hit Ben again.
"Hey!" A voice snapped, getting the bully and his goons' attention. The three turned and saw Shining Armor glaring at them. He was going to pick Twilight up to go to school when he overheard and noticed what was going on.
"Gah; Oh, Shining! Didn't see you there," Boris exclaims nervously, making the goons a bit awkward. Shining, being Twilight's brother is tougher than all of these guys. They know better than to get on his bad side.
"And what are you three doing to that colt?" Shining demanded more than he asked. "Looks like you were beating him up!"
"Now, come on, we were only playing, right boys?" Boris asks his goons nervously.
"Yeah, right; No problem," Boxco and Dum-Dum said nervously. Of course, the bruises and black eye on Ben said otherwise to Shining.
"Listen, you three boys leave the poor colt alone, got it?" Shining snaps as he got into the trio of bullies' face. "If I find out that you're doing this to him again...well, you better hope that I don't! Now go!
"Y-Yes, sir," Boris said quickly before he and his flunkies ran like the dickens, leaving the unicorn and the beaten Ben.
"Ugh, jerks." Shining groans as Ben got up barely. "Hey, you okay?"
"I'm fine, I'm fine, sir." Ben groans a bit as he manages to get his things. Despite the injuries, the colt didn't suffer anything worst.
"You must be that new friend that Twilight told me that she likes." Shining said in concern. "She always told me how an Earth pony got picked on or worst."
"I'm fine; I just need to go home now." Ben groans as he tries to go on home.
"Colt, you need to see a doctor." Shining insists as he follows Ben out of the alley.
"Shining?" A familiar voice spoke up. Twilight appear, ready to be picked up from school. "What..." She gasped while galloping to the injured. "Ben! Oh, Ben, what happened?"
"Boris and his goons jumped me and beat me up. If it weren't for Shining here, it would've been worst." Ben sniffs a bit, rubbing his black eye.
"Don't do that, please." Twilight insists with tears in her eyes, not liking that Ben is rubbing his black eye like that. "Let's get you to a doctor."
"No, no...I will just head on home...yeah..." Ben groans as he heads on his way, walking okay.
"Are you sure?" Shining ask Ben in concern. The young colt nods at this. "Okay, just try to be careful.
"Ben..." Twilight said as Ben stops to see the tears shedding down her faces. She promised to protect him but couldn't do it this time. "I'm sorry..."
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Ben came home, a bit hurt but okay. His mother found out about his injuries and is a bit disappointed but at least she manages to help him and is able to help him in his problem.
And of course, as usual, Ben told his best friend what has happened, much to Flash's dismay and anger.
"Dang it, Ben; why the hay didn't you tell me about it?!" Flash snaps to Ben who winces in his bandages. "That's it! That Boris is going down! I'll make him pay!"
"You can't! He got magic! Meaning he can do whatever he wants! You'll be beaten easily." Ben protests to Flash, fearing for his best friend's safely.
"Then, he's a coward! A coward who abuse his popularity and powers all for himself than thinking or giving chance to others." Flash said, disgusted by how Boris is using his popularity and power for his own use. "Unlike you, you're had some thinking of others. I won't stand for this."
"Come on, Flash! The last thing I want is to get you in trouble. Please, Flash, I will be fine." Ben insists to Flash, not wanting his best friend to get hurt because of him. "Besides, I have Shining Armor, Twilight's brother. So, don't worry about it."
Flash sighed, "Alright. Promise me not to get into any problems again."
"I promised." Ben assures Flash with a nod.
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The next few days end up being well. Ben remains hanging out with Twilight. And although Boris and his goons, the boss is angry because Night Light and Celestia told the principal as to what he has done causing him to get detention, causes more trouble, Twilight and Shining always chase them off or stood up for him.
While in class, Ben was writing when Twilight came up, giving him a note. The colt looks puzzled as he asks, "What's this?"
"An invite to my party," Twilight giggles happily to Ben. "You would come, right?"
"Well, uh yeah, sure." Ben said, a bit hesitant and concerned. He knows that Boris will come and crash the party should the colt go there.
"Goodie! See you there!" Twilight giggles a bit, nuzzling Ben before trotting off.
Ben looks concerned. How will he explains this to Flash?
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"I don't know. The last thing I want is that stupid Boris....." Ben said to Flash, explaining Twilight's invite to him to the Pegasus colt while adding his worry about Boris ruining things.
Flash scoffed, "Don't worry, I'll be watching your back."
"But what if......" Ben begins to say but Flash cut him off quickly.
