"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. Not exactly someone I would get a good vibe from, if I'm honest."
"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 the more abused animals at the shelter," Fluttershy said. "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.