Echodash

Chapter 5- Storm

     I sigh softly as a brown leaf crunches beneath my hoof. I get to the park and look around for a silent place to read. Ever since Summer started I havent had time to read the book Miss Hayfield got me. I had been spending all my time with Birch, but she and her family had gone off on a vacation before school starts in a week so I decided to take the oppourtunity to catch up.
      I spot a lonely bench and trot over to it. I hop up on it and lay down with my book open. As I continue to read I start to get a strange feeling. Almost as if im being watched. I look up and look around but the only ponies I see are fillies playing and their mothers chatting amongst themselves. I try to shake it off but the feeling returns.
     "Maybe this isnt a good spot" I mumble to myself before closing my book, putting it in my bag and walking away. Suddenly, Thunder and Duck come out of nowhere and cut me off.
     "Hey Blank Flank" Thunder says and chuckles. I back up slightly but run into somepony. I turn around to see Shimmer Light, a filly a little older than me. She smirks at me.
     "This the little brat?" She kicks my leg out from under me.
     "Yeah thats her. Where's your little friend blind spot?" He teases. I stand back up only to be shoved back on the ground by Duck.
     "No one said you could get up" he spits. I stare at the ground not making eye contact. Suddenly I feel a pain in my side as Shimmer kicks me. I curl up and try to cover my face. Duck, Shimmer and Thunder kick and hit me until my nose is bleeding and I have various cuts and bruises all over my body.
     "Hey! Cut it out!" I hear a familiar voice shout. I look up and see a white coat and a blue mane and tail standing over me. My eyes widen. Storm Cloud? I cover myself.
     "What the hell do you think you're doing?" Thunder yells. Storm gets closer to me.
     "Protecting her!" He shouts back. I flinch at the tone of his voice. He notices and starts to speak softer. "What you're doing is wrong." Thunder laughs.
      "You did it too Storm" he chuckles out.
      "Until I realized this wasnt just 'for fun' like you said" He snarls. Thunder's expression changes from smug to annoyed.
     "Just back off Storm. We may not be friends anymore but I dont want to hurt you" Storm doesnt move. He presses further into the ground.
     "Then dont hurt me and walk away. You know full well I can take you down" Thunder thinks for a moment before chuckling.
     "Duck, Shimmer, come on. Leta get out of here. This runt isnt worth our time" he motions to me. All three start to trot away into some ally. Storm stays over me until they are out of sight. He then gets off me and helps me up.
     "Are you okay?" He asks softly. I look up at him. His eyes are soft and kind. I sit down defeated and place a hoof on my head.
     "I dont feel too well. I think ill just go home" I stand up and sway a little before falling to one side. Before I hit the ground, however, I feel Storm's coat against mine.
     "Let me help" he lets me lean on him. We start walking in the direction of my house.
     "So what were you doing at the park?" He asks.
      "Reading." I reply bluntly. He may have saved me but he still bullied me.
      "What were you reading?" He asks trying to start a conversation.
     "A book." I say. He sighs and looks down.
     "We dont have to talk if you dont want to" he says.
     "Okay I dont want to talk" he nods and looks straight ahead. We walk in silence together. We get to my house and he stops at the steps.
     "Do you need help getting in?" He asks. I shake my head.
     "Thank you for helping me" I say before opening the door and going inside. I wait a few moments before sneaking a look through the window. Storm stands there looking at the door. He looks down at his hooves and kicks the dirt. He then lets his head drop as he heads back in the direction we came. Why would he do this?

**Hey guys its been a while. Sorry I havent been too active. Ive been busy with school and stuff. Theres a story that Im gonna write that will overlap with this one. Itll take place in the future when Echodash is grown up but dont worry this story will get to that point**