"Hello! Earth to Ben! I'm a Pegasus. That means I fly in the air, and he won't see me coming. It will be fine. If he's trying something funny, I'll make him pay. After all, it's what best friends for." Flash insists to Ben, planning to watch his best friend's back and make sure that jerk Boris won't try anything.
"Yeah, I guess so." Ben said with a nod. Who knows? Maybe he would be all right after all.
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"Wow; Apparently Flash is like your major bodyguard." Rainbow comment to Ben, impressed.
"He learnt from the best, moi." Michael boasts, making the others roll their eyes at this comment.
"Even I don't boast that much." Rainbow remarks dryly.
"Well, go on. Continue on with the story involving Flash!" Scootaloo exclaims. Ben chuckles as he continues on with the story.
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Twilight's parents were busy so some of other Sparkle family members agree to host the party in the park, so it's easy for Ben and Cadance to arrive without a problem.
Ben looks a bit anxious as he saw Twilight playing 'Pin the Tail on The Pony' with some classmates. The colt hopes that the filly would like his present.
"Well, here goes." Ben said to himself quietly. The colt prepares himself...
"EARTH FILTH,” A voice is heard roaring. Ben yelps as he was pushed to the ground by Boris, still angry as ever. His goons watch on, waiting anxiously.
"Boris? You know, I didn't think Twilight invited you." Ben said to Boris as the Earth pony got back to his hooves.
"We invited ourselves on Twilight's behalf." Boris remarks to Ben furiously.
"Really; I thought we decided to gate crash or something." Boxco said in confusion.
"Shut it! You're in trouble, Ben. Because of you, I got months of detention!" Boris snaps to Ben, obviously blaming him for the jock getting into detention thanks to Boris and his goons beating him up the other day.
"Well, it's your fault for beating me up." Ben points out to Boris with a frown. "You brought that on yourself."
"Oooh, he got you there, boss." Dum-Dum said with a smile, but yelps as Boris gave him a glare.
"Earth filth, this may be Twilight's party but I am not scared of beating you up and proving you useless in front of her." Boris remarks to Ben angrily. Some of the party goers watch this going on, even Twilight who gasps and tries to get over to break the fight up. "No one, not even dirt like you, goes near what's mine."
"Twilight isn't yours to have!" Ben exclaims upset to Boris but yelps as the jerk push him back.
"She is and she always will be, Earth Filth!" Boris snapped before he pushed Ben again, knocking him to the ground.
Shining quickly interferes at this point, "Stop pestering Ben, Boris the Animal!"
"It's just...Bor-." Boris begins to growl angrily, but Shining cuts him off.
“Don't correct me. Especially you, Dum-Dum,” Shining said to Boris then turns his attention to Dum-Dum, much to the colt's confusion.
"Uh...me," Dum-Dum ask Shining in confusion.
"Yeah; you," Shining said as he gave a mischievous grin to the unicorn. "For hurting Ben, you owe me...gum-gum."
"What's gum-gum?" Dum-Dum asks his pals in confusion.
"He means gum, Dum-Dum!" Boxco explains to Dum-Dum in worry.
"That's right. Your name is Dum-Dum, so you give me...gum-gum for hurting Ben." Shining remarked to Shining, getting a bit more devilish.
"Uh...gee, uh...Look, sorry, Shining Armor, but I have no gum-gum and I don't have time for this little game." Dum-Dum said nervously. The unicorn doesn't like where this conversion is going and wants out of it now. "Come on, guys. Let's get out of here."
"Dum-Dum, you coward." Boris growls angrily to Dum-Dum. He turns his attention to Shining, adding, "Just you wait, Shining Armor! Just you wait. I'll have...your sister as my filly. Make no mistake about that!"
Shining scoffs at that, "In your dreams, Boris the Animal."
"It's just...Boris!" Boris snaps but yelps as Shining pushes him, causing him and his goons to make their getaway.
"Have a good day, Boris the Animal!" Shining taunts Boris as the bully makes his departure.
"BORIS, BORIS, BORIS, BORIS, BORIS, BORIS!" Boris yells angrily at Shining as the head creep makes his escape.
Shining pauses then adds, "....The Animal."
Boris cringes, stopping his departure to add, "Just you wait, Shining. Just wait. You can't protect that Earth Pony filth forever. You're gonna be sorry."
Shining sarcastically answers, "Yeah, right, sure, when I go around wearing a dress in public. NOT!" The colt waits until the trio of bullies leaves the scene. That will teach them. "Ben, are you okay?"
"I'm fine. Thank you, Shining," Ben said to Shining with a sigh of relief.
"That was some display of courage you got there." Cadance notes, pointing out how Ben stood up to Boris for a while.
