Blooms of a Feather

Chapters

Chapter 1: Ponyville Confidential - The Inside Story
Chapter 2: The Showing Up of Diamond Tiara
Chapter 3: Faint Hearts Never Won Fair Filly
Chapter 4: Confessions and Consolations

Chapter 1: Ponyville Confidential - The Inside Story

How long had it been since he had first laid eye on her? Would she ever feel the same for him? And more importantly, if he did form a relationship with her, what were the chances of it working out? Those were just some of the many questions playing on his mind as he gazed longingly across the school yard, watching the yellow-furred filly chatting eagerly with her circle of friends who called themselves the Cutie Mark Crusaders.

And rather aptly so, he considered; even now that they were in their teens, none of them had yet gained those defining features on their flanks that symbolised their talents, their personalities, their destinies. For them, every day was like a quest to find their true calling in life, one that they would approach with initiative, creativity, but most of all determination. That was what he admired about her – okay, so perhaps she may have been a bit overzealous at times, but even after years of failing to help others gain their Cutie Marks, and probably even longer without gaining her own, she refused to give up that quest until she had reached her goal.

That she lacked a Cutie Mark, however, often made him feel a deep sense of guilt over his own. It was bad enough that he had nearly ruined her reputation once, and then wholly against his will; but it just felt so unfair to him that he should have something she had been after for so long, something she had been working so hard to get. Whenever he caught a glimpse of her bare flanks, he couldn't help but curse himself for having gained it so soon...

A voice from immediately next to him broke his train of thought; “You okay, Featherweight? You've hardly said a word since class.”

The off-white Pegasus looked up towards the taller and more substantial Earth pony colt standing by his side. “Eh what?” he asked blankly in his soft, lisping tone.

“I said are you okay?” The colt raised his eyebrow. “You don't exactly seem with it today, Feathers. What's up?”

Featherweight sighed wistfully. “Sorry, Shady Daze,” he murmured. “I was just thinking about Apple Bloom again is all.”

Shady Daze gave a wry smile. “That's all you've been thinking about for the last few weeks, bud. All month long, it's been Apple Bloom this and Apple Bloom that – don't you think it's about time you started acting on your feelings rather than brooding over why you're not the right pony for her?”

“Well what if I'm not?” protested Featherweight pathetically. “She hardly ever seems to notice me for a start. Besides, just look at me – thirteen years old, and I'm still just a scrawny little stick pony!”

“So what? Just because you haven't got much meat on you doesn't make you an eyesore. You never know – she might think you pretty cute.”

“Not as cute as that other Pegasus colt I know nothing about,” mumbled Featherweight.

“What, Chip Mint?!” Shady Daze began to laugh. “Ah, pull the other three, Feathers – there's no way he wants to be with Apple Bloom of all fillies! He's way too scared of her!”

“What do you mean?”

“I don't know what it is he doesn't like about her – lack of a Cutie Mark, imposing stature or what – he just finds that filly so intimidating it's untrue,” continued Shady Daze. “I mean, yeah, he's been thinking of giving the whole dating thing a go lately, but it's Cotton Cloudy who's caught his attention, not Apple Bloom. Sooner or later, she's gonna have to find that out, and when she does...” He didn't finish, but simply shifted his eyebrows in a suggestive manner.

But Featherweight still didn't seem convinced. “Yeah, and even then I probably wouldn't be the first on her list after that.”

“As if!” retorted Shady Daze. “Remember the whole Gabby Gums scandal back when we were a few years younger?”

“I remember alright – I remember that I was the one who took those photographs that Diamond Tiara used to blackmail her and Sweetie-Belle and Scootaloo.”

“True – but who was it that did the right thing and told Miss Cheerilee on her about the whole fiasco?”

Featherweight opened his mouth to reply, but anything he had to say was instantly cut off by the memory of what happened that day...

Since Namby Pamby had graduated and been replaced by Diamond Tiara as editor-in-chief of the Foal Free Press, things had become rather stressful for Featherweight. He had been the press' staff photographer for months before then, and up till now, he had enjoyed it a great deal; but with his new boss demanding better stories, he had had to work twice as hard to document anything and everything that was happening in Ponyville, not least because of the introduction of the Gabby Gums Gossip Column into the newspaper.

Featherweight sighed heavily as he began focussing his camera for the umpteenth time that day, unable to decide which was worse – his increased workload or the fact that he now had a power-mad bully as his editor. Diamond Tiara had always been the mean sort, but having been charged with such an important role, she seemed to have gone from petty and prissy to sharp and demanding. The stories on which she kept insisting weren't much better either; every last one seemed to read like a heavily exaggerated tabloid article, almost as if it were a mere rumour!

The Gabby Gums articles were by far and away the most libellous of these stories. Written by Apple Bloom, Sweetie-Belle and Scootaloo, they mainly centred around other ponies' private lives, frequently revealing embarrassing secrets about them. Featherweight had never liked the Gabby Gums column, and had tried to talk some sense into Diamond Tiara about prying into other ponies' business; but the pink-furred filly refused to hear him out.

“Need I remind you, feather brain, that I am the editor-in-chief, and I decide what stories go into the Foal Free Press!” she had told him. “Now get out and get me more photos – unless you yourself want to be part of the next Gabby Gums article!”

Such a threat coming from Diamond Tiara was too much for the scrawny little Pegasus colt, and after that, he resolved to refrain from ever bringing it up again. But how long could he keep it up for, he wondered? He was already beginning to suffer after all those long hours of keeping watch for a suitable new story, and he could tell the Cutie Mark Crusaders weren't enjoying it either. If only there was something he could do about it...

“AHA!! Just the pony I wanted to see!”

Featherweight spun round, startled. His railway enthusiast friend Locomotion stood immediately behind him with a grim look on his face, clutching a copy of the Foal Free Press newspaper. “Oh...hey there, Loco,” he stammered. “What's up?”

“I'll tell you what's up,” replied Locomotion. “Apparently, this week's Gabby Gums column features some cock and bull story that my uncle Steamer and I have ambitions to be tramps one day! It even shows us inside that old coach we were looking through last week – and if I remember correctly,” he added sternly, “you're still the staff photographer, right?”

