Matured Silver

Chapters

Prologue: Fractured Relationship
Concerto and a Punishment
The Train Ride and Canterlot
Apologies and the Return Trip
Diamond's Retort and a Confession
The Big Day
Epilogue: New Friendships

Prologue: Fractured Relationship

Today started like any other day for Silver Spoon, though she didn't know that when it ended, it would end like no other day. She was awoken by the sunlight peering into the window of her bedroom, the glare shining onto the fluffy, comfortable bed she rested on. Silver Spoon slowly opened her eyes and cleaned herself up before putting on her glasses and beautiful pearl necklace. As she looked outside of her window one last time, she thought about Diamond Tiara's recent behavior. The more time she spent with her, the more she concluded that perhaps Diamond wasn't as wonderful as she thought, since all they really did together was bully others. It was a feeling that had been inside of her for a while now, going as far back as when she got into Princess Twilight's personal space that one time two months ago, but these feelings were still odd for her. After all, Diamond and her were the school bullies for as long as they could remember. Silver Spoon wondered if she was just growing up, but there was this tingling feeling inside of her, and she couldn't explain why. Once she was all ready, Silver Spoon trotted downstairs towards the large kitchen, a hearty breakfast already set up for her and her mother, Ruby Riches, was sitting at the table with a newspaper in hoof.

"Good morning, sweetie," said Ruby Riches. "Your father is at work already. By the way, how's school going?"

"Just fine," replied Silver Spoon. "I'm a bit concerned for Diamond Tiara, however."

"How so?"

"It's just that she's become, well, obsessed with a certain trio and it's making her slightly more difficult to get along with. I'll just leave it at that."

"Don't worry about Diamond, but if there's anything that's bothering you, feel free to share with me or Silver Shill."

"Thanks, but I'm not too concerned with Diamond." This was a lie, as deep inside, as much as she didn't want to admit it, Silver Spoon started to feel like Diamond Tiara, and by extension herself, were going too far in bullying the Cutie Mark Crusaders, which consisted of three classmates that, as their group name suggested, didn't have their cutie marks yet. What started out as calling them "blank flanks" over and over again escalated as time went on, the most notable of which was berating Scootaloo, a pegasus, for being unable to fly. While Silver Spoon gleefully teased her about this at the time, she started to feel a painful guilt in her heart whenever she recalled that day, which came about as a sudden realization that Scootaloo might never be able to fly, and such a disability in her maturing eyes would be tragic rather than humorous.

Silver Spoon ate her breakfast, which consisted of toast and orange juice. While such a breakfast sounds bland for one of the wealthiest fillies in Equestria, it tasted good and got the job done. Once Silver Spoon had packed her belongings, Ruby Riches escorted her to Ponyville Elementary. As the two were trotting along the dirt roads of Ponyville, Ruby Riches noticed a white unicorn with a curly purple mane whom she admired for her contributions to the fashion industry.

"Rarity," Ruby Riches called over, and Rarity, with her sister, Sweetie Belle, walked over to her admirer. "I'm Ruby Riches, and I'm a huge fan of yours. I never knew you were related to someone who went to this school. What's her name?"

"That's Sweetie Belle," answered Rarity, pointing to her sister. Sweetie Belle's face expressed anxiety as she stared at Silver Spoon, who responded with a nervous grin and a wave. "She's such a peach. By the way, who is the cute little filly you're with?"

"That's my daughter, Silver Spoon. I have a feeling that the two of you are going to be great friends. Why don't you two shake hooves." Silver Spoon rubbed the back of her neck, avoiding eye contact with Sweetie Belle, who was biting her lip. "Come now, don't be shy." Silver Spoon knew that there was no getting out of this, so she extended her hoof towards Sweetie Belle and smiled. Sweetie Belle paused for a moment and miraculously, the two actually shook hooves. "That's the spirit. The school is just a few meters away, so I guess Rarity and I will say our goodbyes. Goodbye, Silver Spoon."

"Goodbye, Sweetie Belle."

Both Rarity and Ruby Riches waved to the two fillies and trotted away. Silver Spoon trotted towards Ponyville Elementary and looked nervously at Sweetie Belle as she trotted to her left.

"T-Thanks for shaking my hoof," said Silver Spoon. "I know it must have been tough for you, given everything that I've done or said to you."

"What choice did I have?" responded Sweetie Belle. "We were forced to do so."

"Yeah, but still, I think it was very brave of you."

Sweetie Belle's eyebrows shot up and her facial expression suggested puzzlement. "Wait, why are you acting so nice all of a sudden?"

Silver Spoon thought the same. Why was she acting nice all of a sudden? She was responding to Sweetie Belle unconsciously, as though the two had never met and the idea of cutie marks was a mere fantasy. "I, um, I guess I-I don't know." Silver Spoon expressed the last word with doubt. She very well knew the answer, but she didn't want to risk getting in a conflict with Diamond Tiara.

Silver Spoon and Sweetie Belle entered the classroom and sat at their assigned desks. Once all of the fillies and colts sat in their respective desks, it was time for class to begin.The teacher, Miss Cheerilee, started with a lesson about mathematics and history. The mathematics portion of the class was tough for all of the students, as it was a new chapter with new concepts, but the history portion of the class interested many students. Silver Spoon was particularly fascinated by post-banishment Equestrian art and music and the origins of the organizations of what were to be known as the Lunar Guard and Wonderbolts, the latter reminding her of when half the town put up huge signs for their extremely athletic, albeit dimwitted superstar, Rainbow Dash. Silver Spoon grinned, holding in slight chuckles, as she remembered how convenient that was for Rainbow Dash's exam.

Once those two portions of the class were accounted for, the bell rang a loud, cacophonous noise and the young ponies conglomerated into a mass as they rushed out of the door for recess, a time that any school kid will attest to as being the most fun. As the ponies all spread out to join whatever clique they were a part of, Silver Spoon stood alone and watched the Cutie Mark Crusaders play with each other, not being able to shake off the feeling that their friendship was much more real than her friendship with Diamond Tiara. The more she thought about it, the more she realized that she was only friends with Diamond Tiara purely for status reasons, which, to a young filly like Silver Spoon, was a distressing realization. Silver Spoon's thoughts were interrupted by a tap on the shoulder, and when she turned around, it was Diamond Tiara, her face as smug as ever.

"Silver Spoon, stop acting like a loner and let's think about what we're gonna tease the blank flanks about next," whined Diamond. "Oh, I know, how about we gang up on Sweetie Belle for not being able to use magic?"

"Why don't we just do something fun together?" asked Silver Spoon. "All it feels like we ever do is tease those three and occasionally some of the other unpopular kids. Can't we just do something that's innocent for once?"

Diamond Tiara looked at her as though the latter was possessed. "Fun? Innocent? Those two are impossible together, don't you know?"

"I-I don't. I don't know what to believe anymore to be honest. To be honest, I think that fun and innocence can coexist with each other. Just look at the Cutie, um, I mean blank flanks. They seem to have fun without hurting others. What's stopping us?"

"We have to show how much better we are to them. We've got the money and the cutie marks. We're the richest ponies in Ponyville, we can do as damn well as we please."

"Don't cuss, Diamond."

Diamond Tiara grit her teeth and scowled like a baby bulldog. "Don't give me orders."

"Why? You're usually the one calling the shots. Don't you think I should decide what to do some of the time?"

"Silver Spoon, one more word like that out of you, and it's over."

"Well maybe I want it to be over." Silver Spoon covered her mouth with her hooves, realizing what she had just done. She had ended her friendship with the only friend either of them had. That reply came out of her as if by instinct, as though her body and mind were telling her that Diamond Tiara was a disease that she needed to escape from.

Diamond Tiara pushed Silver Spoon to the ground and turned around in a huff. "Well then, I can easily find a new friend, Silver Stooge."

Silver Spoon laid on the grass, the texture felt rough on her back, and watched as Diamond Tiara trotted off without her, the way she flaunted her flank hinted at something nefarious. Instead of trying to follow her, Silver Spoon remained motionless on the grass, her mind trying to compute the consequences of what she had just done. She was now alone, and because of her notoriety, such a state of isolation would definitely grow to define her for a long time, and as she was ignored, Silver Spoon felt the weight of loneliness crush her spirits.

The bell rang noisily once again, and the school kids all returned to the classroom to finish the lessons for the day. Many were excited for the upcoming weekend, as today was Friday, but Silver Spoon stood out with her glum expression. Class finally ended after some time and as before, fillies and colts pushed themselves through the door, eager to start the new weekend. Silver Spoon looked on as the mob tried to force themselves outside, and watching it for once made her realize how silly the whole ordeal was. There was never a race to be the first one out, but most of the kids sure acted like it was a race. Once there was enough room, Silver Spoon politely waved goodbye to her teacher, Miss Cheerilee, and once she stepped onto the rough dirt, her weekend had begun, only she had nobody to enjoy it with.

"This weekend is going to be so depressing," muttered Silver Spoon to herself. "If I was still friends with that brat Diamond Tiara, we would have stalked the blank flanks and teased them." She paused for a moment, knowing her parents would be confused as to why she wasn't out with Diamond Tiara, and tried to think of a place where ponies loved to go, and two words popped into her mind. Sugarcube Corner. That was the destination she had in mind, and she could use something tasty.

***

Sugarcube Corner was easily one of the most popular shops in all of Ponyville. It was instantly recognizable, as no other shop had a roof that looked like it was made out of candy, and the chocolates and sweets they served were so delicious, some would have to be restrained by their wallet or stomach in order to prevent themselves from eating everything there. Silver Spoon knew that such a place would be good for her for a variety of reasons. One of these was that her special talent as a pastry chef made Sugarcube Corner an ideal place to go for someone aspiring in that field. Additionally, the owners, Mr. and Mrs. Cake, were all nice, and the assistant was known for willing to be friends with just about everyone, though she remembered that the assistant was a little too hyperactive.