"I know, I know...it's just...I wish I wasn't so shy or scared all the time." Ben said while looking down in sadness.
"No worries, someday, kid, you will have the courage to face those challenges." Shining assures Ben while patting the colt on the back, making him smile a bit.
"Ben? Are you all right?" Twilight ask Ben as the crowd begins to disperse, allowing the filly to come over to him.
"Yeah, I'm fine, Boris didn't hurt me too much this time." Ben assures to Twilight.
"I promise that I didn't invite that creep and his goons over here." Twilight pleads to Ben in concern. "I didn't want him to harm you again!"
"It's okay, it's okay. I'm fine, look, no bruise." Ben assures Twilight with a slight chuckle.
Twilight smiles in relief then spots a present in Ben's saddlebag, asking, "Is that for me?"
"Yeah, got it just for you," Ben said as he took out a present and gave it to Twilight, "Happy birthday, Twilight."
"Oh, Ben," Twilight giggles as she opens the present up. To her surprise and delight, inside is a book that said 'History of Ponyland/Equestria: From Its Beginning to Now', "Ben, where did you get this?!"
"Got some ways," Ben said with a smile as he winks to Cadance who winks him back in secret. The two has picked it up with Celestia's help.
"Thank you." Twilight said as she nuzzles Ben, making him blush a bit.
"You're welcome." Ben said as he slowly started nuzzling back.
"Awww, how cute," Cadance giggles as she and Shining watch this scene. "I think Ben is liking her."
"Yeah...but why are you defending him?" Shining ask Cadance puzzled.
"I was just bringing him over here. No need to ask any further questions, right?" Cadance ask Shining slyly, poking him on the nose.
Shining blushes then smiles as he nuzzles Cadance. Suddenly, two familiar foals laugh from nearby.
"Shame, shame," Ben teases the two.
"We know your name!" Twilight teases alongside her friend.
The two foals laugh a bit, having fun at the party. Eventually, it was time for Twilight to head off to get her usual birthday donut at Donut Joe's...and Ben was happy when his friend invites him to come along. Maybe he could get a donut too! Of course, three certain bullies have follow the two 'lovers' in secret, planning on another 'attack' without Shining around to get in the rway.
While following Ben and Twilight heading to Donut Joe's restaurant, before Boris and his gang could do anything, something swoop both Boxco and Dum-Dum and threw them into a trash can.
Boris looks around, demanding angrily, "Show yourself," Before he could do anything, the bully was swooped up and threw into another trash can. Boris groaned angrily, "When I get out of this trash, I'm gonna rip that punk out!"
While flying in the air, Flash smirked and snickered, "Not as long I'm still here, you buster brainiac." The Pegasus colt turned and saw Ben and Twilight talked while walking to the restaurant. Flash sighed, "At least, nothing can go wrong with those two."
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"And so we did, especially when it involves getting my first donut." Ben explains to his friends with a smile. "Of course, I've told Nyx and Phobos about that moment."
"Sounds like so far, all you did was use some bucking scenes from previous stories instead of making some horse-crap stuff up." Michael remarks with a scoff.
Just then a familiar mare come in and stared at him with anger. Flare Tiger angrily yell, "Michael!"
Michael shocked yelps, "Aw, horse-apple!" He's in trouble now!
Flare Tiger cast magic to pull Micheal's ear while doing a stare down at him. She sighed, "Time-out for ya."
Flare Tiger dragged him out while he screams. The others laughs while Rarity comments, "My, he deserved that."
"Ah done agreed wit' ya on 'dat one." Applejack remarks with a grin to Rarity.
"So anyway, after Ben get a glimpse of his own powers without him knowing it and as time passed..." Flash said then chuckle a bit. "Little Benny finally realize his feelings for Twiley...something he told me after telling his mother..."
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"So, you finally admit it?" Flash ask Ben with a smirk while the two trains some more with their swords. The Earth pony colt told his best friend of his newfound love for Twilight Sparkle.
"Yeah; and you know what? You're right from the beginning." Ben said with a happy smile. "I'd never thought that I would find my friend but as a special somepony. It's great."
Flash smiled while speaking, "Yeah, you bet . If that really happen, we can meet up together at your castle with Twilight Sparkle and Sunset Shimmer."
"What?! I don't know. I think it's -!"
Flash chuckled, "I was joking, Ben. It's your choice to make with Twilight. When that time comes, you decide to tell her since you and her are destined to be one."
Ben smiled, saying, "Yeah, I guess. So, anyway, since you had done it before with Sunset Shimmer, I need some advice."
"I thought you'd never ask. Okay, here's how it goes....."