>You run down the dirt path, the weight of your saddlebags hitting your sides with each step.
>Twenty minutes late.
>This was the latest you had ever been.
>It was all Jasmine's fault.
>If she didn't have those late night parties with her friends, you could have studied and slept at a reasonable time.
>She's been having parties every night since your parents leftf for their vacation to Neighagra Falls.
>She was so irresponsible.
>Hard to believe she was going to study in Canterlot next year.
>Turning a corner, you feel your hoof stop on something.
>You look down just in time to see your hoof on a root.
>You topple over as your glasses fly off your nose into the dirt.
>As you lay there for a moment, you catch your breath before standing up.
>Grabbing your glasses, you dust them off before putting them back on your nose as you continue running.
>After a few more minutes of running the brick building comes into view.
>Oh, how you hated this place.
>High School was hard enough without all the horrible things all the other ponies did.
>At least some of the teachers were nice.
>Reaching the doors, you pull on one only to find it locked.
>Other door, idiot.
>Grabbing the door on the right, you pull it open and jog inside.
>The hallways were barren except for the lockers lined against the walls.
>It takes a matter of seconds to find yours and you open it, quickly shoving in your saddlebag and grabbing your books.

>You shut the locker and run as fast as you can down the hallways, slowing to a brisk walk whenever you pass a window.
>You didn't want to get in any more trouble than you already were.
>The door comes into sight as you slow down.
>Room 252.
>Stopping in front of the door, you take a deep breath.
>Here we go.
>You turn the handle and walk inside, the entire class as silent as a cemetary as they all look at you.
>Feeling your face turn warm, you hang your head as you walk to your desk, next to a girl's with familiar dark blue hair.
>"And why are you so late today, Aux?"
>You look up to see your teacher staring straight at you with eyes that showed nothing more than annoyance.
"I... um... overslept?"
>"Keekeekee."
>Your teacher's head shoots up and looks around for a minute.
>"Who laughed? Was it you Orchid?"
>Trying to hide his smille, he covers his muzzle.
>"No ma'am, keekee."
>She slowly walks back to her desk and sits down, all the while still staring at the laughing bat pony.
>"Might I remind you how many times you've been late for class?"
>With that, Orhcid's expression of amusement was replaced with a scowl as he slumpt in his desk.
>Stupid Orchid, always mean to you for no reason.
>You've even helped him with his homework before, and for what? Him to break your glasses?

>As you look around the room, your eyes meet a certain purple haired pony.
>She waves to you with that genuine smile you've seen so many times through out the years.
>You wave back, a smile on your face.
>A hoof touches Amber's shoulder, and she stops for a moment before she puts her hoof down and looks away.
>It's been like this ever since high school started.
>She's hung out with you less and less each year.
>She came over to your house sometimes, but that was most likely to see Jasmine and for the nostalgia.
>Her new friends were mean to you.
>The popular crowd was never nice to ponies like you anyways.
>Hearing the bell ring, you look up, noticing you day dreamed throught the entire class.
>With a sigh, you pick up your books and walk out.
>You had a free hour next.
>Might as well go to the library and study since you weren't able to study from Jasmine's shenanigans.
>You walk down the hallways as you pass many other bat ponies.
>Walking on the side of the hallway, you notice Orchid walk up next to you.
>He doesn't say a word as he passes you.
>But not before making sure to trip you, making you stumble, but not fall over all the way.
>He's not really that mean to anyone else, just you.
>As it's like with everyone else.
>Walking up to the doors, you walk inside to see the rows of old books.
>You wave to the librarian with a smile as you go to sit at a desk.
>She was always so nice to you.

>You sit down and set down your books on the wooden table, setting the Equestrian history book in front of you.
>Your class was currently studying how Hollow Shades was founded, but it was pretty boring.
>Turning to the seventh chapter, page two hundred and twenty-three to be exact, you begin reading the top of the page.
>Something about bat ponies coming out of an old cave in the mountains, wanting a new life, finding a forest with delicious food, building a village.
>You'd heard this a thousand times, but they still want you to study it.
>Don't see why.
>You come back to reality as you realize that you just read three pages without even paying attention to the words.
>Sighing, you drop your head on the table.
>You raise you head to the sound of the chair next to yours being moved.
>As you look up, you see Night Watch sitting next to you.
>Why was she in the library?
>And why was she sitting next to YOU!?
>"Hey, there Aux."
>You pause for a moment.
>Why was her voice like that?
>It was almost... seductive.
"H-hey Night W-watch."
>"What are you doing in here?"
>She raises her eyebrow as she scoots closer to you.
>You can feel sweat beginning to form on your forehead.
"N-nothing much, j-just studying..."

