The Mask of Silver

Minuet Shimmer stared down at the shining mask, it was gleaming silvery-blue, and it looked very old. Yet, it looked like it hadn't been faded or anything. On the one side of it, there was five little silver feathers. The other side was bare. It must have been for a masquerade a long time ago, and a fancy pony must have lost it.

But If Minuet found it, was it hers? Did she own it?

Madam Sniffle would have definitely said no, she would have snatched the precious thing right out of Minuet's hooves and put it in an old, dusty case or something.

And that’s why Minuet Shimmer kept the mask for herself.

She wished she had a friend to show it to, that would be nice. But all the Orphans ignored her.

       ~~~

Minuet shimmer played the piano a lot. It was her favorite instrument. And it was one of the hardest for a pony to master. Especially an earth pony.

Whenever Minuet played, it eased her mind, made her calm.

That day, she was playing an old, classical song. Her favorite songs were classical, they reminded her of all the old, pony masters, playing symphonies and beautiful songs. She was playing the Turkish March, practicing to get better at it. It was very difficult, but she loved the tune. She could play it over and over again.

The Music room was most of the time empty, she liked it that way, there were violins on racks, flutes, harps, cellos, drums, and even a DJ section. Most ponies didn't really care for music as much as she did, she spent her spare hours practicing alone, by herself.

She ended her song on the piano with a lower key tone, and then sighed.

“That was marvelous!” came a voice from behind her.

Minuet turned around, and there, in the doorway, was a pony. Her main and tail were turquoise, wavy and sleek. She was violet all over, and she didn't have a cutie mark yet. The ponies eyes were red, standing out to her ocean-y colors. She looked a little younger then Minuet, but only by a little.

“I—I'm sorry, I'll be leaving if you want me too...” Minuet's voice trailed off.

“No! That was great!” said the Pony, “You seem like a nice pony.”

“I do?” asked Minuet,

“Yeah.” said the pony, “um, I’m Jade Weave. But ponies just call me Jade.”

“Hi,” said Minuet, she hardly ever talked to any pony other then the maids, and Madam Sniffle.

“What's your name?” asked Jade Weave eagerly,

“Uh, Minuet Shimmer.” said Minuet, she tried her best not to pepper her speech with to many ums and ers.

“You wanna talk later?” asked Jade, “The schoolteacher will be looking for me. Maybe you could teach my how you play, I don't have a cutie mark yet.”

“Um, sure! Where at?”

“uh...” said Jade, tapping her unicorn, “how about at Sugar cube Corner? They have awesome pastries there.”

“We could go tomorrow.” said Minuet, “I half to work hard today, and tomorrow is Saturday.”

“Yay! Meet you there!” said Jade, trotting down and away the hall.

Minuet heard her new friend whisper to herself: “Awesome! A new friend!”

A new Friend.

Minuet felt like she was going go crazy. A friend? She finally had one! She could not wait until Saturday. What would They talk about? Friends stuff right? Like secrets. And magazines. She giggled to herself, and picked up her books. Then she went outside of the school building and down the street to the orphanage.

When Saturday finally arrived, Minuet was fluttering with excitement. The one day on the week that she had all to herself. She raced off down the halls of the orphanage, pictures, and statues went flying by. And soon, Minuet shimmer was out the doors.

Sugar cube corner wasn't that far, she walked past it every day to school, sniffing the delicious smells.

She had brought some of her favorite things, her diary, her flute, and her reading glasses (Yep, she had reading glasses) but she also borrowed some magazines, she did not know which ones that Jade would like, so she just got a selection of them, she herself didn't read them that much, but maybe she could get into them.

The slight breeze washed over her, it was almost lunchtime. She had brought a small loaf of bread, and daises to make a sandwich with them or something.

Minuet Shimmer knew that she was close to Sugar Cube Corner as she trotted down the path without even seeing it. The simple fragrance of brown sugar, cinnamon, and spice was enough to locate it's direct location.

Then, she came to a turn, and the store on the corner was Sugar Cube Corner. She inhaled and then breathed out to prepare herself, and then she put herself in a fancy pose and walked in like a normal citizen of Baltimare.

The doorbell dinged as Minuet trotted into the bakery. And she was overwhelmed with the sweet smell.

