When Math Equation was introduced, it was in chapter ten of Fortunes and Tragedies. Now he stars again in chapter ten of Love is Blind - I swear that was not on purpose!

Sub-Volume 3 - Love is Blind

Chapter 10 - The Pound is Sinking (McCartney, 1982)

Written by Zack Wanzer, James Riddle and Mike Nicholson

AUGUST 3, 2038

"But mom, did you ever stop letting yourself be bullied?" asked Dawn.

"Yes," said Sunset. "But not for a while."

"Why didn't you just report Trixie and Starlight to grandma Celestia?"

"Two reasons," sighed Sunset sadly. "One, I didn't want her to look biased for punishing them just for bullying her daughter."

"And the other reason?"

"I was too scared that they would try to hurt your father."

"What else did those troublemakers do?" asked Dawn.

"Oh, they did quite a lot," said Vincent. "It wasn't just your mother they harassed; they tormented just about every student during the 2010-2014 period of CHS and gained infamy for their reputation. It took Masked Puck to bring them down to size, isn't that right, Math?" he asked him, still on the computer screen.

"That's right," said Math. "I didn't approve of him attacking people, especially after the fiasco with Mr. Stubborn Guitar."

"I heard that!" snapped Flash. Twilight just giggled.

"But I understand this time he had good intentions," said Math.

"What did he do?" asked Dusk.

"Well..." And this is what Math Equation and Vincent told them.

MARCH 2012

Over the last couple of years, Starlight Glimmer and Trixie Lulamoon had earned themselves quite a poor reputation at Canterlot High. Whether it was Trixie boasting about how "special" she was compared to everyone else or Starlight Glimmer's pettiness over small things that didn't suit her standards, many students - and even a few teachers - were wishing that June 2014 would come quicker.

"How dare they consider us menaces," pouted Trixie.

"Gee, I wonder why!" Cloudchaser shouted as she passed by with Thunderlane.

"No one asked for your opinion, Cloudfarter!" snapped Starlight.

"You shut up!" snapped Thunderlane. Starlight just scoffed and rolled her eyes before making a rude face at them.

"One of these days," said Cloudchaser, "you two will get what you deserve."

"Bah. What does she know?" sniffed Trixie.

"They're just jealous of us," said Starlight.

"Let's teach them to show some respect," said Trixie.

At lunch, they could see Applejack pouring herself a cup of apple juice. Then they noticed a can of brown paint by a ladder in the hallway. You see, a part of the ceiling was being repainted.

"You thinking what I'm thinking?" asked Starlight.

"That's not lead paint, is it?" asked Trixie. "It's poisonous."

"Oh, please," scoffed Starlight. "Even the staff aren't this stupid."

"That's a relief."

While no one was looking, the two grabbed a cup and dipped it into the brown paint. Both girls snickered quietly as they approached where Applejack was sitting.

"Now how do we distract Redneck Girl long enough to do this?" asked Starlight.

"I think I've an idea..." smirked Trixie. With that, she made her way over to the center of the cafeteria. All was quiet until...

"Attention, everyone!"

Everyone in the cafeteria looked to her.

"What's she doin' now?" muttered Applejack, turning away from her drink. This gave Starlight the chance she needed. While Applejack was distracted, she switched the apple juice with the paint.

"Drink up, cowgirl," snickered Starlight. In front, Trixie was performing what she believed to be a great illusion involving a deck of cards. Applejack picked up her cup, unaware of what was actually in it. She was just taking a sip when...

"PBBBT!"

Applejack spat in disgust as she dropped her cup. Unfortunately, Rarity caught the brunt of Applejack's spitting.

"Ugh!" she cried. "Applejack! Watch where you're spitting! It's disgusting!"

"Sorry, Rarity," said Applejack, wiping out her mouth. "Someone switched my apple juice with paint!"

"My favorite top!" whined Rarity. "It's ruined!" Most of the students laughed. Math Equation, however, was one of the few who didn't.

"Stop laughing!" he scolded. "It's not funny laughing at someone who's had a misfortune!" This put a stop to the laughing from the other students. But Starlight and Trixie just snickered.

"I guess it's true that rednecks will drink about anything," remarked Starlight.

"Ah take that as offensive!" snapped Applejack.

"Looks like someone's taste in wardrobe is diminishing," snickered Trixie at Rarity's outfit.

