1) The Sky is Endless, Like Hopes and Dreams
The Diamond Shaped Heart
Flying like there was no limit, her feathers brushed against the contrasting winds, following the white contrail in the sky, before Lightning Dust did her famous circular spiral. Between the two sets of Lunarbolts on each side, the cirty blond mane mare, gave a wonderful expedition of her set tricks: guiding and manipulating the scenery to her advantage. Watching the pegasi showing their amazing ariel acrobats in the air, her plus one let out a sight.
Sitting in the highest area of the Canterlot Stadium, where only the VIP could sit on, given a wonderful snack bar near their hoofrest made especially for them. She'd pre-order the dishes the moment she got her hands on this all important tickets that didn't mean much to her. She hated sports, never understanding her father's interest in it. They were earth ponies, for Celestia's sake! What did they care what a bunch of stupid pegasi could do?! Yet going into the train of thoughts was a bit hypocritical, since her plus one was one of the winged ponies. Looking to her right, she saw the mare having the biggest grin, she'd enchanting to the next level of her typical smile. Having a beautiful light brilliant gamboge pelt, her mane was a bit stylized into designed chaotic layers that finished upwards, and finally unlike her moderate cerise hair, her eyes were of a greyish version filled with excitement.
Almost being adults, on the flank of her once blank flank, was a cutiemark of a butterfly near two miniature flowers on each side the lower half the insect. It was decorative, the butter fly was yellow, its wings bounced like an 'm', colored violet.
It was a cutiemark, which made the blankflank happy, only to upset her in those youthful days.
Scootaloo was a sportive pony, like most pegasi, believing being cool was the most important thing. In those days, they weren't friends, so she didn't know how the entire story happened. All she knew was that Scootaloo's mentor told her she was just fine how she was. Her talents resided in being within the elegant forms of adaption, making Choreography in all type of arts be it dancing or sports. The butterfly signified her nimbleness in these acts, the flowers could mean she was meant to harvest people like herself, giving the tools to help people realize their artistic talents.
It was a pity the pegasus could not ever follow her mentor into the vastness of the eternal blue sky.
"That was awesome!!" Scootaloo squealed at the last performance that she didn't look at. Being lost in thought, she was brought back to reality to Equestria by the enjoyment of her company. "Did you see that DT? It was awesome!" Then letting out a momentary sigh to catch her breath, before continuing "I wonder who's going to be the best team of Equestria these next three years. I mean I know Dust has her flaws but she'd made a huge leap respecting from last year. But then there's RD buu---t... I don't know, she doesn't seem to be on top of her own game. And that's just bad luck... I hope she get over Soarin. Son of a bi-."
Gossiping and speculating about sports were boring to her. Rolling her eyes, she amused the mare, taking a trot outside of the stadium into the streets of Canterlot.
The capital city of Equestria was ruled by unicorns, believing themselves to be the superior race, always in the line of context. Then there were the pegasi of Cloudsdale, who always thought they were superior to anypony, given particular powers they believed other ponies admired. Being an Earth Pony was nothing to be looked down upon. Then there was the argument that everypony could do what an earth pony could do. The worst topic becoming that earth ponies were dependent on those two races. What lies! Long before anypony ruled the night or day, before storms could be controlled, earth ponies were the pure race! They knew how to survive the harsh and long days and nights, temperatures that moved slowly and lived with the best of conditions despite all the uncontrollable harshness.
Without earth ponies, there'd be no food or economic support for the other two races! The sad thing being time had spoiled all races equally. If they were to live in a world without controlled times or weather, each pony would of had forgotten the means of survival.
Be it unicorn, pegasi or earth ponies.
"DT! Don't ignore me!" Scootaloo gave her those puppy eyes mix together with the most adorable pout. "You're hurting my feelings..."
The other mare moved close to her side, muzzling together their pelts, feeling her marefriend's feathery wings. This made her blush slightly, only to be given nasty looks by the residents of Canterlot. Making her ashamed, moving her eyes to the stone steps, only to have her neck lifted up by the head of her friend. The pegasus chuckled at her shamed shyness, muttering into her ear.
"We could always have some fun."
Those words send a shiver down her spine, making her blush harder and lose focus on her steps. She couldn't believe how that mare was acting. There was never any shame, never any fear of being downplayed in the eyes of the public, even when some of the residents of their hometown gave them unforgiving looks. Fillyfoolers and Coltlovers were looked down upon, tolerated to a mere minimum, given an outcasted life if you didn't bend a little to appear normal. Her father didn't care about her sexuality, but still expected to mate with a worthy candidate for a heir, which was understandable in her honest opinion. Scootaloo would always have a heated argument about this, not wanting another pony to be in their relationship, despite the fact there be no real relation other than lust.
Scootaloo moved her supporting head away, when a smile escape both their muzzles, their eyes were looking deep into one another.
"Scoot." She moved her eyes away, titling only twenty degrees to her left, she muttered "Don't you ever miss Cloudsdale?"
Snorting from her nose, the mare shook her head, giving a nasty frown "Not particularly. I've lived there and all, but not much to do if you can't get off. It be great living together with RD, but I've learned it's time to move on, seeing how busy she is. Also... I have you and my friends. Are you sure, you don't want to join us? It's going to be fun in the Big Apple. I'm sure Apple Bloom will win this year's competition."
"No... I don't want to go there, I'm already went there too many time to be impressed. But do tell Babs I'd said 'hi'. She doesn't write as much as she use to." She let out a disappointed sigh.