“Uh...yeah...I can explain...” began Featherweight; but Locomotion didn't wait to hear what he had to say.

“You do realise he was only showing me the sort of thing that they do in the carriage works?” he asked in an accusing tone.

“Loco, please, I didn't want any part in this!” blustered Featherweight. “I only did it because she forced me to!”

“Yeah, I'm sure you did – and let me...” Locomotion stopped, visibly perplexed. “Hang on, who forced you to do what?”

“Diamond Tiara,” replied Featherweight unhappily. “She's been made editor-in-chief of the Foal Free Press now, and she's been forcing me and the rest of us to come up with what she thinks are better stories. On top of that, she made me document everything that's going on in Ponyville.”

Locomotion raised a suspicious eyebrow. “Diamond Tiara, eh? I might have known she'd be behind all this!” he muttered. He then turned back to the younger Pegasus; “Right, well...sorry I was so harsh with you, Feathers. I guess I just got a bit carried away when I saw that article.”

Featherweight stared at his hooves with shame. “I wouldn't blame you,” he admitted. “With the sort of stories we've been ordered to publish, the whole town could start complaining about the Foal Free Press. Only thing is, I don't think any of us can do anything about it.”

“Why not?”

“I did try to talk her out of it,” said Featherweight gravely, “but she threatened to write some embarrassing article about me if I squealed. She even blackmailed Apple Bloom, Sweetie-Belle and Scootaloo when they asked to quit.”

The red-furred unicorn colt blinked. “Those three? I thought she'd be glad to get shot of them.”

“Normally, yes, but...” Featherweight checked left and right to make sure nopony else was listening, and then he leaned forward to whisper into Locomotion's ear. “It was them who came up with the Gabby Gums column.”

“What?!” burst out Locomotion in shock. “You mean they've been willingly...”

“Well, at first, yes,” interrupted Featherweight, “but even they decided they'd had enough. Matter of fact, they tried to quit earlier today, but Diamond Tiara blackmailed them with some of my photographs.”

“Oh, she did, did she?!” exclaimed Locomotion sharply. “Well, I'll give her something to blackmail soon enough!” At that moment, his face lit up. “Hang about, Feathers – you said you were told to document everything?”

“Uh...yeah?”

“Absolutely everything?”

Featherweight nodded in reply; but then his eyes widened in sudden realisation. “Wait a minute – I've just remembered something!”

“What have you remembered?”

“I took a photograph of those three while they were confronting Diamond Tiara this morning,” explained Featherweight. “I think I even managed to get a snapshot of the pictures she was using as her leverage; she said she'd publish them if they quit.”

Locomotion smirked broadly and stomped a decisive hoof. “Right!” he announced. “We'll soon stop that nonsense! You go and develop that photograph...if you have it, that is...and we'll show it to Miss Cheerilee first thing tomorrow. That'll teach Diamond Tiara to abuse her authority!”

“Will do, but what about Apple Bloom, Scootaloo and Sweetie-Belle?”

Locomotion cocked his head. “What about them?”

Featherweight frowned. “Nopony seems to be speaking to them. Everypony in Ponyville knows that they're the ones behind the Gabby Gums article, and...well...” but in his guilt, he couldn't bring himself to finish his sentence.

“So they've already had their names tarnished, eh?” Locomotion sighed heavily. “Not meaning to sound pessimistic, Feathers, but I don't really see what we can do about that. Still,” he went on hopefully, “I'm sure it'll sort itself out in the end – but in the meantime, we have more important things to consider.”

“More important?!” repeated Featherweight, aghast. “But Loco, these are some of our friends we're talking about!”

“Then why are we sitting around and brooding over them?!” stated Locomotion firmly. “We can't help them unless we spill the beans – and we certainly can't spill the beans without that photo!” and with that, he trotted away towards home, leaving Featherweight alone with his thoughts.

Featherweight could hardly sleep that night. He had been all through town that day, looking for enough subject material to humour Diamond Tiara's thirst for juicy libel until her cover was blown; and every other place he came to, there were the Cutie Mark Crusaders being chastised by some random pony or other for being so hurtful and intrusive. Every time he saw them, the shame and sorrow in the three fillies' faces was so plain and obvious to the scrawny young colt that it made his heart bleed. Even now, as he lay restless beneath his bedclothes, seeking sleep in vain, their woeful expressions kept flashing in his mind, while Locomotion's words played over and over like a faulty record player;

“...I don't really see what we can do about that......we can't help them unless we spill the beans...”

Letting a small tear loose, Featherweight solemnly sat up and began to ponder. He knew Locomotion was right – indeed, he had already gone to his local print studio to have his photographs developed, but he still wished there was something more he could do to restore the Crusaders' image.

“Can't help them unless we spill the beans, he says,” he muttered sadly. “We could have at least tried, Loco.”

He slowly climbed out of bed and plodded towards the window. Slowly pulling back the curtain, he could see a soft light emanating from one of the groves of nearby Sweet Apple Acres – if memory served him, it was in the midst of that very grove where the Cutie Mark Crusaders' clubhouse was to be found. Clearly, he realised, they must have gone into hiding there until they could find their own way of escaping the rut they had gotten themselves into.

This was the final straw for Featherweight. No longer could he simply sit around and wait for dawn to break – he simply had to do something for those three fillies! Quietly, cautiously, he crept into the hallway and listened carefully. Sure enough, soft snoring from behind the door immediately opposite his own told him that his parents were sound asleep, and so, taking care not to make too much noise, he opened up his bedroom window and took off towards the orchard...

Chapter 2: The Showing Up of Diamond Tiara

Sweetie-Belle, Apple Bloom and Scootaloo had been spending the best part of several hours trying to work out the solution to their dilemma, but none of them could think of anything sensible – their only option, it seemed, would be to face the music Diamond Tiara would inevitably play if they didn't submit a new Gabby Gums article by morning. By now, they were overcome with exhaustion and almost ready to give in.

But just as they were settling down for a cold and uncomfortable night's sleep, Scootaloo happened to notice a certain scrawny Pegasus colt flying towards them through the clubhouse window. “Oh, great!” she muttered gloomily. “Just when you thought things couldn't get any worse, we've got Mr Paparazzi coming our way!”

