AUTHOR'S NOTE: So this is my first fanfic, hope you all enjoy i, i don't really know what else to say except there will be more chapters to come, oh! And be sure to subscribe and review it when you're done, i'd enjoy that very much :)
Disclaimer: I don't own Happy Tree Friends or any of the characters or places mentioned, I only claim ownership of the story, which may have been inspired by other works and writing
WHATEVER DOESN'T KILL YOU...
"A shock went through my body, like a small electrical impulse. It was the only thing I felt and on instant I knew that my entire life would now circle around this. The jolt jerked me back to sanity and slowly, though the process would take an obscure amount of time, my old self."
It was a normal morning in Happy Tree Town. It was a wondrous, damp morning and the fog finally decided itself to give in to the sun's glorious, cold, beams. The grass, flowers, leaves, ground, branches, rocks and houses in the valley was covered in morning dew that delicately reflected the realm that all was part of.
Apart from being a delightful morning, even for being in the Happy Tree Woods where every morning was brilliant and breath taking, it was the last day before school. That means a Sunday, and everyone was getting ready in the ways that favoured him or her.
Down at the mall Pop and Cub where going at their weekly shopping tour, buying acorns, diapers, syrup, eggs, fruit and a lollipop for little Cub. The Mole was working at the desk and received the payment, which he accidentally threw in the trash can. Pop carried his little son, who was now merrily sucking his lollipop, and in the other hand he held the grocery bag.
Within seconds from leaving the building a crazed laughter was heard and a light green squirrel that was using a vending machine doddered forth. The squirrel snatched the lollipop and soon both him and Pop where running around in circles at the parking lot fighting for the candy, all while little Cub began to cry. It was with other words a normal day in Happy Tree Town.
At the meantime at the same parking lot, Handy was trying to unload some planks from his pickup, but failed due to his lack of hands. The fact that he was a carpenter without any hands would really tick him off when he was reminded of his handicap.
The hot headed beaver jumped up and down in anger, grunted and looked around for any kind soul to help him out. His eyes fell upon a familiar mole who was mistaking a garbage can for some goods that the store had ordered. Handy sighed and bowered his head in defeat. For him this was a normal day in Happy Tree Town.
This could all be barely viewed from the kitchen window of a tree belonging to the most recently moved in resident of Happy Tree Town. She woke up by the sunbeams playing and dancing over her face.
She gently opened her eyes to peer and blinked at the intense light. She winched and in a very childish way she tried to hide her face behind her palms, then she pulled up the cover over her face and tried to fall asleep again.
She didn't want to go up now; she wanted to stay in this warm, cosy and safe haven of hers, where she could curl up and don't had to give a care in the world. It was warm and dark in here, she thought when lying in fetal position. She bit her lip and thought that it might be a little too dark.
With the hand that wasn't holding her cuddly animal, a yellow monkey with orange garment and four dots on his forehead, she reached out and pulled down the cover so that she and her stuffed animals face was revealed.
She peeked at her room. It was her first night in her new home, a large, two-storey tree complete with a basement and garden. When one entered the by the front door one would appear in a typical hallway with a clothhanger.
Not that she was expecting visitors, but she had bought one anyway. She also had a large kitchen and a small bathroom only fitting a toilet and a washbasin, a stair that led upstairs and a few storerooms.
The second floor was dominated by a round hallway: To the left was her bedroom where she currently resided and she also kept her computer and few, most precious belongings.
To the right was her living room with a couch, TV and a bookshelf that was mostly empty. The living room also housed her packing cases and a suitcase.
After just lying there in an hour or two she crawled out of bed with a moan and sat on the bedside. The bed had very short legs so that she wouldn't hurt herself to much if she fell out of it when asleep.
She moved into Happy Tree Town without any familiars there to help her out, but then she had never had any close friends, and not much in a family way either. She was a shy girl, shy, squeamish and timid.
She was wearing a purple pyjama with a text reading 'Hug me', and she felt she could really use a hug, no matter who would give it, she would receive it thankfully. But who would want to hug her, with all her sharp, greasy quills…
Oh yeah, that's so true, I forgot to tell you that she had a severe case of dandruff all over her red quills. Now you may think that she is a hedgehog but that's not the case, our main character is in fact a porcupine.
She had been teased because of her dandruff and shy persona in her old school, she had been terrorised, frightened and hurt, just for trying to be the one she was. She had realised that if you tried to be the one you really were and not as everyone expected you to be, then you would take the consequences.
What did she do to deserve this? She didn't require much in life, but right now, after losing everything, being manhandled and finally forced on the run, she felt that the only thing she really needed now was in fact… a hug.
All she wanted to feel was to be a little comfortable with herself, feel comfort with her looks, weight and… well… everything that made her into the person that she was.
But then she thought with a sad smile, what boy would want her? She knew she was ugly, fat, gross, and disgusting. Everyone in her old school had made it clear for her during her time back there…
She walked slowly the sidewalk towards school, it was autumn. She had her backpack on and her lunch bag in her hand, her lunch consisted of some sandwiches and juice. She walked with her head down and her arms wrapped around her small body in a careful manner, she sent out cautious glances to prepare herself if someone would surprise her.
She was trying to avoid any bullies that could be skulking around, each time she rounded a block and met someone she might recall from her school she trembled like a leaf in a storm.
Soon she saw the chain link fenced area with its mortifying school buildings, made in yellow clay bricks and in serious need of maintenance. It looked like the brutal institution of pain and efficiency it really was, in all its grey, damp glory.
The entrance was completely blocked by bicycles, mopeds, motorcycles and cars. She saw that the schoolyard was filled with people, all in groups, chattering, laughing, being a part of something, not like she, who had no one.
