The Magic of Kindnessby NordrydChaptersCh.1. Someone In NeedCh.2. Luck of the DrawCh.3. So Many QuestionsCh.1. Someone In NeedAuthor's Note Hello. It’s been a while :) For readers of years past, forget anything you know about Coppermane and Fluttershy previously. This is basically a ground-up redo of their Equestria Girls relationship. Also, this takes place after Friendship Games and before Legend of Everfree. It helps the main 7's characters to be more fleshed out, and gets SciTwi in the story instead of having to get Princess Twilight out later. Enjoy! Ch.1. Someone In Need “Alright, this should be the last poster,” Sunset said. Fluttershy nodded, handing Sunset the last poster advertising the Fall Formal. “Thanks for your help, Fluttershy,” Sunset said. “And with a few minutes to spare before band practice.” “Of course,” Fluttershy said. “I'm happy to help.” “Man, with the Fall Formal and the Musical Showcase coming up, things are gonna get pretty busy,” Sunset said. “It’ll be busy, but fun too,” Fluttershy said. “Oh, absolutely,” Sunset said. “Chaos, but fun chaos. So... do you have your eyes on anyone?” “Hm? What do you mean?” Fluttershy asked. “For the Fall Formal,” Sunset said. "...sorry, I still don't understand,” Fluttershy said. “Y’know... a guy?” Sunset said, smirking. “A date?” Fluttershy blushed. “Oh! Oh my... um... I haven’t even thought about that.” “No biggie,” Sunset said. “I was just curious. I’m not that interested in a date either. I’m happy just to hang out with my friends.” Fluttershy smiled. “Me too.” “But y’know... I bet there are several guys in the school who are dying to ask you out,” Sunset said. “M-Me?” Fluttershy said, blushing again. “I-I don’t know about that.” “C’mon, don’t sell yourself short,” Sunset said. “You’re the sweetest girl in school, not to mention drop-dead gorgeous.” “Well... thank you, but... I don’t know,” Fluttershy said. “I haven’t even thought about a relationship.” “Waiting for the right one to come along, huh?” Sunset said. Fluttershy smiled. “Yeah, that’s a good way to put it. I feel like when he comes around, he’ll jump right out at me like an excited puppy.” Sunset giggled. “I hope you don’t mean literally.” Fluttershy giggled too. “Of course not. That would be… kinda weird. But do you know what I mean? When I meet him, my heart will know.” Sunset smirked. “Who knew you had such high standards?” Fluttershy pouted. “What’s wrong with that?” “Only teasing,” Sunset said. “That just means you’re more likely to end up with the right guy. Trust me, I’ve had a rough relationship before, and nobody deserves that.” “You mean... Flash Sentry?” Fluttershy asked. “...yeah,” Sunset said. “I mean, we both know he’s a good guy, but I dated him for the wrong reasons. It felt shallow with no real potential to grow. You’re staying true to yourself, which is the correct way to do it. I’m sure the right guy will have no problem asking you out. Who knows? Maybe you’ll be the one to ask him out.” “Huh?! Oh gosh... I-I could never do that,” Fluttershy cooed. “You're bolder than you think, Fluttershy,” Sunset said. “I wouldn’t be surprised.” “Maybe,” Fluttershy said, “but it’ll happen when it happens. To be honest, I’m surprised nobody has asked you out, Sunset. You’re way prettier than me, after all.” “Oh, no I’m not,” Sunset said. “Let’s not compare ourselves like that.” “Well, either way, I think you’re beautiful,” Fluttershy said. “Heh… thanks,” Sunset said. “But like I said, I’m not really interested in a relationship right now. Besides, I don’t mind being single as long as I’ve got amazing friends like you.” Fluttershy beamed. “I feel the same way about you, Sunset.” “Thanks, girly,” Sunset said. “C’mon, let’s head to our practice room—” BAM!!! Sunset and Fluttershy flinched. It sounded like something—or someone—was slammed against the lockers around the corner. BAM!!! “Hah! You’re even weaker than I thought!” a big voice said. Sunset and Fluttershy inched closer to the corner to listen in. “Ha! You gonna cry?” a different bigger voice said. Was someone being ganged up on?! Fluttershy heard an impact that sounded like a punch, immediately followed by the quieter voice yelping. And another. And another! “Sunset!” Fluttershy whispered. “We have to do something!” “This is what we do to shadowbolts around here!” the bigger voice said. “Shadowbolts?” Sunset said. “Did a Crystal Prep student wander in somehow?” The girls winced when they heard what sounded like someone being thrown to the ground... and the sounds of violence stopped. “Don’t forget your place here, punkass shadowbolt,” one of the bigger voices said. “No... we’re too late,” Fluttershy whimpered. Suddenly their footsteps approached. “They’re coming!” Fluttershy cried. “Don’t worry. I have an idea,” Sunset said, pulling out her phone and bringing up the camera. Fluttershy followed suit. “Act natural,” Sunset said, looking down and pretending to text. Fluttershy did the same. Fluttershy tensed upon seeing two big jocks turn the corner. They didn’t seem to notice them, wearing smirks and gloating about their recent deed. In the dead silence of the hall, she could hear their victim coughing and whimpering.... and her blood began to boil. Gritting her teeth, she snapped as many pictures as she could. It took all her willpower not to call them out as they walked away. They turned another corner down the hall and left their sight, allowing Sunset and Fluttershy to relax. Though, their laughter could be heard echoing through the halls. “I got some decent photos,” Sunset said. “If they’re jocks, Rainbow Dash oughta know them. We can ask her at rehearsal.” “Those... meanies!” Fluttershy cried. “How can anyone be so cruel?” The sound of sniffling around the corner caught their attention. "We have to help them!” Fluttershy said. “Right. C’mon,” Sunset said. They turned the corner. Textbooks and loose paper were scattered across the floor, and sitting against the locker was a boy with his head buried in his knees. He wore all black: a hoodie with the hood concealing his face, black sweatpants, and black shoes. The only visible part of his body was his pastel white hands. He seemed more on the scrawny side, and definitely no match for those jocks. He didn’t move. The only sounds were the ventilation and his audibly shaky breathing. Fluttershy’s heart ripped at the sight. He looked totally broken. She met Sunset’s eyes. She looked equally heartbroken. She gave Fluttershy a nod before cautiously approaching... “Hey, are you—?” “GAH!!!” he screamed, scrambling back. He held his hands above his head, refusing to make eye contact. He looked like a frightened puppy. “N-Not again! Look, just... just get it over with, okay?!” “Whoa whoa, we’re not gonna hurt you,” Sunset said. “Bullshit!” he yelled. “I promise I won’t fight back! Just get it over and done with! Please!” Fluttershy and Sunset exchanged a look of confusion and horror. Such a visceral reaction... “C’mon, already!” he shouted. “Hey, I said we’re not gonna hurt you,” Sunset said. “Wait a sec...” “Wh-What?” he beckoned. Sunset studied him for a moment. “...yeah! I knew you looked familiar! You’re the new student! I’m Sunset Shimmer, remember? I gave you a tour on your first day.” He seemed to relax a little, but didn’t lower his hands. He turned his head toward them. His hood kept his eyes concealed, but it was clear his nose was bleeding. “Y-Yeah... I remember,” he said in a much softer voice. “You... remember me?” “Of course, I do,” Sunset said. “You're name's Coppermane, right?” He relaxed a little more upon hearing his name. “Yeah... th-that's right,” he murmured. “C’mon, let me help you up,” Sunset said. She reached out to him, but he recoiled. “I promise, we won’t hurt you,” Sunset said. Fluttershy tensed up when he looked in her direction. “Wh-What about her?” he asked. “Oh, she's my friend, Fluttershy,” Sunset said. “Don’t worry, she wouldn’t hurt a fly.” His head darted between them, still hesitant. “It’s okay,” Fluttershy said. “We here to help you.” He suddenly fixated on Fluttershy. She wasn’t sure how to read it. Was he looking at her? Or just in the direction of her voice? What’s going through his head? A few seconds of silence passed, and his hands slowly lowered. With a sigh, he looked back at Sunset and took her hand, allowing her to help him stand. He was just a little taller than them. When he stood, he folded his arms and was struggling to make eye contact. Unfortunately, his face was still mostly hidden by his hood, but this was progress. “Th-Thanks,” he said. “Sure thing,” Sunset said. “Are these books and papers yours?” Coppermane nodded. “Let’s help him, Fluttershy,” Sunset said. “No no, I-I can get it myself,” Coppermane said. “I insist,” Sunset said. “We can’t leave you behind, can we?” “Um... uh... o-okay,” he said softly. Sunset and Fluttershy both started gathering papers. Coppermane started too, but he started as far from them as possible. Fluttershy caught him sniffling, then saw him roll his sleeve up and wipe his nose with his arm. She gasped when she saw a bright red streak appear. “Oh, you poor thing,” Fluttershy said, going over to him. “U-Um!” he said, backing away from her and pulling his sleeve back over his arm to conceal the blood. “I’msorry! I didn’t mean to scare you,” Fluttershy said. “Is your nose bleeding? He turned away. After a few seconds, he nodded. “I’ll be right back,” she said. Fluttershy rushed off to the bathroom and brought some paper towels back for him. “Oh... th-thanks,” he said. He blew his nose, and a big red glob appeared in the paper towel. He used the dry parts to blot his nose and clean his arm before tossing it in the nearby trash can. Then... he just sat there... silently. He didn’t make eye contact. He just stared at the ground... motionless. Fluttershy couldn’t look away. He reminded her of an abused puppy arriving at the shelter... all afraid. A sight that never became easier to witness. This was no exception. But just like those puppies, maybe he just needed some care. She sat next to him. “Where did those mean jocks hit you?” Fluttershy asked. He didn’t answer. He didn't move. “Coppermane?” Fluttershy coaxed. Still nothing. Fluttershy grew worried. Did she offend him, somehow? That’s when she noticed his hands were trembling. He seemed to be gripping his knees. And then... a shiny, clear drop fell from his hood. ...he was crying. “Coppermane...” she said softly. “It’s okay. We’re here to help you. But... I won’t force anything. I can help pick up your papers if you’d like to be left alone.” He looked tense. His hands kept trembling, as if he was fighting against his tears. She could barely hear struggled breathing, like he was trying to say something. “I... I-I...” Fluttershy perked up, but didn’t speak. She didn’t want to interrupt whatever was going through his head. “...I... ngh... I...” “...” “...” “...” “...I-I got... p-punched a lot.” He was really struggling to talk. His voice was shaky. Fluttershy spoke in the gentlest voice she could manage. “Where did they punch you?” she asked. “Um... m... m-my stomach... and... m-my... m-my face...” he said. “May I take a look?” she