Featherweight touched down on the balcony with a nervous expression on his face. “Uh...hi, girls,” he stammered, almost expecting them to lash out at him the very instant he opened his mouth. It came as both a surprise and a relief when they didn't – indeed, much to his dismay, they barely seemed to notice him at all.

“Hi, Featherweight,” mumbled Sweetie-Belle, staring at her front hooves with shame. “Come to take some more embarrassing pictures of us?”

“What? No, of course not!” stammered Featherweight, taken aback.

“Well, that's what she asked y'all ta do,” retorted Apple Bloom, too upset to even bother mentioning Diamond Tiara's name. “Just take yo' photos an' go – we've a' had it comin' our ways anyway.”

Featherweight heaved a deep sigh and closed his eyes. “I didn't want to,” he murmured sadly. “I was blackmailed into it.”

“Yeah right. Ah suppose...” but Apple Bloom suddenly broke off and stared in disbelief. “What, y'all as well?”

“That's right. I knew you three had had enough of hurting other ponies' feelings, so I tried to talk her out of it...” The scrawny young colt paused in mid-sentence as a somewhat errant feeling of helplessness registered in his mind.

“But?” prompted Scootaloo at last.

Featherweight swallowed hard and pushed his despair as far aside as he could manage. “...she threatened to feature me in the next Gabby Gums unless I kept my mouth shut.”

The Crusaders exchanged glances of appal. They didn't know which was worse – Diamond Tiara using his photographs as leverage to keep them writing hurtful gossip articles, or her doing the same with the articles themselves to silence militant Foal Free Press staff!

At last, Apple Bloom spoke up; “Right, that does it! If that Diamond Tiara wants a gossip column in the Foal Free Press, she can count me out of it once an' fo' all!”

“Me too!” put in Scootaloo defiantly. “Let her publish those photos – I don't care!”

“But what about the rest of Ponyville?” objected Sweetie-Belle uncertainly. “Even if we quit, they might not want anything to do with us ever again. If they see those photos Featherweight took of us...”

“Ah, stuff the photos!” retorted Apple Bloom. “Ah suggested the Foal Free Press so we could get our Cutie Marks, not help Diamond Tiara mess up other ponies' lives! If this is the sort o' thing she wants ta do with the Gabby Gums stuff, Ah'm quittin' – an' that's an end of it!”

Such a bold move on Apple Bloom's part almost brought tears to Featherweight's eyes. Here were three fillies whose reputations were on the line should they quit, and yet she seemed more than prepared to sacrifice hers for the sake of him and the rest of the Foal Free Press.

“Apple Bloom's right,” added Scootaloo firmly. “We've hurt enough feelings to last us a lifetime! There's no way I'm gonna let that happen to our former fellow journalists. Besides, if we could only make some sort of public apology, then we can at least get our friends back.”

This gave Featherweight an idea. “Perhaps if you three published it in the Foal Free Press?” he suggested hopefully.

“Yeah, maybe it would if we din' have Diamond Tiara watchin' over our shoulders.”

“Well...that's as maybe,” went on Featherweight thoughtfully, “but suppose you wrote it out and then waited until the very last minute before submitting it?”

Once again, the three fillies exchanged glances; but this time, the off-white Pegasus colt could detect the faintest glimmer of hope in their eyes for the first time in several hours.

“I think it's our best chance,” remarked Scootaloo at last.

“I think it's our only chance,” agreed Sweetie-Belle resignedly. “It won't stop Diamond Tiara from publishing your photos, Featherweight, but it's a start.”

Elated at having managed to help them out of their sticky situation at long last, Featherweight gave a small smile. “Don't worry about Diamond Tiara,” he replied. “Loco and I will see that she doesn't get her way...”

Featherweight was as good as his word. Early the next morning, he headed for the local print studio to get his latest photographs developed, and met up with Locomotion outside the schoolhouse with minutes to spare before their first class of the day. Before they went in, the red-furred railway enthusiast took a quick look through Featherweight's snapshots, and was more than satisfied to find that the portfolio with which he had been presented contained more than enough evidence against Diamond Tiara.

“Nice work, Feathers,” he praised. “Now we'll show her! Just don't let anypony else know about this in case she begins to suspect us.”

Featherweight nodded obediently in reply. At that moment, the school bell rang, and the other fillies and colts, among them a visibly satisfied Diamond Tiara, began filing into the schoolhouse. The two colts followed, with the young Pegasus silently hoping that his suggestion to the Cutie Mark Crusaders would pay off while Locomotion smirked inwardly. Not long, he told himself, before that prissy pink prude was exposed.

“Remember – not a word to the others,” he whispered to Featherweight.

The morning's lesson went by rather slowly for the two colts. Featherweight was still brooding over the Crusaders, and couldn't help gazing upon them every so often, particularly Apple Bloom. None of them paid him any attention, but they all seemed strangely positive – perhaps this meant there wasn't anything to worry about any more, he thought. But if that was the case, then why couldn't he stop?

Locomotion, on the other hoof, was keen to pay Diamond Tiara back for making such a monkey out of him and his friends, and kept gazing impatiently at the nearby clock. All he wanted was for the lesson to end, so that he and Featherweight could spill the beans about the whole Gabby Gums scandal.

Finally, after what felt like an age, the recess bell rang.

“Now for our plan,” murmured Locomotion. He and Featherweight waited and watched until the rest of the class had left, and then they made their way up to their teacher's desk. “Excuse me, Miss Cheerilee...”

“Yes, Locomotion?”

“...not to sound overly critical or anything,” said Locomotion gravely, “but Featherweight and I have a few complaints to enter about the Foal Free Press.”

Cheerilee raised a concerned eyebrow. “What sort of complaints?”

Locomotion gave Featherweight a gentle nudge, whereupon the little Pegasus spoke up; “Well, Miss Cheerilee...it's like this,” he began nervously, “Diamond Tiara has...well...Loco and I feel that she's been...well...sort of abusing her own power since she became editor-in-chief. She keeps insisting on...well...'juicy stories' as she calls them, but they're not so much 'juicy' as hurtful.”