Rarity felt so embarrassed that for the rest of the school day, she kept her coat on so no one would see her ruined outfit. Math Equation felt sorry for her. When the final bell rang, Rarity raced off for home. Suddenly, she bumped into Math.

"Hey, Rarity."

"Oh! Hello there, Math."

"Is something the matter?"

"Just wanted to get home after that lunch incident..."

"I'm sorry for what happened, Rarity."

"Oh, it's quite alright," said Rarity. "You weren't the one responsible for it."

"But that gave Starlight and Trixie no right to laugh at you!" exclaimed Math.

"I know," said Rarity. "Why won't those two leave us alone?"

"Your guess is as good as mine," said Math. "I have a friend of mine called Sassaflash who's in the laundry business. Perhaps I could ask her to clean your outfit for you."

"Really?" asked Rarity.

"Of course," smiled Math. As the two continued their chat, they were rudely interrupted.

"Well, well, well! What a pretty picture," said a rude voice. Math groaned; it was Starlight who said it, and with her, as usual, was Trixie.

"What is it?" he asked firmly.

"Looks like Rarity's once again showing off her cow dung fashion," snickered Trixie.

"Why don't you shut up?!" snapped Math.

"Who asked for your opinion, brain boy?" retorted Starlight.

"That mess with Applejack and Rarity was purely an accident," retorted Math. "So grow up and stop making such a big deal over it!" Trixie just fumed.

"Forget them, Trix," said Starlight. "They're just not worth it."

"One day, you two are going to get what you deserve!" called Math as the two left.

"I do hope karma punishes those two soon," said Rarity. "I don't know how much more of them I can stand."

When Math Equation finally got home, he found Masked Puck waiting for them.

"Where ya been, little brother?" he asked.

"Comforting a friend," explained Math. And he told Puck about the paint incident.

"Sounds like this Starlight and Trixie you mentioned are a pair of good-for-nothing brats," retorted Masked Puck. "Want me to teach them some manners?"

"No way," said Math. "That's a very bad idea. Remember that incident with you and Flash Sentry?"

"I was only looking out for you," insisted Masked Puck.

"Well, this case is different," said Math. "You can't threaten to hit girls."

"Whiplash does."

"But that's different as well," argued Math. "Just don't do anything foolish. I don't want you to get into trouble."

"Oh... alright," sighed Masked Puck.

"Thank you," said Math. But I'm afraid that this promise would be easier said than kept.

A few days later, Vincent and Fictionary were out in the park enjoying some ice cream. Today was a sunny day, so there was no reason not to be happy. But it wouldn't be that way for long. Suddenly, a Frisbee whizzed over to them and hit Vincent, knocking his glasses off.

"Agh!" he cried. "I can't see!"

"Whoops," said a mock innocent voice. "Sorry, Vincent, I didn't see you there."

"Who's that?" asked Fictionary.

"I recognize that voice anywhere," groaned Vincent. Indeed; it was Starlight Glimmer, and with her was, you guessed it, her partner in crime Trixie.

"Hi there," said Fictionary. "Is that Frisbee yours?"

"Why, yes, I'm afraid we lost control of it," said Trixie innocently.

"Maybe it had a mind of its own and didn't like you," said Fictionary cheekily.

"How dare you, you little runt!" snapped Trixie.

"Shut up!" snapped Vincent, looking for his glasses. "No one insults my sister and gets away with it!"

While Vincent was looking for his glasses, Trixie picked them up.

"Looking for these?" she taunted.

"You give them back!" snapped Vincent. He thought he was gripping Trixie by the wrist but it was actually Starlight.

"Well, aren't we forward," teased Starlight. "We haven't even had our first date yet."

With a frustrated groan, Vincent let go of Starlight, and snatched his glasses back from Trixie.

"You two are pests!" he snapped. "Come on, Fictionary." As they walked away, Fictionary blew a raspberry at Starlight and Trixie.

"Yeah, go ahead!" shouted Starlight. "Run away, you little chickens!"

Trixie was about to say something, when suddenly a familiar voice shouted out, "Who are you calling chickens?!" It was Masked Puck. He had overheard the conversation. Vincent and Fictionary stood nearby in shock.

"Is that Math's brother?" asked Fictionary.

Vincent nodded. "I just hope he doesn't see this," he said quietly.