asked. “Ah! I... u-um...” he stammered. His hands were shaking even more now. “I-I’m sorry!” Fluttershy said. “You don’t have to if you don’t want—” “No... n-no, I... I-I should...” he said. “It’s just... it’s just that...” He paused. “...” “...” “...” “...I-I’m sorry. I know you just want to help. Um... c-can you just... make it quick?” “Of course,” Fluttershy said. “O-Okay...” he said. He lifted his shaking hands, grabbing the rim of his hood. He looked like he was about to lower his hood... but froze. Fluttershy waited patiently, but couldn’t help but worry. Was he trying to psyche himself up? Was it that difficult for him? He took a deep shaky breath... and lowered his hood. Fluttershy wasn’t sure what she expected, but he was cute. Surprisingly cute, even. He held his hood close to his cheeks, concealing his neck, and he still refused to look at her. His guard was fully up. Nevertheless, Fluttershy was pleasantly surprised. His hair was medium length, kind of messy, coifed and parted to his right, and was a luxurious auburn color with red highlights... like copper. His skin was pearly white, making it easy to see that he was blushing a little. And his eyes were warm brown, like chocolate chips in a freshly baked cookie. Cute as he was, there were clear signs of physical harm. There were hints of red inside his nostrils, likely from bleeding, his right eye was beginning to swell and blacken, and the left side of his bottom lip was split and swollen. And despite their warm color, his eyes looked burdened with pain. Eyes that asked… “why me?” “Oh, you poor thing,” Fluttershy whimpered. He just groaned and turned further away. More and more, he looked just like an abused puppy. Even more than she did a few minutes ago, Fluttershy felt a visceral instinct to help him. “I’ll be right back again,” Fluttershy said, standing up. “Oh... you can put your hood back up now. Thank you.” Coppermane didn’t hesitate, hiding his face without a second thought. Fluttershy rushed to the bathroom again. She got more paper towels and soaked them in the coldest water the sinks could produce. Quickly returning, she handed them to Coppermane. “Here,” she said. “Your right eye looks swollen. This should help a little.” He placed it against his eye and sighed shakily. “...th-thanks,” he said. “Okay, that should be everything.” Sunset’s voice startled Fluttershy. She turned and saw Sunset zipping up Coppermane’s backpack. The floor was spotless. “Oh... I’m sorry, Sunset," Fluttershy said. “I got distracted.” “That’s okay. It wasn’t that much,” Sunset said. “Here you go, Coppermane. I can’t promise it’s organized that well, but everything should be in there.” Sunset handed Coppermane’s backpack to him. “Th-Thanks,” he said, standing up and slinging it over his back. “I'm sorry this happened to you, Coppermane,” Sunset said. “...i-it’s nothing,” Coppermane said. “What? It’s definitely something!” Sunset insisted. “Do you know who did it?" “I... I don’t know,” he said. “But I promise, it’s not a big deal.” “It’s a huge deal!” Sunset insisted. “I want to get to the bottom of who—” “I said it’s nothing!!!” Coppermane’s sudden outburst brought the conversation to a screeching halt. The air became heavy. Coppermane stood still. Almost... catatonic. His hand trembled. His hood kept his eyes hidden, but his mouth was hanging open, like he was taken aback by his own words. “I... I... shit! I-I'm sorry, I... I’m so... I... ergh!!!” He clutched his head with his hands. “C-Coppermane?” Fluttershy said, reaching her hand out. Coppermane gasped, stepping back. “No... no! I... I... I’m sorry, okay?!” Without another word, Coppermane ran. “Coppermane, wait!” Fluttershy called out. She took a few steps, wanting to give chase... but she stopped herself. It was no use. He was already too far. With no further acknowledgment, he kept running without pause. Before she knew it, he turned the corner and disappeared. His footsteps echoed through the hall, quieting with each step until she couldn’t hear them anymore. Just like that... he was gone. Fluttershy stood there in shock. Suddenly, it felt like there was a void in her heart. “W-Was I too pushy?” Sunset asked. “I... I don’t know...” Fluttershy said. She couldn’t look away from where he turned the corner. Was she hoping he’d come back? “Well... we still have the photos,” Sunset said. “C’mon. Let’s head to rehearsal and show them to Rainbow Dash.” “...” “...” “...” “...Fluttershy?” “Huh?” Fluttershy blinked, coming back to reality. “...did you say something, Sunset?” Fluttershy asked. “Um... are you okay?” Sunset asked. “I think you zoned out.” “I-I did?” Fluttershy said. “Oh... sorry.” “It’s alright,” Sunset said. “I was just saying we should get to rehearsal and show Rainbow Dash the photos.” “...y-yes. W-We shouldn’t keep them waiting,” Fluttershy said. “After you.” Sunset led the way. They walked in silence, the air still weighing on them after the abrupt end to their encounter with Coppermane. On the way, all Fluttershy could think about was him. She only saw his face for a few seconds, yet her memory was vivid. How could she forget those eyes of deep, unrelenting pain? She's never seen anything like it. Several questions buzzed in her head. Why was he beaten up? Why was he so scared of her and Sunset? Why did he snap at them so viciously? ...and why did it break her heart so much to watch him run away? Ch.2. Luck of the DrawA new day. Fluttershy sat in her zoology class waiting for it to start. This was her favorite class, and she’d normally be excited... however, today was different. Fidgeting with her dress, there was only one thing on her mind. ...Coppermane. She could recall yesterday’s events vividly. The pain in his eyes. His outburst. His escape. It left her with so many questions. She had hoped, within reason, that she could get some answers today, or at least check on him... ...but he was nowhere to be seen. It was almost lunchtime, and she hadn’t seen him at all. Maybe he stayed home? Went to the doctor? Took a mental day? Best-case scenario, maybe their daily routes kept them separated. Staring out the windows, Fluttershy hoped it wasn’t because something else happened. At least Rainbow Dash could identify the jocks who beat him up from Sunset’s and Fluttershy’s photos. She said she’d talk to them at practice after school today. Knowing Rainbow Dash, Fluttershy trusted her to set them straight. Wherever Coppermane was, at least he wouldn’t have to worry about them again. ...why was this bothering her so much? This was just some boy. A boy she barely knew, at that. And yet... the image of his face clawed at her heart. The memory of him running away was even worse. She’d only seen such pain on abused animals at the shelter. To see it on a human’s... Fluttershy sighed, leaning her head on her hand, watching the last few students file in. The clock was nearing the next hour. Class was about to start. It’s a shame none of her friends are in this class. It’d be nice to have someone to talk to about this. She looked around, and nearly every desk was full. Business as usual, it seemed. Maybe learning about animals would help ease her mind... ... ... ... ...and then... one more student entered the classroom. Fluttershy gasped. She perked up at the sight of a familiar boy with his hood up. Coppermane! He’s here! With his head down, he quickly made his way to a desk in the back, far from Fluttershy, and took a seat. He’s in this class? How did she not know!? Surely the teacher would’ve introduced him, right? She pulled out her phone and texted Sunset. F: Sunset! He’s here! S: Who? F: Coppermane! He’s in zoology with me! S: Seriously?! What a coincidence! Is he okay? F: Hard to tell. I can’t see his face that well. I hope he didn’t get into another fight. S: Same. You should check on him after class. F: Should I? What if he’s still mad at us? Just then, the bell rang. F: Class is starting. I’ll update you at lunch. S: Sounds good. Take care, girlfriend. “Good morning, class,” the teacher said. “Let’s get started with—” He looked in Coppermane’s direction. “Young man, please remove your hood,” they said. “It’s against school policy.” “Oh... um... s-sorry,” he said. He obeyed, but kept part of his hood up to cover his neck and mouth like a scarf. The other students chuckled at him. He sunk into his seat, looking dejected. Was chuckling at him necessary? On the bright side, his eye wasn’t blackened anymore. That healed fast. “Anyway, let’s get started,” the teacher said, turning off the lights and activating the ceiling projector. It whirred to life before shining a slideshow on the screen up front. As usual, the lecture’s pace was just fast enough to miss some words at the end of each slide, with the occasional question to stall for time. No time to dawdle. Yet, every other time she looked up, Fluttershy found herself glancing at Coppermane instead of the slideshow. It was starting to strain her neck. He seemed to be keeping up, but he still used his free hand to keep his hood matted to his neck. Curious as she was, this was no time to get distracted. She couldn’t fall behind taking notes. “...and that’s why some snakes are venomous, and some aren’t. Any questions?” Nobody raised their hands, too busy resting them after an entire lecture of notetaking. “In that case... let’s get these passed out.” The teacher handed each student at the front a stack of packets to take one and pass back. It looked like there was a rubric on the front, which could only mean... “It’s time for a project.” Everyone in the room groaned. Fluttershy had a more mixed reaction. As much as she loved learning about animals, this was going to be another big thing on her plate. “Don’t sound too excited,” the teacher said. “Now, you’ve been learning about different traits and behaviors that animals exhibit to survive and thrive in the wild. I want you to partner up, research one of these traits or behaviors in depth, using different species as examples. You’ll make a slideshow and present your findings to the class.” The words “partner up” started a commotion. Everyone was trying to pick partners right away. Fluttershy was no exception, but without her friends here, she was more looking for students to avoid. “I hope all the chatter isn’t because you’re deciding your own partners.” Dead silence. “I’ve already taken that liberty.” Another groan, much louder than the first. Fluttershy tensed up. Now she couldn’t avoid anyone. Why not let them choose partners? What’s the harm in that? “Now now, don’t get too mad. Partners were chosen randomly, so some of you could luck out. This’ll be due one month from today. It may seem like a lot of time, but the animal kingdom is vast, and this is a major project. Don’t let the deadline sneak up. And now, I’ll go down the list of pairings...” The tension in the air was palpable. Fluttershy and everyone else sat on the edge of their seats, wondering how the wheel of fate spun for them. “Trixie Lulamoon. You'll be working with... Sweetie Drops.” Neither Trixie nor Sweetie Drops looked pleased. Admittedly, Fluttershy was relieved. A month of Trixie’s antics would wear thin on