“How so?” asked Cheerilee.

“Every single story she's published is either untrue or it makes a complete mockery out of...whoever or whatever she's writing about, and to cap it all, she's even put in a gossip column known as Gabby Gums, with Apple Bloom, Sweetie-Belle and Scootaloo as its writers.”

“Yeah, Uncle Steamer and I were the latest subject of that column,” added Locomotion. “We'd been looking through an old coach, and my uncle was explaining to me what needed to be done to bring it up to scratch, and then Featherweight comes and takes a photo of us both. Now, if it'd been a feature on railway carriage restoration, I'd have been fine – but that wasn't what was in there when I bought a copy from the Ponyville news stand. This was!” and he held up a newspaper cutting showing the relevant article.

“From the news stand, you say?” Cheerilee looked as though she could hardly believe her ears. “That can't be right! The Foal Free Press is strictly meant to be a student newspaper.”

“We know, Miss Cheerilee,” replied Featherweight unhappily, “but she wanted it to be more than that. Her words were along the lines of, 'The Foal Free Press is too full of namby-pamby stuff, and I'm gonna bring us to glory.' She even insisted that I photograph everything that goes on in Ponyville.”

Still unable to grasp what she had just been told, Cheerilee read through Locomotion's newspaper cutting. But the further she read, the more she realised just how right they were. “Why didn't you tell me sooner?”

“I couldn't,” admitted Featherweight. “She used my photographs and the Gabby Gums column to blackmail us into carrying on the way we were. If any of us didn't, she would make up some really embarrassing story as payback. She even did the same with the Cutie Mark Crusaders when they announced they wanted to quit...”

“...and we have plenty of photos to prove it, thanks to Diamond Tiara's insistence,” interrupted Locomotion. Taking the hint, Featherweight produced a photograph of the confrontation in question, which Cheerilee carefully examined. Sure enough, there were the Crusaders standing directly in front of Diamond Tiara's desk, with the pink-furred filly herself smirking devilishly. Laid out in front of her were three photographs, one of Scootaloo feebly trying to fly herself out of a muddy patch without success, one of Sweetie-Belle in an outfit that made her look like a peacock, and one depicting Apple Bloom at only a few months old.

That was all that Cheerilee needed to know. “Right,” she said at last, “thank you for telling me about this, you two. I'll see to this issue immediately.”

“That's okay, Miss Cheerilee,” replied Locomotion. “Just doing our bit for the Foal Free Press is all.”

“As for you, Featherweight...”

Featherweight looked nervously up at Cheerilee. “Yeah?”

“...in the light of Diamond Tiara's...er, 'misdeeds', I have a special offer for you...”

Locomotion didn't quite know what Cheerilee was getting at, but the smile on her face as she addressed Featherweight told him all was well, so he tactfully decided to take his leave. As he made his way out of the schoolhouse, he noticed an apoplectic Diamond Tiara reading through the morning's Foal Free Press. Curious as to what had grabbed her attention, he listened carefully for what she had to say.

“They're not gonna get away with this! I'll publish those photos tomorrow!” she growled furiously. “They've messed with the wrong pony!” Tossing the paper aside, she stormed off back to the schoolhouse, ignoring the smug expression on Locomotion's face as he began to realise what this was all about.

“So they've finally decided to stand up to you, eh Diamond Tiara?” he chortled. “Now we'll see who's the wrong pony to mess with!”

For the rest of the day, Diamond Tiara was in such a foul mood that she hardly said more than two words to anypony about the Foal Free Press. All the while, she kept thinking about the open letter that she had inadvertently published, and how much of a misery she would make out of the Cutie Mark Crusaders' lives for quitting on her. What she couldn't know was that her chance for revenge had already been thwarted.

As evening drew in, the Foal Free Press staff were already hard at work preparing for another day of printing when Diamond Tiara stalked into the room. “Truffle Shuffle!” she shouted.

The chubby grey-furred colt, who happened to be sitting nearby, trotted over to her desk. “Yes, Diamond Tiara?”

“Get me those photos out of storage, the ones of the Cutie Mark Crusaders!” demanded Diamond Tiara sharply.

“Uh...what photos?” asked Truffle Shuffle, seemingly perplexed.

Diamond Tiara leered threateningly at him. “You know which ones! The ones I showed them yesterday!” she snapped. “Now do as I say and get them out of the archives!”

Truffle Shuffle gave an awkward grin in reply. “Uh...yeah, about that,” he replied, “I...can't very well get them out of storage when they're not there.”

“What do you mean they aren't?!”

“I'll tell you why not!” Both foals looked up to see Cheerilee, Locomotion and the Cutie Mark Crusaders standing in the doorway. “We've seen all those incriminating photos you insisted on documenting, Diamond Tiara,” the red-furred colt explained triumphantly, “and every last one of them has been destroyed on the orders of our good teacher.”

“And I've been hearing stories of you not only blackmailing your staff, but also using the Foal Free Press spread all sorts of rumours around Ponyville,” added Cheerilee sternly. “Is this true, Diamond Tiara?”

Diamond Tiara looked away nervously, unsure how to respond.

“It's true, Miss Cheerilee,” piped up one of the other fillies in the room. “She said that if we complained about the way she ran the paper, she would feature us in the Gabby Gums column.”

“Uh...what Gabby Gums column?” asked Diamond Tiara feebly.

“You mean this?!” Locomotion held up his newspaper cutting for everypony in the room to see. “I suppose you realise, Diamond Tiara, that this was meant to be Uncle Steamer showing me what they'd be doing to that old hulk at the carriage works?”

“How was I to know?! Anyway, it was those blank-flanks who wrote it, not me!”

“Only 'cause you forced us to!” retorted Scootaloo sharply. “You told us, and I quote, 'Gabby Gums is my bread and butter, and I'm not gonna let you goody-two-horseshoes take that away from me'!”

“Exactly what Featherweight told me,” put in Locomotion. “And more to the point, he said you'd issued a similar threat to him if he squealed. Pity you reckoned without his own photos – so much for documenting anything and everything in Ponyville, eh Diamond Tiara?!”