The walls were bubble-gum pink, and decorated with paintings of cupcakes and pastries. There were a few ponies sitting at tables and eating the delicious deserts. There was a display stand, and it was loaded with all the goodies that Minuet had ever seen, cakes, pies, cupcakes, bars, dumplings, cookies, there were some milkshakes, ice-creams, sundaes, and a whole bunch of other foods that She didn't know but looked delicious.

There was a small door to the back room where they made all of the food, and there was a plump, baby-blue mare at the counter.

Minuet Shimmer examined the room, she could not see Jade, so she must have gotten there first. So she decided to take a booth over in the corner. She put her bag of stuff down beside her and waited for about a minute or two.

And then Jade Weave came prancing through the doors. She looked absolutely marvelous. Her mane was braided, she was wearing a normal pink jacket, and she looked like she had eyeliner or something.

Minuet had never seen a pony dress up like that just to come to visit someone.

“Over here.” said Minuet Shimmer, waving her hoof,

Jade saw her and trotted over, she was carrying a purse of some sort. She sat down in the booth, “Hi! You made it.”

“Yeah.” said Minuet, “Why wouldn't I make it?”

“I don't know.” said Jade, “But finally we get to talk!”

Minuet nodded,

“Did you forget to comb your mane?” asked Jade, not rudely, just out of curiosity,

“Um.” Minuet's cheeks went red, she always had her hair that way—down. “Yeah, I did.”

“Well that's no matter.” said Jade, “Anyways. I just got some new glasses. Do you want to see them?” she opened her purse thing and then pulled out sunglasses, they were red, and they made her look cool, “What do you think?”

“Those are cool!” said Minuet, “The only glasses that I've got are reading glasses.”

“You have reading glasses?” asked Jade, “That's too bad. Show me them.”

Minuet hesitated, but then got out her reading glasses, just regular, round. She put them on.

“They actually don't look to bad.” said Jade,

“Really?” asked Minuet,

“Mm Hm.” answered Jade, “But totally off the subject. But if you haven't noticed, I don't have a cutie mark.”

“Me either.” said Minuet, “Even though I'm a mature filly.”

“Yeah. And I'm trying to find out what It is.” said Jade, “Maybe it's music! Or chess! Or dancing.”

“I don't know what mine will be.” said Minuet gloomily,

“You sounded pretty good playing the piano.” said Jade encouragingly, “Maybe you are good at singing or something!”

“Trust me.” said Minuet, “You do not want to hear me sing.”

They laughed.

“Plus,” said Minuet, “I've been playing the piano, flute, and harp for years and I still don't have a cutie mark.”

“we can find out what ours are together!” said Jade, “Speaking of, are you hungry?”

“Um yeah.” Minuet said, “I brought some daisies and bread.”

Jade looked at her quizzically, than went back to normal, “No matter. I can take care of that.”

Then, the plump baby-blue mare walked over to them a notebook was hovering in front of her, “What would you guys like to have today?”

Minuet then suddenly had a sinking feeling, she had no money along to buy anything. She would look bad to her new best friend.

“I would like two strawberry milkshakes please.” said Jade Weave, “And with caramel drizzled over them.”

“Coming right up.” said the waiter trotting back to the desk.

“Um...” Minuet didn't know what to say, “Thanks.”

“No prob.” said Jade,

Minuet felt awful, Jade was generously buying her a milkshake, Minuet had not tasted one of those in years, and she had showed up without brushing her mane or getting fancied up.

Jade looked at Minuet, “Is there something wrong?”

“No, I just...” Minuet's voice trailed off,

“I have to ask you a question.” said Jade leaning closer, “Are you—poor?”

“Well, kind of.” said Minuet looking down,

“That is totally fine.” said Jade, “You don't have to feel bad, not everyone in Baltimare is rich. Is that why you don't comb your mane and stuff?”

Minuet nodded, “I'm not as cool as most other ponies. I half to work for Madam Sniffle all week except for days like today.”

“That's alright.” said Jade, “We can still be friends, no matter what happens.”

Minuet felt herself smiling,

“Here you go young fillies.” said the waitress, “that would be two coins.”

Jade tossed her three coins as a tip and then slid one milkshake over to Minuet.

“So,” said Jade weave, “Tell me a little more about yourself.

Minuet sipped her milkshake and sweet goodness washed over her like a waterfall, “Well...” she began