Back in Manehattan

Third grade had started, and I wasn't really enjoying it. I mean, I had Sugar Mane to talk to, but Spoiled Brat and Princess were back in my class. And my teacher was Ms. Mole; the strictest teacher in our grade. She had a big, gross mole on the side of her face…

It was halfway through the year, and I was wondering what was taking Chase so long. I mean, how hard is it to come to the ground to visit? As my thoughts turned to him, I felt a little mad at myself because I was forgetting what he looked like. So, I painted a picture of him from memory.

I mixed colors together until I got the right shade. A bright sky blue mane with light indigo highlights (that happened to match his coat) and those sparkly pale purple eyes completed the look. I studied the picture and smiled. Chase… I tucked it away with my secret art work, because I didn't want anypony to snoop around my personal business. Since that day, I pulled it out to look at every night before bed. It was a comfort to see his grinning face.

I was glad nopony noticed.

XXX

"Hey, let's go to your house!" Sugar Mane suggested. I'd been dreading this.

"I'll ask my mom."

"Cool! It'll be so fun and I can meet your family! Your sisters sound really awesome!"

"Well, not always…" I mumbled.

I felt a presence from behind. I turned around to see Spoiled Brat and Princess.

"Hey, where's your little nerdy friend?" Princess asked.

"Who?" Sugar asked, confused.

"Oh what's his name? Star… Star Chaser! Yeah what happened to him?" Spoiled asked.

"Um, he moved away…" I said quietly, looking down at my hooves.

"Aw, so now you're stuck with Booger Mane over here I see," Princess snickered.

"My name is Sugar Mane," Sugar said, appearing to have taken it as nothing more than a mere mistake. The prissy ponies looked at her with confusion.

"Uh, whatever. So, Mental Scream, you missing him?" Spoiled Brat asked.

How did they come up with these names so fast? And Mental Scream? Was that supposed to be an insult? Well, I took it as one anyways.

"That's none of your business," I said softly, trying hard not to cry in front of them.

"She misses him; can't you see her lower lip is all shaky?" Princess said with fake sympathy.

"Aw, the nopony misses the nerd. Well, TTYL!" Spoiled Brat snarked, and then the two bullies trotted off laughing.

"Are those some of your friends from kindergarten?" Sugar Mane asked. I almost facehoofed myself.

"Not exactly…" I said.

"So, just acquaintances?"

What was an acquaintance? "Um, no…"

"So, what was their deal then?"

"They're just a couple of…bullies…" I explained.

"Bullies? Well, that's not very nice."

"Yeah, well—"

"I'm going to go talk to them," Sugar interrupted.

"No, that'll just make things worse," I put in quickly.

"But—"

"No. Just, don't."

"Okay."

Sugar shrugged and then smiled.

"Race you to the slide!"

I nearly facehoofed again. She didn't get it, did she? I didn't have time to respond though as she was already running.

XXX

Of course, Mom said that Sugar Mane could come over. So, we were in the playroom and I was introducing her to my sisters. Well, more like she was introducing herself.

"Hi, I'm Sugar Mane! Let's see, you must be Compose, you're Joyful Passion, and you're little Meg," she said, bouncing around.

"You got it. Now, if you don't mind, I'm going to work on my story for the Young Foal Writer's Contest," Compose said, walking away.

"Oh cool! Good luck!" Sugar exclaimed.

"So, Joyful Passion, what grade are you in?"

"Kindergarten!" the young filly exclaimed.

"Aw, how cute!"

"Joy! You've got cheer practice!" Mom called.

"You're on the little filly cheer team? That's adorable!" Sugar Mane said.

"I've got spirit, yes I do, I've got spirit, and so should you!" Joyful Passion cheered, laughing. She skipped away.

"Ooh, I got a great idea! How about we play a game? Meg is the baby, I'll be the Mommy, and you can be the aunt!" Sugar Mane offered. This annoyed me a little. First of all, why did we have to play with Meg? Second, why was I the aunt? She was MY sister after all. I decided I'd go along with this though; Sugar didn't have any sisters after all.

We had a wooden rocking cradle. Typically, our baby dolls were kept in it (four little fillies; what're going to do?) so Meg climbed in. She was three years old now, so she was small enough to fit.

Sugar Mane starting rocking the crib and Meg looked like she was having a great time. She didn't usually do stuff like this. Normally Meg was a tomcolt who liked building with blocks and playing in the dirt. But, now she was cooing like a baby and giggling when Sugar tickled her.

I played Peek-A-Boo, but I really just left Sugar Mane to the playing.

Later, it was time for her to go.

"I wub you Sugah!" Meg said, hugging Sugar Mane's front legs.

"You're just the sweetest little filly. I wub you too Meg," Sugar said, hugging her back.

I stood to the side awkwardly. Meg never said she loved me…

"See you in school!" Sugar called as she head out the door.

"Bye…"

"You gots a cool fwiend Dentle Dweam!" Meg said. Then she trotted back to the playroom to build with her colorful wooden blocks.

I said nothing, feeling nothing. I went into my room and saw Compose writing with her mouth.

"It'd be so much easier if I knew magic," she muttered aloud. I thought about my art work and agreed. But, there wasn't a good magic school nearby and dad (who was a unicorn) was always out…

I went to my desk and doodled on a scrap sheet of paper. Well, more like scribbled. I wasn't in the mood to put in my best effort. I missed my dad, I missed Chase, I was confused about Meg and Sugar, and I was hurt from Spoiled Brat and Princess. It was a lot for a seven year old to deal with.

Oh how naïve I was…I would've never guessed the trials I would face would get so much worse.