As two hearts unite

Fare music, colourful ribbons and streamers, delicious smells coming from the street stands – that was the Summer Sun Celebration in all its glory! Ponies from all over Equestria made their way to Canterlot to witness this yearly event in which Princess Celestia would publicly raise the sun. Small lampions, shaped like the royal Cutie Mark, illuminated the fading night – the rather chilly morning air was heated with excitement and everypony was enjoying themselves.

* * *

CRASH! A blue stallion bumped into a yellow mare, causing the delicate contents of her saddlebags to break. “Sweet Celestia, I’m so sorry!” exclaimed the colt, looking at the female pony with embarrassment. “Are you alright?”

“Yes, I think I’m fine” she replied, opening one bag with her mouth. For a moment her red, flowing mane obscured the mess that were the vases she bought an hour or so ago. “But I think that these didn’t survive…” she sighted, blowing away the hair from her eyes.

“I-I’ll pay you back, I promise!” said the stallion, lowering his head and reaching for a small bag hung at his side. “I’m really so, so sorry this happened, miss…”

“Satin Veil. It’s fine, really… It wasn’t your fault,” the red haired mare said. She put a hoof on the stallion’s azure coat. “Really, there is no need to pay anything back. I wasn’t looking where I was going.”

“Nonono, I insist!” said the colt zealously. “So how much were they?”

“Umm…” Satin scavenged around her bag for the tags and showed them to the stallion. The mare blushed as the other pony’s eyes shrunk and jaw dropped.

“Oh… Uh… That much…” he said, nervously running a hoof through his black, short mane. His equally coloured tail whipped about. “Ummm… I-I’m afraid… No,” he shook his head, collecting himself, “its fine. I honestly don’t have that many bits on me right now. I may be of the Shadow family, but my parent’s didn’t call me Valliant for naught!” His eyes beamed, looking at the bright-yellow coated mare whom he bumped into. “I promise I’ll make it up to you!”

“Mr Valliant Shadow… Really, there is no need,” replied the mare a bit nervously, trying to back-pedal unnoticed. She met such, hmm, zealous colts before. They were cute, but usually… Crazy.

“No no, I insist!” repeated Valliant, putting his hoof down. “Please, if that is not a problem, could you show me where you bought those?”

“Umm… O-okay” said Satin with a sigh. She could smell trouble a mile away. The colt couldn’t be seriously considering buying back the pieces that happily sang a broken symphony in her bags. Each one was a master crafted piece of art and, come to think of it, it was silly of her to put them where she did in the first place. Still, the one she learned was Valliant Shadow seemed really into his promise. Was he one of those stallions who were gold digging for her parents’ small fortune? Who was he trying to impress? She saw them all – from charming and passionate to rough but kind, all had their eyes fixed on bits that weren’t even hers. It was a grave error to even mention the price tag attached to her possessions.

As Satin Veil beat herself mentally over her carelessness, Valliant’s mind was flooding with numbers. Most of them had a big, nasty minus in front. The stallion barely got by as he did and now with his new pledge, he would probably have to live off of eating grass from the streets. It was so stupid of him not to look where he was going. And it was even more moronic to promise buying the vases back!

The awkward silence between the two was finally broken when a magically enhanced voice announced the coming of the Princess. Both ponies weren’t sure what was the best thing to do – go together, pretend they didn’t meet, just ignore each other?

“U-um…” started Vailliant, clearing his throat. “I guess we’re both going in the same direction… Would it be too much if I .. if I asked you to accompany me? I-I mean, if you’re not going with your coltfriend, that is.”

“No, no, I don’t have a coltfriend, nothing of the sorts,” she blurted out, biting her tongue a bit too late. Why did she say that?! “I-I mean, I came here with my parents… They should be here! Somewhere! Around…“ she exclaimed with a false and troubled smile. In the end, the most awkward of walks ensued.

* * *

The Princess, basked in the light of the sleepy sun, was a magnificent sight to behold. Her flowing, multi-hued mane reflected colourful beams all around, causing mini-rainbows to appear amongst the gathered ponies. Satin Veil and Valliant Shadow stood in awe, absorbing the regal air around the Princess. With a few powerful strokes of her royal wings, the alicorn rose above the crowd, causing the sun to follow in her wake. It was a spectacular sunrise, one that many would remember for years to come.

