Matured Silver

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.