Backslash creped along the steamy tiled walls of the gym entrance, the artificial lighting flickered on and off in a mad routine as the bulb was fit to blow, draping dark shadows along the floor.
Closer and closer he snuck towards the front exit of the sporting facility. The sound of grunts and hardy laughing up ahead past closed glass doors
*Tap* Tap* *Tap* went his hooves against the cold white tiles.
Suddenly from behind Backslash heard the louder heavier sound of approaching hoof-steps trailing from the gym lockers, he quickly darted his head around and jumped, wedging himself between a wall and a vending machine, the machine’s mechanical hum rattling his bones.
In front of him two large meaty jocks walked past, there frames as thick as thugs, faces like hard clay and jaws like cinderblocks. Backslash held his breathe, trying the hide the rattling of his teeth.
Eventually they were gone; the only sound emanating was the vibrant neon jitter of the plastic and metal vending machine buzzing away.
Taking a deep breath the vanilla-maned Colt squeezed himself out of the crevasse, his head spinning from being ratted around from the space between spaces.
“Who the hell are you!” spat a gruff voice as backslash was flung up into the vending machine, his neck being held tight by the thick arm of a large yellow colt, his green lumbering comrade beside him…. just as wholly engorged as the other. Backslash clawed at the jock’s hoof but realised it was too solid to part, the large yellow stallion’s grip was like a mechanic clamp.
“My…*cough* Name is Ba…Backslashhh…I… *cough* would like a moment…of..you..time” gasped the Colt, his throat squished almost completely shut.
“Piss off kid!” barked the yellow stallion, pushing the noticeably smaller colt into the pink plastic glowing machine. His arm as thick as backslash’s entire neck.
“I can make it worth…grrlghg….your while” he again gargled, chalk white teeth grinding against each-other.
Both jocks looked to each-other, the promise of money wetting their appetites.
The colt fell down and smacked hard against the antiseptic white tiles.
“Make it quick or well pound you’re head in” threaten the meat-wall.
“That’s..*cough*..what I wanted too talk to you about” Backslash told them, rubbing his throat as he picked himself up, his attitude become that of a business.
“I..I was hoping to hire the services of you..lovely… gentlecolts for abit of physical activity”.
“Sorry fruitcake but we don’t swing like that” the green colt replied from over the yellow jock’s shoulder.
“No, I mean….I would like to give you compensation for accompanying me as bolstering lackies, Im hoping to deal with a certain colt who…has ruined my courting eligibility with a mare” Backslash again told them in a daringly formal manner.
Again the two colts where unsure of what he was asking them, there English skills at the level of a kindergarten child.
Backslash gave a sigh as he put it down to extremely basic and easy to understand words.
“I want to pay both of you money to help me beat up a kid”.
Suddenly both jocks understood what he meant, their faces going into grim smiles.
“Hmm, how much you gunna pay us if we say yes then” cooed the yellow sports-pony.
“75 bits each” firmly replied the English student.
“Make it 100” haggled the larger yellow jock.
Biting down on his lip Backslash looked beyond the two colts towards the gym entrance, “As I see it there is a large group of other eligible sporting colts just beyond that door I could easily hire”.
“Yeah, but gods know they ain’t gunna be as nice and respectful as we are” cackled the yellow jock, his arm pressed firmly against the wall, blocking any sign of escape.
Backslash nodded to himself as he ran the numbers by in his head.
“I’ll do 85 bits each….but only when the job is done”.
Both Colts again looked greedily between each-other, their necks like thick tree trunks, there hooves like shovel heads.
“Deal” they both replied, spitting in there palms and extending a hoof-shake to the writer, his face twisted in disgust as he slowly lifted out his own hoof, shaking them both with a grisly *Squish*. Suddenly the yellow jock grabbed him by the wrist and pulled him forward.
“You know….boss, where gunna need forward cash-out just too prove you’re not going to skip out on paying us.” He chuckled, directing his attention towards the gold watch on Backslash’s right hoof.