her patience. She felt bad for Sweetie Drops, though. “Octavia Melody. You’re with... Sandalwood.” Not a bad pairing, although Octavia's reaction was lukewarm. “Lyra Heartstrings and... Micro Chips.” The list continued. Some were satisfied with their pairings, others not so much. If nothing else, it did feel truly random. A couple friend groups got paired, much to their delight. However, the more her name didn’t get called, the tenser Fluttershy grew. The pool of remaining students was getting smaller, some of whom she definitely did not want to partner with. “Next up... Fluttershy.” Fluttershy perked up upon hearing her name. Crossing her fingers, she awaited the name of her partner to reach her ears. “You’re with...” “...” “...” “...Coppermane.” She gasped. That name hit her like a rock. Her partner... was Coppermane? Her shock was cut short by the sound of snickering in the room. Amidst that, she heard some students say, not so subtly, that they were relieved. Coincidentally, the tension of the room seemed to fade. Fluttershy caught Coppermane sinking into his seat, looking ashamed. His face was bright red. For a split second he and Fluttershy made eye contact. He quickly looked away, but Fluttershy remained fixated. Why was everyone being so mean? He’s new. They barely know him. Is he just a target to them? Fluttershy returned her attention to the teacher as the last pairs were announced, with mixed reactions. Afterwards, they went behind their desk and pulled out a small, opaque jar. “This jar contains all the topics I’d like you to cover. Before you leave, come over and pick one. Feel free to ask any questions afterwards.” *DING DONG DING DONG* Just then, with near perfect timing, the bell rang. Since this was the period before lunch, leaving this class was usually chaotic. This time, fueled by their appetites and the fear of drawing a bad topic, everyone bum-rushed the front desk, greedily trying to squeeze their hands into the jar. One by one, small pieces of paper with topics written on them were drawn. Reactions were amusingly mixed. Fluttershy decided to stay back to avoid being stampeded by her classmates. Once the chaos had died down, she calmly collecting her things. As she did... she noticed Coppermane was still sitting at his desk. It looked like he hadn’t moved an inch since slouching when everyone laughed at him. Watching the last few students exit the classroom, Fluttershy couldn’t help but feel a little disgusted. Did they realize how cruel they were to him? Sure, there were students Fluttershy didn’t want to work with, but she didn’t vocalize it. There was no need for them to announce their opinions about Coppermane. However, knowing what she knows now, maybe it’s best that he didn’t get partnered with them. Wanting to wait for everyone to clear out before talking to him, Fluttershy went to the front to draw her topic. Despite being last, there were still several topics left. She reached in and drew... ...Camouflage. Fluttershy smiled, quite pleased with her topic. Camouflage was always a cool topic to learn about, and should be fun to research too! By the time she had drawn her topic, everyone had left for lunch except for her and Coppermane. Now it’s time to go talk to him about the project. He still hadn’t moved. Wasn’t he hungry? Or was he waiting for everyone, including Fluttershy, to leave first? Did he even know she was still there? Gazing at him, Fluttershy got butterflies. Was he still mad about yesterday? Fluttershy couldn’t help but feel partially responsible, even if she honestly had no clue what set him off. If she talked to him again, would it rekindle that flame? Even if it made her nervous, this was her chance to apologize. Besides, after their classmates showed him nothing but contempt, this was also a chance to do what she does best... ...be kind. With a spark of determination, Fluttershy approached him. “Hello, Coppermane." He flinched and turned his head further away. ...was he shaking? “I-Is everything okay?” she asked. No answer. Not even a glance. It was like talking to a wall. He was madder than she thought, but she couldn’t falter now. She had to make things right. “Um... a-about yesterday,” she said. Still no answer. No eye contact. She tried not to let it bother her and continued. “I don’t know what we did to make you so mad, but whatever it was... I’m really sorry.” Suddenly, Coppermane turned his head towards Fluttershy. She flinched, seeing those wide eyes look directly at her. “...you... y-you’re sorry?” he asked. Now Fluttershy was confused. Why did he say it like that? He looked away and shook his head. He spoke in a shaky voice, like he was choking on his words. “Y-You have... n-nothing to apologize for. I-I snapped at two people who... who just wanted to help me. I-I don’t know what came over me. If anything... y-you’re the one who... deserves an apology. I... I’m such a jerk. I-I’m so sorry.” Fluttershy sat at the desk in front of him to be a little closer. His hands were trembling, and he still refused to make eye contact. It felt just like yesterday. “No no, we were never mad at you,” Fluttershy said. For a moment, their eyes locked. “...really?” he asked. “Of course not,” Fluttershy said. “Sunset and I were so worried that we said something to make you mad. I’m so relieved it was just a misunderstanding.” He was silent for a moment, before sighing and looking away again. “I... I-I’m still sorry. Y-You didn’t deserve to... to get yelled at. N-Neither did Sunset.” “But that doesn’t mean you made us mad,” Fluttershy said. “I couldn’t blame you for being a little on edge. You had just gotten beat up, after all.” “That doesn’t give me the right to yell at two girls who tried to help me,” he said. His sudden stern tone surprised Fluttershy. He really was mad... at himself... and it was becoming clear that no amount of justification would change his mind. So instead, Fluttershy changed tactics. “Well, if it’s any consolation... I forgive you,” Fluttershy said. Instantly, the look in his eyes changed. He managed to look at her again, only now his gaze was softer. “You... you do?” Coppermane said. He said it with such disbelief... like he’d never heard anyone say that to him. “Of course,” Fluttershy said gently. “And I know Sunset would too.” For a short while, Coppermane just looked at Fluttershy. Gazing back at his big brown eyes, she could only wonder what was going through his head. With another sigh, he allowed his hood—still bunched up against his neck like a scarf—to fall a little. His shoulders relaxed, falling by nearly an inch. She didn’t realize he was that tense. “Okay... okay...” he repeated to himself, like he was trying to calm himself down. Fluttershy felt relieved herself. Resolving that was trickier than she expected, but she's glad it was all cleared up now. “Um... by the way... I-I don’t think I ever thanked you for your help yesterday,” Coppermane said. “So... th-thank you.” Fluttershy smiled. “You’re very welcome. I just hope you never have to deal with that again. What those bullies did was awful.” “Well, I’m... um... uh... y-yeah... m-me too,” Coppermane said. “Huh?” Fluttershy asked. “Is something wrong?” “N-No,” Coppermane insisted. “I... I agree. I-I hope it doesn’t... happen again.” He was fidgeting. What was he about to say? Was he holding something back? “Um... it sounded like you were about to say something else before,” Fluttershy said. “N-No!” Coppermane said. “I... I-I'm just agreeing... that’s all. I-It's nothing.” ...it’s nothing. The exact thing he said before he snapped yesterday. A harsh reality surfaced for Fluttershy. As curious as she was, as much as she wanted to help him, she had to remember... they had only just met. She’d arrived at a boundary she wasn’t allowed to cross. And why would she be? If someone tried to barge in on a secret that she wasn’t ready to share, well-intentioned or not, she’d be on guard too. If Coppermane really didn’t want her to know, she had to let it go. “I-If you say so,” Fluttershy said. “On the bright side, I’m glad your eye has healed." “M-My eye?” Coppermane said. “O-Oh yeah. It... um... y-yeah. Thanks...” Again, it felt like he was holding something back, but Fluttershy had to let it slide too. If only they were closer. Luckily for her, she’d just been given a golden ticket to spend time with him for the next month. “Anyway, we can stop talking about bullies,” Fluttershy said. “I actually came over to talk about the project. It looks like we’ll be working together.” “Oh... r-right,” Coppermane said. “I... I’m sorry about that too.” “Hm? Why are you sorry?” Fluttershy asked. “...e-everyone laughed when our names were called,” Coppermane said. “Th-That must’ve... b-been embarrassing for you.” “Why would I be embarrassed?” Fluttershy asked. “I... um...” he stammered. “I-I don’t know. F-Forget I said anything.” Was that another boundary? He talked like he was navigating a minefield with his words. “E-Either way,” he continued, “I-I can try to have it done in like... t-two weeks, maybe?” “Huh?” Fluttershy asked. “Y-You say that like you’re going to do everything yourself.” “I-Isn’t that what you want?” Coppermane asked. Fluttershy couldn’t believe what she was hearing. “Of course not!” Fluttershy said. “This is a big project. Why would I put such a burden on you?” He looked at her confused. “Um... r-right!” Coppermane said. “Heh... th-that would be... s-stupid of me... stupid...” “Coppermane... would you do me a favor?” Fluttershy asked. His shoulders tensed up again. “Wh-What?” he asked. Fluttershy smiled and spoke gently. “Breathe. Please. You’re worrying yourself sick, and we haven’t even started yet. Just take some deep breaths for me?” At first, he didn’t do anything. He looked at her confused again. “Like this,” she said. “In through the nose... out through the mouth. In... and out. In... and out. Do it with me.” She tried to guide him since he seemed hesitant. After doing it a couple times herself, she noticed his chest rising and falling with her. This helped Fluttershy relax as well. After a few seconds, she stopped, and he stopped too. “Better?” she asked. “Um... a-a little,” he said. “...s-sorry.” He liked apologizing, didn’t he? “It’s okay,” Fluttershy said. “How about we meet in the library after school?” “...t-today?” Coppermane asked. Fluttershy nodded. “We should get started as soon as possible.” He paused, looking down at the desk. “Uh... um... a-are you sure you’re okay with that?” Coppermane asked. “...what do you mean?” Fluttershy asked. “Well, wouldn’t... um... n-never mind,” Coppermane said. “F-Forget I said that.” “Um... if you’re busy today...” Fluttershy said. “No no, i-it's not that,” Coppermane said. “I’ll be there. I’ll... I’ll be there.” Fluttershy smiled. “I look forward to it.” “Huh?” he said. “You... um... ergh... never mind. Uh... y-you should go to lunch before it gets much later.” “Are you sure you’ll be okay on your own?” she asked. “We could go together.” He shook his head. “No. No. I... I need a moment.” He looked directly at her. “Please... don’t worry about me.” The way he looked at her took her aback. It was like... he was