Silver Spoon trotted through the front door and inside, an aroma of candy and chocolate rushed through her nostrils, soothing her to an extent. She approached the register and sitting there was the assistant herself, the famous Pinkie Pie.

"Hi there, little filly," said Pinkie, as excited as always. "What can I do for ya?"

"I'd like a small ice cream," replied Silver Spoon. "Chocolate, please."

"You got it, that will be three bits." Silver Spoon gave Pinkie the three bits, who proceeded to put them in the register. Pinkie rushed into the kitchen and in less than a minute, a scoop of chocolate ice cream was presented to Silver Spoon, the texture smooth to where making one's mouth water was almost effortless. "Have a nice day."

"You too." Silver Spoon sat at one of the tables where nobody was sitting and picked up the newspaper as she was eating her ice cream. She skimmed through the headlines the paper had, all of which seemed interesting to an extent, though for once, the more serious headlines caught Silver Spoon's attention more as opposed to the gossipy ones Diamond Tiara adored.

Top Story: Vinyl Chews Out Reporter, It's Also Uncensored! (p.2)

Griffonia: "Discord will be shot on sight if he is in our kingdom." (p.3-4)

Chrysalis to Unexpectedly Sign Treaty of Galloping Hills, Changeling/Pony Conflict Over? (p.5)

Blueblood Voted as Biggest Jerk in Equestria for Record Seventh Straight Year (p.6)

Wonderbolts Save Appleoosa Again, Sheriff of Appleoosa Drunk During Dragon Attack (p.7)

Local Mare Ruins Everything, Cake+Donkey Involved (p.8)

"Diamond would be all over the first and last stories," murmured Silver Spoon to herself. "Though why is Vinyl Scratch the top story? Shouldn't the Griffon Kingdom's warning against Discord or the treaty be the top story?" Silver Spoon paused briefly, realizing how far apart she had already become from Diamond, despite having left her not long ago. "Wait, I'm already complaining about the culture our news makes? Was Diamond Tiara really setting me back that much? Perhaps I should go out more and discover Equestria. That's what I'll do. Maybe then, I can learn something about myself and hopefully come out as a better pony. Maybe I'll make a few friends while I'm at it."

After finishing her ice cream, Silver Spoon set her newspaper down, threw away her cup in the recycling bin, and exited Sugarcube Corner as plans for the coming weekend raced through her mind. Her thoughts screeched to a halt when she saw who was standing in front of her with a nervous smile. It was the classmate she least expected to see, Sweetie Belle.

"H-hello," muttered Silver Spoon.

"Oh, um, hello," replied Sweetie Belle.

The two went their separate ways. Silver Spoon felt the tension inside of her loosen as she trotted away from Sweetie Belle, glad to have avoided any confrontation, as that was the last thing she needed. As she was formulating what to do next, a poster for an upcoming orchestral concert, advertising as having a solo by Octavia, fluttered in front of her due to the slight breeze as though destiny was speaking in her ear.

"Hmm, perhaps I might meet someone here," said Silver Spoon. "I do love orchestral music, so I may as well go."

Silver Spoon picked up the poster, memorized the address on it, and set her new destination towards Music Hall. She hoped that she would meet someone there, but since orchestral music is something that most fillies or colts are not fans of, she had her doubts.

As for Sweetie Belle, she entered Sugarcube Corner, still confused as to why Silver Spoon was kindhearted instead of the brat she knows her as. It wasn't anything to tell her fellow crusaders, Apple Bloom and Scootaloo, about yet, but it was something to be watchful for. Despite such an unusual encounter, Sweetie Belle felt glad that Silver Spoon was at the very least making an effort to be nice, but in her mind, she had a long way to go before she'd ever consider making friends with her.

Concerto and a Punishment

After some trotting, Silver Spoon arrived at Music Hall, which, as the name suggested, only ever held concerts. However, the genre of music that was played there varied with the exception of bagpipe bands, as the cacophony they played were only used in Equestria to deal with Parasprites. The outside of Music Hall was decorated with a garland pattern that ran around the perimeter of the building and a large, golden sphere rested on the top of the red roof. Ponies, usually of the upper class, trotted into the theater, and Silver Spoon was among those walking in. Once she was inside, a stallion in a blue suit looked down at her, blocking her with an extended front leg to prevent her from progressing from the lobby to the theater proper.

"If you want to go in, it'll cost thirty bits," said the stallion. Silver Spoon paid the thirty bit price and was given a ticket, which, to her disappointment, placed her at the back row of seats. She wished that there was a choice as to which seat one could choose, but obviously Music Hall had other ideas, stupid ones in her opinion.

Silver Spoon trotted into the theater through the doors that had a shining, gold-like texture. Surprised to notice that the theater had most of its seats already filled up, Silver Spoon shimmied through those already seated to get to the seat assigned to her. Silver Spoon sat down, wedged between an older stallion and a familiar white unicorn with stylish sunglasses and a blue mane, and felt relieved that she had just enough of a view over the rows in front of her to actually see the orchestra perform. The familiar white unicorn looked at Silver Spoon, her face painted with a faint smile.

"Sup?" asked the unicorn. "I've never seen someone as young as you go to watch one of these concerts."

"I'm aware of that," replied Silver Spoon. "I like orchestral music, but yeah, such tastes are odd for someone my age." Silver Spoon analyzed the unicorn she was staring at, her appearance looking more and more recognizable in her brain by the second. "By the way, I think I've heard about you before."

"Makes sense. I'm Vinyl Scratch, DJ extraordinaire and awesome pony."

Silver Spoon's face was that of confusion, as she never expected someone like Vinyl Scratch to be here, given how different her music is. "Vinyl Scratch? What are you doing here? I was told that you made super-loud music, which is a stark contrast to what these ponies do."

Vinyl raised an eyebrow at Silver Spoon. "First off, I don't do dubstep, and promise me you'll never say that I do." Her tone of voice changed from casual to defensive at the drop of a pin.

"What makes you say that?"

"It's because those who, for some reason, don't know me look at my rad, stylish appearance and go, "Oh, look, she must make dubstep music." Nothing against the genre, but I actually do techno, which is a totally different thing, Neon Lights, and I'll do rock music here and there, and some of my rock music isn't extremely loud, maybe."

"I see, it must be pretty tough for you to be judged like that."

"I know, it sucks. Anyways, you wanna know why I'm here? It's because Octavia, the world famous cellist, was my roommate when we were both attending Canterlot University. She was always such a hard worker, while I just went with the flow, smoked a cigarette once in a while, which I went to rehab for, because I was told that if I kept doing that, I'd have to say adios to my lungs."

"Well good thing you stopped. Anyways, you sure are a talkative mare."

"I sure am. I'm guessing you heard about the trouble I got into from the newspapers, right?"

"Yeah, I saw an article on that not too long ago, but I'm trying to avoid gossipy stuff like that."

"C'mon, gossip is the blood that flows through a celebrity's veins. We thrive on that stuff."

"What makes you say that?"

"Look at all the names everybody knows. What they have in common is that their names are always in the tabloids, which means they'll always be relevant."

"I only say that because there are a number of famous ponies that are notoriously difficult to get an interview from or almost never appear in the tabloids. Fluttershy, Fancy Pants, Spitfire, the list goes on."

"Well, I guess that means their names will be forgotten once they're older, except for Fancy Pants, because the first and third you listed are very young, while he's an old coot."

"I wouldn't exactly call Fancy Pants an old coot."

The lights in the theater dimmed, thus ending Silver Spoon's long conversation with Vinyl Scratch, and by extension all of the other conversations buzzing in the theater. Spotlights shone on the stage in front of the audience and a geriatric unicorn slowly made his way along the stage. He was carrying a microphone and once he was at the center of the stage, he tapped it to make sure it was working. The familiar, somewhat deafening sound of a screeching microphone echoed in the theater, and the unicorn cleared his throat.

"Ahem, thank you all for coming," he announced. "Today, we will have a selection of pieces from the Canterlot Orchestra, which will conclude with one of Octavia's famous solos. With that, enjoy." The unicorn bowed and the audience clapped as if by instinct. When the red curtain opened up to reveal the orchestra behind it, everyone remained perfectly quiet, and the melodies could begin.

As the music played, Silver Spoon felt a variety of emotions enter from her ear and into her heart. Even at her young age, she knew that the best music was the music that encapsulated whatever emotions it was designed to reflect. Some of the pieces were happy and energetic, while others were slow and somber. The music took her mind off of the turmoils she went through earlier today, if only for a moment. Once the final performance, Octavia's solo, had concluded, the crowd gave a standing ovation, with Silver Spoon only seeing the behinds of the taller adults in front of her. As the audience headed for the exits, Silver Spoon tried to get one peek at Octavia, who looked like she was chatting with one of the musical directors, and Vinyl immediately noticed her curiosity.

"Hey kid, I'm guessing you're a big fan of Tavi like myself," said Vinyl.

"I am. Why do you bring this up?" asked Silver Spoon.

"Because I'm willing to share one of her secrets with you, because why not?"

Memories of the time Silver Spoon spent with Diamond Tiara clouded her head when she heard what Vinyl said. The idea of revealing somebody's secrets was something Diamond and her loved to do in the past, especially if it involved the blank flanks. This bullying tactic of the pair's screeched to a halt ever since the infamous Foal Free Press incident, which, while Silver Spoon was able to get out of unscathed, it displayed the extent of how rotten Diamond Tiara was willing to go to the other students. Biting her lip, Silver Spoon shook her head rapidly like it was a rotor.

"Not a fan of that stuff, huh? Whatever. Best you get home, because your parents are probably curious as to where you are."

Silver Spoon left the theater and once outside, she noticed the weather became much cloudier than before. Had she really been in the theater that long? One of the clocks on a local shop read 4:05, which meant she was only in the theater for about an hour. Either way, she had an inkling to get back home, since there was the usual weekend homework that she needed to complete.