She wanted to hurry her steps and make it inside the school as quickly as possible, but she was clumsy and she would probably trip on her own feet's or being tipped over by some mean pupil if she wasn't very cautious.
She moved with her head bowed down, avoiding their glances but she couldn't cut out what they said, whispered or yelled. "Hey dandruff-face, why don't you go wash that mug of yours?"
A hard-nosed beaver yelled at her, giggling and agreeing laughs from his buddies was all around her, penetrating her like poisoned spears.
She walked faster to avoid more mean commentaries, too fast to notice the leg in front of her: She tripped and went prostrate face-down in the mud. She sat up to the laughing and mocking commentaries of the crowd.
With tears forming in her eyes she felt her heart shaped nose. She felt something warm and sticky between her fingers, blood. She was bleeding. She was injured and no one helped her. She felt a lump I her throat and silently began to sob.
A small mob was gathering around her, like carnivores circling a wounded prey, she looked around; her eyes full of tears, for anyone to help her out, anyone. All she saw was those evil, wicked grins that belong to people she knew was insecure about themselves and did this just to fit in.
Her vulnerability just encouraged the mob more, they laughed, pointed finger and spat at her. A light blue pig wearing the standard uniform the school forced on their pupils, reminding of a sailors uniform, stepped forth. Apparently it had been him who tripped her.
Aided by both sides by his muscular friends, two other similar looking hogs, he grunted with contempt, "Don't cry Greaseface, seriously, don't wipe the mud away, it's an improvement! Now you might even get a dance on the ball… ohh… I forgot… we guys agreed in the showers…" He grinned. "And no one's ever gonna ask you out!"
The dandruff-laden girl stuttered to the pig: "Y-y-you s-s-shouldn't make fun of me, y-you do it because you d-don't dare b-be yourself, you are uncomfortable w-with yourself, y-you're a monster, y-you're d-despicable!" She shrieked the last part in the pure anger and hopelessness that overwhelmed her. In just a few seconds the school ground was in complete silence, everyone focusing on them.
The pig gave her a furious look and came closer "You little- What did you call me?" the porcupine crept backwards and flickered, shaking her head as her eyes went big with fear.
"ANSWER ME! What did you just call me?" The girl shivered and tried to form an apology. The pig then gave her a resounding slap in the face. It hurt an awful lot! He growled in a high pitched, yet frightening voice.
"You called me despicable! You little worm, who are you to dare talk back on me?" She stuttered and tried to ask for forgiveness, beg for mercy, anything! Just make him stop!
He yelled when she didn't manage to accomplish words: "You are wrong pimples, all wrong! Do you know who's despicable? You are! You are a sick, disgusting, ugly, fat, gross and despicable excuse for air, why do you even cling yourself to the pathetic phenomenon you call your life? It's beyond my reach…"
She tried to back away further, but her back hit the wall of a building, she was stuck.
"I'll teach you to not be so lippy!" The pig came closer, when a loud ringing was heard, the bell called everyone to their first classes.
The pig peered at his victim, took another step when the teal one of his minions snorted; "Ey Truff, we gotta catch this class, teacher said if we arrive late on' more time we'll get an F"
The leader though for a moment, then he made up his mind. He looked down at the terrified porcupine, and grinned wickedly. "I guess that means we have a date then, dandruff-face", he leaned over her, "Next recess"
The large boar kicked her in the stomach and snatched her lunch bag from her, and then they simply left her on the ground. The three pigs laughed cattily as they joined the pupils that moved to the entrance.
Sobinh and shivering, she gently felt her belly. It did hurt an awful lot, but she was thankful still being alive! She began to cry again, but she took some deep breaths and rubbed her eyes clear of tears, that's when something white and purple caught her eye.
A lavender sheep with a wool shirt and bow had stopped just before entering the school. She stood there and looked back at the red grieve lying on the ground. She remembered the sheep, she was a kind soul, not like the regular students found on this school.
In her eyes one could see pity, sympathy, worry and even a willingness to help. The two animals met eyes, then the sheep bowed her head as if in realisation of something, and the porcupine understood.
If someone saw her, this person who actually seemed to be able to have feelings and pity, helping her out, the cuspidor of town, she would too get ostracized, bullied and manhandled, ending up in the same way she had.
The sheep gave her a look to say that she was sorry that she didn't try to prevent it, and she slowly, regretfully and even a little sadly backed away from the porcupine, to the entrance, opened the door and was gone.
She lay there, staring after the sheep and blinking confused, then she lowered her head. Of course… how foolish was she? Did she actually think that this stranger would help her, especially in a school as twisted and dark as this?
She felt the sadness in her body be replaced with nothing, so she became hollow. She had such a great imagination, that someone would feel empathy with her, she shouldn't even consider that possible.
She pressed forth a small sad smile as she picked up her backpack and slowly, with blood dropping from her nose, walked towards the entrance. After all, it was just a normal day at school. A normal day in her life.
The end of chapter I folks! Naaw poor Flaky! Being teased by Truffles and Lammy wanting to help her out, though she don't dare. If someone consider my idea of adding Truffles strange, listen to what I have to say first: Since the first time I saw Truff I considered him to be a bighead bully, and since I will add so many wonderful original characters later on and it felt like no one really is a bully in the Happy Tree Friends Gang and i really don't want to waste any of the other characters as i may need them later on. That's why I gave that role to Truffles. :)
Tell me what you think and please review my story, if you like it and tell me, maybe give me a few tips or have opinions on what should happen next or what you would like to see please tell me, I got a blueprint but it has to be filled up! And besides, which characters would you like to appear in the next chapter? Last but not least, subscribe and stay tuned for the follow up!
/Tegula