Silver Belle

Sweetie Belle had all her arts and crafts supplies ready in her room, so all that was left to do was wait for Silver Spoon to arrive. School got out at 3:00, Sweetie Belle got home at 3:05, she arts and crafts supplies were all laid out at 3:15 (this includes the conversation with her sister), and at 3:18, the doorbell rang. Sweetie Belle ran to answer the door, and much to her surprise, it was Silver Spoon, apparently ready to work.

“Wow, I didn’t even think you’d bother to show up,” Sweetie Belle said, with a little surprise and bitterness in her voice.

Silver Spoon wanted to try and be nice, but could tell that doing so would make Sweetie Belle suspicious, so she played it the way everypony would expect her to. “I figured the sooner we get this done, the sooner we don’t have to see each other.” Perfectly expected answer.

“Alright, let’s just get this thing done.” She shut the door and led the way to her room. They both ignored the sounds of crashing and thrashing coming from the other room. Everypony in Ponyville knew how caught up in her work Rarity could get. Silver Spoon desperately wanted make conversation here, but once again, that would arouse suspicion, so she managed to remain awkwardly silent until they reached Sweetie Belle’s bedroom.

When they got there, Silver Spoon was amazed as to how many art materials she had. There was no way around it. Silver Spoon had to say something now. “Hmm, I didn’t think you’d be so into art.” Perfect. Managed to make it sound like she didn’t really care. Silver Spoon was quite proud of herself.

“Since when do you think about anything other than teasing me and my friends?” Now that really hurt. Silver Spoon knew she was a little out of line with aiding in Diamond Tiara’s bullying, but she couldn’t tell anypony that she really didn’t have a choice. If she were caught voluntarily hanging out with anypony else, she knew that Filthy Rich would disown her. She managed to contain her disappointment and let out a decently acceptable remark.

“Look, can we just get this over with? Dinner’s at six, and I don’t want to waste time talking about such things when we could be doing something productive with this project so we don’t have to be with each other.”

Sweetie Belle was quite surprised at that response. Nopony ever actually heard Silver Spoon ramble on about anything. Silver Spoon started to regret that she even said that much. She didn’t want Sweetie Belle to know she cared. But Sweetie Belle wasn’t the type to assume that somepony like her actually did care.

“You’re really excited about winning that prize aren’t you?” Sweetie Belle concluded.

“Yes,” Silver Spoon responded, hoping that her relief that another explanation came up wasn’t conspicuous. “Exactly.”

“Don’t worry; whatever it ends up being, if we win, you can share it with Diamond Tiara.”

“Thanks,” Silver Spoon said.

“Well, let’s get to work.” Sweetie Belle decided. She said this next part rhetorically. “I don’t suppose you have any ideas for what we should make.”

“What; am I not allowed to have ideas?” Now that made Sweetie Belle suspicious, but Silver Spoon didn’t care. All she cared about was making sure that it was fair for both parties.

“Yes, you’re allowed. I just figured that somepony of your stature would make me do all the work.”

“Well, if I have to win working with somepony other than Diamond Tiara, I at least want to feel good about winning. And I’d appreciate it if you didn’t jump to anymore conclusions about me.” It was out there now; a perfectly reasonable excuse for an unreasonable (for her, at least) feeling.

“I’m sorry; I’ll be more careful.” Sweetie Belle cleared her throat. “Silver Spoon, do you have any ideas on what we should do for the poster?”

“As a matter of fact,” Silver Spoon said, putting what just happened behind her, “I do have one.” She pulls a piece of paper out of her backpack. “This is the poster for one of my favorite plays. It’s set in roughly the same time period as the play and has a similar storyline. When Ms. Cheerilee explained the concept of the play, it made me think of this. So I grabbed the poster out of my room when I got home so I could show you.”

It was an amazing design, and it was the exact kind of design Sweetie Belle was a “self-taught expert” at drawing. “This is a great idea. I don’t see any reason why this won’t win. And I can draw this so easily. I’m impressed, Silver Spoon.”

For a moment, Silver Spoon thought that that last comment might have been another jab at her apparent personality, but the look on Sweetie Belle’s face told her that this couldn’t have been expected from anypony at school. “Thanks, Sweetie Belle.” Silver Spoon, for the first time, felt genuinely happy to be with somepony.

Then they got to work. It was a breeze; Sweetie Belle was drawing the design, while Silver Spoon worked on how the text displaying the title and cast would be positioned. Then they’d both fill it with color when it was all done. Time slipped by really fast. Silver Spoon just happened to look at the clock in the hallway. It read 5:45.

“Oh, sweet Celestia; look at the time.” Silver Spoon started to panic. “I’ve got to get home for dinner.” Silver Spoon started put things away, but Sweetie Belle stopped her.

“Just go. I’ll clean everything up.”

“Oh, thanks.” Silver Spoon put the poster neatly back in her backpack and started downstairs. Sweetie Belle, of course, was following her so that she could say goodbye at the door. Silver Spoon reached for the doorknob, but Sweetie Belle grabbed it first. “No please, allow me. Won’t want you to chip a hoof turning it because I imagine your hooficures are quite expensive.”

Both the girls laughed. That was one joke Silver Spoon found very funny. “Yeah, these things ain’t cheap.” She started to walk out, but figured saying something positive wouldn’t hurt. “Hey, can I tell you something, and you promise not to tell anypony?”

“Yeah sure.” Sweetie Belle answered, anxious to find out a secret from Silver Spoon.

“This was the most fun I’ve had in a long time. I guess we do work well together.” Silver Spoon did fell a little awkward admitting it, but that’s life.

“Yeah, I can’t believe Ms. Cheerilee was right about it.” Sweetie Belle felt the same way she did, and silver spoon was quite relieved to find out. “Imagine what the other kids would say if they found out you were my BFF.”

Silver Spoon did like the sound of that, but didn’t really want to say it. “That would spread like wildfire in the Foal Free Press. Maybe it’d be best if it were just kept between us.”

“Agreed. Well, see you tomorrow, Silver Spoon.”

“See you tomorrow, Sweetie Belle.”

Sweetie Belle watched in amazement as Silver Spoon walked away. She couldn’t explain what it was that made her watch Silver Spoon walk until she disappeared from sight; then again, she didn’t really understand a whole lot about friendship yet, either. She seemed to be in a hypnotic trance of some sort, as Pinkie Pie just happened to pop out of nowhere, which of course made Sweetie Belle jump.”

“Hey, Sweetie Belle!” Pinkie Pie said, apparently more excited than usual (which is really saying something considering that it’s Pinkie Pie we’re talking about). “What are you thinking about?”

“Oh, hey Pinkie. Just wondering what my cutie mark might be.”

“Cool! I just had the most amazing day hanging out with Rainbow Dash.”

“That’s cool. Oh, look at the time. I think I should tell Rarity to make dinner.”

“Okie dokie Loki; see you around.” Pinkie hopped away gleefully.

Sweetie Belle didn’t know what she was feeling right now, but it would all make sense soon enough.