begging. In that case, she probably couldn’t change his mind. Besides, she was getting hungry. “Um... if you say so,” Fluttershy said. “I’ll see you after school, then.” “...y-yeah,” he said. “S-See you...” With that awkward goodbye, Fluttershy gathered her things and left the classroom... more confused than ever. Ch.3. So Many Questions“There she is!” Fluttershy’s friends waved her down to their lunch table. “Hello, girls,” Fluttershy said, taking a seat. “Sorry I’m late.” “We were gettin’ worried, sugarcube,” Applejack said. “What took you so long?” Rainbow asked. “Oh... well... i-it's kind of a long story,” Fluttershy said. “Does it have to do with... you know who?” Sunset asked. “...how did you know?” Fluttershy asked. “Just a hunch,” Sunset said. “You know who?” Rarity asked. “Whoever do you mean?” “Oh, she’s talking about the guy we met yesterday, Coppermane,” Sunset said. “Is this the same guy who got beat up?” Rainbow asked. “Yes,” Fluttershy said. “And apparently he has zoology with me.” “What a coincidence, right?” Sunset said. “But it’s strange,” Fluttershy said. “Surely, he would’ve been introduced to the class, right? I don’t remember that happening at all.” “Hmm...” Twilight said, scrolling on her phone. “Well, if I recall correctly, you were late to school a few days ago because of a doctor’s appointment, right? That was the day Sunset was giving a new student a tour of the school, that new student being this ‘Coppermane’ guy. You didn’t arrive at school until lunch, and you have zoology right before lunch, so... you may have just been absent on his first day.” “Oh dear... I forgot about that,” Fluttershy said. “I guess I just didn’t notice him until today.” “How do you miss something like a new student?” Applejack said. “That oughta stick out like a sore thumb.” “Well, he doesn’t exactly stand out,” Fluttershy said. “In fact, it seems like he tries his hardest not to stand out. He wears a black hoodie, and has the hood up whenever he can.” “Black hoodie... hood always up...” Rainbow murmured. “...is that him over there?” The girls looked where Rainbow was pointing. Sure enough... “That’s him,” Sunset confirmed. The black hoodie was unmistakable, especially with the hood concealing his face again. He carried nothing but his backpack. No lunch tray. No lunch bag. Was his lunch in his backpack? They watched as he walked towards one of the distant tables. He didn’t have much choice. Most of the tables were full by the time he got there. When he approached, the students already sitting there took one look at him and—in near perfect unison—scooted away with looks of confusion and disgust. He reached his hand out as if he wanted to say something, but it was too late. As if a force field was around him, his presence had pushed everyone away. Head hung low, he took a seat, sitting as close to the edge of the table as he could. He went into his backpack and pulled out a granola bar. Staring at the table, he lazily opened the wrapper and took a bite. He didn’t do much else. He didn’t even look at his phone. “Whoa...” Rainbow said. “D-Did that just happen?” “Sure did,” Sunset said. “Is that all he’s eatin’?” Applejack asked. “I hope not,” Twilight said. “Otherwise, he’ll be exhausted by the end of the day.” “Was it necessary for them to be so... blunt?” Rarity asked. Fluttershy just stared, feeling her heart sink. He looked so lonely... “Don’t worry!” Pinkie Pie blurted. “I know exactly how to put a smile on his face!” “Pinkie, w-wait!” Unfortunately, Fluttershy’s timid protesting fell on deaf ears. In the blink of an eye, Pinkie bolted over to Coppermane. In the distance, they could hear Pinkie’s distinct voice. “Hi hi!!!” she shouted, mere inches from Coppermane’s ears, causing him to scream and jump nearly a foot out of his seat. Immediately covering his head with his arms. She tried talking to him, but wasn’t getting any response. “I don’t think it’s working...” Rainbow said. “He looks the exact opposite of cheered up,” Twilight said. Fluttershy couldn’t agree more. At the same time, the more he tried to hide, the more confused Pinkie looked. And the more confused Pinkie got... the harder she tried. They were getting weird looks from everyone in the cafeteria. “This is bad!” Fluttershy cooed. “She’s just embarrassing him!” “Consarnit...” Applejack cursed, getting up and marching over to Pinkie. She grabbed Pinkie by the ear, to the latter’s surprise, and gave an apologetic wave to Coppermane before dragging her back to their table. “AJ, what gives?” Pinkie pouted. “Sugar, you’re doing more harm than good right now,” Applejack bluntly said. “What do you mean?” Pinkie said. “I was just about to—” “Pinkie, please!” Fluttershy said. Her assertive tone brought her friends to silence. “I-I’m sorry. We know you mean well, but you’re just embarrassing him. Look.” Sure enough, to Pinkie’s dismay, much of the cafeteria was snickering at him. He looked more upset than before. “It... had the opposite effect?” Pinkie said. “But how?!” “It’s not you, Pinkie,” Fluttershy said. “Coppermane's very on edge. It doesn’t take much to startle him.” “He is?” Twilight asked. “How do you know?” “I talked to him after class. That’s why I was late to lunch,” Fluttershy said. “We just got partnered on a project and I was seeing if he wanted to meet in the library after school. But... it wasn’t that simple.” “Why?” Sunset asked. “Is he still upset about yesterday?” “Actually, he was never mad. Not at us, at least. I tried apologizing, but it turned out that he thought we were mad at him.” “Really? Why would we be mad at him?” Sunset asked. “And what do you mean ‘not at us’?” “I think he's mad at himself for snapping at us,” Fluttershy said. “In fact, when I tried to talk to him, he didn’t even look at me at first. I thought it was because he was still mad, but I think he was actually scared because he thought it was the other way around. Even after we cleared that misunderstanding, it was like he was walking on eggshells. And he still had that look of pain in his eyes from yesterday.” “...wow,” Sunset said. “That’s... heavy. I mean, I was shocked when he yelled at us, but the poor guy just got beat up. I can understand being shaken after that.” “That’s what I told him,” Fluttershy said. “But that didn’t stop him from beating himself up over it. He seemed stuck in this loop of guilt. Although, I don’t think our classmates helped.” “What do you mean?” Rarity asked. “Were they treating him poorly in zoology too?” “...horribly,” Fluttershy said. “You see, for this project, our partners were preassigned. Everyone seemed tense as the list was called, but when Coppermane and I were announced, I heard them say how relieved they were not to be ‘stuck with him’. They didn’t bother whispering. It was like... they wanted him to hear. He looked so embarrassed.” “For real?” Applejack asked. “I mean, two jocks beatin' him up is one thing, but a whole classroom and lunchroom too? I-Is there somethin’ we don’t know? Why’s everyone bein’ so cruel to him?” “Not to be rude, but could it be his wardrobe?” Rarity asked. “You must admit he looks rather... thuggish. He's not exactly someone I'd get good vibes from at first glance.” “I guess that’s a possibility,” Sunset said, “but something’s bugging me. That’s a pretty deliberate way to dress, don’t you think? So... why does he feel the need to dress like that?” “Well, he’s gettin’ bullied, right?” Applejack asked. “He probably just wants to lay low.” “I don’t think it started at Canterlot High,” Sunset said. “Even on his first day tour, he wore a similar hoodie and acted just like Fluttershy described—scared of his own shadow. He told me he came from Crystal Prep, so maybe it started there?” “I mean, I know firsthand that Crystal Prep students can be pretty mean,” Twilight said. “It’s just speculation,” Sunset said. “As for the bullying itself, the only thing I could possibly think of is that he’s a former Crystal Prep student. The jocks mentioned something about him being a Shadowbolt when they were jumping him. But I feel like that’s a stretch.” “Yeah, I thought our beef was mostly settled after the Friendship Games,” Rainbow said. “If that’s really the reason why they beat him up, then that’s the weakest excuse I’ve ever heard.” “None of that gives anyone an excuse to treat him so cruelly!” Fluttershy said. “Don’t worry, Flutters,” Rainbow said. “I’ll set those douchebags straight at practice today.” “Thank you, Rainbow Dash,” Fluttershy said. “Honestly, I thought better of the Canterlot High student body,” Rarity said. “Sounds like he lucked out by getting partnered with you,” Twilight said. “Big time,” Applejack said. “At least he ain’t gotta work with a bully.” “I just hope it goes well,” Fluttershy said. “I hate to say it, but... it’s difficult to talk to him.” “I know what you mean,” Sunset said. “He barely said anything on our tour. It was kinda exhausting to talk to him.” “Do ya want some backup, sugarcube?” Applejack asked. “No thank you,” Fluttershy said. “N-No offense but having anyone else there might make it worse.” “How do ya figure?” Applejack asked. Fluttershy glanced at Coppermane. Her heart sank again. He was hiding his face even more after Pinkie accidentally scared him. “The more I talk to him, the more he reminds me of some of the animals at the shelter,” Fluttershy said. “Particularly... the abused ones. No matter how much you want to help them, you have to remind yourself that they don’t trust you... or anyone. And it doesn’t take much for them to feel threatened. They can hide or even attack. Come to think it, maybe that’s exactly what happened yesterday when he snapped at Sunset and me. It may take a while, but with a little love and patience each day, you can earn their trust.” “You seem pretty passionate about this,” Twilight said. “Well, of course,” Fluttershy said. “It breaks my heart to see someone like that, and this project is my chance to help him!” “Guess ya got your work cut out for ya, then,” Applejack said. “If there’s anyone who can get through to someone like that, it’s you.” “Shoot!” Pinkie exclaimed. “If I'd known any of that, I wouldn’t have sprung on him! I should apologize. Ooh, I know! Fluttershy, do you know his favorite flavor of cake?” “Um... no,” Fluttershy said. “I-I can ask him at some point.” “Coolsies!” Pinkie said. “I’ll make him a cupcake so yummy he’ll have no choice but to smile!” “Just... try not to be as loud next time,” Fluttershy said. Pinkie brought her volume down to a whisper. “Can do,” she said with a wink. “You’ll get along fine,” Rainbow said. “He and you seem similar in a way. I remember when you barely made a peep when you talked.” Fluttershy blushed. “But look at you now!” Rarity said. “You're bolder and more confident than ever.” “You’ll get through to him,” Twilight said. “We know you will.” “...I-I hope you’re right,” Fluttershy said. Conversations between the Rainbooms continued from there, but Fluttershy found herself stealing glances at Coppermane here and there. He didn't move much throughout lunch. The granola bar he had was long gone. That really must’ve been all he ate. Butterflies formed in her stomach, thinking about what might happen after school.