As Silver Spoon was walking to her house she took in the sights of Ponyville around her. There was much bartering going on in the mobile shops, ponies sitting on benches read a book or kissed their lovers, and fillies and colts played along the busy roads. One of the places Silver Spoon passed by was the famous Carousel Boutique, a somewhat posh store selling the finest dresses, all stitched carefully by the well-respected Rarity, who happened to be outside and noticed Silver Spoon trotting on by.

"Oh, hello there," yelled Rarity as she waved.

"Hello to you too," replied Silver Spoon, turning around and seeing her greeter standing by her front door with a large smile on her face. "What's going on?"

"Nothing really. I was just back from paying a visit to Fluttershy. She's such a sweet mare."

"With a name like that, she, um, she probably is. Sorry, just getting my thoughts together." Silver Spoon felt slightly relieved she stopped herself from coming up with a snide remark in the nick of time.

"No need to apologize. I'll be sure to tell Sweetie Belle that you were in the area."

"Could you, oh never mind." Silver Spoon knew what would follow if she told Rarity not to tell Sweetie Belle she was here.

"Okay then. Goodbye."

"Goodbye to you too."

Silver Spoon trotted away from Rarity and Carousel Boutique, feeling like she had dodged a bullet by mere millimeters. Such an unexpected encounter made her gallop as fast as she could. All she paid attention to were the obstacles she might have to dodge if they got in the way, but luckily for her, nobody seemed to trot straight into her path. The large, grey mansion she lived in was within sight, and as she passed the gargoyle statues that were at the end of the path leading to the front door, she felt safe. Silver Spoon came to a stop and panted loudly, resting against one of the decorative pillars of the mansion. After a few minutes, she caught her breath, got back up, and knocked on the door. But instead of being greeted with smiling faces, she saw scowls, and it didn't take her long to formulate what had just happened.

"Silver Spoon, we need to talk," said Silver Shill, her father, in a stern voice. Silver Spoon trotted into the mansion with her parents and sat on the comfortable white couch in the living room, while her father and mother sat on her left and right respectively. She knew what they were going to say based on their expressions, and her realizations and attempts to correct her attitude made her feel even more hurt inside.

"Diamond Tiara said that you were bullying some of the students in the class," said Ruby Riches. "Can you explain yourself?"

"Well, um, Diamond Tiara was the one who was promoting the bullying, not I."

"That's not what she—"

"Okay, fine. Here's the hard truth. I split up with Diamond because of her behavior. That's why I was concerned about her earlier this morning. I felt extremely guilty ever since we ruthlessly teased a poor pegasus for being unable to fly. I should have never teased her or anybody in my class, and I'm really sorry. Now then, will you please forgive me?"

"Don't apologize to us, Silver Spoon. Apologize to the ones you've hurt. While we do accept your apology, you're still forbidden from going out without your father or myself until next week. Understood?"

Silver Spoon looked down with a slight frown, her shoulders shrugged. "I understand."

"Oh, and if you see any of those ponies you were so rude to, I expect you to come up to them and apologize for what you've done. As for Diamond Tiara, I'm going to send her parents a letter of my own, telling her that she's not as innocent as she thinks she is."

"Fine, I hate her guts now anyways, so phrase it as you wish."

***

Time passed by as usual, and Silver Spoon, no longer shackled to the whims of Diamond Tiara, got her weekend homework done much earlier than usual. While this was good in a sense, it meant that she had two whole days ahead of her with nothing interesting to do. As she reclined on the couch, Ruby Riches trotted in and poked Silver Spoon's shoulder.

"I've gotten a response from Filthy Rich about Diamond's behavior," said Ruby Riches. "He says that he's going to need more proof, but if you ask me, I feel as though he was lying." Silver Spoon nodded her head. "Yeah, your face tells me everything I need to know about Filthy Rich, Suri Polomare, and Diamond Tiara. They're not nice, and we're definitely not doing any business with them anymore."

"Good, but I'm pretty sure Diamond is going to start bullying me," replied Silver Spoon. "I just hope that it isn't too bad."

"Well, don't let her words get to you. Anyways, I've also actually received a letter from Rarity, and we're planning on going to Canterlot together. We both have a business meeting there this Saturday, and I think you'll have a wonderful time there. Oh, and don't worry about not having anyone to be with, because Sweetie Belle is coming along too."

Silver Spoon shuddered ever so slightly, but her mother failed to notice it. While she no longer hated Sweetie Belle, it was no secret to either of them that Sweetie Belle and her didn't exactly get along. Silver Spoon just hoped inside that the trip would be as short, painless, and conflict free as possible, though the last two were guaranteed to not happen, since she owed Sweetie Belle an apology. Not having said a word for a bit as she thought about the future, she got off the couch and looked at her mother. "I just hope it can take my mind off of how bad Diamond Tiara is."

"That's the spirit, but remember, our rules still stand. We'll be with you the entire time."

"I'd only assume as much."

"Okay then, it's getting late, so I think you should head off to bed."

Silver Spoon yawned, which got a chuckle out of her mother. "Sounds fair. Goodnight, mother, and tell my father goodnight as well."

"Goodnight, Silver Spoon."

The Train Ride and Canterlot

Silver Spoon was woken up by her father agonizingly early so that they could make the train to Canterlot in time. The sun had barely risen, and the clock in her room read 5:45. Slow to get out of bed, Silver Spoon did her usual morning ritual of cleaning up, getting her glasses and pearl necklace, and eating breakfast. Once everyone was all set, she and her parents trotted towards Ponyville Train Station, the necessity of walking the only thing keeping Silver Spoon awake.

The three arrived at the train station, which was a small, red building which had the ticket booth on one side and the train on the other end. Waiting for them were Rarity and Sweetie Belle, the latter looking as though she'd rather be doing something else. Rarity politely waved to the three with a smile on her face, and Silver Spoon wondered how anyone could have some energy this early in the morning on a Saturday.

"Glad you could make it," said Rarity. "I'm excited to get this business deal in place."

"Me too," replied Silver Shill. "Say, the youngsters probably wanna do something fun in Canterlot, what with being forcefully dragged here and all, so maybe before or after the business deal, we look for something fun for all of us to do. Sound fair?"

"Sounds marvelous. Let's not waste any more time and board the train."

The five ponies entered the decorative train and once inside, they were greeted with a somewhat luxurious cabin, with cushioned green seats and a green carpet running down the middle. Silver Spoon made sure to get a seat next to the window, as it would give her something to lean on while she slept and give her something to look at while she was awake. Much to her disappointment, however, Sweetie Belle sat next to her, since Rarity, Ruby Riches, and Silver Shill wanted to be as close to each other as possible. Silver Spoon leaned on the window and closed her eyes, hoping that she'd sleep the whole train ride.

"Attention passengers," a voice on the loudspeaker said. "We will depart for Canterlot in one minute, thank you for choosing the Friendship Express as your mode for transportation."

Exactly one minute later, Silver Spoon felt a jerking motion inside the cabin, which made her open her eyes. She noticed the train slowly accelerate out of the station, the familiar sound of steam blowing out into the air as they set off. Once the train was out of the station, she closed her eyes again, this time falling into a deep sleep.

Silver Spoon slowly opened her eyes, and to her disappointment, they were not in Canterlot yet. The train traversed through the steep mountain, going through tunnels that dimmed the cabin's lighting and brightened it up immediately upon exiting. She turned her head and noticed that Sweetie Belle was staring at her with a blank expression for some reason. Silver Spoon adjusted her glasses and a faint smile adorned her face.

"Sweetie Belle, I'm sorry for everything I've ever done to you and your friends," muttered Silver Spoon. "I should have thought about your feelings, and I wish I could have realized how bad Diamond Tiara was before everything got too out of hand."

Sweetie Belle's face transformed into a faint smile of her own. "I accept your apology. Ever since I noticed you weren't hanging out with Diamond Tiara, I thought that something bad happened between the two of you."

"Huh? You forgive me?"

"Yeah. I think you're trying to be a good pony for once. When I saw you by Sugarcube Corner, I just knew you'd broken up with Diamond Tiara and were trying to be a better pony."

"Yeah, but in actuality, I've felt this way about Diamond for a while now. I first noticed these feelings during that "Twilight Time" thing a while ago, and looking back, they all started when I realized how cruel I was to poor Scootaloo. I wish I had never said the things I said that day. Just thinking about it makes me feel sick."

"Well next time you see Scootaloo, be sure to apologize to her as well. She's, well, not likely to accept, but it's worth a shot."

"I guess so. By the way, what do you like to do in your free time?"

"Huh?"

"What do you do for fun? What do you like?"

"Well, um, I like singing, and I like going to the arcades. I've kind of formed a friendly, um, what's the word?"

"Rivalry?"

"That's it, a friendly rivalry with a colt named Button Mash, who seems to be in the arcade all the time."

"Hmm, I like games myself. I mostly read novels or comic books when Diamond isn't around, which, since I no longer like her, is what I'll be doing most of the time."

"Makes sense. By the way, I never knew you had such a vocabulary, because you didn't seem like the type that would do that when you were with Diamond Tiara."

"It's, well, I feel as though Diamond Tiara has been holding me back in a way. I must have been afraid to show off my smarts in fear of being called nerdy. I still maintained a B average on the tests Cheerilee gives."

"Yeah, I tend to get a C grade on my tests. Do you think you'll get more A grades without Diamond in the way?"

"Maybe, but having her out of the way has taken the shackles off of my mind."

"Are you sure your special talent is pastry chef? Because you should've gotten a quill or pencil for a cutie mark."

Silver Spoon chuckled briefly. "Thanks, Sweetie Belle."

"No problem." Sweetie Belle paused for a moment and scratched her muzzle before looking back at Silver Spoon. "Say, you're not too bad. I'm still not ready for us to become friends, as there is a lot you still have to show me, but it's nice to see you acting nice for once."

Silver Spoon yawned, which caused Sweetie Belle to yawn in response. "Mind if I rest for a bit? I had to wake up really early."

"No problem. I'm tired myself."

