Come on and Smile!

"I'm glad the week is finally over" said Apple Bloom with a sigh of relief.

"Yeah" added Scootaloo, "we have now a whole week-end for crusading."

"It will sure be fun" punctuated Sweetie Belle.

The hectic trio was sat at a table inside Sugar Cube Corner. The evening spring’s air was still filled with winter chill and the crusaders had decided to get some warm and sweets inside the bakery.

"I heard somepony say 'fun'?" The pink pony popped out of nowhere, as usual, just behind Apple Bloom, a big smile on her face.

"Sure thing" replied the yellow filly, "school is over and now we have two days just for us."

“Do you already have some plans?”

“Well kind of” replied Sweetie Bell. “We’ll go crusading for our special talents, that's sure, but we have already discussed what we will actually do during the crusading and, well, nothing came out for now.”

Discuss was hardly the word Cheerilee would have used. In fact, she had had to ground the trio for having disturbed the class more than once this week with their quarrel over if they should go base jumping or not.

“Well, don't get too exhausted with your week-end, as you'll have to have a huge amount of energy for my party on Monday evening; everyone is invited of course.Oh, have I invited you? Cause if I haven't, now it is done but if I have, it's not done and... wait, I got it all wrong but...”

“You have” cut Scootaloo. “What you haven't told us is what this one is for.”

“Duuh! The cute-ceañera of Sweetie Belle's coltfriend, Button Mash!”

“He is NOT my coltfriend!” shouted Sweetie Belle, blushing with half hindrance and half anger. “He's just...”

“A friend?” asked Pinkie. “A friend with whom you spend some time chatting, walking, playing, laughing, studying, singing...”

“We get it” cut again the orange pegasus. “She spend time with him doing all sort of things. We do that too and we are just friends, nothing more. Am I right girls?”

“Of course but would you let your friend ride your scooter every time you see her?”

It took a moment for Scootaloo, who had put her hoof on her chin to help herself gather her thoughts, to answer Pinkie's question.

“I suppose I won't, I can share it, sure, but I like it too much to lend it every time. But what does that have to do with Sweetie Belle and Button Mash? I've never seen him with a scooter but rather with his Game Colt.”

“It seems that he is not so eager to play his games when he's with her and rathers let her play instead. Every time” conclued Pinkie with a nod and her 'serious business' face.

The redness on Sweetie Belle's face was now deeper and had reached her ears.

“Is that true?” asked her young friends.

“I...”

“Why didn't you tell us about it?” added Apple Bloom, “Why keep it a secret?”

The sound of a doorbell cut the conversation and made them all turn their head to the one who have dared to interrupt them, their face displaying a bit of annoyance, except for one filly who sighed in relief.

“Howdy everypony!”

“Hey Applejack what's up?”

“Nothing much, I've just finished the sorting of the last apples we have harvested and I've told myself that I could deserve a small reward. What about you?”

Pinkie let the three fillies to their table and got back behind the counter, preparing Applejack's usual order.

“Same here, except maybe that Sweetie Belle has a crush on one of her classmate.”

“Oh yeah? Who?”

“No offense but I can't tell you. It's a secreeeeet” she said, loudly whispering and half giggling.

“Non taken. But it sure is adorable to see the young foals when they discover love. All that innocence, it would almost make feel a bit nostalgic. All the great time I had at school. That is some of the best days in life don't you think?”

Pinkie frozed for a moment and her smile faded a bit.

“Not really.”

“Why that?”

“It doesn't really matter.”

“You're sure about that?”

“Definitely.”

Silence sat between the two friends, one wondering if she should press on the matter and the other scanning the familiar room, stoping on the three fillies. Shaking her head, Pinkie turn back to Applejack.

“By the way, have I invited you to my party next Monday? It's Button Mash's cute-ceañera and everyone is invited.”

“You have sugarcube, yesterday when we met at the market. And I've told ya that I'm not sure if I'll be here cause I've got some pies to deliver the followin' day, early in the morning.”

“Oh, I don't remember.”

“This is not how you are. You're really sure everythin' is fine?”

“Of course, I'm probably a bit exhausted by the party planning. It'll go with a good night of sleep.”

“Riiiight.”

“Come on, don't give me the long face. Smile instead! It suits you better.”

The eyebrow raised, Applejack stared at her friend. She didn't give her what she asked but what she supposed she meant by dropping the subject.