“So what?!” protested Diamond Tiara. “That paper was just so boring! How do you expect it to sell if you don't liven it up!”

“By making fun of others?! I don't know where Pinkie Pie was coming from with the word 'cyber-bullying', but I'd say that probably sums it up! This is not how you run a newspaper!”

“Oh yeah?! I'd like to see you do better!”

“He already did.” This came from Shady Daze, who was standing next to the printers. “I happened to read that article on the trains at Ponyville Shed, and it was brilliant!”

“Well, staff,” Cheerilee surmised gravely, “I guess I gave a little too much authority to a first-time editor. I'm sorry, Diamond Tiara, I have to strip you of your title.”

Diamond Tiara seethed with anger as she stepped away from the desk, ignoring the pitying look from Locomotion as he watched Cheerilee take down the intimidating poster of her likeness.

“And for the next editor of the Foal Free Press, here is your new editor-in-chief, Featherweight!”

The rest of the staff raised a cheer as Featherweight stepped up to the desk, while Locomotion looked on with a supportive smile. Now that he knew what Cheerilee had been talking about earlier, he couldn't have been any happier for the scrawny young Pegasus.

Chapter 3: Faint Hearts Never Won Fair Filly

As that bitter-sweet recollection came to a finish, Featherweight sighed and nodded thoughtfully. “I guess you've got a point, Shady,” he murmured. “To be fair, it was more Loco's doing than mine...”

“Yeah, but so what?” insisted Shady Daze. “If it hadn't been for you, Miss Cheerilee probably wouldn't have believed him. You were there – you were living proof of what Diamond Tiara had been up to, and if you hadn't grassed on her, Apple Bloom and her pals would still be up to their necks in it! You take my advice, buddy,” he encouraged, “you just go and talk to that filly. You'd be surprised.” He said no more, but gave a coy wink before trotting away to join Snips and Snails on the other side of the school yard.

Featherweight feebly raised a hoof, almost as if begging for him to come back, but Shady Daze took no notice. Almost at once, the off-white Pegasus felt that same old wave of unease washing over him as he returned his gaze to Apple Bloom, along with a feeling of confusion. Why would Shady Daze just leave him in the lurch like this? Was it something he had said? Or was there another reason?

“Hey, feather brain, what's up? Thinking about that blank-flank peasant filly again?”

Featherweight cringed. He knew that voice all too well.

“Oh, I'm so sorry you can't seem to find yourself a fillyfriend,” taunted Diamond Tiara, her voice heavy with irony as she and her friend Silver Spoon circled the smaller Pegasus colt like vultures around a carcass. “Still, hardly surprising – who would want to make friends with somepony so skinny and weak as you, after all?”

“Yeah, who indeed?” Featherweight wasn't sure, but he could have sworn Silver Spoon sounded rather distracted. Why this was so, he couldn't quite place his hoof on; but the sound of their taunting drowned out the queries that played out in his head.

“Let's face it, no way is that physique good for anything,” went on Diamond Tiara in a pitying tone. “I'm surprised you haven't broken any bones yet – with so little muscle on that frame of yours, how can any...” but she never finished. Without warning, she bumped hard into something standing just to the left of their victim and fell over onto her side, whereupon Silver Spoon stopped too.

Perplexed, Featherweight looked over towards whatever the pink-furred filly had walked into. There stood Locomotion, directing a disapproving glower upon Diamond Tiara as she struggled to her hooves. He didn't even hold out a hoof for her.

Diamond Tiara looked the red-furred colt sharply in the eye. “Do you mind?!” she demanded.

“Yes, I most certainly do mind!” replied Locomotion severely. “I've just about had it with your bullying my friends like this, Diamond Tiara! If it's not about the lack of a Cutie Mark, it's something to do their age, their size, their social standing – and now I find you're making fun of one of the most sensitive ponies in our year for his physique?! Well, let me tell you, Glass Crown, you're in no position to be putting the rest of us down just because you think you're above everypony else – because you're not!”

“What are you talking about?!” snorted Diamond Tiara defensively. “I've got loads more money than you have...”

“There you go again, using mere money as an excuse!” bellowed Locomotion, drowning out Diamond Tiara's protests. “You think being rich entitles you to be a mean old prude when in fact it's making you enemies throughout Ponyville! You don't even realise just how bad a name it's making for your own folks – all because you insist on making others feel bad about themselves and angry with you at the same time! Heck, I'm surprised you haven't made it onto the Mayor's blacklist, to hear what others have been saying about your lamentable attitude!”

Diamond Tiara spluttered indignantly. Never had anypony spoken so rudely of her before! “Well...well, at least I know how to be more popular than you!” she blurted out.

But Locomotion refused to buy it. “Freely translated: 'I have trouble making friends – what are you going to do about it?!'” he retorted mockingly. “Quite frankly, Diamond Tiara, you are the one who needs to do something about it! Take me, for example; I may not be as rich as you, but at least I can afford some manners!”

This struck a raw nerve with Diamond Tiara. “I'll teach you some manners!” she screamed furiously, and threw a vicious punch towards his face – but all she succeeded in doing was bruising her hoof against the forcefield Locomotion had hastily cast around himself.

“Precisely what I should have expected from a filly who refuses to mind her own!” said Locomotion huffily. “I'd think twice before trying that again!”

Diamond Tiara leered at him with a mix of pain and anger in her expression. “You'll be sorry one of these days, Loco!” she snarled.

“Oh, I'm already sorry you turned out to be so selfish and insensitive! Face it, Diamond Tiara, with an attitude like yours, there's no way you're gonna win any favour with the rest of Ponyville – and I reckon I speak for maybe 99% of the population here! Now if you take my advice, you'll kindly buzz off and take your fillyfriend with you!” ordered Locomotion, gesturing towards Silver Spoon as he spoke.

Diamond Tiara opened her mouth to make a rude comeback, but something about what Locomotion had just said quickly wiped out whatever angry dialogue she had thought up, replacing it with a feeling of deep confusion. In the end, all she could manage was a frustrated growl before storming off with Silver Spoon in tow.