Silver Spoon rested against the window and entered a state of pure thought. Maybe this trip wasn't going to be as horrible as she thought. Sweetie Belle was surprisingly more accepting than she anticipated. Then again, she was always the most outgoing member of the Cutie Mark Crusaders. However, how Apple Bloom and Scootaloo, among others, would react still filled her with a slight dread, knowing how much they hate her, and for good reason. Everything she did with Diamond Tiara gave them every right to loathe her. Silver Spoon noticed that Canterlot was finally within sight, though at the same time it would still take another couple of minutes to get there. Closing her eyes, Silver Spoon slept, curious as to how different Canterlot was to the humble town where she came from.

***

The train arrived at Canterlot, and Silver Spoon was wide awake to see the train pull into the station. The loudspeaker thanked the passengers and when she finally stood up, her legs felt somewhat wobbly, which probably came as a result of sitting down for about three and a half hours. The five exited the train and walked out of the station and into the busy world of Canterlot. Silver Spoon's eyes shone in wonderment as she saw how crowded and complex the city was. Everywhere she looked, roads were filled to the brim with ponies, and the looming castle above her looked heavenly as the sun hung in the sky right behind it.

"Let's get to the hotel," said Silver Shill. "Silver Spoon, Rarity and Sweetie Belle will be staying in the room next to ours."

"Oh, and feel free to visit our room any time, darling," noted Rarity. "We'd always like to have some visitors to, well, spice things up a bit."

"Sounds great."

The five entered the conglomeration of walking ponies, all of them headed to wherever they needed to be, and for Silver Spoon and Sweetie Belle, being exposed to a place as busy and crowded was a lot to take in, but they managed to get by. Observing the different shops and banners, Silver Spoon looked around feverishly for something she'd like to do during her time in Canterlot. Shops selling all sorts of luxury goods, perfumes, and collectables ran along the streets. Posters advertising events lined the outer walls, advertising events like Trixie's new magic show, the Wonderbolts, or a jousting tournament. Silver Spoon looked at the poster for the Wonderbolts with a little curiosity, remembering how interested she was in learning about their origins in Cheerilee's class, but because she was unsure if going to a stunt flying show would entertain her, she let it sit in her mind for a moment. Trixie's poster also grabbed her attention, but because it was also showy, she was just as unsure, but magic spells did sound cool to her.

After squeezing through other walking ponies, the five made it to the hotel, which had a huge fountain at the center courtyard, the scent of the water pleasing to the nostrils. The hotel itself was also grand, as it was built out of a smooth, white marble and decorated with gold pieces and had an elegant red roof on the top. Every window had a balcony accompanying it, and it wasn't until they arrived at the front door that Silver Spoon and Sweetie Belle realized how large the hotel was, feeling like it would extend into space as they got closer.

The five entered the hotel and once in the lobby, all of them approached the front desk, which was stationed by a green unicorn with a wide grin on his face and a hat on his head that didn't quite fit right.

"Hello there," said the unicorn in an enthusiastic tone. "I guess you want a room, yes?"

"Two, actually," replied Silver Shill. "My wife and my daughter will have one room and these fine associates can have the room next to ours."

"Excellent, let me check, and we can give you Room 318 and Room 319. They're on the third floor, which can be reached by taking the spiral staircase." The unicorn gave two keys to Silver Shill and two keys to Rarity. "Yes, the extra key is just in case you lose one, that is all. Anyways, please enjoy."

"Thank you."

The five trotted towards the stairs and made their way up to the third floor. The red carpet that covered the stairs and the lobby felt good on their hooves, which provided a nice contrast to the cobbled roads they traversed over to get to the hotel, some of the roads as old as 500 years. Rarity was particularly overjoyed at the hotel's luxury, entranced by the gaudy sights, and in the middle of her observations, she tripped on one of the stairs. She would have surely hurt her jaw badly if it wasn't for a familiar yellow pegasus, who was trotting downstairs next to the group, catching her. Rarity regained her composure and looked into the eyes of her savior, gulping upon recognizing who it was.

"Well, um, fancy seeing you here," said Rarity nervously. "What, um, brings you out here?"

"Um, I, um, yeah, I'd rather not talk about—"

"Wait just a second," interrupted Silver Shill. "I know who you are. You're Spitfire, aren't you?"

"Yes, I am. Can I help you?"

"I just read about how brilliantly you stopped that two headed dragon from destroying Appleoosa. I wasn't expecting you here. Anyways, is there a problem?"

"It's a personal matter, and I'd rather not talk about it, which is what I was going to say. Anyways, it's nice to meet you."

"Well then, I don't want to delay you any longer. Goodbye."

"Goodbye."

Spitfire continued trotting downstairs, her behavior towards Rarity made both Silver Spoon and Sweetie Belle curious, as they did not know the rather controversial history between the two. Putting that encounter behind them, the five made it to the third floor in one piece and split up to go to their respective rooms.

Silver Spoon went with her parents into Room 318, which, upon entering, made her awestruck. The room's floor was covered with glowing white tiles, the furniture all looked exquisite and comfortable to sit on, and the kitchen looked equally impressive. Sitting on the couch and sinking into the cushions, Silver Spoon looked at the outside window to her left and it felt like she could see the whole world below. She was curious as to where Ponyville was in relation to where she was at currently. As Silver Spoon was taking in her surroundings, she felt a tap on her shoulder. Silver Spoon turned around and noticed her father behind her with a smile on his face.

"Say, how about later today we take you to the Wonderbolts' show at Canterlot Stadium?" asked Silver Shill. "You'll have almost nothing to do otherwise. Come on, it'll be fun."

"Okay. Sounds fair to me."

"That's the spirit."

"By the way, how do you know who that pony was?"

"Oh, she's the Captain of the Wonderbolts. I've met her before in the Crystal Empire. She's a bit brash at times, but she almost always means well."

"I see."

"I know. Say, how about we get backstage passes for their show? It should be a lot of fun meeting them."

"Whatever you want, father."

"Excellent. Anyways, I noticed that one of your apologizes was to Sweetie Belle. I'm proud that you're actually doing what we've asked of you."

"Yeah. She was there, and I saw no reason to delay it any longer."

"Well then, how about we get some lunch and we'll head over to Canterlot Stadium in about two hours, since the show starts thirty minutes after we start heading over there."

"Sounds good. Let's get something nice to eat."

***

Over in Room 319, Sweetie Belle gazed at her sister as she was examining her dresses, making sure every stitch and every decoration was in pristine condition. Rarity's awkward encounter with Spitfire was all Sweetie Belle could think of as she watched her sister, and while she'd ask her as soon as possible, she knew that interrupting her sister as she worked would be a mistake. Once Rarity looked over the last dress and sat on the couch next to Sweetie Belle, the latter cleared her throat and felt ready to ask her questions.

"Rarity, what was with you when that mare saved your face?" asked Sweetie Belle in a confused tone.

"Oh, her? It's nothing, really," replied Rarity. Sweetie Belle's raised one of her eyebrows in response. "What? That's all there is to it."

"Rarity, were you mean to that pony?"

Rarity sighed heavily and looked at Sweetie Belle in the eyes. "Okay, since you're going to keep asking about this, I'll tell you. Do you remember what is known as the Best Young Fliers Incident?"

"Hmm." Sweetie Belle searched deep into her brain, and after a few seconds of thinking, she nodded.

"Well, the pony that nearly murdered three of the Wonderbolts, was me."

"What? How could you? You're the Element of Generosity."

"I was too full of myself and I flailed around as though I was trying to kill them. I knew I shouldn't have become a black belt."

"You need to go apologize right away."

"I know, and some day, I will."

Rarity and Sweetie Belle were interrupted by a knock on the door. They had been in their hotel room for about two hours, which made someone already knocking at their door seem unusual to them. Rarity trotted to the door and opened it, and Silver Shill, Ruby Riches, and Silver Spoon were on the other side,

"Hey there," said Silver Shill. "The three of us are headed to the Wonderbolts show right now. Any of you want to come along?"

Rarity looked back at Sweetie Belle, who was nodding her head slowly. She looked back at Silver Shill with an anxious expression on her face. "Yes, we will both join you."

"Great. Let's not waste any time."

Apologies and the Return Trip

Silver Spoon and company arrived at Canterlot Stadium and took their seats. The entire circumference of the stadium was a rainbow of differently colored ponies, which made the whole experience new to her, as she had never gone to an event of this scope before. She looked over at Sweetie Belle, who was grinning and looking at Rarity, who was shivering, despite the weather being rather warm and pleasant today. Silver Spoon was unaware of why Rarity was acting the way she was, attributing it to her being slightly claustrophobic instead of the real reason behind her shivering. When Silver Spoon looked back to the stage, a brown unicorn trotted to the center of the stage and bowed to the crowd.

"Greetings," said the unicorn into his microphone. "Welcome to Canterlot Stadium. I assume some of you have seen our posters for those who will be performing for us today, so without any delay, let's begin."

The unicorn exited the stage and taking his place was a blue unicorn with a magic hat and cape. She called herself "The Great and Powerful Trixie" and only ever spoke in the third person. Trixie's act consisted of dazzling lights and fireworks shooting out of her horn. It was undeniably a pretty sight, but to Silver Spoon, that's all it really was. Trixie's act consisted of lights, boasting, and little else, and when she left the stage, the crowd applauded, though their posture seemed to suggest that they were doing so out of politeness instead of appreciation.

Once Trixie was out of the way, eleven pegasi wearing blue and yellow outfits rocketed out of the main entryway of Canterlot Stadium. In the sky, they performed daring maneuvers and used the smoke trails behind them to paint pictures in the sky. Such pictures varied from a simple heart shape to a detailed face of a pony, the latter made Silver Spoon's jaw drop. Once the pegasi finished their act, the stadium erupted in cheers and some spectators danced around with joy. Silver Spoon looked over to Sweetie Belle, who looked equally impressed, her eyes shining brightly.

"Who were they?" asked Silver Spoon. "They made that Trixie look like a novice."

