It had been a peculiar day for Bright, he only got teased a few times and now he was walking with a mare to his home, "So where's your house, Bright?" Sweetie asked.

"It's over there," Bright said, pointing his hoof to the residential area, "In between all the other houses." He joked.

Sweetie playfully punched his shoulder, "No, silly, where is it really?"

"Just several more steps the way we're headed and then turn right - that's where it is," Sweetie gave a blank look, "Hey, you'll know when we get there. All the houses around Ponyville look exactly the same."

"Oh," She glanced at each household, realising that most had looked similar, "Right." She giggled slightly.

A few moments were silence were had until Sweetie Belle had a question in mind, "So when did you move here?"

"Uh," Bright thought, "Just a few days ago. You'll see various boxes scattered around the house. We really should have unpacked everything first before my family went on vacation."

"I see, how do you like it here so far?"

"I don't know, I haven't really seen much. I've been unpacking my boxes. We're still waiting for some deliveries so it'll take a while for me to get settled in."

"Ooo! Maybe we could go on a da-" Sweetie stopped herself, about to say something embarrassing, "On... a tour around town!"

"That doesn't actually sound too bad. Yea, maybe I will go." Bright considered.

But, dude, we need to study more on Cloudsdale history!

And NOT spend time with the cute unicorn?

Oh pa-lease! You've only met her for a day and you're already falling for somepony?!

Well yea, she likes mystery things...

Alright fine, do what you want! Don't come crying to me when she says "No, I have a boyfriend" in your face.

"Alright, Sweets, we're finally here."

"Sweets?" Sweetie Belle asked as she cocked her head sideways.

"Your nickname: Sweets."

Oh my gosh! He called me 'Sweets'! Aww, he's so cute too! Hold on, isn't he going to open the door?

"Shall we head inside?"

"I thought you said you wanted to see my house," Bright remarked cheekily grinning, "Well there you go, feast your eyes." He said emotionless.

Sweetie punched him, "Haha, very funny, Bright, you smart-flank. You going to let us in?"

"Yea, yea, sure. Just trying to make somepony laugh, y'know?"

"Well, you did good, Bright," Sweetie admired, watching Bright swing open the door revealing a whole lot of boxes in almost every corner of the interior, "Nice decor."

Bright chortles, "I told you there were a lot of boxes. I have to tend to them later but for now, I'll lay down my belongings and then'll head over to the clubhouse, was it?"

"Yep, our clubhouse," Sweetie was observing the interior - empty, dull, dark and uncouth. She then veered to the boxes, noticing one with a couple of thick books on it.

Their titles were familiar to ones they were talking about earlier in the day. Sweetie Belle scanned through them and found one she found quite useful and interesting. She gasped from its cover and eagerly planted it on Bright's muzzle. It was a cover of fashion in Cloudsdale, something her older sister, Rarity, could use so she could expand on her business.

"Uh, sure, I see no problem." She squealed delightedly and squeezed Bright, nearly crushing a bone inside of him.

Bright nervously laughed, "No problem," He stated while patting Sweetie's fluffy mane, "Anyways, we better go now. The others are probably waiting for us." He aimed his hoof at the open doorway while Sweetie Belle stuffed her new book in her saddlebag.

"Yup!" She exclaimed suddenly, "Let's go!"

They stepped outside into the open air, slowly strolling across the path heading towards their destination. Rarely any foals were outside. The small few were having fun in the playground near their school. Unfortunately, those small few were a terrible bunch - Sweet Pie and her friends.

Bright quickened his pace to avoid the laughing foals until Sweet Pie directly found them. She cantered over, patting Bright on his shoulder. His comfortableness was gone.

"Hanging out with your marefriend, eh, Bright?" She poked him.

Sweetie interjected defensively, "Hey, leave him alone."

"And what are you going to do about it?" She gave a sly look.

"Just stop, okay? He did nothing to you, why do something to him?" Sweetie reasoned while Bright's breath heaved heavily.

"Because I want to, isn't that right, Bright?" She forcefully pushed Bright to the ground and tackled on top of him, unable to move, "Or should I say Light?" She chuckled while she 'playfully' abused Bright.

"Quit it! Or I'll- I'll.." Sweetie stumbled on her words.

"You'll what? Huh?" She forced her words, sending her flying by Sweetie's charged horn.

Anger fled her horn and blasted Sweet Pie across the playground, alerting her friends to protect her. Sweetie Belle on the other hand felt guilty and tears filled her eyes as she realised what she did. She ran off a short distance before crouching behind a nearby tree on the path. Bright soon quickly followed from the fight and found Sweetie filling her hooves with tears.

Bright sat down carefully as wiped a flowing tear from her soft face, "Hey, what's wrong?"

