Silver's Secret.

“Silver Spoon? Silver Spoon, can you hear me?”

Finally, the young mare opened her eyes. Her vision was blurred, but she could just about make out the face of the head chef, who was looking down at her anxiously.

“Wh... where am I… what happene…” As she regained conciousness, Silver Spoon noticed that she was in the restaurants first aid room, lying on a small bed with clean white sheets.

“You had a little accident my dear.” The chef spoke softly, “Don’t worry, your father is on the way.”

“But… what about my shift… who’s going to… what about….” Then it hit her, “Oh no! Sweetie Belle!”

Silver instantly leapt to her feet, much to the surprise of the chef. Her heart pounded violently, and she darted out the room without thinking. Silver raced across the diner, toward the table where the unicorn family had been sitting... but they were gone.

.

Silver Spoon was in a mad state of panic, all of the customers were staring at her. She began hyperventilating, as scenes of Sweetie Belle cackling evilly played through her mind, followed by images of Diamond Tiara calling her a loser. Tears welled up in Silver Spoons eyes, and it was through these tears that she saw... them.

Sweetie Belle’s family were at the door, just about to leave the restaurant. Silver had not been unconscious for very long after all. She immediately ran over to the family, the customers and other staff looked on wide eyed – they had no idea why Silver Spoon was acting this way.

Without a second thought, Silver approached Sweetie Belle. She was still struggling to breathe but managed to whisper, as the young unicorn’s family were present.

“Sweetie Belle, can we talk?” Silver felt the sweat dripping from her forehead.

Sweetie Belle looked totally confused, “Talk? What do you mean talk? About what?”

The rest of the unicorn family were looking at Silver Spoon, a little concerned by her behaviour.

Silver hesitated for a moment before shouting, “It’s about school!”

She grabbed Sweetie Belle by the hoof and ran outside. The restaurant was surrounded by beautiful plants and magnificent large trees. Silver Spoon dragged the young unicorn behind a hedge; Sweetie Belle was completely bewildered.

Back inside the restaurant, Sweetie Belle’s family were confused for a moment, and then her father, who was a very laid back, rugged unicorn, spoke up,

“Sounds important, it’s nice to see two young fillies taking their school work so seriously.”

Her mother nodded and smiled, but Rarity wasn’t sure of the situation at all.

Silver Spoon tried to collect herself, she looked up at Sweetie Belle, who maintained a puzzled expression. Silver really hated Sweetie Belle right now. She wasn’t sure what to do, or what to say, she simply stood there fuming with rage, looking hatefully at the young white unicorn.

It was Sweetie Belle who spoke first,

“Silver Spoon, whatever it is…” She began to say,

“Listen here you little blank flank.” Silver snapped. She tried to look as threatening as possible, but it was difficult being in such a state of panic. “If you tell ANYONE, I mean ANYONE that you saw me working here, you will… I will… just don’t you dare or else!”

Sweetie Belle was not intimidated in the slightest, “What? But why? Wait… or else what?”

“Or else…” Silver was stuck; she had never actually threatened someone before, and she had no idea what she was doing. She felt her knees beginning to shake, her eyes welling up once again, and then, she broke.

“Just, just please don’t tell them Sweetie Belle.” She begged, “If anyone found out… if Diamond found out, just don’t tell them okay?”

Sweetie Belle couldn’t believe her ears, Silver Spoon was actually asking her nicely to keep a secret? That was the best, she struggled not to laugh but couldn’t prevent her mouth from forming a smile. Then she had an idea;

“Alright, alright, Silver Spoon, calm down. I won’t tell any pony.”

“You wont?” Silver’s face lit up, “Oh thank you Sweetie belle… you don’t know…”

“I wasn’t finished.” Sweetie Belle interrupted. “I won’t tell any pony, under one condition.”

Silver Spoons face dropped, she waited to hear what the young unicorn had to say.

“You leave me and my friends alone. No more calling us names, no more teasing us about not having out cutie marks, no more insulting us for no reason, just don't pick on us full stop.”

Silver calmed down a little, “Um okay but what if Diamond Tiara…”

Once again Sweetie Belle interrupted. “Just because Diamond Tiara does something, doesn’t mean you have to join in. Can’t you think for yourself?”

Silver was speechless. She often felt inside that she was just going along with whatever Diamond Tiara did, but she didn’t realise this was so clear to other ponies, especially not an air head like Sweetie Belle. Was she really that transparent?

Suddenly, Rarity’s voice could be heard close by, “Sweetie Belle, come on it’s time to go, where are you?”

Silver Spoon had no time to argue, “Oh okay… deal.” She answered.

“Great.” Sweetie Belle smiled, “Well, goodbye.”

The young unicorn pranced off after her sister.

Silver thought she was about to pass out with relief. She took a deep breathe, and made her way back to the restaurant. Her father had just arrived, and was standing with the head chef, who was telling him about his daughter’s odd behaviour.

Silver Spoon ran over to the two of them, “Daddy, I’m so, so sorry for what happened. I just suddenly felt really light headed, and then, when I woke up I needed air, that’s why I ran I just… I’m not feeling well Daddy, that’s all.”