"Oh, them? Those were the Wonderbolts," replied Sweetie Belle, her voice squeaking. "I have to admit, that was pretty amazing. I should tell Scootaloo about them, since she loves Rainbow Dash so much."

"Yeah. I know what you mean."

"Anyways, we're gonna go backstage and meet them. None of us want to see the jousting tournament that follows, so let's go."

The group sans Rarity got out of their seats and Sweetie Belle had to drag Rarity with all of her might to get her to come with them to the backstage area. Trotting downstairs, they made their way out of the stadium and through a passageway underneath the stage. At the end of the passageway were two guards, who, upon being shown the backstage passes, moved out of the way. Silver Spoon looked around the backstage, surprised to see that a place where popular ponies prepare before and after their shows was so dark and dull, the most lively thing being the concrete walls and ceiling lamps that formed the hallway. All of them approached a door with a star on it, with the number two printed inside of the star, and Silver Shill knocked on the door. Answering the door was a white pegasus with a fluffy blue mane who was still wearing her Wonderbolts suit.

"Hello there, can I—" the pegasus paused and noticed Rarity among the group. An expression of anxiety formed on the pegasus' face. "I'm sorry, but we're busy at the moment."

"Wait," said Sweetie Belle, blocking the door. "She just wants to apologize."

"Wait a second there, High Winds," another pegasus mare with a white mane said as she approached the group. "Oh, so you're the one responsible for nearly killing three of my teammates, and being best buds with someone who nearly killed three other teammates of mine, and one is right next to me."

Everyone in the group looked at Rarity with a stink eye, who recoiled into her own emotional shell in response. While Rarity did love being the center of attention, she didn't want it to involve her being caught up in a scandal. Rarity chuckled nervously and looked at the two pegasi.

"I'm, um, sorry for what I did," said Rarity.

"You should've apologized much earlier," retorted the pegasus, scowling at her.

"Fleetfoot, calm down," whispered High Winds.

"No, this mare sank the morale of the team too many times. Now then, because Captain Spitfire would never let me hear the end of it if I was rude to someone again, I'm going to give you another chance, but on one condition."

"What would that be?" asked Rarity.

"If you are the Element of Generosity, as you claim to be, then I bet you'll have no problem helping one of my friends. Her name is Vinyl Scratch, and she's having a big concert in Ponyville on Wednesday. I want you to help set up stuff in the area where she'll be performing and I want you to bring snacks, treats, and what not so that everybody doesn't starve. If you can do that without causing conflict or nearly murdering someone by accident, we'll forgive you."

Just then, two more Wonderbolts appeared in front of them, one was a stallion with a flowing blue mane and the other was Spitfire, whom Silver Spoon and the others recognized.

"I'll take it from here," said Spitfire. "Ahem, it's nice of you to come all the way up here. Mind if you four tell me your names?"

"I'm Silver Spoon."

"I'm Sweetie Belle. Nice to meet you."

"Silver Shill is the name."

"And I'm Ruby Riches."

"Well then, I'm Spitfire, and the one whom you haven't met yet who's with us is Soarin, who's also loads of fun to be around."

"Anyways, Fleetfoot is a bit, well, cold at times," added Soarin.

"I am not," retorted Fleetfoot, and after a brief pause, everyone laughed for a little before returning to the conversation at hand. "Anyways, do you accept my offer?"

"I'll accept your offer," announced Rarity. "I'll prove to you I'm the Element of Generosity. Come on everyone, let's think about how we will do this."

"Well then, best of luck," replied Spitfire. "Goodbye."

"Goodbye," said the five visitors before leaving.

Rarity felt confident that she could prove to Fleetfoot that she truly was the Element of Generosity. After all, she proved it to Coco Pommel once before, so doing it a second time didn't seem like a problem. Despite this, a small blot of anxiety resided in her mind, as she wasn't sure as to what Vinyl's concert had in store. The five left Canterlot Stadium, looking back at it off in the distance one more time before returning to the hotel.

***

Rarity and Silver Shill managed to get their business deal completed, which included Upper Crust and Crystal Clear, both respected in the fashion industry. During said meeting, Silver Spoon and Sweetie Belle were stuck with each other for a while with Ruby Riches, and during the two or so hours together, the fillies, with nothing else to do, started another conversation with each other. Silver Spoon was curious as to why Rarity did what she did in the Best Young Fliers Incident, so she wondered if Sweetie Belle had some answers.

"Why did Rarity even enter a flying competition in the first place?" asked Silver Spoon. "It doesn't make sense to me."

"It doesn't make sense to me either," replied Sweetie Belle. "Was she drunk or something?"

"I don't know, but I do know that she's, um, I forgot what I was going to say." Silver Spoon lied about forgetting, but felt relieved that she didn't insult Rarity by calling her the Element of Egoism and the fallout that would result from Sweetie Belle's reaction.

"I must admit, ever since Discord came back the first time, weirder and weirder things have been happening."

"You're right. I can't recall the last time monster attacks have become this frequent."

"It's really scary."

"I know. I think it's scary too."

"If I could make one wish, it'd be for peace to come back to Equestria."

"I agree, there's too much turmoil going on. We almost had a genocide the last time something bad happened."

"There you are with your fancy words again."

"Oh, sorry."

"No need to be sorry. It's a compliment. Did Diamond Tiara ever compliment you?"

Silver Spoon sighed, looked down, then back at Sweetie Belle. "Rarely."

"That's so sad." Sweetie Belle paused and smiled at Silver Spoon. "You know, maybe you will change for the better. I noticed you telling yourself to not act rude when we talked about my sister, which is a start."

"You're good at reading words and emotions then. I'll get the hang of it. Someday."

"Hopefully, because one less bully is always a good thing."

"Yeah, I just hope Diamond Tiara isn't too rotten come Monday."

"Now you know what it's like to be me and my friends."

"Good point. Thanks for talking with me, Sweetie Belle. It feels, well, good."

"You're welcome. I love talking."

***

Silver Spoon was ultimately glad that she went with her family to Canterlot. She had never been there before and seeing the Wonderbolts was surprisingly exciting, though she wished that they had more time to chat with her. Despite this, she understood why they felt the way they did. After all, if someone nearly killed her for whatever reason, she'd likely not forgive them easily. Though there was one upside to all of this, Rarity's quest did give Silver Spoon a chance to show off her skills as a pastry chef if she could help, as the meaning behind her cutie mark was something she knew all three of the Cutie Mark Crusaders were curious about. Thinking about her cutie mark also made her recall that she was never told what Diamond Tiara's cutie mark meant. She would be seeing her Monday, and knowing Diamond, she probably had something nefarious in store for her, but that was something to worry about the following day.

The train arrived at Ponyville, and once out of the station, the two families went their separate ways. Silver Spoon and her parents arrived back home and with nothing scheduled for the rest of the day, she decided to relax for a bit, maybe take a walk in her backyard, before the day ended and another school day began early in the morning. Silver Spoon trotted to her backyard, which was decorated with all sorts of beautiful trees and flowers. Roses, violets, evergreens, all of the best flora and statues resided in the garden. As she was walking about, taking in the beautiful sights around her, Silver Spoon noticed something going on at one of her neighbor's yards.

Trotting towards the fence that divided the two yards, she climbed up the fence and tried to get a peek as to what was going on. It looked like three pegasi were helping get her neighbor's pet out of the tree, and upon closer inspection, Silver Spoon realized that those three pegasi were the ponies she met at Canterlot Stadium the day before, more specifically, Spitfire, Soarin, and Fleetfoot. Once the neighbor returned to his home with his pet, Spitfire turned around and noticed Silver Spoon peeking at them before she could duck.

"It's okay, we can come chat for a bit if you want," said Spitfire. The three hovered up high enough so that Silver Spoon could get a good look at them. "So, what's up? Is everything alright?"

"Yeah. I have to admit, your show looked incredible," replied Silver Spoon. "I never knew some of the things you did were possible."

"But they are," said Soarin. "That's the coolest part. Also, we're sorry that we had a little run in with you know who back at Canterlot."

"To say that our relationship with her is shaky would be an understatement," interrupted Spitfire.

"I understand where you are coming from," responded Silver Spoon. "Anyways, I remember you mentioning Vinyl Scratch. What's going on with her?"

"Well, she's having a concert in Ponyville, but the report is that she's lacking help for accommodations, snacks, and so on. Have you met Vinyl Scratch?"

"I have. She's, well, interesting to say the least."

"She sure is," replied Fleetfoot. "Vinyl happens to be one of my closest friends, and I've been told that we have similar personalities."

"Tell me about it," muttered Soarin in a sarcastic tone.

"One more thing before we go. I know that I told Rarity to prove her generosity, but if you want to help her, that's fine with me. I know I can be rude at times, but I'm working on it, cause the captain here wants to avoid some of our more, well, less friendly behaviors. Anyways, it was nice to get a chance to talk with you a little more."

"Thanks. I don't want to delay you three any longer, so I'm going to head back inside. Goodbye."

"Goodbye," replied the three Wonderbolts, who took off into the sky. Silver Spoon looked at them a little longer and once they were mere specks from where she was, she trotted back inside, glad that she was able to have the conversation that wasn't possible the day before. The rest of the day proved to be uneventful, and before Silver Spoon knew it, Monday rolled around, and it was time for school.

***

Silver Spoon arrived at Ponyville Elementary earlier than usual. She took her seat and found herself alone with Miss Cheerilee, sitting at her large desk and apparently jotting down something on a notebook of some sort. Cheerilee looked over at Silver Spoon and smiled, which caused Silver Spoon to smile back.

"Good morning, Silver Spoon," said Cheerilee. "How is everything going?"

"It could be better," responded Silver Spoon. "I went to Canterlot on Saturday, which was more fun than I thought it was going to be."

"That sounds exciting. Class doesn't start for another thirty minutes, so would you like to tell me what you did there?"