"I-I didn't mean to," She sniffed, "I just- I just wanted them to leave." She held her eyes again while Bright placed his hooves on her lap.

"You're going to be fine. They didn't listen so they got what was handed to them. Technically, they weren't in school so Ms. Cheerilee doesn't have to do anything about it. Besides," He caressed her lap, "That was pretty cool."

She chuckled slightly until giving him warmth, "Thank you, Bright." She sniffed one more time until drenching Bright's back with a waterfall of tears.

Their little drama session had been quickly forgotten from Bright's explanation about annoying ponies in Cloudsdale. Sweetie Belle didn't expect much from Bright since she had experienced that before but he had more to talk about.

In the past, Diamond Tiara's bullying had only been the tip of the iceberg. Bright had been in more difficult situations other than light teasing and discouragement. Last year, Bright's enemies had forced him into the janitor's locker until a staff member heard him shouting his lungs out. It was nighttime when he had escaped the tight space. He embraced the teacher, crying.

The following months, Bright was forced on the ground being brutally beaten by his classmates, if you could call them that. It was like a bloodbath, but for Bright only. During that 'brawl', Bright came out with a bruised eye accompanied with a bloody mouth, broken glasses, ripped books and a limp on his right hind-leg.

This was when his parents decided to move out to Ponyville, where ponies were less competitive... in certain ways.

He slowly healed afterwards and he was back in school, at Cheerilee's. No wounds, scratches or limp. It was like nothing had happened.

As they neared Sweet Apple Acres, Sweetie Belle spotted the familiar orange Pegasus waving towards them enthusiastically. Sweetie Belle exclaimed to follow her and he did, trying his best to keep up with her. Bright wasn't the best at running or any field events other than helping out with scoring and analysing every racer.

Bright exerted heavily as Scootaloo lead them to the clubhouse, a small, clean treehouse with an escalating ladder.

"You coming, Bright?" Sweetie Belle called out, snapping Bright's gazing.

"Huh?" He sputtered, "Oh, right, yeah." He soon trotted inside.

The interior revealed a whole wall full of various ponies, all of them having a significant similarity. All of them were young. The group's name sure hit his head hard as he realised the symbolism of the Cutie Mark Crusaders.

"So you help ponies figure out their whole life's purpose?" Bright blankly asked, gesturing at the decorated wall.

"Umm, Ah guess so. You want ta get yours, right?" Apple Bloom questioned.

"Definitely!" Bright seemed excited for once, "How do you we start?"

Bright had been reminded of a cutie mark's purpose, a thing he had listened to various times as a young colt but he stayed attentive as to not rattle any rudeness. Thankfully, the lecture didn't last long but it was useful information to Bright. He hadn't thought about cutie marks that much in his life, only studying and reading and writing. He didn't want to look for a purpose though, but he had observed how ponies with lacking cutie marks became engulfed in a confined space of depression - something he wouldn't want to get stuck in from all the affects it has.

Apple Bloom had asked what Bright liked doing or something he did often. It was quite obvious of what he was going to say so they asked their second question.

"Have ya ever thought of anything else? Like, any other things that interest ya?" Apple Bloom asked.

Bright then explained his urge to explore undiscovered areas. He had an interest of the Everfree Forest before they moved to Ponyville. He would read about it and try to piece things together of why they were that way. Another thought that hung about was during their lunch session - the mystery of colour in Cloudsdale. Bright had been told the same story over and over about how colour was made in Cloudsdale. He did not believe a single word ponies said to him and so he decided to bury himself in the mystery. Bright began to research about this matter but was unable to when he found out (not by asking) that books about creating colour was banned from Equestria. This was completely shocking to Bright and he wanted to know why.

"Interesting," Sweetie Belle scratched her chin, "Why don't we go to the Everfree Forest and try to map out its surroundings, one inch at a time?"

"Yea!" Scootaloo interjected excitedly, "It'd be so cool to find out what's in the Everfree Forest! I reckon we should give it a shot."

"But girls," Apple Bloom replied suddenly, "Ya'll need ta think 'bout what safety precautions we'd need. Who knows what's in there? For all we know, there could be somethin' poisonous that could kill us!"

"I don't know, Apple Bloom, isn't that why we would be going there in the first place?" Bright suggested, "I think it'd be worth a shot, even if it's just the perimeter. Even if I don't get my mark, at least I'd know more about the forest."

"Why don't we get a guide?" Sweetie Belle asked, "Zecora would be nice."

"Zecora? Who's that?"

Author's Note

I know that some of these actions from these characters may be overreacted but these ponies are technically teens in this fiction. Try thinking about understanding these ponies and what they're going through: the thought of loving someone or perhaps the feeling of wanting to whimper.

But as always, enjoy reading!

-Mr User