“Fine” she finally said, “I'll leave, I got some minor chores left, so I'll head back home. See ya.”

“Bye, come back anytime, the sooner the better.”

As Applejack left, a shout from Scootaloo made Pinkie turn her head back to the three friends.

“So that's why you were so willing to go to school lately.”

It's true some days are dark and lonely
And maybe you fill sad

“Pinkamena, are you really sure about this? We can still come back home.”

“Yes Father” she replied. “I feel that I am missing something important and I think that I could find it with other fillies.”

Igneous sighed. “Fine, let's find the teacher.”

They crossed the empty schoolyard, aiming for the large front door. Pinkie was deep in her thoughts. She didn't know what she was feeling as it was the first time, as far as she could remember, she had felt it. Excitment? Thrill? Eagerness? She couldn't really put a name on it but she knew that she had wanted to attend school as soon as possible since she had seen one and all the foals playing in the schoolyard, and now that it was almost happening, the feeling was stronger. So strong that she didn't notice they already arrived at the classroom.

“Good morning sir, you must be Mr. Pie?” greeted the teacher.

“Yes I am Miss. And here is my daughter” he replied, gently pushing her daughter in front of him.

“Hhh... hi” tried Pinkie before her father coughed loudly, looking at her with a glare. “S... sorry, good morning Mister. My name is Pinkamena Diane Pie.”

“What a charming little filly” replied the teacher, “I am Mr. Strict Attention class, we have a new student here. Greet your new schoolmate Pinkamena.”

“Good morning Pinkamena” said the class. Something in their tone felt off to Pinkie but she couldn't place her hoof on it and soon, the thought quickly disappear.

“Welcome to the Celestia's foals School. I am sure you will enjoy your days here. Now please, have a sit.”

After a quick exchange of nods with her father as a goodbye, Pinkie trotted to the empty desk on her right. She opened her saddlebag she had put down, and grabbed her notebook and a pen. This was finally happening, she thought. She was attending school and she would learn new things apart from rock farming. And maybe befriend some of her schoolmate, who knows?

“Hail Celestia, full of grace.
Our Heart is with you.
Blessed are you among ponies,
and blessed is the fruit of your Sun,
may your light never fade.
Holy Celesta, Mother of ponykind,
pray for us sinners,
now and at the hour of our death.
What shall be will be.”

Pinkie could only watch the teacher and her new classmates reciting the prayer, their eyes looking down and their voice so zealous. At the end of it, she was still staring at them, unbelieving.

“Good, now take your history book to page thirty one” announced Mr Strict. “We will resume where we had finished last time.”

The foals did as oredered, watched by a lost pink filly, until a quiet call from her left make her turned her head.

“Psssst.”

Her seatmate, a burgundy coated and brown maned filly, was apparently trying to get her attention. She had put a book between their table and Pinkie, realising what that meant, nodded and moved her chair closer.

“I'm Goldneedle by the way” she whispered.

“So... where do you live?”

Goldneedle's voice was hesitant. She wasn't really used to be straight towards the ponies she met, but something told her that she could be so with this pink filly.

“Do you see the rock farm north of here? That's where I live.”

Goldneedle nodded, showing her she knew the place.

“From what I saw the place looks awesome” added Goldneedle.

“Well, it's nice” replied Pinkie, letting a small smile appear on her face.

The air was warm and soft. After one hour and a half of history lesson, the teacher speaking about all the good their “Goddess” had blessed their lives with, it was finally break time. Pinkie and Goldneedle had tried to get to know each other during the lesson, but several glares from Mr. Strict every time one of them had opened her mouth had discouraged them and they had reconsidered doing so during the break.

“Maybe...” started Pinkie weakly.

“Yes?”

How could she tell her, Pinkie thought, tell her that she was the first foal she had met outside her familiy, that she felt she could trust her after the small gesture of kindness she had shown, but at the same time, she had so many doubts about herself or how to act? Was there a proper way to ask her this? Won't she back up and simply explain that she didn't feel the same?

Goldneedle waited patiently while Pinkie was trying to clear her thoughts from her doubts. After a moment and a soft sigh, she decided to stop thinking about it and just go for it.

“Maybe... you... you could come to my place someday?”

“Sure, why not?” she replied almost instantly. “And I could help you with the lessons you have missed.”