“Are you kidding, this wrist-clock is easily worth 150!”.
“It’s worth shit if you’re not gunna sell it, gimme the watch and you can forget the extra 85 bits, I’ll take this as payment, I’ve always wanted a fancy doodad like that” the yellow colt (the smarter of the two) said, causing the shorter,skinnier whiter colt to remove the wrist-clock and hand it over, a grumble coming from his lips.
The jock applied the valuable bauble to his arm and gave a chuckle to himself.
“so who’s the guy then” the green stallion asked, cracking his thick neck.
“Button Mash, he’s a brown colt with a red mid-split shirt and an ass mark of a grey cross. I want to teach him a lesson for stealing my girl”
“How do we find him?”.
“Don’t worry, I’ve got a plan…” Smiled Backslash. The hum of the vending machine buzzing through the white and blue tiled walkway, florescent lights flickering madly like dying fireflies.
The three colt walked through the exit, malicious intent and revengance on their minds.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
“And that’s why Equine Affliction is way better than Parasprite, there music doesn’t rely on screaming every syllable in the entire song” Bones replied, his puke green mane in twists and points, the studs in his lips number in the dozens.
“Bullcrap” said the purple mare with faded yellow hair, “It’s more the other way around, Equine Afflicition bellow like every third line…and at least Para’s guitarist knows when to play a power chord once in a while…and he doesn’t look like a he-Mare”.
Between the two sat large a group of 8 other ponies, their bodies a mix of dank dark clothing and metal piercings, bodies dotted with inked tattoos and leather wristbands. All of them comfortably lounged behind the back of the gym, there looks taboo to the cheery nature of the high school, they were the Goth Ponies.
To the left of black mass sat Scarlet, her face full of far less make-up then she was used to wear.
“Hey Scar, did you catch up on your English, I can’t for the life of me figure out how to conclude my essay” Styx her best friend asked, ghost white hair spilling from her head like ivory water, the tattered text book in her arms full of pink high-lighted notes and annotations.
The Orange mare gave a simple nod and opened her saddlebag, pulling a jumble of papers and books out.
“Here, it’s nothing top grade worthy but I think it’s a decent conclusion to the ideas of the story”.
The pale white mare read through the essay, her bright pink eyes darting back and forth with expert speed.
“It’s alright I guess, gods you use commas everywhere though, its madness girl”.
“Well the story is mostly dialogue, I’d assume there would be a few commas here and there” Scarlet replied, clipping the gold buckles of her saddlebag back together.
Styx rolled her eyes, opened her own tattered text book and coping down what was on the paper.
“Hey Scar, that Button guy you’re going out with”, the orange mares ears immediately perked up. “Is he in the same English class as Mars?”.
“Yeah, but its Standard English so it’s all basic level stuff”.
“Can he write?”.
“Eh, he’s decent, nothing spectacular though”.
“Ohhh”.
…
….
“So Scarlet….If you uh don’t mind me asking, Button doesn’t really seem your type, why are you going out with him” Stylx asked, her eyelashes thick with jet black eyeliner.
The mare was about to casually reply when she stopped and slowly began to think about it, rubbing her chin and carefully contemplating the question.
“I guess because, hmm, well he’s not smart…he’s not talented….he doesn’t have anything much in the way of money…I guess I like him because he’s sweet when he wants to be”.
“c’mon, there’s got to be more than that?” .
“There is…I just dont want to sound…sappy” croaked Scarlet, sinking into the folds of her dark grey scarf.
“Honey, I write stories about romance and intrigue, I think I can handle abit of sap” insisted the pale white horse, her eyes like jewelled pink zircons.
“Fine” Scarlet Thread replied, putting her hooves between her lap, lowing her tone so no one could hear her.
The Orange mare felt extremely awkward talking about lovey dovey subjects.
“Button really doesn’t show it but he can be very sweet and caring sometimes, On Friday when we…you know.
“Fucked” Her friend bluntly replied.