“Aw poor kid,” The head chef replied, “I agree the restaurant business can get very stressful at times, and for such a young filly like yourself...”

Her father however, was not impressed. “Silver Spoon, you should have mentioned sooner if you were unwell. You must have caused quite the ruckus in there, that kind of behaviour could be very bad for the business.” He sounded stern and rather annoyed.

Silver looked sadly at the floor, “I know Daddy... I...I’m sorry.”

Her father then turned to the chef, “We had better be going. I’m very sorry for the trouble my daughter caused.”

The two left silently. Silver Spoon felt much calmer now, but she was extremely unhappy. She really had lost her cool and let her father down. He was clearly disappointed, and did not say a word to Silver Spoon during the walk home. When they arrived at their house, it was getting quite late.

“I’m going to go to bed,” Silver said, she began to walk upstairs, then looked back at her father and added, “Goodnight Daddy.”

The stallion did not respond. He did not even look at her. Silver Spoon felt miserable; she wasn’t going to sleep well tonight.

Silver lay awake, tossing and turning, thinking about her job, about her father, and about whether Sweetie Belle was really going to keep her secret. How could she not join in if Diamond Tiara wanted to pick on the crusaders? Diamond Tiara would get angry with her again, and perhaps even fall out with her completely. She had to find a way to avoid them, but Ponyville was such a small area, they saw the crusaders nearly every day - they saw almost every pony nearly every day - how could she possibly keep her friend away from them?

The sun rose and Silver Spoon rubbed her eyes, she had overslept, and was still half asleep. She rushed to get ready; Diamond Tiara was going to be pretty peeved if she was late calling for her. After washing her mane, putting on her necklace, and grabbing a fancy looking black satchel, Silver set off to her friend’s house. Diamond was waiting outside the door, tapping her foot impatiently.

“There you are Silver Spoon, I was just about to set off without you.” She said, annoyed.

“S…sorry Di.” Silver felt a lump in her throat, “What do you want to do today?”

“Well, my father has given me 300 bits for doing so well in the history project.” Bragged Diamond, “I’m in need of some new outfits; so let’s go to the Carousel boutique.”

Silver froze. The Carousel Boutique was the designer store owned by Rarity, Sweetie Belle’s older sister. It was the only place in Ponyville for designer clothing, but Rarity would surely recognise her and mention what happened at the restaurant, or worse – they would bump into Sweetie Belle.

“Urm… but, um…” Silver Spoon panicked, “You look thirsty Di, don’t you feel like going for a milkshake?”

Diamond Tiara raised an eyebrow, “What are you talking about Silver Spoon? I've just left my house.”

She walked past her friend, in the direction of the Carousel Boutique. Silver ran in front of her,

“Bu…but, I’ve heard about this amazing store just outside of Ponyville, it sells all kinds of dresses, hats, accessories, you name it! It’s much, much better than the Carousel Boutique.”

“Really?” Diamond looked puzzled, “How come I’ve never heard of it?”

“It's only just opened!” Silver tried to look convincing, “It’s called urm…” she glanced over her friend, noting her tiara and confused expression, “Sparkling…urm… Wonder… Design”

“Sparkling Wonder Design?” Diamond appeared to be in disbelief at the ridiculous name, before adding, “That sounds INCREDIBLE. We need to go! Right now! Can we walk there?”

Silver Spoon couldn’t believe that had worked. “Oh no,” She continued, “We will need to catch the train.”

“Well what’s a little travelling for top quality clothing?” Diamond smiled, “After all, I only settle for the very best.”

She turned around, and headed toward the station, Silver followed. She was so relieved, although she hadn’t thought this plan through at all. They were going to catch the train, to outside of Ponyville, somewhere they couldn’t possibly run into Sweetie Bell or the other Cutie Mark Crusaders, and that was all that mattered to her right now. Surely there would be a designer store somewhere, and then she could just say she got the name wrong. She was a smart pony; she could come up with something.

Silver Spoon didn’t have as much money as her friend, she only had her wages from the restaurant, but that didn’t matter. Diamond was always far too busy comparing merchandise and and trying on different accessories to notice that her friend wasn’t buying as much as her.

As the station drew closer, the roof of the building could be seen over the horizon. It was a neat little hut on top of a long wooden platform. Trains ran frequently to all over Equestria, and they were very reliable; ponies never had to wait very long. The sun was shining brightly, the birds were singing, and Silver felt content, being once again at Diamond Tiara’s side.

They pranced along the street happily, when suddenly, a purple ball rolled across their path at high speed.

“I’ll get it.” Called a familiar voice. To Silver Spoons horror, a young pegasus pony was running after the ball - it was Scootaloo.

Silver reluctantly looked over in the direction the ball had came from. Sure enough, there was Applebloom and Sweetie Belle. Diamond Tiara narrowed her eyes, and a grin formed across her face as she looked over at the trio of blank flanks.

Silver gulped, and whispered to herself,

"Oh, no."