I never thought that fluttershy would turn her head from her son or daughter

Larkspur was in deep shit. He couldn’t remember what had happened. He thought he had passed out, but obviously something else happened. He sat like a cat in a chair outside of Twilight Sparkle’s office, tail curled around himself as it always did when he was nervous. All over his body ached, especially his paws. He stared at them. Crimson spots dotted them. Did some animal part of his brain switch on? Is that something draconequus do?
 
After seemingly losing consciousness, he came to only to see Starshade rasping for air beside him, throat slashed open. Despite his efforts not to hurt her, some internal part of himself thought otherwise. The image of her blood gurgling from her wound burned in Larkspur’s mind…
 
Luckily, he was told she would survive. Unluckily for him, she told them an entirely different story. So now he had to defend himself…him, who would obviously lose the benefit of the doubt, seeing as Starshade’s blood still stained his claws.
 
The door to her office opened, and he turned to see Spike standing there, clipboard in claw. “Larkspur…you can come in now…” Although his expression was stern, his voice was gentle. As Larkspur stood up, tail dragging on the floor, Spike patted him on the back and whispered, “Don’t panic…”
 
Once again, he approached Twilight, head lowered. The main faculty of the school was in attendance, including his mother, who just stared at him with those worried, sorrowful eyes that made his emotions swim.
 
Twilight Sparkle cleared her throat, “Larkspur…we’re here to discuss what happened this morning in the courtyard…all we want to hear right now is your side of the story, and we’ll decided your punishment from there. Please save any questions until after you’ve told your story.”
 
Larkspur looked around the room and slowly met the gazes of each of them. Rainbow Dash looked angry, as usual, Pinkie was silent as she held her infant son, Applejack and Rarity sat close together stoically, Fluttershy was staring at the ground, her face wet with quiet tears and Twilight watched him like a cat about to pounce.
 
Shrinking down, he swallowed hard, “I uh…uhm…” The choking sensation returned. His heart raced. “I-I didn’t mean to hurt her…it was an accident.”
 
“But you did attack her?” Rainbow Dash interjected. Applejack quickly shut her down.
 
“Now Rainbow, we’re see to seek the truth, not put words in his mouth. Now let him speak.” Rainbow sat back in her seat, grumbling.
 
Larkspur was feeling himself panic, “I-It was just an accident.” His mind was going blank. For some reason, he stopped remembering what happened and could only see the twelve pairs of eyes judging him like the beast they saw him as. “I would have n-never…I m-mean, I probably could have hurt her if I needed to…”
 
“You did hurt her, and we’re trying to find out why.” Twilight said. Beads of sweat formed on Lark’s forehead. Breathing was getting hard. He felt Starshade gripping him, tighter and tighter.
 
There was a knock at the door, snapping him back into reality. Headmare Twilight nodded at Spike, who opened the door. Niko was there, Clara, Connie and Plumeria at his side. Larkspur couldn’t help but sigh with relief knowing someone else was taking the attention off of him.
 
“Headmare Twilight…I have something to say if that’s alright.” He said, stepping respectfully in. Connie and Plume warily waved at their mother with nervous smiles, and Clara just nodded her hellos to Rarity.
 
Twilight nodded curtly. “It’s alright, Nickle, as long as it pertains to this case.”
 
Niko smiled, stepping forward, “It does. Thank you Miss Twilight.” For such a young stallion, he stood with the confidence, tiny chest puffed out. “I promise I’m telling the truth when I say that Larkspur did not attack me. That is just a vicious lie. He did attack Starshade, however, after she choked me when I refused to give her money. Larkspur saved my life. He made it so I could escape. I don’t know what happened after I got away, I’m afraid…but the point I’m trying to make is that Larkspur did not attack out of malicious intent, but instead to rescue a friend.”
 
Larkspur’s head snapped up. Friend? Ohhh I get it, he’s just trying to appeal to them by using their own language. Smart.
 
“Furthermore, Larkspur may be a prankster that has acted cruelly in the past toward other students, but none of these pranks have ever been so vindictive as anything Starshade has ever done. Clarabelle here witnessed her destroying birds nests at night, often laughing at the confused mother birds flying around, unable to see anything.”
 
Fluttershy gasped in utter horror. “Sweet Celestia…she’s the one…Twilight she’s the one I’ve been telling you about! I thought it was a bear or a weasel, not a student!” She was reduced to sobs, “T-Those poor birds…I can’t imagine why somepony would-” Rarity held her, patting her gently on the back. Rarity was equally terrified.
 
