Til You Believe In Friendship

—So, is everything ready? —said Mr. Cash

—I think so —answered a skinny stallion while checking a list.

—Are the lights set?

—Yes.

—Is the sound system ready?

—Yes.

—Food? Drinks? Waiters?

—Done, done, and… done.

—Good. Remember it is my daughter’s special day. I would hate to tell her that her cuteceañera had to be cancelled because of a silly filly that burned up the cake or some other foolishness.

—Don’t worry, sir. Everything will take place just as planned. And sir, I have a question.

—Ask.

—I heard some rumors, like that most ponies in the city could come to the party, and even the Wonderbolts would be here. Don’t you think this is too much? I mean, is just a cutie mark.

—Just a cutie mark, huh? Well, you may think this is foolish, but for me and my precious jewel this is a historical day. And I bet you want to keep your job; am I right? So please, no more stupidly obvious questions that do not even need an answer —he said in a conversation-ending tone.

—Y-yes sir, of course.

●  ●  ●

That night was astonishingly beautiful: the full moon was shining, the crickets were singing; everypony was having a fun, relaxing Saturday-night time. Well, almost everypony. For Beat Link, Saturdays equaled extra hours for being locked inside studying and reading. He had to wait for the right moment to ask his mother.

—Beat, we are leaving now, and we might return late; I don’t really know how long will the conference be. Make sure you read everything I told you; remember that tomorrow is your big day!

—Yes, mom.

His mother hesitated before closing the door.

—Are you sure you don’t want to come with us, sweetie? We would have our last night together before you leave.

—Yes, mom, I’m sure. …Mom?

—Yes? —She asked in a dull tone.

—I need to ask you something…

—What is it? —she answered, looking for something in her purse, not paying much attention —I hope it isn’t about changing your name again.

—No! …not at all. It’s just that tonight there’s this big party, you know, and I…

—Oh yes, yes! Mr. and Ms. Cash’s daughter is having her cuteceañera party, isn’t she? You should’ve told me yesterday, I completely forgot about it! Do you think the might accept the present some days in delay or…

—Mom! —Beat interrupted before she collapsed —Eh… You know, since I’ve studied really hard for my tests, I was kinda wondering if… you know…

—Well you’re not going if that’s what you mean!

—Oh, please mom! I’m almost 10! You can’t control me my whole life. I need to go!

—Oh, you need to go? Well, sorry for being a killjoy, but we’ve all worked really hard to be able to get you a scholarship in a good college, and if you want to be in, you need you to get the highest scores on your tests, and for achieving so, you need to study, so no parties until you graduate, you understand?! —his mother said with authority.

—…Yes, mom

—Good —she said while leaving— And I don’t want you going to sleep too late. And please, no coffee tonight; it will only harm your brain. And also…

—Thanks, mom, I know the rules —Beat replied ironically.

His mother grumbled, and slammed the door close. Their talks usually ended like this one, or worse. But in all their battles, no matter how many or how good his arguments were, Beat never got what he wanted; not a single time. But this wasn’t happening tonight. This night was just too important. It could be his last chance, and he was going no matter what.

He made sure all windows and doors were closed, that every book was in order and that he wasn’t forgetting anything: fancy clothes, money, the present and, just in case, a flashlight. He would go there, stay some hours trying luck for finding his special talent, and return. His parents would never notice he had gone. It was the perfect plan… right?

He took the metro to the party. As he stepped out the wagon and went closer, he could overhear the crowd outside the mansion. Above it there were these Las Pegasus style spotlights, as well as a huge jet drawing the celebrated filly’s face up in the air over and over. He was excited. As far as he remembered, he hadn’t gone to any party for a long time. He didn’t know what to expect. Not to mention he was on his own hooves.

The entrance was wide open, with no vigilance at all. “That’s weird for a family that seems to have every bit in Equestria doubled” he thought while he was delivering his present. But he was glad; although it was supposed he was invited, he wasn’t sure if he needed the invitation.

