Semiquaver's Story

   Years passed and it became apparent that Semiquaver was different from the other ponies. She didn't have many friends, and was bullied at times. The other ponies didn't understand her, and didn't want to befriend her. The few friends Semiquaver had were kind, but they couldn't really understand her either. No matter how hard she tried, Semiquaver couldn't explain herself any better than anyone else.

   All the other ponies had different interests, and it seemed that nopony could relate to the strange yellow mare. It didn't help that she excelled in school either, that only served to alienate her further. The other ponies called her nerdy and a show-off. Semiquaver couldn't understand why they felt that way. To her knowledge, she had never done anything to provoke that kind of behaviour. The only thing she considered as a possible catalyst was competing in a few academic competitions and receiving high results in class.

   It wasn't her fault that she was more intelligent than some, nor was it her fault if the others envied her for it. She progressively became sadder as she realized how her classmates felt about her. Occasionally Semiquaver considered asking Fleur Dessin about it, but her big sister was always too busy with her own issues. Neither could she ask her parents, who she didn't want to bother with such trivial matters.

   As a result Semiquaver internalized her pain, and put on a brave face. She put on such a convincing facade that her friends, teachers, family and schoolmates were all fooled. Sometimes Semiquaver even began to believe it herself, and sometimes enjoyed herself and her friends. That feeling couldn't last forever, though, for she could only keep up her guise among friends and family. When she was alone, she became the loneliest filly in the whole world.

   Her disguise was so perfect, so practiced, that it became infallible. There was no fault in her armour, no cracks in her wall. She learned to protect her heart, no matter what the cost. Through the eyes of anypony else, she appeared a perfectly normal, perfectly happy mare. On the outside, she hadn't changed from the happy filly she once was. On the inside, her happiness crumbled into dust. She smiled, but it was an empty gesture. She felt no true happiness, only pain.