It wasn't so hard, Pinkie told to herself. Well, it was but now that she had done it, it seemed easier and the grin on what appears to be her new friend's face told her that she was waiting for this day. The first of many others, she hoped.

“Whoaaa, it looks so cool, how did you get it?”

“By throwing a party to my family this week-end” replied Pinkie, grinning.

“That's awesome. Do you think you could throw one for my next birthday?”

“Can't see a reason not to. And maybe you could sew some banners for my sister's congratulation for having graduate party?”

“Pinkamena, Goldneedle, be quiet” shouted Mr. Strict. “No talking inside the school, even in corridors.”

Mr. Strict was sat at his desk. He was not happy, not happy at all.

“Mr Pie, your daughter have an inappropriate attitude during the class. She had disturbed the lessons more than I could count. I will NOT tolerate such a behavior inside my class.”

“What has she done ?“ replied Igneous, glaring at her daughter.

“She dared question my teaching multiple times!” he replied, almost shouting. “Pretending that our goddess, the almighty Celestia, was just a pony. A PONY!”

“That's not true, I...” tried Pinkie, raising her head she had kept low until now.

“Silence!” the teacher snapped at her. He then turned to Igneous. “Mr Pie, I highly advised you to take measures. Your daughter must behave or, I must warn you, she won't be welcome in this school anymore.”

Her father let out a frustrated sighed. “I'll make sure she won't disturb you.”

“That's all I ask. She had become quite noisy since she got her cutie mark, but it has got worse since one of her classmate had to left us. Not a big loss if you ask me. This filly didn't match our standards and I fear that your daughter is following the same path, right into the trash of useless ponies.”

“SHE IS NOT A WASTE, SHE IS MY FRIEND.” Pinkie didn't recognize her screaming voice. She was so mad towards him, how could he spoke so badly about this wonderful pony?

“A friend?” he immediately replied sarcastically. “Tell me, young lady, how will you improve yourself if you waste your time with other useless ponies? You plan to base your life on friendship? Haa! This is nonsense. All you need in life is a proper education and the light of the Sun to guide your way. Not some advices from common ponies.”

“I...”

“Pinkamena, that's enough.” said her father. He hadn't raise his voice, he was barely speaking like any other day but Pinkie recognized the tone in it. She was about to cross the line and she stopped, not wanting to see once more what was beyond that line.

“Mr Strict, I thank you for warning me about my daughter's behavior. I promess that we will have a long talk once we are home. If there isn't anything left to discuss, we shall leave.”

“I'm glad that at least, you have common sense and I hope that you'll be able to instill some in your daughter's head. I do it for the good of my students after all.”

“Thank you again Mr. I hope that this will be our last meeting of this kind.”

“What is this?”

Pinkie raised her head from her work to look at her teacher. He had just picked a piece of paper from her desk. No! Not that.

“Some kind of secret code?” he added, unfolding the paper. “Oh, no!” he exclaimed. “Poems no less. Poems everypony! The filly thinks she is a poet!” The rest of the class burst into laughter at the teacher' s comment, who started reading out loud. “This is your singing telegram, I hope it finds you well. You're invited to a party 'cause we think you're really swell.” Pinkie kept her head low and her mouth shut, knowing what she could expect if she dared to say something. It was hard. “Party, funny, crazy, pony, there is one think that makes me happy. That's absolute rubbish!” he said, tearing the paper in several pieces.

“Are you sure?”

She wasn't. She wasn't at all. Pinkie tried to raise her head and face her father, but she didn't manage to do it. It wasn't her father that she couldn't face, though she guessed it would be hard to see his disapproving and disappointed eyes.

“Sweetie please, look at us.” Her mother's voice was gentle and warm. It wasn't an order but more like a supplication. The love it carried helped Pinkie who finally meet her father's eyes.

“I...I don't want to go anymore” she dropped.

“Why Pinkamena?” asked her father. “You repeated countless time that you wanted this, that it would help you becoming a grown mare, that something was missing in your life and that you'll find it with other foals at school. What has changed?”

“Nothing...”

“N... nothing?” he replied, choking on the word. “Really?”

“Yes” she whispered. “Please, try to understand.”

“I don't. We don't. Especially if you don't give us some clues.”

“Sorry...”

Igneous sighed, tired.“Fine. I'll go to school tomorrow and tell them that you will resume your homeschooling.” He sighed again. “Sometimes, I don't understand you at all Pinkamena.”

“Me neither” she replied after a moment.