“Wooow…” whispered Valliant Shadow. “The Princess sure is something…”

“Mmmhmm…” replied Satin Veil, her eyes wide.

Soon the ceremony was over and the ponies returned to the fare grounds, where hot pie would be served and cheerful games would continue till dusk. The azure colt and yellow mare stood amongst the thinning crowd, again finding themselves in an awkward deadlock.

“Listen…” started the mare, looking Valliant straight in the eye “This whole situation is… Awkward… And really, let’s just forget what happened, okay?”

The hope Satin had for a clean departure faded as the colt stood there silent. His eyes were wandering and he wouldn’t meet her gaze. Really, she thought to herself, men and their honour. He’s just like my father, with all those silly codes and rules…

“I’m really sorry if I’m causing any trouble,” said the colt unexpectedly. “It’s just that… Well, breaking those vases probably made you sad…” Was that a hint of red beneath the bluish fur on his cheeks? “A-And I didn’t want to make someone like you… Umm… Sad… Not on such a beautiful day and all” he finished in a hurry. Yes, his face was definitely on fire.

Satin giggled uncontrollably. “Eh, if it means so much to you… Then I guess I can’t do anything, but graciously accept your offer?” She made a curt nod towards the stallion.

“Th-thank you.” He blurted out, fumbling back a bow. “Umm, where do you come from anyway?”

“Fillydelphia,” lied Satin Veil “I’ll write down the address so you can look for me, okay?”

* * *

“All aboard! Express to Hoofsdale leaving in 5 minutes!” shouted the announcer at the Canterlot train station. Valliant Shadow and Satin Veil parted ways some time ago – she went off to look for her parents, he needed to visit his uncle and aunt. The day was nearing to an end and the atmosphere was slowly beginning to unwind; stands were being torn down, goods wrapped up carefully in cloth and foals and fillies were complaining about the fun ending so fast. The colt looked at his saddle in which he had the address of the mare from Fillydelphia. All things considered, she was quite pretty and should circumstances be more favourable, he’d ask the girl out. Maybe after he paid his debt. But would a big city mare like herself even consider somepony from Hoofsdale?

Satin Veil was waiting for her parents at the crowded station. Her thoughts kept coming back to the handsome stallion she met. A shadow of regret kept creeping through her mind, but she reasoned herself out of guilt. It was obvious someone as good looking as that colt would already have a mare friend. His reaction to the price of the broken vases, which she wasn’t mourning anyway, said it all. She could swear she saw tiny bits spin in those deep blue eyes of his…

“There you are hun!” said a low voice from behind. Satin’s father ruffled the mare’s mane and gave her a hug. “Had fun at the fare?”

“Daaad!” complained Satin, giggling like a filly “Don’t mess with my haaair, you know how long it takes to comb it afterwards…” She regretted those words almost instantly, as her father would proceed to ruffle her hair even more vigorously.

“Edward, leave Satin alone, can’t you see she’s tired?” remarked Satin’s mother, hugging her daughter and dragging her away from the vicious assault. “So, did you have fun? Met anypony interesting?” she smiled with a you-know-what-I-mean smile.

“Weeeell, there was this one colt that…” she started, but instantly stopped and hid behind her mother.

“What’s wrong honey?” asked the startled mare, looking around.

“Oh, it’s nothing, totally nothing, I just, hum, that is…” the confusing stream of words got cut when an azure stallion cautiously joined the group.

“Ummm… Satin Veil?...”

* * *

The cat was brutally dragged out of the bag and beat with a stick (or so Satin Veil though of this situation). She sat beside her parents, anxiously looking around, pretending she wasn’t listening to Valliant Shadow relaying the whole awkward waltzing around the issue of broken porcelain. The colt was well mannered and respectful – he even somewhat covered up the fact that Satin lied to him about where she lived.

“So, in the end, I forgot to ask her where she lived. Thank Celestia we’re on the same train and I can do so now” he concluded with a wide smile, eyeing Satin as she squirmed.

“Good boy, that is mighty kind of you to want to do justice, even if it wasn’t entirely your fault” said Edward von Haystern, Satin’s father. “One can look far and wide for a colt such as yourself and run out of candles before he finds one!” he chuckled, apparently happy with the way he mashed together two sayings.

