My name is Soul Shatter… and I’ve been depressed for as long as I can remember. I’m seventeen and live with my brother, who I am very, very lucky for. He’s been there for me through thick and thin. But my life... to be honest, it really sucks. It drags me down horrible and broken states to chew and spit me back out worse than before. The school I attend, Canterlot High, is full of people who couldn’t even spare me a passing glance. And it hurts... a lot. I don't know why they choose me to pick on when I’ve never done anything to wrong them. Usually I get pushed around by the rich-ass Blueblood. He's very popular, has the 'handsome prince' looks, has the money, has... everything. Me? Piss poor. Many people don't want me as a friend, and that’s just how my life is. No friends, no nothing. Life to me... it’s like a cancer.

But yet, one person, ONE PERSON, has kept me alive. Not my brother, though he's good, he is never here almost all the time due to his position in the military, but a certain girl. One I never thought would come near me.

Rarity.

She has looks, loves fashion, and is very generous. She cares a lot for people, and you don't really see girls like that all the time, especially at Canterlot High. She has been my one and only friend for the longest time. She talks to me, hangs out with me… everything. Without her I would be shattered and heartbroken. Matter of fact, you… probably wouldn’t be hearing from me right now.

Yeah… I’ve tried before.

I was amazed on how long I have lived and stayed here. I mean, with Blueblood being the school douche and fucking with me on the daily, I’m still standing. My parents both died in a shooting back when I was ten, and I had to move with my brother. My brother, while meaning well, wasn’t exactly the best role model, but I’ve stayed with him ever since. He really cares about me since I’m the last piece of family he has left. But once again, Rarity has helped me out. I don't know if she knew anything about how torn up I am about my depression, nor do I think she knew about my depression at all. She has been the greatest person in my life, and since she became my friend I began to grow on her. She’s adorable, cute, funny… so many perfect things.

It’s pretty obvious now, but I’ve had feelings for her for a long time. I just don’t know when I’m going to make a move on her, but hopefully soon. My biggest fear is that she’s already with someone else. I love her deeply, and if she didn’t really take to me... I’d just have to meet with fate, I guess.

But today… something different happened. I was lying on my bed, doing nothing in particular. My phone buzzed, breaking me out of my thoughts and causing me to jerk around, looking for it. Leaning down from my bed I spotted it with its screen lit, casting light on the bottom of my mattress. Reaching out I attempted to grab onto it and pull it out from under my bed, finally grabbing it enough to slide it out and into my waiting hand. I roll back onto my bed, looking at my phone screen. It was a text from Rarity.

“Hello darling,” the message read, “wondering if you’re willing to attend a party tomorrow?”

I… I’d never been to a party before. My anxiety began to kick in, making my heart race, but I pushed it back down. This could be a great opportunity to spend some quality time with Rarity… even if I do have to see other people.

I opened my messaging application and my fingers were flicking over the virtual keys almost immediately.

“Sure, where at?”

My phone buzzed once again and a message popped up with an address. My eyes suddenly widened. The party was... tomorrow?! That’s Rarity’s birthday!

“... your birthday’s tomorrow, right?” I texted back, swallowing. “Is this the party?”

Three agonizing minutes later and my phone buzzed again, her message containing only one word;

“YES! :)”

“Awesome, see you there!” I quickly replied, getting off my bed. This was perfect! I could get her a great gift with the money I had been collecting and saving for myself. Running to my closet, I opened up the drawer where I keep my paper money, counting it quickly. Nine hundred dollars. I stuffed it into my pocket, tying my wallet into my pocket just to make sure I wouldn’t lose it, and walked downstairs. Slipping my shoes on and getting out the door was easy, and I breathed in the crisp autumn air. Now came the hard part… finding out what to get.

I walked for a few minutes before stopping in front of a jewelry store, my eyes catching on the beautiful metalwork inside.

“Perfect,” I thought. Rarity loves fashion, and if it’s fashion she loves, its fashion she'll get. I looked around at the display cases, stopping on every piece of sparkling fancies. Out of the corner of my eye I saw a yellow glimmer and I turn towards it, my eyes stopping on a beautiful gold and silver braided bracelet. I rushed over, admiring the craftsmanship and metalwork of the braided metals. Keeping the product number in mind I turned to head to the register, but right behind me was a beautiful diamond necklace. The diamonds were polished to perfection and the three violet hearts inlaid in the design shimmered gracefully in the artificial retail lights.

However, my heart sank when I read the price tag. The whole store was on a sale, but it wasn't really enough to get this exquisite piece of jewelery down to my price point. I looked at it for a while longer, not noticing as an employee walked next to me.

"Gah!" I yelled, frightened to see a large man in a nice, checkered suit standing next to me, staring at the necklace. "Oh, uh, sorry..." I muttered, blushing. However, once he saw the price tag of the item I was looking at, he smiled and turned to me, tilting his head up to look me in the eye.

"So, sonny boy," he said in a deep but calming voice, "how much money do you have? You look a little disappointed, probably because you just can't buy it, am I right?" He was right. I nodded.

“I’m down one-fifty,” I explained, holding out my wad of cash to him. He took it and counted, smiling.

“Right you are, unfortunately,” the man frowned, but then there was a devious twinkle in his eye as he spotted something else. “What’s that around your neck, there?”

I raised an eyebrow, wondering what he meant before I looked down and saw my necklace. I had forgotten I was wearing it… I’d been wearing it so long. This necklace… i-it belonged to my parents. This was like the last tangible I had from them that was solidly my own.

“... this necklace?” I asked, rubbing at the golden chain and polishing the shiny lion pendant that hung from it.

“Do you want to buy this necklace?” I nodded, looking back at the diamonds. I knew that Rarity would love it...

"Well, alright,” the man thought for a moment, “let's make a deal. You give me that necklace and the cash you have, and you’ll just have bought yourself this fine diamond necklace."

… pay or don't pay? This necklace was from my parents… but I knew that Rarity's gift was more important than this necklace. Besides, they weren't the sweetest to me, even in hard situations with kids at school.

I handed him the necklace and all the money I had on me.

"Nice." he said, smiling brighter. "Well a deal's a deal. Here you go." He grabbed the diamond necklace from the display case and put it in a small, black box. "Might I ask,” he inquired, “are you buying this one for a special someone?" I nodded.

"Yes. She's the sweetest, and her birthday is tomorrow. I want to give her the best gift she can get." I felt a little weird after saying what was on my mind, but the man smiled nonetheless.

"Well, I hope she's happy with the gift." he said, patting me on the shoulder. "Take care, kid."

I left the store, the door swinging shut with the distant jingle of bells. I weighed my gift for Rarity in my hand as I walked, feeling the rough edges of the cut diamond on my hands. Now all I had to do was wrap it and give it to her at the party.

God… I hoped she likes it…

Author's Note

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