Locomotion watched as the two fillies returned to the schoolhouse, breathing deeply to calm himself down before turning his attention to Featherweight. “You okay, Feathers?” he asked gently. “They didn't get too far under your skin, did they?”

“Yeah, they did, rather,” admitted Featherweight sadly. “Still, I had it coming my way anyway, thinking I'd have a chance with her.”

“With whom?” But before Featherweight could reply, Locomotion quickly realised what he was getting at; “Oh, I get it – this is about Apple Bloom, isn't it?”

The scrawny off-white colt responded with a slow nod, a small tear creeping into his eye. “What's the use? Diamond Tiara's right for once – why would Apple Bloom ever like me back?”

“No, Featherweight,” said Locomotion firmly, “Diamond Tiara is never right – not when she's bullying other ponies, at least. Seriously, though, you've got to stop beating yourself up about all this, pal! So maybe Apple Bloom doesn't seem to return your feelings, but that's because you haven't been trying hard enough. Faint hearts never won fair filly, after all.”

“Yeah, but what should I do?” protested Featherweight. “I mean...she may not like me back...”

“Look, the worst case scenario is that she'll say 'That's mighty kind o' y'all ta say so, Featherweight, but Ah'd rather just stick ta bein' friends',” replied Locomotion, putting on his best Apple Bloom impression. “Apple Bloom may be stubborn at times, just like the rest of her family, but you're still a good friend of hers. Besides, you won't know until you test the water.”

“Just what Shady Daze has been telling me,” began Featherweight, “but I don't...”

“And he's absolutely right too,” cut in Locomotion. “I may not have had a fillyfriend to speak of – yet – but even I know that if there's some really nice girl out there who's caught my eye, then I'd have to go and talk to her if I wanted to...you know, hit it off with her. You should do the same.”

Featherweight paused. “Well...I suppose if somepony came with me, I might feel a bit easier about the whole thing.”

“Sorry, Feathers,” said Locomotion, shaking his head. “I know you don't exactly feel comfortable about being alone with Apple Bloom, but it'd make your confession way more meaningful than if somepony else was with you.”

As he finished his sentence, they both heard the school bell signalling the end of recess. The red-furred unicorn colt turned and made his way into the schoolhouse, while Featherweight trailed far behind, still deeply unsure of himself as he mulled over Locomotion and Shady Daze's words. Sure, it was all very well for them to say “Go and talk to Apple Bloom and then you'll know how she feels about you,” but deep down, he still wasn't sure he had the guts. In any event, who was to say she returned his feelings? How did he know she wouldn't harshly turn him down the moment he came out with the truth? And more importantly, how would he be able to cope if that happened?

But those weren't the only things bugging the off-white colt. Even if he did find himself in a relationship with Apple Bloom, he thought, how would they make it work out? As a budding journalist, he had an entire career ahead of him, travelling all around the world to places that most other ponies would only ever have seen in the media; but he wasn't sure he wanted to drag her around with him everywhere he went should she become too attached to Sweet Apple Acres, and neither did he fancy the idea of leaving her all alone here in Ponyville. Neither way would be very fair on her, after all – in fact, as far as he was concerned, it would be downright selfish of him.

Featherweight groaned under his breath as he sat himself down in his usual place at the back of the classroom. All these questions and mental obstacles were making him sick to the stomach with worry, and this in turn left him almost completely unable to concentrate.

“Oh, Apple Bloom,” he murmured sadly, “if only you knew how I feel...”

Even when dawn broke the following day, Featherweight still couldn't stop brooding over Apple Bloom. Normally, he would have tried to take his mind off his worries by drafting out some new article or other for the Foal Free Press; but today being a Saturday, there wouldn't be any point since the school was closed for the weekend. All he could do in the meantime was take a wander through Ponyville in a bid to clear his head.

How long he had been out, he didn't quite know, but after a while, he was beginning to feel a little peckish. Perhaps it was just as well, then, that Sugarcube Corner happened to be close by – perhaps if he bought himself a small chocolate chip cookie or something, he could keep himself going until lunchtime. But just as he was approaching the bakery, he noticed Apple Bloom of all fillies standing nearby, staring into the lobby with a stunned look on her face.

Featherweight raised an eyebrow, wondering what had grabbed her attention. Following her gaze, he noticed a sky blue Pegasus colt of about the same size as him sitting near the window – and next to him was a slightly older white filly with pale blue mane and tail. He couldn't quite hear what they were saying, but from the looks on their faces and the way they were sharing a strawberry milkshake, they were clearly enjoying each other's company.

After another minute or so, he noticed them slowly leaning in towards each other, closing their eyes in the process. In spite of his confusion, the scrawny off-white colt couldn't help but smile inwardly as he watched the romantic scene unfold in front of him – but his state of awe was suddenly broken by a faint sob. Startled, he looked back towards Apple Bloom, and was most dismayed to see her running away in tears. Only then did it all click into place – that colt they had just seen must have been that Chip Mint pony she had had her eye on all this time!

“Wow,” he remarked under his breath. “So Shady Daze wasn't joking about those two after all.”

He stared solemnly in the direction in which the yellow-furred filly had run off. For a fleeting moment, he was tempted to jump for joy at the realisation that he now had a better chance with her, but this was immediately cast aside by a feeling of deep guilt – here she was, understandably thunderstruck from seeing her crush forming a relationship with a completely different filly, and all he could think about was how this all worked out in his favour? What in the hay kind of friend would be so...heartless?!

But this in turn slowly gave way to an even deeper sense of resolve. So perhaps he had his own feelings to consider, no matter how selfish or inappropriate, but what did he care – all that mattered to him right now was that Apple Bloom was in a right state and needed every little bit of support she could get. With that, he headed for what he thought to be the most likely place she would have gone...

Chapter 4: Confessions and Consolations

Featherweight touched down in the middle of Sweet Apple Acres for the umpteenth time, wiping the sweat from his forehead as he paused for breath. He had searched the orchard for what felt like ages, starting at the Cutie Mark Crusaders' clubhouse and working his way from grove to grove; but no matter where he looked, he couldn't seem to find the yellow-furred filly anywhere.