Larkspur too felt a fresh wave of rage. He started to wish he had cut Starshade a little deeper.
 
Twilight shivered, but asked, “Clarabelle…do you have proof of this?”
 
Clarabelle shook her head, “No, but I can promise you that I have no reason to lie for Larkspur. He’s still a jerk.”
 
“Well why didn’t you tell us this until now?” Rainbow demanded.
 
Clarabelle folded her ears back, “I was scared…if she knew someone snitched on her, she’d move Tartarus to find them…”
 
Pinkie looked up, “So…you’ve all been terrified of this student for a long time?”
 
They looked at each other, and nodded. Plumeria spoke, “Sorry we didn’t say anything before…but Starshade has been scaring all of us since day one.”
 
“S-She started suffocating me!” Larkspur said suddenly, the panic attack fading away, “I thought I was dying…so I must have acted for survival. I blacked out when it happened, but I can’t think of any other reason I would let myself hurt her. Not because I didn’t want to, but because I knew I would be in serious trouble. Honest!”
 
Once again Niko spoke up, “I implore that you consider this in your deliberations…please don’t punish Larkspur for something that was probably out of his control…after all, he did almost lost his own life rescuing me.”
 
“What about Oriole and Bluejay? Their ribs are broken.” Rainbow Dash cut in, crossing her arms, “Was that you as well?”
 
“I was afraid that they would get to Niko…I had to keep them down.” Larkspur replied. “I didn’t mean to hurt them either.”
 
They six mares sat in silence for a moment, looking to one another, almost as if they were passing thoughts. Twilight sighed, “Okay Larkspur…the medical report corroborates with both of your stories. You have a good case for yourself. We had grave consequences in mind, but instead, we’ve determined that while you are guilty, your punishment will be reduced. You will write an essay and send it to Starshade’s parents, you’ll work nights with Scraps while keeping up with your schooling, and we will be conducting daily bag and room checks to remove any cigarettes you have laying about. And, the rest of you, you must never try to contact Starshade ever again. She is of no concern of yours anymore. Case dismissed.” With her magic, she declared her statement with the gentle tap of her gavel.

Niko beamed at Larkspur, who couldn’t help but smile somewhat back at him. Twilight continued, “As you may know, we cancelled classed today to deal with this, so please return to your rooms and stay there until the dinner bell, maybe have a relaxing study session. That includes you Larkspur-oh but, Rainbow, could you check his bag?”
 
The girls and Connie left the two of them to return to the stallion dorms.
 
Larkspur growled, “You didn’t have to do that…” He and Niko were talking as they all walked back to the dorms. “I could have handled it,”
 
“Pfft in your dreams scaredy cat. They were about to eat you alive!” Niko bounced, “I’m just happy justice was served. Starshade’s expelled for sure and will probably be going to Juvy instead of you.”
 
“Yeah…” Larkspur felt uneasy about something. He hadnt seen Starshade since the attack. Why was he apologizing to her parents instead of her? Did they send her away already?
 
He decided to shake it off, because, for once in his life, he won. He did something good for someone else and won. But it was truly thanks to Niko. He glanced at the bouncing boy, noticing the gentle toss of his mane as he trotted, the glint of his cartoonish glasses and his smile…Larkspur had to think about something else. “So, uh, how do you feel? After all that?”
 
“Tired! I could sleep for days! And my throat hurts, but it will pass.” He nudged Lark with his elbow playfully. He was so cheerful after almost getting murdered…what a weirdo.
 
They reached the dorms. “Well this is our stop! Actually get some rest, huh? Those dark circles under your eyes are no joke!” He patted Larkspur on the cheek, giggling. Like, actually giggling. Larkspur couldn’t understand why his brain felt so fuzzy. “As for me, there is no way in Helium that I’m gonna study tonight.”
 
Larkspur smiled, “Whatever you say, nerd.” He watched Niko go down the hallway. He noticed a hippogriff sitting on a bench outside of Niko’s room. As soon as the hippogriff saw the little earth pony, he stood up and offered him a present. Larkspur couldn’t tell what the present was, but it made Niko laugh. They hugged, and that was all. They said their goodbyes, and Niko was back safely in his room. The hippogriff didn’t even notice Larkspur before trodding away, presumably back to his own room.
 
Larkspur thought nothing of it, and entered his dorm just to flop roughly on his bed.
 
What a weird, emotional day. It seemed like the whole Starshade incident was being swept under the rug just a little too easily…but all Larkspur could seriously think about was sleep.
 
His dreams were haunted that night.