Author's Note

This is Ending 1, the "good end" - at least if you want Di and Sil to end up back together.

I'd originally intended for a sex scene in both endings, but... it just didn't feel right, really.

Ending 1: One More Dance

“...I’m willing to give it a try. But with some conditions!”

“What do you mean?” Diamond asked, wiping her eyes.

“Let’s get out of here, and we can talk. Dewy’s probably making dinner already, and it’d be a shame to waste his efforts.”

“Dewy… the pegasus who told you I wanted to talk?” Diamond asked, sitting up along with Silver Spoon, reluctantly letting her go.

“He’s my roommate,” Silver Spoon nodded. “Wait here a minute, I’ve got to change before hitting the street.”

Diamond sat up and let Silver go, wiping her eyes some more.

So Silver was living with one of her co-workers. One of her male co-workers.

”She’s just going to leave you for the first stallion who comes along!”

“How much do I owe for the drinks and the room?” She asked Straight Up, trying to ignore her mother’s voice in the back of her head.

“More than you probably want to hear,” the bartender admitted. “This is one of our more expensive rooms, and there’s an hour minimum.”

“It’s worth the money,” Diamond pointed out, pulling a pair of small emeralds out of her pouch and putting them on the table. “This should cover it, with a reasonable tip, right?”

“Very reasonable, ma’am,” the unicorn said diplomatically. “One last drink for the road?”

“No, thanks, but feel free to pour yourself something special on the tab.” She pulled her cigarettes out again, tapping one loose. “Can I smoke this in here?”

“We don’t sell the cigars for looks. Just go out the back way with Sil, not allowed on the main floor. Need a light?”

“Please,” she nodded, offering him the gold-wrapped cigarette. His eyes widened as his horn glowed and the tip lit up.

“Treasurer? And you smoke these around the help?”

“I smoke them alone too,” Diamond chuckled low in her throat, taking a drag and savoring the rich flavor and scent. “Bad habit, but a filly’s entitled to one expensive vice.”

“Very expensive,” Straight Up chuckled as he reached below the shelf to pull out a bottle of scotch and pour himself a shot.

“She and this Dewdrop guy… are they…?”

”Are they what, Diamond? Are they fucking? Rutting? Was I right about her the whole time?”

”If they are, we handle it then, Mother.” It was never any easier talking back to her, even if she wasn’t really there.

“Could be.” Straight Up shrugged, sipping his drink. “None of my business if they are, and they keep things professional around here. A lot of ponies in this line of business don’t like when the clients pry, Miss. From what you were saying over there, I’m surprised you got this far.”

“To be honest, so am I.”

“Okay Diamond, I’m - when did you start smoking?” Silver Spoon asked as she returned to the room with her saddlebags over a well-fit raincoat.

“About four and a half years ago?” Diamond admitted sheepishly after stamping out her cigarette in the ashtray Straight Up had set out for her..

“And I just thought you’d gotten a weird drink,” Silver sighed, shaking her head. “Explains the smell though.”

“Well, like Dad says, at least it’s just cigarettes. He uhm… he kind of thought I was going down a bad road, right after. But let’s not talk about that here.”

“Right. I called a cab, and it should be here any minute. Let’s go wait outside. Have a good night, Straights! Already told the boss I was checking out early tonight.”

“Keep your head on a swivel, Sil.” Straight Up floated the discarded portion of Diamond’s cigarette out of the ashtray and used a quick sterilizing spell on the filtered end. With his magic, he knocked off the remaining ash and crushed portion before he relit it.

No point in throwing out a three bit cigarette that wasn’t even half-smoked.

Outside, Diamond stood close to Silver Spoon and looked around the back exit of the Big Reveal. It was a small, paved yard with several other businesses coming out of it, but it was surprisingly well-lit, with a small path for cabs and deliveries. Diamond pawed at the soaked ground with a hoof, turning her eyes down.

“So, have you been at this club ever since you moved here?” Diamond asked her.

“Oh, no, I’ve been here for about two years,” Silver explained. “The first few, I was working at a teaching club. My audition was what really kept me late after my class. It’s not as easy to get into this business as ponies think, not if you want to end up somewhere like this instead of one of the dives.”

“Planning to keep working here?”

“Probably, unless I get a shot at the CAMD. I could make more money in Manehattan, but there’s a lot more risk for it.”

“I understood Manehattan out of that.”

Silver Spoon chuckled as the rain pattered down over both of them, lighter than it had been earlier as the storm started to peter out.

“Canterlot Academy of Modern Dance,” she explained. “It’s the more artistic side of the business, but you’ve got better odds of getting into the Philharmonic. Exotic dance still isn’t exactly the most respected art form, but they take in a couple more every year.”

“...I’m trying to imagine stripping for the Princesses, and… I think my brain’s breaking.”

“Oh, I’ve never seen them at a performance. Can you imagine the headlines?” Silver Spoon laughed. “But that’s the goal, for me. Manehattan has busier clubs, but that comes with a lot more clients who don’t get the rules, or try to catch up with you after work. Here, I can walk home most nights if I feel like it. Even in the bad parts of town, I just need to walk with a couple of friends.”