“yeah…well, After he…finished we laid on the couch for hours just talking about stupid stuff. I found out a few things about who he was and what he was into, and turns out. He’s pretty cool.
“Care to explain then” Styx asked.
“well…his older brother taught him how to play guitar” Scarlet said, thinking to herself. “Also he reads a lot of poetry when he’s alone…he can quote word for word the entire script for Monty python and the holy grail”.
Styx still looked unimpressed, her black eye lids hanging low with dis-interest.
Scarlet realised she wasn’t explaining what she meant very well.
“That it” the white gothic mare asked.
“Well….he’s got a rather large dick if that counts” Scarlet commented.
“see that’s a good reason” smiled Styx, clipping up her saddlebag. “wait, how would you know what a colts typical size is, you’ve slept with only him, what’s your point of comparison?” she asked.
“Please, Ive seen you and Bones flaunting each other in our guest bedroom enough to know Button’s packing double what Bones is” Scarlet replied, picking up her own school bag and slinging it over her shoulder.
“Yeah Bonezy aint packing much more than a Crayola, he’s got technique though and that’s what counts….oh by the way, me and him are going to deathspike’s place soon, he’s got a few viles of Green stranger that he bought before his dealer went nuts and shot up that club in Canterlot. Where having a last hurray before they’re all gone, wanna come with?”.
“You know I don’t do anything stronger than weed”.
“yeah yeah miss goody-two-shoes, c’mon bus is gunna show up soon”.
“Alright lets head off” Scarlet replied, the two friends walking to the bus lines, the bell about to ring.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
*BRRRRRRRRIIIIIIIIINNNNNNNNNGGGGGGGGG* ran the bell, signalling to the masses that it was time to go the hell home.
Sweetie Belle left Music class, her hair tied back in a ponytail and her arms wrapped around a large bundle of sheet music, annotated notes and text books.
As she walked with the crowd through the emptying walkways she caught up with Applebloom by the lockers.
Both Best friends began to chat casually as they ventured to their bus lines.
“So whatcha’ doin’ when you get home” the yellow mare asked, a pink piece of bubblegum between her teeth.
“Dunno, Probably just play some piano and watch TV” Sweetie replied.
“Well I’ll be picking nothin’ but zap-apples th’seevenin’, Applejack says its punishment”.
“For what” interjected Sweetie belle.
Applebloom was about to reply when she stared sourly at the white mare, her brow furrowing like a detective.
“Sweetie…what went on between you and Button last night?”.
*GULP*
“w-what do you mean” Sweetie belle stuttered, biting down on her tongue, her body almost snap-freezing in place.
Applebloom’s face was stern.
“We’ll we all left to go upstairs, you’s two didn’t…get up to anything did you?”.
Sweetie choked out a quick ‘No!’, beads of transparent sweat forming on the sides of her face.
“hmm…are you sure about that” The yellow mare looked at sweetie belle like she was a lying child, her eyes pressing deep into Sweetie’s face.
“what m-makes you think we did anything?” chirped the white mare, hoping to make it to her bus before this conversation ended with a confession.
“Sweetie….I’m not going to beat round the bush here, the couch has stains on it, the blanket still smells like stank and…”
Sweetie belle’s face was washed white with fear.
“…there’s a half filled condom sitting in our garbage bin, I know because applejack found it….that’s why I’m getting punished” Applebloom finished, her face very coarse and rigid. Sweetie had been found out.
The white mare said nothing.
..
..
“Well, care to explain what went on?”
..
..
“Nope” squeaked the girl.
“Are you sure hun, coz I aint plannin’ on droppin’ this any time soon”.
Sweetie turned her head back and forth making sure no one could listen in on their conversation. She whispered quietly to Applebloom.
“Ok ok you caught me ok…I slept with Button last night, we were drunk, it was an honest mistake can we please just drop it ok” stammered Sweetie, darting her eyes away from her best friend.
Applebloom moved her mouth to the side and made a dis-approving ‘tisk tisk’ sound.”You know he’s got a marefri-“.
