Two Ponies

" Class, I'd like to welcome a new student named ShadowSpark Hooves. She transferred from Whinny Creek Intermediate just last week," the teacher-pony said as she pointed to Shadow. " Everypony say hi." A cacophony of hi's, boos, and groans were heard. The teacher glared at the jeering foals and rewarded the ones who said hi (and smiled like they were stuck with their snouts stretched out wide) with candy. She then walked towards Shadow and motioned for her to sit next to Speedster Dash, the yellow mare from before class. She turned and smiled confidently.

" Hi. I'm Speedster Dash, great-grandniece of Rainbow Dash of the Wonderbolts, hence the name. Friends call me Speedy, Mama calls me Carrot Top. How about you, Miss Hooves?" Shadow murmured, " The teacher said my name already." At this, Speedster laughed.

" Okay, then. I'll call you Sparky." Shadow grimaced at the nickname. " Then how about Shadow?" she proposed.

" Okay."  The teacher began passing out papers.

" Today,  we will be studying the anatomy of the pony body, including unicorns, pegasi, and alicorns. We will not be separated by body type today.I will choose the groups myself." She took out her seating chart.

" Angelfeathers with SilverStreak, Sweetie Cake with Maud Slide...."  Shadow zoned out until the last pair was made. "...Speedster Dash and ShadowSpark Hooves." The class erupted in snickers. Rude words were heard all throughout the room. While the teacher wasn't looking, a crumpled piece of paper was thrown at Shadow. She opened it and read it with nonchalance. In horrible, scrawly writing, was a note.

Speedy Crash and ShadowWimp, the two weirdos! it said. Shadow folded it neatly and hid it under her diagram of a unicorn horn, hoping Speedster wouldn't notice. She did, unfortunately.

" Who gave you this?" she demanded. Shadow kept silent. Angrily,  Speedster stood up out of her seat and asked loudly, "Who wrote this? Well?" The teacher turned around, her eyebrow raised in curiosity.

" Speedster, whatever is the matter?"

" Someone threw a piece of paper at us! Look what it says, Miss Grafee!" The teacher took the paper and read it quickly to herself.

" Well, I know that handwriting anywhere, and the filly who wrote this will be punished, but it is no reason for you to yell in class. You wouldn't want to be just as bad as the bully, correct?" Speedster opened  her mouth to justify her act, then closed it, thinking better of it.

At lunch, Speedster was showing Shadow around.

"... and there's the lunch lines for food." Just as the two were about to  find their seats, a troupe of three mares began to prance over to them. " What do you pricks want?" Speedster quipped. The main pony just laughed haughtily.

" Move over, Speedy Crash. We don't want you and this cryfilly ruining our Tuesday spot." Shadow stood up and stared at the ponies.

" It matters to you what day it is? " she asked politely. The pony laughed again.

" We wouldn't be telling you to leave if it didn't. Now move over." She stepped closer to Shadow, her pink snout inches from Shadow's face. " Or else, I might make a mistake. Oh, whoopsies!" she exclaimed as she grabbed someone's milk and poured it all over Shadow's mane and face. Shadow stood there, numb and emotionless, oblivious to the fact that Speedster had taken her little cup of Caesar dressing and dumped all of it on the pony's designer dress. All Shadow was thinking was about her face makeup.Let nopony see the scars. Let nopony see the bruises... Shadow turned away from the fighting fillies and walked slowly to the bathroom.

" That's right! Walk away, you little cryfilly!" Speedster pushed the pony to the ground.

" We'll finish this later, Lacy Crochet." She rushed over to Shadow, who was already in the bathroom, washing her face and snout with water and soap.

" Hey, sorry about Lacy and her crew. They're annoying, I know." Shadow just nodded, not facing Speedster.

" Hey are you crying?" Shadow shook her head. Speedster frowned. " Yes, you are! Turn around." She pulled Shadow to face her, and gasped a little. She gingerly felt Shadow's face. Bruises on her forehead, her cheek, a scar on her snout and one under her eye. Cuts and scrapes visible all over her face, some on her neck. Shadow tried to hide her face, but Speedster was transfixed.

" Who did this to you?" she whispered.

" Promise you will tell nopony?" Speedster nodded.

" Swear, even if Nightmare Moon knocks on your door?"

A nod.

" Even if Discord tries to take your cutie mark?"

Another nod.

" Cross your heart, hope to fly, stick a cupcake in your eye?"

" Cross my heart, hope to fly, stick a cupcake in my eye," Speedster responded.

" You know how people go to their mothers when they have problems?"

Speedster nodded.

" My mama did this to me. She gives me problems."

And that's when Speedster almost screamed.