Ch.1. Someone In NeedAuthor's Note Hello. It’s been a while :) For readers of years past, forget anything you know about Coppermane and Fluttershy previously. This is basically a ground-up redo of their Equestria Girls relationship. Also, this takes place after Friendship Games and before Legend of Everfree. It helps the main 7's characters to be more fleshed out, and gets SciTwi in the story instead of having to get Princess Twilight out later. Enjoy! Ch.1. Someone In Need “Alright, this should be the last poster,” Sunset said. Fluttershy nodded, handing Sunset the last poster advertising the Fall Formal. “Thanks for your help, Fluttershy,” Sunset said. “And with a few minutes to spare before band practice.” “Of course,” Fluttershy said. “I'm happy to help.” “Man, with the Fall Formal and the Musical Showcase coming up, things are gonna get pretty busy,” Sunset said. “It’ll be busy, but fun too,” Fluttershy said. “Oh, absolutely,” Sunset said. “Chaos, but fun chaos. So... do you have your eyes on anyone?” “Hm? What do you mean?” Fluttershy asked. “For the Fall Formal,” Sunset said. "...sorry, I still don't understand,” Fluttershy said. “Y’know... a guy?” Sunset said, smirking. “A date?” Fluttershy blushed. “Oh! Oh my... um... I haven’t even thought about that.” “No biggie,” Sunset said. “I was just curious. I’m not that interested in a date either. I’m happy just to hang out with my friends.” Fluttershy smiled. “Me too.” “But y’know... I bet there are several guys in the school who are dying to ask you out,” Sunset said. “M-Me?” Fluttershy said, blushing again. “I-I don’t know about that.” “C’mon, don’t sell yourself short,” Sunset said. “You’re the sweetest girl in school, not to mention drop-dead gorgeous.” “Well... thank you, but... I don’t know,” Fluttershy said. “I haven’t even thought about a relationship.” “Waiting for the right one to come along, huh?” Sunset said. Fluttershy smiled. “Yeah, that’s a good way to put it. I feel like when he comes around, he’ll jump right out at me like an excited puppy.” Sunset giggled. “I hope you don’t mean literally.” Fluttershy giggled too. “Of course not. That would be… kinda weird. But do you know what I mean? When I meet him, my heart will know.” Sunset smirked. “Who knew you had such high standards?” Fluttershy pouted. “What’s wrong with that?” “Only teasing,” Sunset said. “That just means you’re more likely to end up with the right guy. Trust me, I’ve had a rough relationship before, and nobody deserves that.” “You mean... Flash Sentry?” Fluttershy asked. “...yeah,” Sunset said. “I mean, we both know he’s a good guy, but I dated him for the wrong reasons. It felt shallow with no real potential to grow. You’re staying true to yourself, which is the correct way to do it. I’m sure the right guy will have no problem asking you out. Who knows? Maybe you’ll be the one to ask him out.” “Huh?! Oh gosh... I-I could never do that,” Fluttershy cooed. “You're bolder than you think, Fluttershy,” Sunset said. “I wouldn’t be surprised.” “Maybe,” Fluttershy said, “but it’ll happen when it happens. To be honest, I’m surprised nobody has asked you out, Sunset. You’re way prettier than me, after all.” “Oh, no I’m not,” Sunset said. “Let’s not compare ourselves like that.” “Well, either way, I think you’re beautiful,” Fluttershy said. “Heh… thanks,” Sunset said. “But like I said, I’m not really interested in a relationship right now. Besides, I don’t mind being single as long as I’ve got amazing friends like you.” Fluttershy beamed. “I feel the same way about you, Sunset.” “Thanks, girly,” Sunset said. “C’mon, let’s head to our practice room—” BAM!!! Sunset and Fluttershy flinched. It sounded like something—or someone—was slammed against the lockers around the corner. BAM!!! “Hah! You’re even weaker than I thought!” a big voice said. Sunset and Fluttershy inched closer to the corner to listen in. “Ha! You gonna cry?” a different bigger voice said. Was someone being ganged up on?! Fluttershy heard an impact that sounded like a punch, immediately followed by the quieter voice yelping. And another. And another! “Sunset!” Fluttershy whispered. “We have to do something!” “This is what we do to shadowbolts around here!” the bigger voice said. “Shadowbolts?” Sunset said. “Did a Crystal Prep student wander in somehow?” The girls winced when they heard what sounded like someone being thrown to the ground... and the sounds of violence stopped. “Don’t forget your place here, punkass shadowbolt,” one of the bigger voices said. “No... we’re too late,” Fluttershy whimpered. Suddenly their footsteps approached. “They’re coming!” Fluttershy cried. “Don’t worry. I have an idea,” Sunset said, pulling out her phone and bringing up the camera. Fluttershy followed suit. “Act natural,” Sunset said, looking down and pretending to text. Fluttershy did the same. Fluttershy tensed upon seeing two big jocks turn the corner. They didn’t seem to notice them, wearing smirks and gloating about their recent deed. In the dead silence of the hall, she could hear their victim coughing and whimpering.... and her blood began to boil. Gritting her teeth, she snapped as many pictures as she could. It took all her willpower not to call them out as they walked away. They turned another corner down the hall and left their sight, allowing Sunset and Fluttershy to relax. Though, their laughter could be heard echoing through the halls. “I got some decent photos,” Sunset said. “If they’re jocks, Rainbow Dash oughta know them. We can ask her at rehearsal.” “Those... meanies!” Fluttershy cried. “How can anyone be so cruel?” The sound of sniffling around the corner caught their attention. "We have to help them!” Fluttershy said. “Right. C’mon,” Sunset said. They turned the corner. Textbooks and loose paper were scattered across the floor, and sitting against the locker was a boy with his head buried in his knees. He wore all black: a hoodie with the hood concealing his face, black sweatpants, and black shoes. The only visible part of his body was his pastel white hands. He seemed more on the scrawny side, and definitely no match for those jocks. He didn’t move. The only sounds were the ventilation and his audibly shaky breathing. Fluttershy’s heart ripped at the sight. He looked totally broken. She met Sunset’s eyes. She looked equally heartbroken. She gave Fluttershy a nod before cautiously approaching... “Hey, are you—?” “GAH!!!” he screamed, scrambling back. He held his hands above his head, refusing to make eye contact. He looked like a frightened puppy. “N-Not again! Look, just... just get it over with, okay?!” “Whoa whoa, we’re not gonna hurt you,” Sunset said. “Bullshit!” he yelled. “I promise I won’t fight back! Just get it over and done with! Please!” Fluttershy and Sunset exchanged a look of confusion and horror. Such a visceral reaction... “C’mon, already!” he shouted. “Hey, I said we’re not gonna hurt you,” Sunset said. “Wait a sec...” “Wh-What?” he beckoned. Sunset studied him for a moment. “...yeah! I knew you looked familiar! You’re the new student! I’m Sunset Shimmer, remember? I gave you a tour on your first day.” He seemed to relax a little, but didn’t lower his hands. He turned his head toward them. His hood kept his eyes concealed, but it was clear his nose was bleeding. “Y-Yeah... I remember,” he said in a much softer voice. “You... remember me?” “Of course, I do,” Sunset said. “You're name's Coppermane, right?” He relaxed a little more upon hearing his name. “Yeah... th-that's right,” he murmured. “C’mon, let me help you up,” Sunset said. She reached out to him, but he recoiled. “I promise, we won’t hurt you,” Sunset said. Fluttershy tensed up when he looked in her direction. “Wh-What about her?” he asked. “Oh, she's my friend, Fluttershy,” Sunset said. “Don’t worry, she wouldn’t hurt a fly.” His head darted between them, still hesitant. “It’s okay,” Fluttershy said. “We here to help you.” He suddenly fixated on Fluttershy. She wasn’t sure how to read it. Was he looking at her? Or just in the direction of her voice? What’s going through his head? A few seconds of silence passed, and his hands slowly lowered. With a sigh, he looked back at Sunset and took her hand, allowing her to help him stand. He was just a little taller than them. When he stood, he folded his arms and was struggling to make eye contact. Unfortunately, his face was still mostly hidden by his hood, but this was progress. “Th-Thanks,” he said. “Sure thing,” Sunset said. “Are these books and papers yours?” Coppermane nodded. “Let’s help him, Fluttershy,” Sunset said. “No no, I-I can get it myself,” Coppermane said. “I insist,” Sunset said. “We can’t leave you behind, can we?” “Um... uh... o-okay,” he said softly. Sunset and Fluttershy both started gathering papers. Coppermane started too, but he started as far from them as possible. Fluttershy caught him sniffling, then saw him roll his sleeve up and wipe his nose with his arm. She gasped when she saw a bright red streak appear. “Oh, you poor thing,” Fluttershy said, going over to him. “U-Um!” he said, backing away from her and pulling his sleeve back over his arm to conceal the blood. “I’msorry! I didn’t mean to scare you,” Fluttershy said. “Is your nose bleeding? He turned away. After a few seconds, he nodded. “I’ll be right back,” she said. Fluttershy rushed off to the bathroom and brought some paper towels back for him. “Oh... th-thanks,” he said. He blew his nose, and a big red glob appeared in the paper towel. He used the dry parts to blot his nose and clean his arm before tossing it in the nearby trash can. Then... he just sat there... silently. He didn’t make eye contact. He just stared at the ground... motionless. Fluttershy couldn’t look away. He reminded her of an abused puppy arriving at the shelter... all afraid. A sight that never became easier to witness. This was no exception. But just like those puppies, maybe he just needed some care. She sat next to him. “Where did those mean jocks hit you?” Fluttershy asked. He didn’t answer. He didn't move. “Coppermane?” Fluttershy coaxed. Still nothing. Fluttershy grew worried. Did she offend him, somehow? That’s when she noticed his hands were trembling. He seemed to be gripping his knees. And then... a shiny, clear drop fell from his hood. ...he was crying. “Coppermane...” she said softly. “It’s okay. We’re here to help you. But... I won’t force anything. I can help pick up your papers if you’d like to be left alone.” He looked tense. His hands kept trembling, as if he was fighting against his tears. She could barely hear struggled breathing, like he was trying to say something. “I... I-I...” Fluttershy perked up, but didn’t speak. She didn’t want to interrupt whatever was going through his head. “...I... ngh... I...” “...” “...” “...” “...I-I got... p-punched a lot.” He was really struggling to talk. His voice was shaky. Fluttershy spoke in the gentlest voice she could manage. “Where did they punch you?” she asked. “Um... m... m-my stomach... and... m-my... m-my face...” he said. “May I take a look?” she asked. “Ah! I... u-um...” he stammered. His hands were