Silver Spoon found Cheerilee's behavior more friendly towards her than usual, and that was strange because it's a well known fact that Cheerilee is friendly to all sorts of ponies, only becoming sour when someone misbehaves or is rude to someone else. Silver Spoon was still regarded as one of the bullies as far as she knew, so perhaps Cheerilee noticed her sadness last Friday. Regardless, she felt obligated to tell Cheerilee what she did Saturday and how she felt, which piqued the interest of her teacher.

"That's wonderful. I've been to Canterlot a few times, but to go to a show at Canterlot Stadium must have been a treat."

"I agree. By the way, now's not the best time, but I want to confess something to you in private after class, is that okay?"

"Sure. I'll make a note of it and you can tell me."

Silver Spoon immediately regretted asking to talk to Cheerilee after class about all the terrible things she did with Diamond Tiara. In her mind, there was no going back, and she had to brace for any punishments that may come her way. She wondered if it was another one of her unconscious responses, as though she was trying to admit how horrible she has been for some reason.

Other students started to enter the classroom one by one and once it was time, attendance was taken, everybody was present, and class could begin. Before Cheerilee began her lesson, Silver Spoon looked at Diamond Tiara, who happened to notice her and responded with a devilish wink. Biting her lip, Silver Spoon knew that she'd have to be on the defensive once recess began.

Diamond's Retort and a Confession

The bell rang in Cheerilee's classroom, indicating that it was time for recess. All of the fillies and colts squeezed out of the door and rushed to the schoolyard as usual, but Silver Spoon decided to take her time. She felt a sense of dread inside of her, growing as she got closer to the schoolyard. She carried a book with her, since she didn't have anyone to play with as far as she knew, and sat down by a tree in the shade, hoping that Diamond Tiara would fail to notice her. But when she heard a cacophonous laugh, she turned around, saw Diamond Tiara's figure approaching her, and quickly realized that an uneventful recess would not be happening.

"Hey there, Silver Spoon," said Diamond with a hint of malice. "What are you doing?"

"Reading," replied Silver Spoon in a deadpanned tone. "Please leave me alone."

"I'm not gonna. You're not gonna get away that easily, so how about I call you what you really are, a dork."

"Whatever." Silver Spoon looked back at her book, trying her best to shut out Diamond's words.

"A dork and a loner. You're never gonna get any friends, and I'm sure of it."

"I know."

Diamond cackled loudly, trying her hardest to get a reaction out of Silver Spoon, but felt disappointed when none appeared on her face. "Well now, looks like somebody has no hope."

"Just go away Diamond. You're just wasting time berating me like this."

Diamond paused and giggled briefly. "I guess I'll also call you a thesaurus. Sound fair?"

"As long as you go away, it's fine by me."

"One more thing, I'm going to be at Vinyl Scratch's concert on Wednesday. I would have invited—"

Silver Spoon turned her head to Diamond Tiara, put her book in her saddlebag, and glared at her. "I'm already going."

Diamond's jaw dropped, which turned into a scowl as she grit her teeth. "Why? You should be in trouble, right?"

"It's because I'm helping Rarity set things up. My special talent can actually be put on display for you to see for once."

"Yeah, well I have a much better talent than you."

"What would that be?"

"It's being rich, that's what."

Silver Spoon's facial expression remained indifferent at Diamond's talent and retorted with sarcasm. "Wow, I totally wasn't expecting that."

"Very funny. You've still got that attitude."

"I'm getting better."

"By what, helping the older sister of a blank flank?"

"If that's what it takes, I'm willing to do so, and Sweetie Belle isn't a bad pony at all. She's actually nice to be around." This was the first time she told Diamond Sweetie's real name, which caused Diamond to growl like a ferocious puppy that wanted a dog treat.

"She's a blank flank."

"So what?"

Diamond winced and brought her face closer to Silver Spoon's. "So what? We always bragged about cutie marks, as that's who we are. Say it again, and you'll be sorry."

"Sweetie Belle is a good pony."

"That's it." Diamond was filled to the brim with rage. She scowled at Silver Spoon and pushed her down with all of her might. Silver Spoon hit the ground hard and tears formed in her eyes as she lay on the grass beneath her. "That's it, cry like a baby."

"Diamond, why would you physically harm someone? You're much worse than I could have ever imagined."

"Because, dorky thesaurus, you were asking for it. Now then, I've got a blank flank or three to tease with you done for."

Diamond left Silver Spoon and as the latter watched her trot towards the Cutie Mark Crusaders, an intense fire burned inside of her heart. She dusted herself off and contemplated revenge, but such feelings were replaced with an idea. Silver Spoon thought about immediately standing in Diamond Tiara's way to stop her from bullying the trio. That way, she might be able to prove she's changed while at the same time getting revenge on Diamond. It was taking out two birds with one stone. While the three fillies would likely be confused by her behavior, she wanted to get back at Diamond in any way she could, and confusing the three, in her viewpoint, was nothing to worry about.

Silver Spoon rushed after Diamond Tiara, who began her berating of the three fillies. As she was bullying them, Silver Spoon slid in between the two sides and scowled intensely at Diamond Tiara. All three of the Cutie Mark Crusaders gasped at the sudden turn of events, two of them, Apple Bloom and Scootaloo, utterly confused regarding Silver Spoon's intentions.

"I've had it with your nonsense, Diamond Tiara," shouted Silver Spoon with all of her might. "You leave these fillies alone. Understand?"

"Wait, why are ya helpin' us, Silver Spoon?" asked Apple Bloom, her face clearly expressing confusion.

"This bullying has gone on for far too long. It's time to make amends. I'm, I'm sorry for everything I've ever said." As Silver Spoon spoke each word, more tears flowed down her cheeks. It felt as though she was releasing something off of her shoulders that had been on her for far too long, and while it made her cry, it felt good.

Before the conflict could escalate any further, Miss Cheerilee trotted towards the five with a stern expression on her face, breaking up the argument merely with her presence. She glared at Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon, focusing her attention on Silver Spoon first. "I'm guessing this is part of what you meant by wanting to talk to me." Cheerilee's expression transformed into a slight smile. "I'm not letting you off for what you've done in the past, but I'm proud of how brave you were by protecting these three." Cheerilee turned to Diamond Tiara, her face becoming a fierce glare once again. "As for you, you're in big trouble, and you'll be put in detention after school. Understand?"

Diamond Tiara nodded her head, and with that, Cheerilee returned to the school building. The bell rang, indicating that recess was over, and the five fillies noticed everybody looking at them once they regained their composure. Scootaloo tried to lighten the mood with a cute smile and a wave to the other students, but the tension failed to dissipate. All of the fillies and colts trotted back to class, ready to return to the lesson at hand, but all of them knew they'd be talking about the Cutie Mark Crusaders vs Diamond Tiara vs Silver Spoon.

***

Class ended, and as all of the students rushed out of the classroom and Diamond Tiara was escorted to Detention Hall, Silver Spoon stayed behind to explain herself to Miss Cheerilee. Silver Spoon could feel her heart race. She had no idea how Cheerilee would react to some of the horrible things she did, but there was no backing out. However, she knew that if she was ever going to make any friends, she'd have to confess to her teacher at some point to prove she's trying to change.

Cheerilee sat at the desk directly next to Silver Spoon and smiled at the filly. She cleared her throat and took a deep breath. "So then, I know that you have a history with Apple Bloom, Sweetie Belle, and Scootaloo, so let's start with that first," she said, her attitude surprisingly calm and collected. "What were the things that you did with Diamond Tiara to them?"

"Well, we teased them for not having their cutie marks, but it got worse, and by worse, I mean much, much worse," mumbled Silver Spoon, her tone expressing embarrassment.

"Please tell me, what do you mean by worse?"

"Well first, Diamond Tiara and I joined a pony from Manehattan and trashed a project Apple Bloom and her friends worked really hard on. We did get our just desserts when the pony we joined turned on us and made us fall into a mud bath."

"That's a terrible thing you and Diamond did. Please go on."

"Well, the next big thing we did to them was what started my realization of how horrible I had become. I teased Scootaloo with Diamond Tiara for being unable to fly."

Cheerilee gasped, shocked that someone so young had the capacity to be that vile. "That's despicable. Why did you do such a thing?"

"It's, well, I, um, I don't know." Silver Spoon started crying, wishing she could erase that day from history. "I wish I did, because the poor filly never deserved being bullied for that."

"Well then, I'm glad you've confessed. Is there anything else I should know of?"

"That's the extent of it. I know apologizing to the three won't accomplish much, so I have a request. When you have the time, can you oversee my apology to them?"

"I can. I'll still mark you with a warning, so you should be on your best behavior if you want to avoid detention."

Silver Spoon wiped her tears away and stopped crying. She looked up at Miss Cheerilee with a faint smile. "I understand, Miss Cheerilee. It was nice to talk with you."

"Not a problem, but before you go, I noticed that you've become a much better student lately, and while I don't know the full details as to why, seeing you put in so much effort is terrific."

"Thank you. I promise I'll make you proud."

"That's the spirit. Now then, I wish you the best of luck. Goodbye, Silver Spoon."

"Goodbye, Miss Cheerilee. I'll see you same time tomorrow."

***

Silver Spoon reclined on her couch once her homework for the day was completed. During this time, she couldn't stop thinking about the Cutie Mark Crusaders and how they perceived her actions. She wondered if it was the right thing to do, as her motivator was to get back at Diamond Tiara, but defending someone filled her with a feeling she had never felt before. It felt heartwarming for some reason, but whenever she thought about that feeling, she couldn't describe what it was.

A loud knock on the door caused Silver Spoon to jolt. She trotted to the door, curious as to who wanted to talk to her, and upon seeing the pony at the other end, her jaw dropped and her pupils dilated. It was Sweetie Belle, and she appeared to be glad to see Silver Spoon. Not knowing what to say, Silver Spoon's eyes darted around for a bit before Sweetie Belle broke the awkward silence.