The welcoming vestibule was gigantic, with stained glass windows, tall marble columns and a floor made up of what seemed polished onyx. Beat glanced over the room and all of a sudden he felt impotent, like an ugly duckling inside a cage full of peacocks. There were ponies… a lot of ponies. He saw colts and fillies running around, their important and super rich parents chatting, the waiters and waitresses serving appetizers. He didn’t even think about it; lots and lots of ponies!

Socializing wasn’t Beat’s strongest point, we may have to clarify. But it was his last shot. What he had to lose? He advanced to the main salon, trying to focus on the delightful décor inside the room and not on the many eyes that seemed to be on him… too many eyes, actually.

“Why do they look at me like that?” he asked to himself. Upon his march more and more eyes stared at him, mostly from the colts and fillies, and some giggles began to be heard too. “What’s going on? It’s not that I have bird poo on me, is it?” suddenly he felt dirty and began to circle around himself trying to find the cause of this behavior, triggering more laughs.

—Eh, sorry, are you lost? Because I think this is not where you’re supposed to be —said a filly out loud to him, trying ineffectively to hide her laughter, as well as some others behind her.

—What do you mean? I thought my parents were invited —Beat replied.

—Yeah, but, I mean, your parents are those teachers, right? The ones who work in that mad house…—she said, making her friends laugh even more.

—Hey! It’s not a mad house! And who are you anyway! —Beat was getting a bit nervous. “What is she trying to do?”

—Yeah, whatever. Just be sure you don’t touch any of my presents. I don’t want them to be ruined by some blank flank, and especially not by a… freak like you.

—Wh-What? —Beat said, but he impulsively reached his forehead.

—Oh, you know it just fine. But even if you had one, I don’t think you are even half the bright enough to control something as hard as magic —she said with a nasty grin on her face.

Those simple words made the magic; Beat could feel the knot forming in his throat. That’s exactly why he didn’t like other ponies; they were all dicks. He wanted to reply so badly, and he knew she was waiting for it. But a loud horn noise stopped the clash. Everypony started going to the back gardens, separating Beat and the partied pony, who was laughing with her friends. Beat tried to stay inside, but the massive crowd pulled him out.

When outside in the chilly night, he stayed behind and sat on a bench, whimpering a little. He wasn’t upset about the whole “blank flank” thing, but because the filly had actually called his parents booby hatches and himself a dishonor to his family. “Is that how everypony sees them? Or how they see me? I don’t understand; they don’t even know me!” He wasn’t even thinking about his cutie mark now. He started walking away, imagining how he would manage at the med school. May be that’s just what his destiny was, and he needed to get over it. And if he sucked at it, well, at least he would have had the free journey to the Crystal Empire.

He walked slowly to the sidewalk and took a cab to his building. The not-so-long journey seemed to take hours. He was about to enter, but something stopped him. His apartment was just upstairs, but he heard somepony around the corner talking in a very anxious way, like on the phone or something.

—…No, I understand. But I have no time to waste. Yes, I know is late, but could you just please send somepony to help me? I don’t even know where it is, and was supposed to be there by now. Yeah, but I… No, is just that… But… Oh, for Celestia! You know what? Why don’t you get that stupid clock and take it to somepony who cares a fucking thing ‘bout them! —she shouted loud and clear, and hung up.

Beat went closer and saw a mare leaned on what looked like a van, although it had the hood open and smoke was coming out of the clearly damaged engine. She had a light-grey coat with a bright-red tail and mane. The dark sunglasses didn’t quite cover the exasperated look she had on her face. Although this was the first time Beat encountered her, she seemed familiar to him. So was this that he even thought they used to see regularly. He was just thinking of talking to her when another pony came out of the dark. When she looked at him, the hopeful look that arrived at her face was soon vanished by the shaking of his head.

—None? Not even one? —she asked.