shaking even more now. “I-I’m sorry!” Fluttershy said. “You don’t have to if you don’t want—” “No... n-no, I... I-I should...” he said. “It’s just... it’s just that...” He paused. “...” “...” “...” “...I-I’m sorry. I know you just want to help. Um... c-can you just... make it quick?” “Of course,” Fluttershy said. “O-Okay...” he said. He lifted his shaking hands, grabbing the rim of his hood. He looked like he was about to lower his hood... but froze. Fluttershy waited patiently, but couldn’t help but worry. Was he trying to psyche himself up? Was it that difficult for him? He took a deep shaky breath... and lowered his hood. Fluttershy wasn’t sure what she expected, but he was cute. Surprisingly cute, even. He held his hood close to his cheeks, concealing his neck, and he still refused to look at her. His guard was fully up. Nevertheless, Fluttershy was pleasantly surprised. His hair was medium length, kind of messy, coifed and parted to his right, and was a luxurious auburn color with red highlights... like copper. His skin was pearly white, making it easy to see that he was blushing a little. And his eyes were warm brown, like chocolate chips in a freshly baked cookie. Cute as he was, there were clear signs of physical harm. There were hints of red inside his nostrils, likely from bleeding, his right eye was beginning to swell and blacken, and the left side of his bottom lip was split and swollen. And despite their warm color, his eyes looked burdened with pain. Eyes that asked… “why me?” “Oh, you poor thing,” Fluttershy whimpered. He just groaned and turned further away. More and more, he looked just like an abused puppy. Even more than she did a few minutes ago, Fluttershy felt a visceral instinct to help him. “I’ll be right back again,” Fluttershy said, standing up. “Oh... you can put your hood back up now. Thank you.” Coppermane didn’t hesitate, hiding his face without a second thought. Fluttershy rushed to the bathroom again. She got more paper towels and soaked them in the coldest water the sinks could produce. Quickly returning, she handed them to Coppermane. “Here,” she said. “Your right eye looks swollen. This should help a little.” He placed it against his eye and sighed shakily. “...th-thanks,” he said. “Okay, that should be everything.” Sunset’s voice startled Fluttershy. She turned and saw Sunset zipping up Coppermane’s backpack. The floor was spotless. “Oh... I’m sorry, Sunset," Fluttershy said. “I got distracted.” “That’s okay. It wasn’t that much,” Sunset said. “Here you go, Coppermane. I can’t promise it’s organized that well, but everything should be in there.” Sunset handed Coppermane’s backpack to him. “Th-Thanks,” he said, standing up and slinging it over his back. “I'm sorry this happened to you, Coppermane,” Sunset said. “...i-it’s nothing,” Coppermane said. “What? It’s definitely something!” Sunset insisted. “Do you know who did it?" “I... I don’t know,” he said. “But I promise, it’s not a big deal.” “It’s a huge deal!” Sunset insisted. “I want to get to the bottom of who—” “I said it’s nothing!!!” Coppermane’s sudden outburst brought the conversation to a screeching halt. The air became heavy. Coppermane stood still. Almost... catatonic. His hand trembled. His hood kept his eyes hidden, but his mouth was hanging open, like he was taken aback by his own words. “I... I... shit! I-I'm sorry, I... I’m so... I... ergh!!!” He clutched his head with his hands. “C-Coppermane?” Fluttershy said, reaching her hand out. Coppermane gasped, stepping back. “No... no! I... I... I’m sorry, okay?!” Without another word, Coppermane ran. “Coppermane, wait!” Fluttershy called out. She took a few steps, wanting to give chase... but she stopped herself. It was no use. He was already too far. With no further acknowledgment, he kept running without pause. Before she knew it, he turned the corner and disappeared. His footsteps echoed through the hall, quieting with each step until she couldn’t hear them anymore. Just like that... he was gone. Fluttershy stood there in shock. Suddenly, it felt like there was a void in her heart. “W-Was I too pushy?” Sunset asked. “I... I don’t know...” Fluttershy said. She couldn’t look away from where he turned the corner. Was she hoping he’d come back? “Well... we still have the photos,” Sunset said. “C’mon. Let’s head to rehearsal and show them to Rainbow Dash.” “...” “...” “...” “...Fluttershy?” “Huh?” Fluttershy blinked, coming back to reality. “...did you say something, Sunset?” Fluttershy asked. “Um... are you okay?” Sunset asked. “I think you zoned out.” “I-I did?” Fluttershy said. “Oh... sorry.” “It’s alright,” Sunset said. “I was just saying we should get to rehearsal and show Rainbow Dash the photos.” “...y-yes. W-We shouldn’t keep them waiting,” Fluttershy said. “After you.” Sunset led the way. They walked in silence, the air still weighing on them after the abrupt end to their encounter with Coppermane. On the way, all Fluttershy could think about was him. She only saw his face for a few seconds, yet her memory was vivid. How could she forget those eyes of deep, unrelenting pain? She's never seen anything like it. Several questions buzzed in her head. Why was he beaten up? Why was he so scared of her and Sunset? Why did he snap at them so viciously? ...and why did it break her heart so much to watch him run away?
Ch.2. Luck of the DrawA new day. Fluttershy sat in her zoology class waiting for it to start. This was her favorite class, and she’d normally be excited... however, today was different. Fidgeting with her dress, there was only one thing on her mind. ...Coppermane. She could recall yesterday’s events vividly. The pain in his eyes. His outburst. His escape. It left her with so many questions. She had hoped, within reason, that she could get some answers today, or at least check on him... ...but he was nowhere to be seen. It was almost lunchtime, and she hadn’t seen him at all. Maybe he stayed home? Went to the doctor? Took a mental day? Best-case scenario, maybe their daily routes kept them separated. Staring out the windows, Fluttershy hoped it wasn’t because something else happened. At least Rainbow Dash could identify the jocks who beat him up from Sunset’s and Fluttershy’s photos. She said she’d talk to them at practice after school today. Knowing Rainbow Dash, Fluttershy trusted her to set them straight. Wherever Coppermane was, at least he wouldn’t have to worry about them again. ...why was this bothering her so much? This was just some boy. A boy she barely knew, at that. And yet... the image of his face clawed at her heart. The memory of him running away was even worse. She’d only seen such pain on abused animals at the shelter. To see it on a human’s... Fluttershy sighed, leaning her head on her hand, watching the last few students file in. The clock was nearing the next hour. Class was about to start. It’s a shame none of her friends are in this class. It’d be nice to have someone to talk to about this. She looked around, and nearly every desk was full. Business as usual, it seemed. Maybe learning about animals would help ease her mind... ... ... ... ...and then... one more student entered the classroom. Fluttershy gasped. She perked up at the sight of a familiar boy with his hood up. Coppermane! He’s here! With his head down, he quickly made his way to a desk in the back, far from Fluttershy, and took a seat. He’s in this class? How did she not know!? Surely the teacher would’ve introduced him, right? She pulled out her phone and texted Sunset. F: Sunset! He’s here! S: Who? F: Coppermane! He’s in zoology with me! S: Seriously?! What a coincidence! Is he okay? F: Hard to tell. I can’t see his face that well. I hope he didn’t get into another fight. S: Same. You should check on him after class. F: Should I? What if he’s still mad at us? Just then, the bell rang. F: Class is starting. I’ll update you at lunch. S: Sounds good. Take care, girlfriend. “Good morning, class,” the teacher said. “Let’s get started with—” He looked in Coppermane’s direction. “Young man, please remove your hood,” they said. “It’s against school policy.” “Oh... um... s-sorry,” he said. He obeyed, but kept part of his hood up to cover his neck and mouth like a scarf. The other students chuckled at him. He sunk into his seat, looking dejected. Was chuckling at him necessary? On the bright side, his eye wasn’t blackened anymore. That healed fast. “Anyway, let’s get started,” the teacher said, turning off the lights and activating the ceiling projector. It whirred to life before shining a slideshow on the screen up front. As usual, the lecture’s pace was just fast enough to miss some words at the end of each slide, with the occasional question to stall for time. No time to dawdle. Yet, every other time she looked up, Fluttershy found herself glancing at Coppermane instead of the slideshow. It was starting to strain her neck. He seemed to be keeping up, but he still used his free hand to keep his hood matted to his neck. Curious as she was, this was no time to get distracted. She couldn’t fall behind taking notes. “...and that’s why some snakes are venomous, and some aren’t. Any questions?” Nobody raised their hands, too busy resting them after an entire lecture of notetaking. “In that case... let’s get these passed out.” The teacher handed each student at the front a stack of packets to take one and pass back. It looked like there was a rubric on the front, which could only mean... “It’s time for a project.” Everyone in the room groaned. Fluttershy had a more mixed reaction. As much as she loved learning about animals, this was going to be another big thing on her plate. “Don’t sound too excited,” the teacher said. “Now, you’ve been learning about different traits and behaviors that animals exhibit to survive and thrive in the wild. I want you to partner up, research one of these traits or behaviors in depth, using different species as examples. You’ll make a slideshow and present your findings to the class.” The words “partner up” started a commotion. Everyone was trying to pick partners right away. Fluttershy was no exception, but without her friends here, she was more looking for students to avoid. “I hope all the chatter isn’t because you’re deciding your own partners.” Dead silence. “I’ve already taken that liberty.” Another groan, much louder than the first. Fluttershy tensed up. Now she couldn’t avoid anyone. Why not let them choose partners? What’s the harm in that? “Now now, don’t get too mad. Partners were chosen randomly, so some of you could luck out. This’ll be due one month from today. It may seem like a lot of time, but the animal kingdom is vast, and this is a major project. Don’t let the deadline sneak up. And now, I’ll go down the list of pairings...” The tension in the air was palpable. Fluttershy and everyone else sat on the edge of their seats, wondering how the wheel of fate spun for them. “Trixie Lulamoon. You'll be working with... Sweetie Drops.” Neither Trixie nor Sweetie Drops looked pleased. Admittedly, Fluttershy was relieved. A month of Trixie’s antics would wear thin on her patience. She felt bad for Sweetie Drops, though. “Octavia