Really? Again? They’re really bullying Fluttershy again?!

It was back at my days when my three friends and I were at the Junior Speedster's Flight Academy. Even to this day I wish it was only that: my three friends and I. But unfortunately, life doesn’t work that way...because life’s a bitch, and a dirty bitch at that.

We were joined not only by the random other students who were at the academy, but also by the three bullies, Dumbbell, and his ‘minions’, Hoops and Joe -- yeah, Joe. Honestly, I would call him ‘Hobo Joe’, but that was the name of a particular restaurant that I liked a lot, so calling him that would -- in my mind -- seem like a complement. Now to get back on topic...

Fortunately for me, they never bothered me, save for the couple of times when I was new at the Academy, but since bullies don’t like it when their victims are stoic, they moved on.

Unfortunately for me, they still bullied my friends. Even Fluttershy. I must admit, they have changed my viewpoint on some things: I had believed that not even the biggest...er, smallest, more likely...dick in Equestria would even dare to pick on Fluttershy. The rate at which these guys do it changed that.

And now, I’ve run out of love and tolerance for them -- hard to believe, I know. This is the last time that they’re going to bully my friends, especially Fluttershy. Because now it’s personal. I decided to take action, and in doing so I indirectly made a pledge to myself, and one that is respected by those around me:

You mess with my friends, you mess with me. You mess with me, you’re starting a fight with me. And if you start a fight with me, I’ll end it.
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“Let her be.” I say in a voice that is much sterner than usual, especially for me.

As I hoped, my remark catches the attention of the bullies, and they begin to walk toward me, thus making me their current target.

Many ponies would begin worrying at this point, perhaps even regretting that they took action. Not me. If I have any one ‘strength’ that stands out from the rest, it’s my ability of “psychological manipulation” -- a fitting term coined in an unexpected way, by an even more unexpected pony.

The three bullies begin to circle around me.

“Well, well. If it isn’t Golden Lame. You finally decided to say something, huh?”

Time to manipulate.

“Wait, Golden Lame? Please don’t tell me that was the best insult you could come up with.”

Surprised at my remark, the bullies stop circling me, their leader at a momentary loss of words. Seeing the short window of opportunity that this gives me, I obviously decide to exploit it. After all, this is what manipulating is to begin with.

“Hah, it seems you’re living up to your name, Dumbbell.”

Taken aback by my insult, he approaches me angrily.

“What’s that supposed to mean?!?!”

I flash my now-trademark half-smile (which actually has a bit of a smirk in it, which is what makes it so symbolic, let alone so unique), causing a visible look of regret to appear on the bully leader’s face. He knows he shouldn’t have asked me that.

“Well, going by your abrupt lack of speech, you had expressed the traditional definition of the word ‘dumb’...mute.” My half-smile turns slightly more into a smirk. “However, I don’t believe that bringing up it’s modern implication is necessary, do you?”

I had won.

Not knowing how to respond to that, Dumbbell groans in frustration and turns to leave.

“Come on guys. Let’s not waste our time with this...this...weirdo.”

Wow...that was even worse than Golden Lame...he isn’t all too good at this, is he?, I thought as my half-smile was replaced by a quizzical eyebrow.

With the exception of my half-smile, I had remained rather emotionless throughout the entire ordeal. My friends, on the other hoof, were anything but. However, I was surprised that Rainbow didn’t fly-tackle me -- yes, that habit of hers was long-established even at this point. However, as they approached, I saw why she didn’t.

Humorously -- well, to me at least -- Fluttershy led the way, rushing towards me, visibly excited -- well, again, to me at least. One of my other cryptic talents is being able to read body language in a way that would make even Twilight Sparkle green with envy. But that’s a story for a later chapter.

Unsurprisingly, Fluttershy was incapable of putting her excitement into words...well, at first.

“Um...Flame...um...that...that was...”

“Nice?”, I suggested.

“AMAZING!”, Fluttershy uncharacteristically shouted, instinctively triggering a wide-eyed look from me.

“Oh...sorry.” Fluttershy said, more characteristically this time.

I turned and looked at Rainbow, who was still making her way over to join Fluttershy, myself, and Derpy -- who had made her way to my side, as she usually does -- with her jaw dropped in shock all the while.

Once she got to us, she finally spoke.

“How...how were you able to stand up to them so...so...easily?”

“SAIKOLOJICKAL MANEEPULAYSHUN!” Derpy suddenly exclaimed in a manner that sounded jumbled, probably due to the abruptness of it, though the fact that it was completely unexpected likely played a part, too.

Rainbow, ‘Shy and I slowly turned and looked at her. In my case, I turned to see her looking back at me...well, with one eye at least.

Impressed with how fitting it was, I gave her a couple pats on the back with a wing.

“You’ve been thinking on that one for a while, haven’t you Derpy?”, I said with my trademark half-smile, which in this case symbolically marked the positive connotation of my question.

Derpy replied with a couple of quick nods before leaning her head into me.

Author's note: "Hobo Joe's" actually is a real restaurant. I haven't personally been there, but my dad's first job was as a waiter there while he was in college. And now he's a doctor. Life's one hell of a journey, ain't it? xD