“Poor Apple Bloom,” he murmured solemnly. “She must be taking this way harder than I thought.” A light shudder coursed its way down his spine as a list of worst-case scenarios began to fester in his mind; he knew all too well what had nearly happened to Spike a few years back, and because of this, part of him was scared that she might be doing something horrible to herself at this very moment. “I sure hope she's okay.”

“Hope who's okay?” said a voice. Featherweight looked up to see a pale yellow Pegasus filly slowly descending towards him, her brow furrowed with concerned perplexity.

“Oh, hey there, Alula,” he murmured unenthusiastically.

“Something bugging you, Feathers?” asked Alula curiously. “You seem a bit off.”

Featherweight sighed with resignation. He just couldn't keep this to himself, could he? “It's Apple Bloom,” he explained wearily. “She's had her eye on this colt for some time now, but he's gone and found himself a fillyfriend and...well...” he ground to a halt in mid-sentence, feeling his chest tighten as he thought of how distraught the farm filly must be feeling right now.

Alula's look of concern gave way to one of mirth. “So she's lost her chances of winning Chip Mint over already, huh?” she chortled. “Don't say we didn't warn you, Apple Bloom!”

Featherweight glared at her. “I don't see anything funny about this,” he chided. “That filly's in a right state after seeing them make out, and all you can do is laugh about it?”

“Well, what do you expect?” smirked Alula cheekily. “Everypony's been telling her not to get her hopes up with that colt, but she never listened to us. Serves her right, if you ask me.”

“I'm serious, Alula!” burst out Featherweight angrily. “Look, I realise she's been a bit foolish about him, but this is no time for cracking jokes. What she needs right now is support, and there's no...”

“Okay, okay, look, I'm sorry, alright?” interrupted Alula hastily.

Featherweight rolled his eyes. That filly may have had her heart in the right place, but her cheeky streak, probably more prominent than Locomotion's, was getting so far under his fur right now. “Well...just mind what you say,” he replied bluntly.

“You bet on it,” promised Alula. “Now then, have you tried looking for her?”

“Well, yeah,” said Featherweight anxiously. “I've been looking all around the orchard, but I just can't seem to find her.”

“Can't you?” Alula looked surprised. “That's weird – I saw her something like half an hour ago.”

Featherweight's eyes widened. “You did?! Where?”

“At the Cutie Mark Crusaders' clubhouse, listening to some story Tootsie Flute was telling them,” Alula specified. “She was a bit off, but she didn't seem anywhere near as bad as you described. Perhaps they've managed to help her come to terms with the whole thing.”

“Oh...” Somehow, Featherweight didn't know whether to feel relieved or disappointed. “...well...in that case, I guess I'll just go and check on her, see if she's okay. Thanks, Alula.”

“No problem, Feathers. See you round.”

But when at last Featherweight reached the clubhouse, he was even more frustrated to find it empty again. With an exasperated groan, he came into land at the foot of the tree in which it resided, silently wondering whether Alula had been playing a practical joke on him.

“Well...so much for that,” he muttered. “Honestly, Alula, did you have to waste my time like this? And just when Apple Bloom needs me most?”

By now, he was starting to grow rather tired and hungry; judging by the position of the sun, it was getting rather late in the day, and he hadn't given himself so much as a single bite to eat since breakfast. Part of him wanted so badly to find the nearest café and get himself some lunch, but the rest of him was still too anxious about Apple Bloom to be thinking about food. Ignoring the growling in his stomach, he got to his hooves and began walking through the orchard, looking left and right on the off-chance that she might be close by.

But no matter how hard he searched, all Featherweight could find was the odd rabbit, squirrel and other critter scampering among the trees. Exhausted and downhearted, he finally gave up his search and plodded gloomily towards the farm gate, mentally berating himself for letting the poor young farm filly down.

“Featherweight? Y'all okay?”

This stopped the off-white colt in his tracks. Without the slightest change of expression, he slowly looked up – sure enough, the filly of his affections was standing just the other side of the gate to him. She still displayed a small hint of sadness in her eyes for what she had seen earlier, but there was something else in them as she gazed upon him. It was almost as if she was......worried about him.

“There you are, Apple Bloom,” he remarked. “I'd been looking all over for you.”

“Yeah, an' Ah'd been lookin' fo' y'all,” put in Apple Bloom.

Featherweight looked surprised. “What for?”

“Well...it's kinda...Ah mean...” Apple Bloom paused, scuffing the grass with her hoof. “...ya know how mad Ah'd been about Chip Mint? Well, ya see...”

“You don't need to tell me anything,” interrupted Featherweight softly. “I happened to be close by at the time. I saw the whole thing.” He heaved a deep sigh. “Must have been really horrible for you.”

Apple Bloom nodded sadly. “It was mah own fault fo' thinkin' Ah had a chance with that colt,” she admitted. “Ah should'a listened to the others.”

“Yeah, I figured you'd find it hard to take,” went on Featherweight, “hence why I tried to find you – I thought you might need somepony with you to...you know...just to be with you and hear you out.” He assumed an awkward look; “But I gather that's already been taken care of.”

“Well...yeah an' no,” replied Apple Bloom. “See, all mah friends 'ave been goin' on about me an'...well, a certain other colt gettin' together fo' some time now.” A light blush adorned her face. “Ah din' exactly take 'em seriously, but now Ah've had time ta think about it...Ah think they might have a point.”

“Wait...what 'certain other colt'?” Featherweight began to look rather nervous. Was there really somepony else she had her eye on?

But Apple Bloom's response deftly evaded the question; “Do y'all have anything special goin' on this afternoon?” she asked hopefully

Featherweight pondered. “Um...not exactly. I haven't even had any lunch yet, as a matter of fact.”

“Ya...haven't?” Apple Bloom stared at him in shock.

“I was too worried about you,” explained Featherweight ruefully. “Food was the last thing on my mind.”

“An' ya go an' risk starvin' yourself just because Ah'm upset?!” exclaimed Apple Bloom in dismay.

“I didn't mean to. I just lost track of time.”