Melody. You’re with... Sandalwood.” Not a bad pairing, although Octavia's reaction was lukewarm. “Lyra Heartstrings and... Micro Chips.” The list continued. Some were satisfied with their pairings, others not so much. If nothing else, it did feel truly random. A couple friend groups got paired, much to their delight. However, the more her name didn’t get called, the tenser Fluttershy grew. The pool of remaining students was getting smaller, some of whom she definitely did not want to partner with. “Next up... Fluttershy.” Fluttershy perked up upon hearing her name. Crossing her fingers, she awaited the name of her partner to reach her ears. “You’re with...” “...” “...” “...Coppermane.” She gasped. That name hit her like a rock. Her partner... was Coppermane? Her shock was cut short by the sound of snickering in the room. Amidst that, she heard some students say, not so subtly, that they were relieved. Coincidentally, the tension of the room seemed to fade. Fluttershy caught Coppermane sinking into his seat, looking ashamed. His face was bright red. For a split second he and Fluttershy made eye contact. He quickly looked away, but Fluttershy remained fixated. Why was everyone being so mean? He’s new. They barely know him. Is he just a target to them? Fluttershy returned her attention to the teacher as the last pairs were announced, with mixed reactions. Afterwards, they went behind their desk and pulled out a small, opaque jar. “This jar contains all the topics I’d like you to cover. Before you leave, come over and pick one. Feel free to ask any questions afterwards.” *DING DONG DING DONG* Just then, with near perfect timing, the bell rang. Since this was the period before lunch, leaving this class was usually chaotic. This time, fueled by their appetites and the fear of drawing a bad topic, everyone bum-rushed the front desk, greedily trying to squeeze their hands into the jar. One by one, small pieces of paper with topics written on them were drawn. Reactions were amusingly mixed. Fluttershy decided to stay back to avoid being stampeded by her classmates. Once the chaos had died down, she calmly collecting her things. As she did... she noticed Coppermane was still sitting at his desk. It looked like he hadn’t moved an inch since slouching when everyone laughed at him. Watching the last few students exit the classroom, Fluttershy couldn’t help but feel a little disgusted. Did they realize how cruel they were to him? Sure, there were students Fluttershy didn’t want to work with, but she didn’t vocalize it. There was no need for them to announce their opinions about Coppermane. However, knowing what she knows now, maybe it’s best that he didn’t get partnered with them. Wanting to wait for everyone to clear out before talking to him, Fluttershy went to the front to draw her topic. Despite being last, there were still several topics left. She reached in and drew... ...Camouflage. Fluttershy smiled, quite pleased with her topic. Camouflage was always a cool topic to learn about, and should be fun to research too! By the time she had drawn her topic, everyone had left for lunch except for her and Coppermane. Now it’s time to go talk to him about the project. He still hadn’t moved. Wasn’t he hungry? Or was he waiting for everyone, including Fluttershy, to leave first? Did he even know she was still there? Gazing at him, Fluttershy got butterflies. Was he still mad about yesterday? Fluttershy couldn’t help but feel partially responsible, even if she honestly had no clue what set him off. If she talked to him again, would it rekindle that flame? Even if it made her nervous, this was her chance to apologize. Besides, after their classmates showed him nothing but contempt, this was also a chance to do what she does best... ...be kind. With a spark of determination, Fluttershy approached him. “Hello, Coppermane." He flinched and turned his head further away. ...was he shaking? “I-Is everything okay?” she asked. No answer. Not even a glance. It was like talking to a wall. He was madder than she thought, but she couldn’t falter now. She had to make things right. “Um... a-about yesterday,” she said. Still no answer. No eye contact. She tried not to let it bother her and continued. “I don’t know what we did to make you so mad, but whatever it was... I’m really sorry.” Suddenly, Coppermane turned his head towards Fluttershy. She flinched, seeing those wide eyes look directly at her. “...you... y-you’re sorry?” he asked. Now Fluttershy was confused. Why did he say it like that? He looked away and shook his head. He spoke in a shaky voice, like he was choking on his words. “Y-You have... n-nothing to apologize for. I-I snapped at two people who... who just wanted to help me. I-I don’t know what came over me. If anything... y-you’re the one who... deserves an apology. I... I’m such a jerk. I-I’m so sorry.” Fluttershy sat at the desk in front of him to be a little closer. His hands were trembling, and he still refused to make eye contact. It felt just like yesterday. “No no, we were never mad at you,” Fluttershy said. For a moment, their eyes locked. “...really?” he asked. “Of course not,” Fluttershy said. “Sunset and I were so worried that we said something to make you mad. I’m so relieved it was just a misunderstanding.” He was silent for a moment, before sighing and looking away again. “I... I-I’m still sorry. Y-You didn’t deserve to... to get yelled at. N-Neither did Sunset.” “But that doesn’t mean you made us mad,” Fluttershy said. “I couldn’t blame you for being a little on edge. You had just gotten beat up, after all.” “That doesn’t give me the right to yell at two girls who tried to help me,” he said. His sudden stern tone surprised Fluttershy. He really was mad... at himself... and it was becoming clear that no amount of justification would change his mind. So instead, Fluttershy changed tactics. “Well, if it’s any consolation... I forgive you,” Fluttershy said. Instantly, the look in his eyes changed. He managed to look at her again, only now his gaze was softer. “You... you do?” Coppermane said. He said it with such disbelief... like he’d never heard anyone say that to him. “Of course,” Fluttershy said gently. “And I know Sunset would too.” For a short while, Coppermane just looked at Fluttershy. Gazing back at his big brown eyes, she could only wonder what was going through his head. With another sigh, he allowed his hood—still bunched up against his neck like a scarf—to fall a little. His shoulders relaxed, falling by nearly an inch. She didn’t realize he was that tense. “Okay... okay...” he repeated to himself, like he was trying to calm himself down. Fluttershy felt relieved herself. Resolving that was trickier than she expected, but she's glad it was all cleared up now. “Um... by the way... I-I don’t think I ever thanked you for your help yesterday,” Coppermane said. “So... th-thank you.” Fluttershy smiled. “You’re very welcome. I just hope you never have to deal with that again. What those bullies did was awful.” “Well, I’m... um... uh... y-yeah... m-me too,” Coppermane said. “Huh?” Fluttershy asked. “Is something wrong?” “N-No,” Coppermane insisted. “I... I agree. I-I hope it doesn’t... happen again.” He was fidgeting. What was he about to say? Was he holding something back? “Um... it sounded like you were about to say something else before,” Fluttershy said. “N-No!” Coppermane said. “I... I-I'm just agreeing... that’s all. I-It's nothing.” ...it’s nothing. The exact thing he said before he snapped yesterday. A harsh reality surfaced for Fluttershy. As curious as she was, as much as she wanted to help him, she had to remember... they had only just met. She’d arrived at a boundary she wasn’t allowed to cross. And why would she be? If someone tried to barge in on a secret that she wasn’t ready to share, well-intentioned or not, she’d be on guard too. If Coppermane really didn’t want her to know, she had to let it go. “I-If you say so,” Fluttershy said. “On the bright side, I’m glad your eye has healed." “M-My eye?” Coppermane said. “O-Oh yeah. It... um... y-yeah. Thanks...” Again, it felt like he was holding something back, but Fluttershy had to let it slide too. If only they were closer. Luckily for her, she’d just been given a golden ticket to spend time with him for the next month. “Anyway, we can stop talking about bullies,” Fluttershy said. “I actually came over to talk about the project. It looks like we’ll be working together.” “Oh... r-right,” Coppermane said. “I... I’m sorry about that too.” “Hm? Why are you sorry?” Fluttershy asked. “...e-everyone laughed when our names were called,” Coppermane said. “Th-That must’ve... b-been embarrassing for you.” “Why would I be embarrassed?” Fluttershy asked. “I... um...” he stammered. “I-I don’t know. F-Forget I said anything.” Was that another boundary? He talked like he was navigating a minefield with his words. “E-Either way,” he continued, “I-I can try to have it done in like... t-two weeks, maybe?” “Huh?” Fluttershy asked. “Y-You say that like you’re going to do everything yourself.” “I-Isn’t that what you want?” Coppermane asked. Fluttershy couldn’t believe what she was hearing. “Of course not!” Fluttershy said. “This is a big project. Why would I put such a burden on you?” He looked at her confused. “Um... r-right!” Coppermane said. “Heh... th-that would be... s-stupid of me... stupid...” “Coppermane... would you do me a favor?” Fluttershy asked. His shoulders tensed up again. “Wh-What?” he asked. Fluttershy smiled and spoke gently. “Breathe. Please. You’re worrying yourself sick, and we haven’t even started yet. Just take some deep breaths for me?” At first, he didn’t do anything. He looked at her confused again. “Like this,” she said. “In through the nose... out through the mouth. In... and out. In... and out. Do it with me.” She tried to guide him since he seemed hesitant. After doing it a couple times herself, she noticed his chest rising and falling with her. This helped Fluttershy relax as well. After a few seconds, she stopped, and he stopped too. “Better?” she asked. “Um... a-a little,” he said. “...s-sorry.” He liked apologizing, didn’t he? “It’s okay,” Fluttershy said. “How about we meet in the library after school?” “...t-today?” Coppermane asked. Fluttershy nodded. “We should get started as soon as possible.” He paused, looking down at the desk. “Uh... um... a-are you sure you’re okay with that?” Coppermane asked. “...what do you mean?” Fluttershy asked. “Well, wouldn’t... um... n-never mind,” Coppermane said. “F-Forget I said that.” “Um... if you’re busy today...” Fluttershy said. “No no, i-it's not that,” Coppermane said. “I’ll be there. I’ll... I’ll be there.” Fluttershy smiled. “I look forward to it.” “Huh?” he said. “You... um... ergh... never mind. Uh... y-you should go to lunch before it gets much later.” “Are you sure you’ll be okay on your own?” she asked. “We could go together.” He shook his head. “No. No. I... I need a moment.” He looked directly at her. “Please... don’t worry about me.” The way he looked at her took her aback. It was like... he was begging. In that case, she probably couldn’t change his mind. Besides, she was getting hungry. “Um... if you say so,” Fluttershy said. “I’ll see you after school, then.” “...y-yeah,” he said. “S-See you...” With that awkward goodbye, Fluttershy gathered her things and left the classroom... more confused than ever.