“Yes I’m aware he’s going out with Scarlet, like I said we were both drunk…now please can we change the subject” spat the mare, making her friend jump back.
“….did you enjoy it?” confusingly asked Applebloom, cutting Sweetie belle alittle slack.
“wha-…..I dunno I was drunk…and….well……yeah, it was pretty good I guess”.
“this isn’t the first time you and Button have…you know”.
“We did it a few times when we were younger”.
“Any improvement?” Applebloom asked, the raspberry bubble-gum scent stuck in her breathe.
“Marginally” inputted the mare.
“Sweetie I realise this is a loaded gun of a question but…why’d you…sleep with him…or did he ask you?, Button aint much of a horn-dog but hay when drinks are involved who knows”.
“no….it was sort of both of us just going for it at the same time, we started off chatting and all that but then we started just dicking around and joking, We were already half-asleep when” Sweetie belle became fidgety, “We played our little shank game like when we were kids and I fell on him ….. then we….kissed….and hugged…and….then things just felt very hot” .
Appleblooms face was red.
“please don’t tell anyone please please” pleaded Sweetie belled, her eyes wide and begging.
“relax sugarcube relax, I aint gunna tell a soul, with the condom thing I told AJ it was Rumble and Scoots, your safe…for now”.
Sweetie let out a sigh, “thank you ….but, can I ask you something?”.
“sure I am your BFF aint I” The xanthus farm-girl replied.
“cool, uh…ca I message you tonight, I want to talk about…what happened last night…and some other stuff that happened today, I feel really weird bottling it up and I don’t know who to talk to it about”.
“sure thing, I’m playing some TF2 tonight with Scoot and Button, just skype me and we’ll talk k”.
“K".
The two mares walked towards the bus lines, leaving Canterlot high for another day.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
“And I said Oatmeal are you crazy” clucked Scarlet thread to Button, is chuckle genuine even though he fully knew how terrible the joke was.
“Ok babe here’s your stop, move your ass up” The orange mare announced, reaching down and lifting up his saddlebag.
“K K, thanks bae” Button Mash replied, giving her a kiss on the lips and lifting himself up, slinging the brown bag over his back.
“Don’t forget” Rumble chimed in, “You’ve got a death match with Scoot tonight, she’s requested you go pyro”.
“Pfft, She knows I only run Sniper on TDM’s, Ill consider it if we do capture the flag” retorted the mocha colt, giving a bro-hoof to his mate.
Button stepped off the platform and onto the dry dirt road, the bus doors creaking as they snapped shut and drove off in a ball of dust.
Button took out his phone and plugged a set of pink headphones inside, turning the volume up to max as he blasted Queen into his ears, walking home at a medium pace, kicking dirt up with each swing of his legs.
The weather was chilly, there was a nasty cold snap breezing down from the north that the pegasi weather squad accidently let loose. It bit at Button’s hind like a small dog, this cold was the type that went deep into the skin and stuck to the bones, sending shivers up anyone’s spine.
Button buttoned up his shirt and rolled down the red sleeves, his coat twitching as the evening sun began to set early.
“Hey Button” called a voice from behind the brown colt.
Turning around Button saw Backslash; his face twisted in a nasty grin as his milk-coloured mane was sleeked back with expensive gel.
“Oh hey Slash, what are you doing in Ponyville, don’t you live in Canterlot?” Button replied, his face though curios still having a dull placid look.
“I’m just here to sort out a little qualm of mine” his face still bore jubilant eeriness, “specifically with you Button Mash”.
The brown colt became confused and off-putted….but by the way Backslash wore himself Button knew he was up to something.
“Why, what did I do”.
“You took Sweetie from me, for years I had been there for her…..trying to finally get her to notice me as more than a friend, I was so fucking close button…so close I could taste it”.
Button didn’t understand him, but he somehow felt Backslash knew about him and sweetie.
“who man, Im sorry if I did anything wrong…”.
“Shut up…because of you I’ll never get to even kiss sweetie again”.