—Not even a small one; and I can suppose you had as much luck as I.

—They don’t have service passed 5 on Saturdays —she grumbled.

—Then how are we supposed to go, Iris?

—I don’t know, alright?! —she answered —Gosh, from all possible nights you had to choose this one, right?! —the mare named Iris shouted at the sky.

—Hey, calm down! We are not going to get a solution if we freak out.

—Hum… Guess you’re right. Well, we could always just ask and…

—Hey, maybe I can help you!

They both shut and turned to Beat; his own daring surprised him more than he surprised the couple.

—Who are you? Were you stalking on us? —the stallion said in a pretty mad way.

—No, I was just… You know, I… I kinda heard you and…

—Phonic, please don’t start —Iris said to him —I’m sorry, but my friend here does not get on well with little colts —she said talking to Beat now —You said you could help us? We are kinda lost and, as you can see, our van isn’t working right now.

—Yeah; I know a place where you could get you van repaired at this time —he didn’t really know why he wanted to help them, but it just seemed like the right thing to do. Besides, anything sounded better than getting home.

—Really? Well, that’s great! And, just being curious: you don’t know anything about a pretty big party nearby, do you? —the mare said.

—Yes, I do! I’m actually coming from one. If that’s where you were heading I could lead you there.

—Would you? That would be amazing! You would’ve saved our jobs! —she said both excited and relieved.

They called the workshop Beat told them and then headed their way. The stallion named Phonic (still a bit unconvinced about Beat’s intentions) said something about going ahead and checking the lighting, so Beat got him the directions to the party and he took a cab. They all would’ve took one, but the equipment needed for whatever they were doing had to be transported safely, so Beat and Iris preferred taking the metro.

A bit of an awkward silence appeared between them as soon as they sat down.

—Well, thank you again for your help, little fella. What’s your name? —Iris asked, trying to break the ice.

—Beat Link —he said in a mechanical way. After all the do-well stuff, he had gotten reserved again.

—Well, as you may already know, I’m Iris Chant. Nice to meet you! —Beat just nodded. More silence showed up, only broken by the continuous swing of the wagon.

—So… what’s your thing? Do you have a “helping damsels in distress” talent or the like?

—Eh… no, not really. I haven’t found it yet.

The formal pants Beat was wearing covered up his flanks.

—Oh… uh, sorry —she said when the tone of Beat’s voice passed from robotic to sadden.

—It’s okay. It’s very likely that I’ll have my cutie mark at this time tomorrow —he said, now with a discouraged expression.

—Let me guess… over-controlling parents?

Beat sighted, a little surprised.

—Well, you could always be worse. Like, when I was young, none of my self-said friends believed in me. But here I am, smiling at the flaws of nature! Now I have some many good and healthy friendships that I’m happy just by thinking of them —Iris said with pleasure. —Don’t give up just because you don’t like what’s coming; it’s there for a reason, right? Besides, I’m sure your parents love you, and that they have the best intentions for you. Don’t give up on them!

—Yeah, but, I don’t know if that’s really the destiny I should have; it really feels like somepony else’s.

—Nah, it’s yours. I’m sure of it.

—How can you be? —Beat said with an imploring look.

—Just because.

Beat got silent.

—What? Can’t I have an opinion for no good reason? —the mare said grinning.

Beat’s face showed surprise. He was expecting a bit of a deeper answer after that little speech. But he smiled too. He saw her right into the eyes and suddenly hugged her. Iris was surprised at first, but she couldn’t resist the tight grip of the colt, and returned the squeeze with force.

When Beat finally let go, she asked:

—Why was that?

—I don’t know; I just felt like it. Can’t I just hug you for no good reason? —he answered, smiling again. Iris just returned the smile with delight.

But what Beat wasn’t able to describe were really the tickles he felt in his stomach when he saw Iris straight into her eyes. He later got to find out that those tickles were no normal ones, but the ones you feel when the very first spark finally shines in your heart.