Canterlot Academy Trials

As the rest of his team was released from the hospital, they asked the doctors as well as the queens where Fang might have gone but didn’t get an answer.

“...that’s weird,” Spearklip noted as they left the castle, “Nobody’s seen him anywhere?”

“Maybe his fam knows where he is?” Rufus asked, “Let’s check there.”

“I wonder what could have made him run off so quickly…” Lee mused.

It turns out that his team not only had no idea where Fang went, but were lost as to why as well. Their anxiety went through the roof as they rushed to Fang’s home where the dalmatian pups were still grieving over the loss of their mother.

However, the second-eldest sibling of the family, a young dalmatian woman, would answer them when Fang’s friends appeared at the door.

“...Oh. Fang? He’s probably at the Tailswipe Canyon. It’s where he always goes when he wants to be alone or think about something,” she explained with a frown.

“I see,” Rufus replied with a nod, “Thanks. We’re not sure what happened. But he just kinda upped and disappeared on us without warning.”

“I can see why,” the dalmatian sister continued, “The news about mom’s disease being curable just after she died has…shaken us all. But in the end we know she did what she could for us.”

This news shook the rest of Fang’s team. Was that why he had gone off somewhere alone? To think about what had happened? Or was there something else going on? Either way they needed to find out as quickly as possible.

“I see…um…” Spearklip would ask a question as a bead of cold sweat ran down the side of her neck, “Where is the Tailswipe Canyon exactly? I know Fang probably wants to be alone right now but we just want to make sure he’s okay.”

Fang’s sister would pull out a map and hand it to them. “Just follow the signs. It’s just South of here.”

“Thanks,” Spearklip replied with a nervous smile as they left the family of spotted dogs alone.

Lee would finally speak up. “...do you think Jun is hurting to the point of…”

“I really really hope that’s not the case,” Rufus cut her off as he started jogging, then running on ahead. He already knew exactly what mental state his friend could be in and didn’t want to see him get any worse. “We have to find him. Now.”

“Hang on. Wait up!” Spear shouted as she started galloping after the yak. “We don’t wanna get lost!”

Using her primate agility, Lee had already leapt onto one of the nearby buildings and into a tree where she’d see a diamond dog in the distance at the edge of a cliff!

“That’s Jun!” she shouted, “This way, my friends!”

They all immediately followed her word and rushed over to where Fang was. Sure enough, they’d find the somber dog man sitting at the cliffside. There, Rufus would approach him first, slowly stepping up to him with a quiet tone.

“...Fang? My dude, are you alright? Please don’t tell me you’re gonna…”

Fang stood up and turned around to face them. “No…I…I don’t want to do what you’re thinking. Trust me.”

“Then why are you here?” Spear asked as she stepped up next to Rufus. “You know the last thing your siblings need right now is to lose you right after losing their mother. Don’t be an idiot.”

“Trust me, I really don’t want this…” Fang continued, “...but that’s the problem, Spear. I genuinely don’t even know what I want anymore. Everything I’ve tried to do to keep my family safe and this still happens…do they even deserve someone like me? Do I deserve them?”

Lee would step forward and make her case. “You’re being a fool, Jun! Your family clearly loves you and cares for you!” she cried, “They see you as someone to look up to! Don’t you dare throw that away!”

Neither Spear nor Rufus could speak up on such a situation. They hadn’t had contact with their respective families in a while. In fact, Fang was the only one among his entire group that had any sort of relationship with his family at all.

“I…Lee…” Fang muttered, but was unable to come up with a response. “...your own family situation isn’t that great from what I understand. You’re trying to reason with me from experience.”

“If it means I don’t need to lose you, then yes!” she screamed as she balled her fists, “You’ve got loads of brothers and sisters who need you. I wish I had a family that gave a damn about me.” She paused for a moment and grit her teeth. “...you have a lot of nerve to give all of that up so easily!”

“Understand my perspective!” Fang shouted back, “I just…want to be alone right now. I can’t think past my own tail.”

“That’s kinda the problem though,” Rufus chimed in, “I know you need time to grieve man. While it may not be on the same level as losing your mom, losing Uzi hurt me like shit. But the only reason I was able to keep going was because of you guys. You need to realize it goes the same way for you too, man.”

“...he’s right,” Spear added with a soft tone, “That’s all we want you to understand. Please don’t hurt yourself over this, Fang. Think of how everyone else back home will take it. Come on…we’ve got your back. Always.”

All Fang could do was drop to his knees and sob into the ground beneath himself. His yak, zebra, and monkey companions gave him a moment before they approached him and brought him into a hug where his sobs would slowly deafen…

All while Bullet would watch from afar, sighing to himself. 'The calm before the storm.'