“How dangerous is your life, Silvy? For real,” Diamond added as their cab started to pull up, a stallion in a raincoat pulling the covered coach.

“More dangerous than most in Canterlot,” Silver Spoon admitted. “But that’s why we watch each other. Come on, let’s get home.”

“Cantering Crest, Miss?” The cabbie asked.

“Please,” Silver nodded, pulling out her pouch and counting out a number of bits.

“So… you mentioned… conditions, earlier?” Diamond asked once they’d pulled out into the street.

“Yeah,” Silver Spoon sighed, leaning against a cushioned side.

“I can’t go back to what we used to have, Di. Not even close. It’s been years, I have a life here, and I need to figure out if… well, if I really want to try getting back there.”

“I’ve gotta prove you can trust me,” Diamond nodded. “And I have my job too. I don’t think we could go right back to where we were until we could work out the distance.”

“That’s actually the first thing I was thinking of,” Silver explained. “For the first six months, at least, I want to keep it long-distance. We can still write, and Ponyville and Canterlot are close enough we can see each other on our days off. We can work up from there, if things are still going well.”

“Makes sense. What else?”

“I’m not yours,” Silver told her bluntly, looking her in the eyes. “And the minute I think you’ve forgotten that again, we’re done. We aren’t going steady, we aren’t an exclusive couple, and I am not quitting my job because you don’t like other ponies looking at me.”

Diamond swallowed hard. She’d seen that one coming, but it didn’t make hearing it easier.

“I get it,” she said quietly. “Is there anypony else? I mean, you’re giving me a chance, so it doesn’t sound li-”

“Dewy and I sleep together sometimes,” Silver said bluntly. “We’re just friends with benefits, but he’s the closest to somepony I’m seeing. If we decided to start being exclusive again, that’d change, but probably not until then.”

“...Okay.” Diamond nodded after a long moment. “I wasn’t really expecting that, but I guess it makes inviting me over for dinner make more sense. Have you got a partner for your heats too?”

“Not regularly,” Silver said, shaking her head. “That… that was always better with you,” she admitted, looking out the side of the cab at the passing city as they went into the residential area. This part of Canterlot looked a lot like the more upper class districts. Buildings towered above the streets, spires twisting up into the night. Some years ago, they’d all likely belonged to nobles or wealthy businessponies. But, as time passed and newer houses were built closer to the palace, the mansions were sold off, remodeled, and turned into apartments for the lesser ponies whose fortunes were mostly made decorating the newer homes.

“Here we are, home sweet home,” Silver said as they pulled up to a stop outside of a gated wall in front of a pair of tall towers, each easily ten stories tall. “Used to belong to some weather magnate.”

“Nice place,” Diamond nodded.

Silver Spoon put her bits into the cabbie’s lockbox through the slot, and followed Diamond to the gate separating the modified mansion from the rabble outside.

“Evening, Miss Spoon,” the night watchpony greeted her. She was an older unicorn mare, probably ex-guard if Diamond were going to judge by physique. “New face for the guest list?”

”And just how many names are on Silvy’s -” Diamond mentally stomped down on the thought before she could even finish it

“Maybe,” Silver answered diplomatically. “Not tonight though.” The mare’s horn glowed, and the gate swung open to let them in.

“Well, have a good night, Miss Spoon.”

“You too, Nighty,” Silver waved as they walked on through and approached the tower on the left.

“We’re up on the sixth floor. Hope you don’t mind the stairs; we don’t have anypony to handle the elevator at this hour.”

Diamond Tiara grimaced briefly, but tried not to show it too badly as she trotted up behind Silver.

By the time they’d reached the sixth floor, it had taken ten minutes punctuated by several breaks between landings for Diamond to catch her breath.

“H’okay,” the filly wheezed, leaning against the wall heavily just outside the stairwell, “I think… I’ve got… a reason... to quit now!”

“And that’s why almost none of us at the club smoke regularly,” Silvy smirked, rubbing Diamond’s back gently. “It’s a lot easier to dance when you can actually breathe too. You going to be okay?”

“Yeah… once my head stops spinning,” Diamond panted.

“I bet you’re still eating take out every time you’re away from home too,” Silver Spoon chuckled fondly. “You’re lucky you’ve got an income to make that work. Come on, we’re not too far away yet.” She started to walk down the hall, bumping her flank up against the next door down. The door glowed briefly, and then swung open to let them through.

“Dewy? I brought company home, as threatened,” Silver called out as they closed the door behind them. The smell of cooking vegetables filled the apartment; peppers, onions, tomatoes, and other, less easily distinguished scents.

“Good, because I cooked for three like you asked,” the pegasus called from the kitchen. “Going to be a few minutes more, have to finish the hay. Mind finding a white to go with it?”

“Because the wine rack is so much closer to the door than to the stove,” Silver said wryly, rolling her eyes. “Make yourself comfortable, Di,” she added, walking into the kitchen as Diamond took a seat on one of the plush couches in the front room, watching the two dancers interact.

Silver glanced through the wine rack, pulling down a bottle and giving it a quick look before popping it into the freezer to chill.