Ch.3. So Many Questions“There she is!” Fluttershy’s friends waved her down to their lunch table. “Hello, girls,” Fluttershy said, taking a seat. “Sorry I’m late.” “We were gettin’ worried, sugarcube,” Applejack said. “What took you so long?” Rainbow asked. “Oh... well... i-it's kind of a long story,” Fluttershy said. “Does it have to do with... you know who?” Sunset asked. “...how did you know?” Fluttershy asked. “Just a hunch,” Sunset said. “You know who?” Rarity asked. “Whoever do you mean?” “Oh, she’s talking about the guy we met yesterday, Coppermane,” Sunset said. “Is this the same guy who got beat up?” Rainbow asked. “Yes,” Fluttershy said. “And apparently he has zoology with me.” “What a coincidence, right?” Sunset said. “But it’s strange,” Fluttershy said. “Surely, he would’ve been introduced to the class, right? I don’t remember that happening at all.” “Hmm...” Twilight said, scrolling on her phone. “Well, if I recall correctly, you were late to school a few days ago because of a doctor’s appointment, right? That was the day Sunset was giving a new student a tour of the school, that new student being this ‘Coppermane’ guy. You didn’t arrive at school until lunch, and you have zoology right before lunch, so... you may have just been absent on his first day.” “Oh dear... I forgot about that,” Fluttershy said. “I guess I just didn’t notice him until today.” “How do you miss something like a new student?” Applejack said. “That oughta stick out like a sore thumb.” “Well, he doesn’t exactly stand out,” Fluttershy said. “In fact, it seems like he tries his hardest not to stand out. He wears a black hoodie, and has the hood up whenever he can.” “Black hoodie... hood always up...” Rainbow murmured. “...is that him over there?” The girls looked where Rainbow was pointing. Sure enough... “That’s him,” Sunset confirmed. The black hoodie was unmistakable, especially with the hood concealing his face again. He carried nothing but his backpack. No lunch tray. No lunch bag. Was his lunch in his backpack? They watched as he walked towards one of the distant tables. He didn’t have much choice. Most of the tables were full by the time he got there. When he approached, the students already sitting there took one look at him and—in near perfect unison—scooted away with looks of confusion and disgust. He reached his hand out as if he wanted to say something, but it was too late. As if a force field was around him, his presence had pushed everyone away. Head hung low, he took a seat, sitting as close to the edge of the table as he could. He went into his backpack and pulled out a granola bar. Staring at the table, he lazily opened the wrapper and took a bite. He didn’t do much else. He didn’t even look at his phone. “Whoa...” Rainbow said. “D-Did that just happen?” “Sure did,” Sunset said. “Is that all he’s eatin’?” Applejack asked. “I hope not,” Twilight said. “Otherwise, he’ll be exhausted by the end of the day.” “Was it necessary for them to be so... blunt?” Rarity asked. Fluttershy just stared, feeling her heart sink. He looked so lonely... “Don’t worry!” Pinkie Pie blurted. “I know exactly how to put a smile on his face!” “Pinkie, w-wait!” Unfortunately, Fluttershy’s timid protesting fell on deaf ears. In the blink of an eye, Pinkie bolted over to Coppermane. In the distance, they could hear Pinkie’s distinct voice. “Hi hi!!!” she shouted, mere inches from Coppermane’s ears, causing him to scream and jump nearly a foot out of his seat. Immediately covering his head with his arms. She tried talking to him, but wasn’t getting any response. “I don’t think it’s working...” Rainbow said. “He looks the exact opposite of cheered up,” Twilight said. Fluttershy couldn’t agree more. At the same time, the more he tried to hide, the more confused Pinkie looked. And the more confused Pinkie got... the harder she tried. They were getting weird looks from everyone in the cafeteria. “This is bad!” Fluttershy cooed. “She’s just embarrassing him!” “Consarnit...” Applejack cursed, getting up and marching over to Pinkie. She grabbed Pinkie by the ear, to the latter’s surprise, and gave an apologetic wave to Coppermane before dragging her back to their table. “AJ, what gives?” Pinkie pouted. “Sugar, you’re doing more harm than good right now,” Applejack bluntly said. “What do you mean?” Pinkie said. “I was just about to—” “Pinkie, please!” Fluttershy said. Her assertive tone brought her friends to silence. “I-I’m sorry. We know you mean well, but you’re just embarrassing him. Look.” Sure enough, to Pinkie’s dismay, much of the cafeteria was snickering at him. He looked more upset than before. “It... had the opposite effect?” Pinkie said. “But how?!” “It’s not you, Pinkie,” Fluttershy said. “Coppermane's very on edge. It doesn’t take much to startle him.” “He is?” Twilight asked. “How do you know?” “I talked to him after class. That’s why I was late to lunch,” Fluttershy said. “We just got partnered on a project and I was seeing if he wanted to meet in the library after school. But... it wasn’t that simple.” “Why?” Sunset asked. “Is he still upset about yesterday?” “Actually, he was never mad. Not at us, at least. I tried apologizing, but it turned out that he thought we were mad at him.” “Really? Why would we be mad at him?” Sunset asked. “And what do you mean ‘not at us’?” “I think he's mad at himself for snapping at us,” Fluttershy said. “In fact, when I tried to talk to him, he didn’t even look at me at first. I thought it was because he was still mad, but I think he was actually scared because he thought it was the other way around. Even after we cleared that misunderstanding, it was like he was walking on eggshells. And he still had that look of pain in his eyes from yesterday.” “...wow,” Sunset said. “That’s... heavy. I mean, I was shocked when he yelled at us, but the poor guy just got beat up. I can understand being shaken after that.” “That’s what I told him,” Fluttershy said. “But that didn’t stop him from beating himself up over it. He seemed stuck in this loop of guilt. Although, I don’t think our classmates helped.” “What do you mean?” Rarity asked. “Were they treating him poorly in zoology too?” “...horribly,” Fluttershy said. “You see, for this project, our partners were preassigned. Everyone seemed tense as the list was called, but when Coppermane and I were announced, I heard them say how relieved they were not to be ‘stuck with him’. They didn’t bother whispering. It was like... they wanted him to hear. He looked so embarrassed.” “For real?” Applejack asked. “I mean, two jocks beatin' him up is one thing, but a whole classroom and lunchroom too? I-Is there somethin’ we don’t know? Why’s everyone bein’ so cruel to him?” “Not to be rude, but could it be his wardrobe?” Rarity asked. “You must admit he looks rather... thuggish. He's not exactly someone I'd get good vibes from at first glance.” “I guess that’s a possibility,” Sunset said, “but something’s bugging me. That’s a pretty deliberate way to dress, don’t you think? So... why does he feel the need to dress like that?” “Well, he’s gettin’ bullied, right?” Applejack asked. “He probably just wants to lay low.” “I don’t think it started at Canterlot High,” Sunset said. “Even on his first day tour, he wore a similar hoodie and acted just like Fluttershy described—scared of his own shadow. He told me he came from Crystal Prep, so maybe it started there?” “I mean, I know firsthand that Crystal Prep students can be pretty mean,” Twilight said. “It’s just speculation,” Sunset said. “As for the bullying itself, the only thing I could possibly think of is that he’s a former Crystal Prep student. The jocks mentioned something about him being a Shadowbolt when they were jumping him. But I feel like that’s a stretch.” “Yeah, I thought our beef was mostly settled after the Friendship Games,” Rainbow said. “If that’s really the reason why they beat him up, then that’s the weakest excuse I’ve ever heard.” “None of that gives anyone an excuse to treat him so cruelly!” Fluttershy said. “Don’t worry, Flutters,” Rainbow said. “I’ll set those douchebags straight at practice today.” “Thank you, Rainbow Dash,” Fluttershy said. “Honestly, I thought better of the Canterlot High student body,” Rarity said. “Sounds like he lucked out by getting partnered with you,” Twilight said. “Big time,” Applejack said. “At least he ain’t gotta work with a bully.” “I just hope it goes well,” Fluttershy said. “I hate to say it, but... it’s difficult to talk to him.” “I know what you mean,” Sunset said. “He barely said anything on our tour. It was kinda exhausting to talk to him.” “Do ya want some backup, sugarcube?” Applejack asked. “No thank you,” Fluttershy said. “N-No offense but having anyone else there might make it worse.” “How do ya figure?” Applejack asked. Fluttershy glanced at Coppermane. Her heart sank again. He was hiding his face even more after Pinkie accidentally scared him. “The more I talk to him, the more he reminds me of some of the animals at the shelter,” Fluttershy said. “Particularly... the abused ones. No matter how much you want to help them, you have to remind yourself that they don’t trust you... or anyone. And it doesn’t take much for them to feel threatened. They can hide or even attack. Come to think it, maybe that’s exactly what happened yesterday when he snapped at Sunset and me. It may take a while, but with a little love and patience each day, you can earn their trust.” “You seem pretty passionate about this,” Twilight said. “Well, of course,” Fluttershy said. “It breaks my heart to see someone like that, and this project is my chance to help him!” “Guess ya got your work cut out for ya, then,” Applejack said. “If there’s anyone who can get through to someone like that, it’s you.” “Shoot!” Pinkie exclaimed. “If I'd known any of that, I wouldn’t have sprung on him! I should apologize. Ooh, I know! Fluttershy, do you know his favorite flavor of cake?” “Um... no,” Fluttershy said. “I-I can ask him at some point.” “Coolsies!” Pinkie said. “I’ll make him a cupcake so yummy he’ll have no choice but to smile!” “Just... try not to be as loud next time,” Fluttershy said. Pinkie brought her volume down to a whisper. “Can do,” she said with a wink. “You’ll get along fine,” Rainbow said. “He and you seem similar in a way. I remember when you barely made a peep when you talked.” Fluttershy blushed. “But look at you now!” Rarity said. “You're bolder and more confident than ever.” “You’ll get through to him,” Twilight said. “We know you will.” “...I-I hope you’re right,” Fluttershy said. Conversations between the Rainbooms continued from there, but Fluttershy found herself stealing glances at Coppermane here and there. He didn't move much throughout lunch. The granola bar he had was long gone. That really must’ve been all he ate. Butterflies formed in her stomach, thinking about what might happen after school.