"Hey there," she said calmly. "I just wanted to say thank you for standing up to Diamond Tiara. I think I'm almost ready for the two of us to become friends."

"R-really?" replied Silver Spoon, never expecting to hear those words in a long time, let alone from Sweetie Belle.

"Really. I know you're gonna help my sister with Vinyl's concert, so I can't wait to see what pastries you bring."

"Yeah. I'm excited to show off my special talent for once."

"Anyways, I told Apple Bloom and Scootaloo about the time we spent together in Canterlot."

"Here it comes," Silver Spoon mumbled under her breath.

"They were surprised to hear how well it went, and with what happened today, they might be willing to give you a chance."

This response shocked Silver Spoon so much that she passed out and landed on the floor, a thud echoing into Sweetie Belle's ears. Sweetie Belle looked concerned for the filly, but Silver Spoon got up as though she merely lost her balance and dusted herself off. The pair started at each other awkwardly and giggled briefly.

"Don't worry, I'm okay," said Silver Spoon. "I was just stunned was all."

"That's good," responded a calmed Sweetie Belle. "Anyways, I hope Wednesday goes well for the both of us. Who knows, we might become friends. I've gotta get going. Bye."

"Goodbye, Sweetie Belle."

Silver Spoon watched Sweetie Belle trot away with a smile on her face. For once in her life, things were looking up for her, though she never imagined it would involve being closer than ever to gaining a friend, and said friend being Sweetie Belle. Closing the door, Silver Spoon returned to her couch and picked up a book on the table. It was about the legendary Private Pansy, whose story of proving to the world that she could become a strong flier grew as an inspiration to many who read her tale. The story reminded Silver Spoon of the Cutie Mark Crusaders somewhat, particularly Scootaloo, who suffered from a similar predicament. Before reading the story, Silver Spoon closed her eyes for a brief moment and wished in her heart. She wished that the Cutie Mark Crusaders would find their cutie marks, that Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo could use magic and fly respectively, and that she herself could form a strong friendship. Opening her eyes, Silver Spoon opened the book to Chapter One, and read.

The Big Day

Wednesday finally arrived, and after school, Silver Spoon spent most of her time making pastries for those that would be attending Vinyl's concert. Hours of her time were dedicated to making these foods, which included macarons, eclairs, and fruit tarts. Carefully crafting each pastry meticulously, Silver Spoon looked satisfied once everything was completed, and she had enough time to get her treats to where Vinyl's concert was being held with time to spare. As Silver Spoon examined her work, Ruby Riches approached her and looked at the treats with a smile.

"Are you ready?" asked Ruby Riches.

"I am," replied Silver Spoon, expressing slight anxiety as she did one last look over the pastries. "I hope this works."

"Don't be nervous, sweetie." Ruby Riches massaged Silver Spoon's back, calming the filly's nerves. "What's important is that you tried your best. Your father and I also know of how great of a pastry chef you are."

"Thanks for the support. I just hope Rarity and Sweetie Belle appreciate the effort I went through."

"I know they will. They're both so nice. In fact, I promise you that everything will be just fine."

"By the way, do you know of anyone else attending the concert?"

"Not really. Aside from Fleetfoot, that's all I know for certain, but why do you ask?"

"Because Diamond Tiara is showing up, and I don't want her doing anything nefarious that puts Rarity's standing in jeopardy."

"I see. I'll be sure to warn Vinyl and Fleetfoot, so no worries."

"Thank you, mother."

"You're welcome. Now then, let's pack these treats up and head out. I'll tell your father we're ready to leave any minute."

***

Silver Spoon's parents escorted her to Ponyville's central plaza, and upon arriving, they noticed that the concert was still in the early stages of being set up, with Rarity, Sweetie Belle, Vinyl Scratch, and Fleetfoot all within the vicinity. Behind them was a towering stage with a DJ's turntable and a red guitar resting on the side of the table. Colored spotlights, flickering on and off to test their functionality, ran around the perimeter of the stage and the words DJ PON-3 adorned a banner above the stage. Rarity and Sweetie Belle waved at the three, as the other two had their backs towards them and couldn't see them approaching.

"Hello there," said Rarity. "I've set up some of the decorations already, and things have been going marvelously so far." Rarity looked at the basket Silver Spoon was carrying, her curiosity piqued. "What would those be?"

"They're pastries," replied Silver Spoon. "I made two extra eclairs for you to try out. Tell me what you think."

Rarity and Sweetie Belle ate the eclairs as instructed, surprised at how delicious the rich, chocolatey cream was and how well the crust was baked. Noises of eating pleasure could be heard from the two of them, calming Silver Spoon down.

"This is amazing," shouted Sweetie Belle, whose voice cracked with excitement. "That's a cool special talent you have."

"Thanks, Sweetie Belle. By the way, I wanted to ask you a question."

"What is it, Silver Spoon?"

"It's, well, I'm curious, what do you excel at?"

"Excel?"

"She means what you're really good at," whispered Rarity into Sweetie Belle's ear to help her out.

"Hmm, I dunno."

"Well, I wanted to give you a little advice." Silver Spoon paused and cleared her throat. "If you know of something you love to do and know you are great at, practice it, and after some time your cutie mark should appear. Be sure to tell Apple Bloom and Scootaloo as well, since I'm sure they'd appreciate it."

"Thanks. Ya know, the stuff we did to find out cutie marks was really crazy at times. I once suggested tiger taming."

Silver Spoon chuckled slightly, an image of Sweetie Belle fighting off a tiger formed in her mind. "I admit, that would be interesting to see a filly do. Anyways, when does the concert start?"

"It starts in about two hours, dear," said Rarity. "I'm hoping that Vinyl Scratch and Fleetfoot find my assistance helpful."

As if on cue, Fleetfoot trotted towards the five and looked Rarity in the eye, but her facial expression and posture hinted at her feelings of how well Rarity was doing. "Don't worry about us," she said. "Just worry about getting things done smoothly. Understand?"

"I understand."

"One more thing," interrupted Ruby Riches. "A mean filly that bullies Sweetie Belle and my daughter might go around and undo Rarity's hard work, so I think it'd be appropriate to warn you of it just in case it happens."

"I'll keep that in mind," replied Fleetfoot, who then shifted her attention back to Rarity. "Anyways, I'll help you get the tables and snacks set up, since Spitfire told me that I should help while I'm here."

"With pleasure," said Rarity. "Come now, let's not waste any time."

The six ponies huddled around approached a set of folded tables. Using their combined strength, they hoisted the table up and carefully carried it over to where it needed to be. Once they were where they wanted to be, they gently set the table down and unfolded the table's legs, covered it with a sheet, and Silver Spoon placed her pastries onto the table. Tables were carried and set up next to the first one an additional five times, placing other items on it such as miscellaneous snacks, free pamphlets, plates, utensils, napkins, and so on. After an hour of busy work, all of the tables were set up and everyone felt satisfied with a job well done.

The first attendees were granted permission to approach the stage for the concert, which began in an hour, and with everything set up, all that was left for Silver Spoon and the other helpers was to wait. Carefully observing those who took the pastries she provided, Silver Spoon watched them to make sure that they were satisfied, and when it seemed like everyone who had a pastry enjoyed it, she breathed a sigh of relief, glad to know that her special talent proved useful. She looked over to Rarity, who still had a nervous expression on her face, and noticed that Fleetfoot was carefully observing those who entered, which, most likely, was to make sure Diamond Tiara didn't do anything too stupid. Feeling a tap on her shoulder, Silver Spoon turned around and noticed Sweetie Belle next to her with a huge grin on her face, which prompted a smile of her own.

"Hey there," said Silver Spoon. "Do you need anything?"

"Not at all," replied Sweetie Belle with glee. "I just wanted to say thanks for being such a kind pony today by helping Rarity and I."

"No problem. I guess my cutie mark finally makes sense to you and your friends when you tell them, huh?"

Sweetie Belle giggled, producing a noise that sounded cute to those who heard it. "Yep. Also, I'm about ready to become friends with you."

"Really?" Silver Spoon felt her heart race, but she wasn't frightened at all. For some reason, hearing Sweetie Belle say this filled her soul with hope.

"You bet. Standing up for me and my friends was a lot of proof in how much you've changed, and your help has made me sure that you're a great pony."

"That reminds me of something." Memories of her confrontation with Diamond Tiara ran through Silver Spoon's mind and what prompted Diamond to push her. "Before Diamond teased you, she went after me first, which ended with her pushing me. Do you want to know why she did so?" Sweetie Belle nodded her head, her eyes wide open. "Okay, I used your real name instead of calling you the mean name Diamond and I used to call you, and I told her you were a good pony."

Sweetie Belle's heart was warmed, a feeling of camaraderie towards Silver Spoon glowed inside of her. "Why thanks."

"It was nothing."

"It was a lot. You really have changed for the better. It'll take some time for Apple Bloom and Scootaloo to accept this, but they'll understand."

"Thanks for the heads up."

Sweetie Belle noticed a few ponies returning back to the table and grabbing extra macarons. "By the way, ponies love your pastries so much they're coming back for more."

"Excellent." Silver Spoon paused and noticed that Diamond Tiara had arrived with another filly not from her class, which caused her to gulp. "Sweetie Belle, Diamond is here."

Sweetie Belle turned around and saw the same thing Silver Spoon did. Turning back to Silver Spoon, Sweetie Belle's eyes flared with confidence. "I'm not gonna let her do anything bad, but if she does, she won't get away with it. Come on, let's keep an eye on her."

"I'll keep an eye out for you," interrupted Rarity, who noticed Diamond's presence as well. "I've seen Diamond Tiara, and this affects you as much as it does me."

"Okay then, though we still gotta be sneaky."

***

Sweetie Belle, Silver Spoon, and Rarity crept closer to Diamond Tiara and her friend, but were careful as to not get too close to where Diamond could notice them. The three noticed Diamond Tiara talking to her friend, their faces suggesting nothing out of the ordinary, until the two of them giggled. Diamond Tiara trotted towards where the snacks were being held and she approached the sheet over the table. Grabbing onto the edge of the sheet, Diamond looked about ready to pull it off, with the intention of sending everything on the table flying.