Apple Bloom looked at her hooves, letting a few tears loose in the process. “Why did ya have ta do this to yourself, Featherweight? Torture yourself just so y'all can make sure Ah'm okay?”

“Torture? Where did you get an idea like that?”

“Well, just look at yourself! Ya look la'k you'd barely eaten in days – it's...it just don't look healthy.”

Featherweight gave a wry smile. “Well...there's a very good reason for that,” he pointed out. “See, I was diagnosed with an unusually high metabolic rate when I was just a month old, so it's difficult for me to put on any kind of weight. That's why I've got such a pitiful figure; it's not that I don't get a good diet – it just gets used up a lot quicker.”

“So...yo' only la'k that 'cause yo' body works quicker? How come ya never told me?”

“You never asked me,” said Featherweight simply.

Apple Bloom looked deeply ashamed of herself. “Ah'm sorry, Featherweight,” she murmured meekly. “Ah din' mean to offend y'all...Ah just din' realise...”

“Nah, it's okay – easy mistake to make. Even Shady and Loco put it all down to an eating disorder at first.” Featherweight's smile faded at this point, and he began rubbing one front leg against the other as he tried to pluck up courage. “Um...actually, Apple Bloom,” he went on shyly, “there was another reason for me coming after you. See, I've...well, you've rather...that is......” but his courage faded faster than he could muster it, and his voice trailed away.

Apple Bloom waited expectantly for him to finish; but somehow, she had a hunch that she already knew what he was going to say. “Yeah?” she prompted after a while.

Featherweight took a deep breath and muttered something so low that Apple Bloom could barely hear.

“What'd ya say?”

Again, only a mumble came out, slightly more audible than the last one – but not by much.

“Ah still can't hear y'all.”

“I'm getting a crush on you!” blurted out Featherweight, his face reddening with shame. Apple Bloom's eyes widened, and a small blush of her own started to creep into her cheeks; but in his embarrassment, the off-white colt barely noticed. “I know what you're gonna say – you don't want to be with somepony so weak and skinny as little me – but I just can't hold it in any longer.”

The yellow-furred filly tilted her head in confusion. “What in the hay gave y'all that idea?”

“Diamond Tiara,” replied Featherweight gloomily. “She said there was no way anypony would want me as a coltfriend.” He closed his eyes and let out a small tear. “She's probably right – I mean, who would want to go out with some scrawny little stick pony?”

Apple Bloom was aghast. In all the time she and Featherweight had known each other, she had never heard him put himself down so strongly, and this made her heart bleed. “Don't talk la'k that, Featherweight!” she scolded. “Ya may be...well, a bit on the skinny side – but that ain't no excuse ta go callin' yourself a stick pony! That's typical Diamond Tiara talk, an' Ah ain't havin' it, ya hear?!”

Featherweight didn't say anything, but nodded solemnly in reply.

“An' who says Ah wouldn't wanna go out with somepony la'k y'all?” continued Apple Bloom, lowering her voice. “Ya may not be Chip Mint, but now Ah come ta think about it, yo' actually so much better than he could ever be.”

This took Featherweight by surprise. Slowly lifting his head again to meet Apple Bloom's gaze, he noticed a look of kind, caring gratitude in her eyes, along with the same sincerity that all her kin seemed to exhibit. “I...I am? How?”

“Ain't y'all done forgotten about the whole Gabby Gums thing?”

“I'm not likely to forget.” Featherweight chuckled lightly in spite of himself.

“Ya not only helped us out of a tight spot, but ya also paid Diamond Tiara back fo' gettin' us into it in the first place,” Apple Bloom reminded him. “Okay, so maybe Loco was the one who got ya ta own up, but if ya hadn't...”

Featherweight smiled wryly. He knew exactly what Apple Bloom was getting at. “Well...I could hardly just stand by and let my friends suffer, could I now?” he said modestly.

“Exactly – even if it's blank-flanks la'k us, you've always been the supportive type,” went on Apple Bloom. “If Ah 'member correctly, ya once told me, 'Cutie Marks matter nothin' in friendship – it's the thought that counts.' Ya wouldn't find Diamond Tiara sayin' that.”

“No, I guess not.”

“An' what about a' them neat photos ya take fo' the Foal Free Press an' such? Ah'm surprised ya ain't taken up photography as a profession!” admired Apple Bloom. “Then there's the stories ya write fo' the paper – even Loco's fanfics can't seem ta rival those, an' ya don't even bother with all that rumour stuff we put in the Gabby Gums column.” She paused impressively. “An' on top of a' that, yo' at least as cute as that Chip Mint – maybe even more.”

Featherweight felt his face begin to heat up again. “You...you really think so?”

Apple Bloom nodded, a fond smile adorning her lips. “Any other filly would be plum stupid not ta agree with me on that one,” she affirmed, closing her eyes and slowly leaning towards him.

For a fleeting moment, Featherweight was so unsure of what to think or feel that he could have sworn he had briefly lost consciousness. It was only when he felt a gentle caress against the side of his face that he finally gathered his awareness – sure enough, the yellow-furred filly of his affections was giving him a gentle, meaningful nuzzle. In a split second, his fear, sorrow and embarrassment all melted away, and he wrapped his front legs fondly around Apple Bloom's withers. This went on for quite some time before the two of them pulled apart and went back to gazing into each other's eyes.

“So...does that mean you...want to be my special somepony?” asked Featherweight hopefully.

“It sure does,” smiled Apple Bloom softly. “But on one condition...”

An ominous feeling of dread started to muster itself in the pit of Featherweight's stomach. “What's that?”

Apple Bloom smirked cheekily. “...y'all goin' an gettin' yourself some lunch, o' course! Ah ain't gonna let mah own coltfriend starve himself, ya know!”

Featherweight chuckled with relief. “Don't you worry, Apple Bloom,” he assured her, “I never intended anything of the sort. Now that we've cleared this all up, I'm off to get a bite at the Sunflower Café.” He raised a hoof, almost as if he were about to leave; but promptly stopped himself and turned back to Apple Bloom. “Coming?”

“Darn tootin'!” said Apple Bloom eagerly; and with that, she and her new coltfriend trotted cheerfully down the road towards the Town Square.