“You give me way too much credit, Mr Von Haystern” replied Shadow, bowing his head. “I am in no way that special – I just did what I thought was true and right.” The special pressure on the word true made Satin’s ears twitch. The mare was still trying to ignore the colt and his staring at her.

It was all a cruel joke to her. She did all she could to repress the burning sensation in her cheeks – it was a disgrace this stranger had to cover up for her faux pas, one that she knew her father would be furious about. Fate, you are not being funny, not in the slightest, she thought to herself.

“Please, forgive my daughter,” said Edward, nudging the young mare on the side, “she must be so tired she totally forgot her manners. Answering your question, we have a small residence in Hoofsdale, near the silk farm we own.”

Valliant cocked his head sideways in surprise. “Excuse me?” he let out a gasp.

“Well, yes,” picked up Satin’s mother, whom Valliant learned was Sunny Beach, “We rather try and keep to ourselves if we can, so you might not have known us by name.” The smile on her face was probably the reason behind her name – it was warm and delicate.

“Oh, uh, yes, of course, sorry, ma’am.” The colt felt uneasy all of a sudden – the owners of the only silk farm in miles were right in front of him. And he managed to offend their daughter. If there ever were dark clouds in Valliant’s life, they chose this exact moment to storm his mind and haunt him with terrible visions of having to act as the family’s servant to pay off the debt he could not back out of now.

Satin Veil interpreted his behaviour in a different set of colours – he finally acknowledged they were rich and would now probably try and scoop something for himself. All the colts and stallions that she ever tried dating did that and it was only Satin’s kind (but broken many times) heart that didn’t allow her to confess to her parents. Her father would probably go into a fit of rage, cursing her former coltfriends for being so petty about money and status. It was true their family had the resources, but they never cared to rub them in anypony’s face. They lived a peaceful and modest life, allowing their hard work on the farm to bear fruit without any strings attached. Satin’s family did a lot to help the village prosper – sometimes Winter Wrap Up would go over budget or somepony needed an honest loan to get out of a ditch. Satin’s father would always be there for the community, even if he helped from the shadows. It would be a shame to break his faith in ponykind with a few greedy noponys.

Valliant cleared his throat. “Wow, that is such an honour to meet you, Mr van Haystern, Mrs Beach. And Ms Veil,” the colt said in an overly upbeat tone and bowed to each pony with respect.

“Nonsense my boy! We are just like your everyday ponies, nothing special about us,” beamed Edward, “Hard work, well earned bits, always ready to lend a hoof.”

“Oh, I know that feeling, sir!” Valliant sat up straight and his eyes begun to sparkle. “I work as a construction worker in Hoofsdale. Its really hard and manual labour, but it pays off really well! I mean, in a certain way,” he flinched. “It's so great to see other ponies inhabit the houses we make. I have a feeling we do something important for others. And that our work will be of use to other ponies for generations to come!”

Satin rolled her eyes. Who was the colt trying to fool? All this buttering up made her sick – she heard similar stories time and time again, from all sorts of lips. Her grumpy attitude was totally ignored by the rest of the family, though.

“You certainly have spirits, son!” exclaimed von Haystern, a spark lighting in his eye. “Do you want to hear how we do things on the farm?”

Satin sighed silently and slumped on her couch, bracing for an hour or two of colourful stories about her everyday life.

* * *

“It’s been mighty refreshing talking with you, Mr Shadow!” Edward shook the colt’s hoof firmly. “You should come by and visit sometime! We could show you around, have some tea, perhaps share a story or two…”

“Please, Valliant is just fine” he winked “I’d love to, but I’m afraid I’ll be extra busy with… Umm, raising funds to repair the damage I did. Again, please accept my most sincere apologies, Mr vor Haystern.”

“No harm done, right Satin?” he nudged the mare, causing her to loose balance for a second. “As far as I’m concerned, you can come by anytime you want, with or without them blasted vases. And Edward is just fine too.”

With a last hoofshake and smile, the family and the colt parted ways – the former towards their property, some distance from town, and the latter to his small house on the outskirts of Hoofsdale.

It was an extremely eventful day for Satin Veil and Valliant Shadow – none of them could rest properly, however, as thoughts of one another (each tinted with their own suspicions and worries) kept coming back, buzzing louder than the summer bugs outside. It was a beautiful night anyway, so how could one sleep through it?