“slash bro I’m sorry, I didn’t know you two were going out I swear”.
“well…not legitimately….but, I was close, I was damn close, I made my move last Friday at the cabaret…but she rejected me…because of you!....Button”.
“Hold on didn’t you sleep with her that night?” Button spat out, the writer’s face going into confusion as it soon became clear to Button that sweetie had lied to him.
“Wha….doesn’t matter, You’ve ruined my chance with her….it’ll take me years to work back up to where I was” Backslash began to crack his wrists in intimidation, clearly showing button that he wanted to fight. Button knew Backslash somewhat; he knew that he was terrible when it came to fighting.
Button shook his head slowly, “Turn away Slash….or I will hurt you”, His hoof unplugging the headphones from his ears.
“You know Button I severely doubt that, unlike you I don’t charge head-first into blind stupidity ….not without a bit of support….Cinderblock, Touchdown!”.
Suddenly Button felt a mammoth fist impact with his face, sending him hurling downwards into the dirt, a heavy leg pushing him deeper and deeper into the ground.
“This the kid you talkin’ about, hah, he’s gotta be the scrawniest shit I’ve ever seen” laughed Touchdown, the large yellow jock. His back hoof grinding deeper and deeper into button’s back, sending unbearable stings up each nerve in his spine.
*Thwack*, Button felt his ribs shatter as another large green Colt ran up and booted him in the chest.
“Whadda fuck mahn!” yelled Button in surprise and agonizing pain, his words a loud babble while his body cried out in torment.
“Shut up!” barked Backslash, stomping his leg down against Buttons head, his white ivory hoof pressing Button’s metal ear stud deep into his own skull.
“AH Fuck off!” cried out the brown colt, his eyes going bloodshot and watery.
Again he received another earth-shattering kick in the ribs, dust shooting up in the cold sky.
“This is for Sweetie Belle” Rumble yelled, lifting his leg and propelling it down against the side of button’s scalp, impacting like a steam-train. “This is for me” he chanted again, repeating the action, Button Mash’s vision going dizzy as he could feel his consciousness fading fast.
Button saw Backslash lift his leg up as high as he could, he knew that the next step would ether knock him out cold or give him major brain damage, maybe both. Button squinted his eyes shut, grinding his teeth as he tensed up for the final blow, his body in ungodly fits of pain from his front and back. ‘Save me’ the mocha colt thought to himself, ‘anyone, please save me!’.
Button waited for the impact….nothing. he still kept his eyes shut as the colt waited for it to happen, but still nothing.
“Thank goddess” Button said to himself opening his eyes and looki….*WHACK!*.
Button went completely limp as Backslash brought all his force down on Buttons Skull, the poor Colts mind going completely black as he was knocked out cold. His body crumbling in the dust and dirt.
Backslash gave a few exhales in anger, staring at the lifeless Colt with distain fit firmly in his eyes. Grunting madly as the beads of sweat dropped from his forehead, his sleeked back prim Mane now split and tattered in loose strands.
“You took her from me….she was mine…..her heart belonged to me, not you” Mumbled Slash, wiping his brow and giving what was left of Button a kick in the gut.
“Hey bro….Never hit a Colt after they’ve passed out, that’s not good sportsmanship” Touch Down interjected. Taking his leg off Button and brushing the dirt from his coat.
“Errr….” Murmured the milky-maned writer. Trying to slide back his mane back but having it split even more in front of his red Safire eyes.
“So…what do you want to do now” Cinderblock asked, staring at the limp body.
“I want to go home and drink my fucking ass off” Backslash replied.
“What about my pay” the green jock reminded. His muscles so large that they almost tore from his skin.
“C’mon we’ll go to my place; I’ll pay you when we get there”.
“Free drinks….hell yeah” Cinderblock cooed, stepping over the casualty.
The lynch mob left Button cold and unconscious on the ground, the cold chilly air circling howling through his bruised body as his brain was a silent blankness.
His mind went into offline mode.
His body began to reboot.