“Won’t be at the right temperature, but it’ll be getting there.”

“Hey, you know me; I’d be fine with a cider.”

“No,” Silvy smiled patiently, patting him on the shoulder. “You’d be fine with spoiled apple juice. What you drink isn’t cider.”

“One of these days I’m going to have to try this fabled Sweet Apple Acres cider and see what all the hype’s about.”

“Yes, yes you are,” Silver agreed, walking out to the living room and taking a seat on the couch next to Diamond. “Back me up on this, Di.”

“It is hard to match,” Diamond agreed. “Never been out to Ponyville?”

“Only for the occasional Wonderbolts show or royal event,” Dewy shrugged as he blanched a colander of hay and started serving up dinner. “Nice place, but I’ve mostly been between Stratusburg, Cloudsdale, and Canterlot myself.”

“Going to guess you grew up in Stratusburg?” Diamond leaned back with a smile, glad for a comfortable topic. “Ponyville’s a lot like there, just a cloud city. At least that’s the impression I got. I visited a couple of times to negotiate with Pegacell, always took a little time to explore while I could cloudwalk.”

“What’d you think?” He asked before bringing out three plates of vegetables over long strands of hay laid out like a bed of pasta. One plate was on each wing, and he passed those to the two earth ponies before setting down the one in his mouth for himself.

“A nice place, but I prefer ground that doesn’t feel like a pillow.” Diamond smiled and tasted the food she’d been offered. “Very nice.”

“It’ll go better with the wine,” Silver pointed out, going to get the chilling bottle and three glasses.

“So, how’d it go?” Dewy asked Diamond quietly while Silver was out of the room.

“Better than I had a right to expect, I think. Is it going to be a problem, if the two of us try getting back together?”

“Not as long as you treat her decently,” Dewy shrugged and took a bite of his own dinner, working his fork with one wing. “She tells me you treated her pretty well between the fights.”

“Trying to make up for when I was being a complete bitch,” Diamond sighed. “I’m going to do better this time.”

“You’d better,” Silver agreed as she sat the glasses out and started to fill them. “How’s your Dad doing?”

“Well,” Diamond smiled. “You remember Merry? He finally married her about a year ago.”

“That’s great!” Silver grinned back as she passed out the wine. “Finally stopped pretending he needed a live-in maid for just the two of you and the servants, huh?”

“Finally decided to shut Mother up about which business partner she’d gone to which social gathering with. And since he hadn’t hired Merry until after the divorce, she couldn’t even accuse her of being a homewrecker.” Diamond smiled wickedly, taking a sip of her wine. “It was glorious.”

“I take it you don’t get along with your mother,” Dewy guessed.

“Mmm… the mare who raised me to think that the only thing that mattered was my social standing, climbing the ladder by pushing other ponies off of it, and making myself into the perfect little trophy wife for some Canterlot noble so she’d have an in with unicorn society?” Diamond scowled at a forkful of hay, sauce, and veggies. “I think ‘don’t get along with’ is the understatement of the decade. She….” Diamond trailed off and sighed.

“She’s my mother,” she continued, “and she thought she was doing what was best for the family. The problem is, what was best for the family was always what was best for her, and to Tartarus with anypony else. Her parents were as screwed up as she is, and I’m just trying not to keep it going any more.”

“Hard cycle to break,” Dewy nodded. “At least you seem to be figuring it out now.”

“You’re a good pony, Di,” Silver agreed. “You just have some really bad habits.”

“Yeah. Like holding on so tight that I strangled you.” Diamond took a long drink from her wine. “I said it earlier, but I really am sorry. You were the only pony who seemed to care for so long, I sort of lost it any time I thought about losing that. Dad threw money at me instead of spending time with me, and Mom….”

“She’s your Mom,” Silver finished for her. “Which means none of the attention was good after you stopped trying to be the Pink Princess of Ponyville.”

“Pretty much,” Diamond agreed, shifting her focus to her meal.

“Okay,” Dewy announced as he finished his dinner. “We’ve got to lighten the mood here. After you two finish eating, why don’t we chill out with a movie and snuggle on the couch? Silvy can take the middle?”

“Such a chore,” Silver Spoon giggled, starting to collect the dishes. “I’ll wash up before we get started?”

“I’ll wash up, as soon as I’m done,” Diamond smiled. “After all, I’m the guest, you’ve already cooked and provided the wine. The least I can do is wash up.”

Silver blinked at Diamond Tiara and cocked her head.

“Huh. And I thought changelings stopped taking other pony’s places.”

Diamond rolled her eyes and stood up, giving Silver a hug.

“Because I love you, I’ll ignore the fact that you know I’ve lived without staff before… at least not in the house.”

“Yes.” Silver smiled and returned the hug. “But I also know that you hate doing the dishes. I’ll help out; it’s the least I can do for what I know Dewy’s going to inflict on you. He has a habit of breaking in new friends with some of the most hilariously awful films he can find. You’re in for a heck of a night… and will probably end up drunk on the couch for the night, instead of getting back to your hotel room.”

Diamond Tiara leaned back, smiling at her oldest friend..

“Sounds like a great place to start.”