"I heard everything you two said," Masked Puck snapped at the girls.

"Didn't your mother ever tell you it's rude to eavesdrop on other people's conversations?" sassed Trixie.

"That's not as bad as making fun of innocent people, even those who are smaller than you!" said Masked Puck. "Now you leave these two alone, or else!"

"Or else what?" Starlight asked in a snarky manner.

"If I see you two pick on these kids again," scolded Masked Puck, "I'll... I'll turn you upside-down!"

"Upside-down?" Starlight echoed.

"I'll spin you two around by your feet!"

"Our feet?" gulped Trixie.

"And I'll tell your parents about your bad attitudes!" he continued.

"Hey, take it easy," hesitated Starlight. "We'll leave them alone."

"You'd better," concluded Masked Puck. "Now get out of here. Both of you. Now."

Starlight and Trixie turned around to walk away, slowly at first, then after a few steps they both ran away as fast as they could.

Vincent and Fictionary were in shock. Masked Puck was standing up to protect them, after what he did to Flash?! It was unbelievable!

Presently, Masked Puck turned to the pair of them. "You kids all right?" he asked.

"Y-y-y-yes," stuttered Vincent. "But how- wha- why-?"

"How did I what?" asked Masked Puck, looking confused.

"What he means is," answered Fictionary, "why did you stand up to those two like that?"

"Well," said Masked Puck, "I've heard about those two picking on you. Plus I reckon I owe you a favor after that... unsavory incident."

Needless to say, the two Sentry siblings knew exactly what he meant.

"Does your brother know about this?" asked Vincent.

"That's what I'm afraid of," said Masked Puck. "I know he won't like this after..."

"Why?" asked Fictionary. "After what?"

Masked Puck sighed. "I'm gonna tell you guys a secret," he said. "But you gotta promise me you can't tell anybody else."

"Don't worry," said Vincent. "I promise."

"Me too," chimed Fictionary. "Cross my heart and hope to fly, stick a cupcake in my eye." (She remembered this funny little rhyme that Pinkie Pie told her once.)

Masked Puck took a deep breath and began his story.

"Years ago," he said, "we lived in Baltimore. Back in those days, I was part of the school's hockey team."

"Did you have fun back then?" asked Fictionary.

"Oh, yeah," said Masked Puck. "But there was one incident I wasn't too happy with."

"What happened?" asked Vincent.

"Well," said Masked Puck, "it was some time before my family and I moved. During a hockey match, as if from nowhere, one of the opponents from the rival team rammed into me so hard, my shoulder got dislocated by accident."

"Ouch," said Fictionary.

"Yeah, I had to go to the hospital for a couple of days."

"Did your team manage well without you?" asked Vincent.

"They did, but..." That was where Masked Puck began to feel embarrassed. "...Math Equation filled in for me."

"Math? Filling in for you?" asked Vincent. "No way!"

"Way," said Puck. "But nobody noticed it was him. They thought it was me. On top of that, he proved surprisingly good at it despite being uncertain at first!"

"That must've been really embarrassing," said Fictionary.

"It sure was," said Masked Puck. "Now I'm worried that if he finds out what happened today, he'll tell everybody about it!"

"Don't worry," comforted Vincent. "Remember - the only thing we have to fear, is fear itself."

"Whoever said that must've had a lot of bodyguards!" remarked Fictionary.

Masked Puck chuckled, but deep down he was still worried about what his brother would think.

Unfortunately, when Masked Puck returned home, Math Equation had heard all about it. Needless to say, the younger brother wasn't too pleased about it.

"Masked Puck," he scolded, "what have you to say for yourself?"

"Those brats were bullying Vincent and Fictionary," protested Masked Puck. "I was merely looking out for them."

Math was about to protest again when he caught the last bit of Masked Puck's reasoning.

"Looking... out for them?" he repeated, after what felt like forever.

"Yeah. I can't stand when people are being bullied."

"Well... I guess I can't really stay mad at you," said Math.

"Thanks, little bro," said Masked Puck.

FOOTNOTES

Parts of this chapter were influenced from the Shining Time Station episode, Bully for Mr. Conductor.

Mike came up with the idea for the story about Masked Puck's shoulder dislocation.

Near the end, Vincent quotes Franklin D. Roosevelt and his 1933 presidential inauguration speech.

At some point, Fictionary references ALF, a 1980s sitcom.