Niko watched with hooves held to his muzzle in shock as the food on Clarabelle’s tray capsized over her head in a sloppy mess of noodles and vegetables. “Oooooops…” Larkspur feigned innocence. “Better clean that up, stripes. It’ll be good practice for your future career as a scullery maid.”
 
Tears began to form at the corners of Clarabelle’s eyes. She twirled around and aimed a punch at Larkspur. But of course, when you can levitate, it’s easy to just kinda float backwards. The punch missed its mark and brought Clarabelle to the ground with it. “Wooww…I think I felt that one.” Larkspur mocked, tossing his mane.
 
Clarabelle stared up at Larkspur, food bits and tears smeared all over her face. “What did I EVER do to you?” She cried.
 
“Oh sweetie…I’m just trying to teach you a lesson. Us hybrids just don’t get to walk around without getting reminded that our existence is a problem.” Larkspur replied, resting his head on his claws to pose concern. “You should be thankful I’m helping you build those mental walls.”
 
After helping the filly to her hooves, Connie flashed Larkspur such a look of hatred, eyes ablaze with fury. The entire cafeteria prepared itself for a fight as the two squared up. Connie growled, fur bristling, “You better get out of here before I kick your ass.”
 
Larkspur smirked, “Yeah? You gonna kick my ass? I’d like to see you try, airhead.” Despite his outward confidence, the fur on Larkspur’s spine stood up.
 
Before Connie could react, Niko stepped between them, “W-Wait, let’s just cool off –”
 
“You’re taking HIS side?” Connie yelled, directing their fury at the little Niko.
 
“I’m not taking anyone’s side!” Niko cried, ears pinned down to his head, “There’s a better way to solve this – “
 
“Oh fuck off, Niko.” Connie snarled. “He doesn’t need ‘a better way!’ You think that a stern talking to is going to help? It won’t, and it hasn’t, so grow a pair and fucking defend yourself and those you supposedly care about!”
 
Niko shook. He looked at Plumeria cleaning up Clarabelle’s face and felt a ball of rage build up in him. The tiny pony rounded on Larkspur. With surprising fury, Niko snatched a bit of Lark’s chest fur and pulled the whole draconequus close, so their noses were almost touching.
 
Larkspur yelped, “H-Hey-” He said weakly, feeling a familiar, horrible sense of loss of control. He became very pale. His mind slowed, and his eyes were wide with a sudden wave of terror. Why now? Larkspur’s body felt numb and foreign. Things began to feel very hot and dreamlike. “P-Please…let go of me…” Shaking talons grasped Niko’s forelegs.
 
Niko didn’t notice what was happening, and continued on his tirade, “No, I will not. Connie’s right. You’ve gone too far this time, Larkspur, and if you ever hurt me or my friends again, I will see to it that you’re thrown out of this school. You are not worthy of Twilight’s teachings…y-you are nothing more than a bully.”
 
Larkspur closed his eyes tightly as his wings began to stiffen, “S-Stop-” He winced as pain surged through his back and wings as they forced their way outward.
 
As the entire cafeteria watched, Niko slowly pulled away from Larkspur who had become strangely still, wing stretched outward. Niko blinked, feeling confused and uncertain. After a long, awkward silence, there was a quiet snicker. The mare tried to suppress her giggles. But it was too late. In moments, the entire cafeteria was in uproarious laughter.
 
Halien called out from another table, a teenage mare draped over his chest, “Hey man! Keep your creepy crushes to yourself!” The laughing continued.
 
Horrible, stinging shame burned throughout Larkspur. He tried to poof himself away, but his mind was still locked up. Flopping to the ground, he ran on all fours, hitting his wings on the doorway on the way out.
 
Connie laughed, patting Niko on the back, “How did you do that? That was amazing!”
 
“I…I didn’t do anything…” Niko said quietly, but Connie ignored him.
 
“How was that, hun?” Connie chimed, earning a weak smile from Clarabelle.
 
“Good.” She said. “’Bout time he felt just as bad as he makes everyone else feel.”
 
Niko stared at the doorway before being pulled away by his friends. Soon he was laughing with them.
 

 
Scraps was shocked to find Larkspur, curled up in the pantry. The draconequus had been crying silently, and was so wordlessly distraught that he couldn’t even shy away from Scraps’ judging eyes. Nothing Scraps could do would make his humiliation and pain worse. But nothing about the stallion’s demeanor was scrutinizing. He wasn’t angry. He didn’t show a sign of pity. Instead, the old unicorn took up the young boy in his forelegs and embraced him. He sang a highland lullaby as he stroked Lark’s mane gently. Lark found himself curling up against Windshorn Watergaw, soaking in every ounce of comfort he could. Not in a very, very long time had someone held Larkspur like this. Larkspur could only cry and cling to Scraps like a frightened child.
 
“It’s okey, sohn…it’s okey.”