"Stop right there, ruffian," shouted Rarity, as she charged towards Diamond. The filly froze before she could create any chaos and soon, everyone stared at her.

"What is it that you want?" asked Diamond with puppy eyes.

"Don't play innocent with me. I saw you about to ruin all of our hard work. Sweetie Belle and Silver Spoon warned me about what you might do."

"Yeah. What's stopping me—"

Fleetfoot stealthily landed behind Diamond Tiara and placed a hoof in front of her face. Diamond turned around and saw the pegasus scowling at her intensely, which prompted a nervous chuckle. "Because if you do, I'll have to escort you out of the concert and tell your parents. Oh, and I know you're the daughter of Filthy Rich and Suri Polomare."

"Wait? How do you—"

"Your family has always bragged about themselves, and they've mentioned you more than once. It's as Vinyl Scratch says, celebrities stick to being in the tabloids to keep their name out there."

"Well, duh. Who wouldn't wanna be on the papers all the time?"

"The captain who I proudly work with, that's who. Not just her, but many ponies as well."

"Yeah, well, I'll find a way to make it not my fault. I'm a rich filly, and I don't think I need to tell you what money can do."

"I happen to be friends with someone who knows the Element of Loyalty on a first name basis, who happens to know the legendary Princess Twilight Sparkle. Face it kid, there's no amount of money in the world that you can bribe ponies with that gets you out of this. All it'll do is make you look worse."

"Then take me." Diamond looked disappointed that her plan failed to blossom into fruition. As much as she refused to admit it, she knew that no matter what happened, she'd come out as the loser.

"One more thing before you leave," interrupted Silver Spoon, who walked up to Diamond's face. "Remember when on Monday you told me that I'd never make friends." Diamond nodded, knowing where Silver Spoon was going with the rest of her statement. "You were wrong. I did make a friend. Her name is Sweetie Belle, and she's one of the kindest friends one could ask for. Also, all of the stuff I've gone through since I left you on Friday has taught me something. There are so many ponies in the world, and they all have something that makes them unique."

"How were you able to think that?"

"It's called critical thinking, Diamond. Anyways, Vinyl Scratch, Rarity, the Wonderbolts, everyone has something inside of them that defines who they are, and just because someone doesn't have a certain quality, whether it's always saying the right thing or having a cutie mark, that doesn't make them a bad pony. Besides, a world where everybody is the same would be boring."

"She's right, you know," a voice said in the distance. It belonged to Vinyl Scratch, who overheard the conversation on her way to the back of the stage. "I've been thinking about what Silver Spoon said when we met on Friday. A celebrity doesn't have to always be on the tabloids to be relevant. The brightest stars shine even if not everyone knows their name. Tavi told me that on Saturday, and she's right. Immortalizing your name sounds way more rad than just being in the newspapers all the time."

"I have something I'd like to add myself," replied Fleetfoot. "I know that sometimes I can come off as a little cold, but in the end, I mean well for tons of ponies, and those who know me recognize that. If I can control my behavior, as you have done, Silver Spoon, more ponies will get the chance to see the good inside of me. Misty Fly told me that, and just like Octavia with Vinyl Scratch, her advice is true."

"Oh goodness, is everybody learning something?" asked Diamond, her whining more grating to the ears with each word. "This is like a Saturday morning cartoon. Yuck."

The other ponies looked at Diamond strangely, who proceeded to leave the concert, mumbling some profanities under her breath. Once she was clearly out of the way, her friend chasing after her, the tension died down and everybody felt like they could relax once again.

***

The concert proved to be a smashing success, as everybody who attended left satisfied. Aside from the situation with Diamond Tiara, nothing overly dramatic occurred, and once the audience had all left to return home, Fleetfoot flew towards Rarity and landed in front of her with a smile on her face.

"You've proven yourself, Rarity," said Fleetfoot confidently. "I forgive you, and I'll be sure to tell the other Wonderbolts as well."

"I'm glad you've accepted my apology, darling," replied Rarity.

"Yeah, just promise not to give yourself wings and get into hijinks with rampaging dragons again, and we'll be on good terms." Rarity noticed Fleetfoot's teasing tone of voice and chuckled, which garnered a giggle from Fleetfoot.

"I'll do my best. I'll also remind myself to not be so dimwitted."

"Then we're all good. I do wish Rainbow Dash would give us another chance, however."

Rarity patted Fleetfoot's back in a comforting tone. "Darling, don't worry about her. She's, how should I say, unrealistically powerful. Try not to let it get to you, and if the newspapers are anything to go by, you're just as strong as ever."

"Thanks. Well, I better get going. Goodbye."

"Goodbye." Rarity watched Fleetfoot shoot off the ground and into the sky, the burst of speed almost knocking her over onto her back. Rarity shook her head and waved at Fleetfoot one more time before she was no longer in sight, and proceeded to trot towards Sweetie Belle and Silver Spoon, who were having a conversation of their own.

***

"That was a great speech, Silver Spoon," said Sweetie Belle. "It's cool that you've learned so much over the weekend."

"Yeah. I just spoke from my heart," replied Silver Spoon. "I'm glad to have been able to go out in the world and meet new ponies. It will be an experience I cherish my entire life."

"By the way, let's be friends now. I'm now super-duper sure that you've become a better pony."

"Okay then. How are we going to get Apple Bloom and Scootaloo to understand?"

"They'll understand. Just hang out with me for a while and before you know it, you'll be forgiven."

"Okay." The noises of a rock solo echoed into their ears, the music felt oddly invigorating. "I think Vinyl is doing a personal piece before she leaves. Do you want to watch and listen, as friends?"

"Of course I would."

Silver Spoon and Sweetie Belle sat down and took in the sights and sounds of Vinyl's concert, the sun setting behind the stage and lighting the sky a beautiful orange. Rarity, Silver Shill, and Ruby Riches joined them, the three of them visibly overjoyed seeing the two fillies bonding together and forming a strong friendship. As for Silver Spoon, a new chapter in her life could finally begin. No longer was she the partner in crime for Diamond Tiara's antics. Now she was a filly who learned to follow the path towards justice, and that whether someone has their cutie mark or not does not impact how they should be seen.

Epilogue: New Friendships

A month had gone by ever since the concert that ensured Silver Spoon would be getting a friend. She only spent time with Sweetie Belle for a while, but soon came the fateful day where Apple Bloom and Scootaloo would determine whether Silver Spoon had changed for the better. The four huddled around by the school, all with smiles on their faces, but Silver Spoon recognized that she was a bit nervous inside, despite her facial expression.

"So you've become cooler?" asked Scootaloo.

"I have, and it's the best decision I've ever made in my life," replied Silver Spoon with confidence.

"Do you agree, Sweetie Belle?"

"Yep," said Sweetie Belle. "She's become so nice. In fact, ever since we've become friends, her grades have all turned into A grades and she's even making progress in making friends with Twist."

"That's amazing," shouted Apple Bloom. "Y'all got anything else you wanna add?"

"She's spent some time with Rarity a few times."

"Her cat is quite cute," added Silver Spoon. "Opal was her name, right?"

"Yeah. I'm surprised she didn't scratch at you like she does with other visitors." The four all laughed for a bit, especially as Apple Bloom and Scootaloo had experiences with Rarity's cat. "Anyways, is it okay if Silver Spoon becomes our friend?"

Apple Bloom placed her hoof on her muzzle and thought about it for a few seconds. "Hmm, okay. We've seen the new Silver Spoon, and she's good with us."

"Maybe she can help us get our cutie marks," interrupted Scootaloo excitedly.

"Well if you ever need advice, I'd be glad to help," replied Silver Spoon. "I think I have an idea of what you're special talents are anyways."

"How so?"

"Remember the talent show at the beginning of the school year?"

"How could we forget?" Scootaloo cringed ever so slightly, remembering the embarrassing act she and her friends performed in front of an entire crowd. "Weird costumes and stage props falling on us is something you don't forget easily."

"Well, I'll tell you what I noticed. Scootaloo, you're best at scooter tricks. Apple Bloom, you're best at construction. Sweetie Belle, you're best at singing. That's what I've noticed in the time I've known the three of you."

"Construction," said Apple Bloom, her curiosity piqued. "That sounds like it could be fun. I'll be sure to give it a try and see what happens."

"Well don't get discouraged if it doesn't go right the first time. Practice makes perfect, as they say."

"True. Say, how about we all head on over to Sugarcube Corner. We could use something tasty."

"I'm totally for that," said Scootaloo. "Are you two in?" Sweetie Belle and Silver Spoon nodded their heads. "Let's go."

The four trotted together towards Sugarcube Corner, and the selected destination caused Silver Spoon to recall the events that led her to where she is now. It was at that very shop her new life truly began. Back then, she didn't have any friends and she thought she'd never have a friend. Now though, just a month later, she was heading back to that sweet shop, this time with three fillies who deserve the marks of true friends. Not only did she recognize that they forgave her, she also noticed that unlike Diamond Tiara, the Cutie Mark Crusaders cared about her, let her give advice, and filled her with a feeling she never experienced with Diamond, the feeling of friendship.

"This day began like any other," Silver Spoon muttered to herself. "Now, it's going to end like no other, and I couldn't be any happier."

"I know what you mean," said Sweetie Belle. "One more thing. I got letters from Vinyl Scratch and Fleetfoot, and they both thanked us for changing their lives for the better."

"That's great to hear. I'm glad we've helped them."

"Me too. I bet the newspapers will have something interesting to say for once. Maybe an article titled "Matured Silver", or something like that."

"Well then, there's only one way to find out, my friends."

The four fillies entered Sugarcube Corner, all with smiles on their faces, excited for the new adventures they would embark on and whether Silver Spoon was right in determining their special talents. The first outing with their new friend, getting a nice scoop of chocolate ice cream.

***

The End