>You try to look down at you book to continue reading, but you feel her hoof on your chin.
>She moves your face to where you're looking at her.
>"It's not very nice to ignore a lady when she's talking to you."
>You can feel your face getting warm.
"S-sorry..."
>She rubs her nose against yours.
>"You're such a cutie, you know that?"
>Was she really doing this?
"R-really...?"
>She pauses for a moment.
>"Nope!"
>Realing back her hoof, she punches you right in your crotch with more force than the royal army.
>You fall out of your chair, holding your crotch as you hear Night Watch and multiple other bat ponies laughing.
>"Keekeekee! Aux, you're so gullible!"
>You wince in pain as they all walk past you.
>Taking deep breaths, you try to stand up, the pain still lingering as you sit in your chair.
>As you close your book you sigh.
>Guess it was your fault, actually believing a popular girl like Night Watch would like you.
>You take out your notebook and flip through the pages.
>If only there was a way to get them to like you.
>As far as you know, you've never done anything bad to them.
>You stop flipping through the notebook when you come across a certain page.
>On it was a drawing of Bat Horse.
>Pausing for a moment, you look at the simple drawing of the superhero.

>Are you serious thinking this?
>You hear the bell ring as you close your notebook.
>Throughout the day, you pay no attention to your teachers or classmates as you draw in your notebook.
>As soon as the final bell rings, you jump out of your seat and run as fast as you can, past every one else.
>You fly faster than the Shadowbolts, as you head towards your house.
>Stopping for a moment, you realize that you forgot your books at school.
>As you turn around, you come face-to-face with a pair of amber eyes.
>"Hey Aux!"
>You take a step back, looking at Amber.
>She had grown up gracefully, not a single blemish on her face.
>Her hair was still the same, and it looked stunning on her.
>"H-hey Amber..."
>"Why'd you run out of school so fast? I wanted to talk to you."
>She hasn't spoken to you in a month, what could she possible want?
"About what?"
>"Well, I heard about what Night Watch did to you..."
>Her smile disappears as she looks at you.
>"I'm sorry about what she did. I don't like how they treat you, especially when you wouldn't hurt a fly."
>You rub your foreleg as you stare into her beautiful Amber eyes.
"D-don't worry about, it's n-not that b-bad."
>She sighs as she walks past you.
>"I know I don't hang out with you that much anymore, but you're still my friend. If they do anything, please tell me, okay?"

>You pause for a moment, as you look down.
"O-okay, I w-will..."
>Turning around, you walk slowly back to school, where you walk in and grab you books for the night.
>You head back home without anymore problems, barely seeing a single pony.
>As you get home, you notie your sister in the kitchen.
"Hi Jasmine!"
>She turns around, holding a mango.
>"Hey Aux, how'd it go at school?"
>You lower your head as you walk past her.
>Sitting down at a table, she sighs.
>"That bad?"
>You nod as you walk upstairs, leaving her alone to enjoy her mango.
>She wouldn't even understand.
>She was popular in highschool, all the other ponies loved her.
>As you you head upstairs, you pass your room and head into your parent's, grabbing your mother's fabric.
>You walk back down the hallway into your room.
>You lock your door behind you as you sit at your desk and pull out your notebook.
>Setting it down, you dig through your closet, pulling out some needle and thread.
>As you cut out shapes in the fabric, you check your notebook, looking at your drawings.
>You finish cutting and pull out the thread, sewing it all together to look like you drawing.
>Slipping over you head, you can see through the two holes in the mask.
>You look in the mirror, looking at the mask.
>Not the best, but it still looked pretty nice.
>And it was perfect for your new identinty.
>You were the hero of Hollow Shades now.
>If they wouldn't love you, they could love you as another.
>You are The Mango.