Babs Seed, her and Silver Spoon were great friends once they talked everything out. They were blind by their pride and joy, that they never realized that when the jokes and teasing ended, Babs never felt like she'd belong. They had a wonderful time until that Apple seed decided they weren't good friends nor was there any honest feelings. Maybe she was selfish, but that was the worst time in her life she was told off, only to get into more feuds by that Manehatten's filly. It took Silver Spoon's family trip to finally figure out what the hell happen that day two years ago. They apologized and started to write letters to one another.
If she'd look back at her attitude, she'd agree she was a little out of hand, but it was all harmless joking.
"True dat. I heard its because she'd finalizing her thesis on ultimate discovery between the mythical existence of biped creatures. Who'd think sh'd ca'e anything about history. It's soo boring!" Scootaloo complained, not at all hiding her disappointment to another pony who had tons of similar interest. Babs Seed and Scootaloo were always challenging one another in any type of competition, to which the younger mare always ended up winning. Until three years ago, they seemed like sister, for their common interest and habits. That was until their cutiemarks appeared and they realized their goals in life.
Unlike her marefriend, she understand and enjoy the discoveries of history. It was no easy task to correctly understand one's nature without a living specipony.
"History is an important factor, Scoot. Sadly enough it is written only by the victors, most of the times we're fed more lies than truths. Or better yet a convenient truth. Our whole lives are shaped by what ponies believed they fought for and who was right or wrong. Like the Griffons... we once were mere prey to these scary 'mindless' creature until the rise of the Princess, who set in motion a compromise, showing that they were more mentally intelligent than ourselves. What ever is written in our history books are accepted as absolute fact, nothing more or less. So who knows what is a common misunderstood fact and what's really meaningful. i could go on but I've already lost you..." She turned with a small smile, rolling her eyes to the mare who pretended to listen. It would of worked on any other pony, but knowing each other long enough, it was obvious her pupils were out of focus, nodding every twenty seconds to seem realistic.
Scootaloo chuckled again "Sorry. But I really don't care. I'm a pony of today and now so... you get it, right?"
"I guess." She nodded to her dimwitted marefriend. "At least you compensate for your fun activities."
"I wish we'd fu--." She started to say, only to be kicked in the shins. "What was that for?!"
"Don't test me!" Her growl was the only response she gave.
Scootaloo looked away, giving a scoff of discontentment. "Geez... for somepony who isn't afraid to get her hooves dirty, you sure are scarce on the fun dirtiness of life. What I wouldn't give to..."
Diamond Tiara drowned out the vulgar language she wanted nothing part of. "This is why only domestic violence will stop you. You just don't listen to anypony, do you?"
"But that's why you love me..." Scootaloo snickered. Only to muzzle next to one another's face, beginning their journey away apart, since they spend the last couple days together before their due time limit. "Geez... What I'd give to have you beside me. Apple Bloom and Sweetie Bell are going to have their Coltfriend with them, I'm going to be the third wheel again, until those two leave for Las Pegasus. Are you sure I can't convince you?"
"I hate those ponies, you know that. Hell, I can barely stand you." She said in arrogant way, sticking her nose into the air, for being anything less was the last thing she wanted to appear. Their relationship was odd, but it had lasted for two years, so there was no questioning they were in a stable relationship, but that didn't change her feelings towards the other two mares. Scootaloo and Silver Spoon got along just fine, only that... she'd been distant as of late. This had been her main concern and she couldn't understand why this was happening at all. Silver Spoon was her best friend forever, partners in crime before they even went to school. Yet looking back on it, it felt like Scootaloo had something to do with the oddness of their now strained relationship. Silver Spoon wasn't a talkative pony, but she was no Fluttershy, she'd always spoke what she dislike or not.
Finally arriving to the busy station, they looked at the times of their designed trains, which had a good hour of distance.
Is Scootaloo didn't take her train now, she would have to wait half a day before she could leave Canterlot. Scootaloo frowned at the notion they were both thinking. Only to turn to her and kiss her on the forehead, that made her resemble the other mare's expression: a mirthful sorrow.
"I'm going to miss you."
"Me too... Have a fun time, butterfly!" She ended with a tease.
Trotting away hastily, Scootaloo turned her head and stick her tongue, grumbling "I resent that! You won't hear the last from me! Princess!"
"Thank you, Flutty-Scoot!" She waved her hoof animatedly, bearing a huge happy smile across her face, looking her lover go away. Before long the orange mare vanish into the sea of ponies and other alternative races. Even the bustling station felt silent in her ears, that lowered down into disappointment. It wasn't like they could be at each other's hip all the time. Even reasoning like that didn't help her damped mood.
It wouldn't be long before her own trained arrived...
Ponyville was the same as ever, getting out of the station, she was greeted by two elegant bulters ready to pull her carriage back home. Upon entering the furnished cart, she sat herself on the velvet comfy couch, where to her far left was a miniature minibar for her to enjoy. She made herself a strawberry apple cider mix, something that was Scootaloo personal favorite that she made herself. It had the name of Red Tornado, it's colors being a reddish version of Cerise mane her lover sported perfectly.
It was an overly sweet drink, so having a sweet tooth had some purpose than those who were into bitter things like Silver Spoon.
Thinking about her BFF, made her nostalgic, the happy memories resurfacing only added to her somber state. The Spoon family was a happy family, there was never anything distinctly odd or out-of-place, Silver being the only daughter of three older brothers. Miss Argent (Cross) Spoon was a highly social noblemare, knowing all the higher ups and Rarity's biggest client. Having married to the silversmith company owner Trinket Spoon, who was a millionaire having sold rare artifacts to common day items of the finest quality, there was no surprise that her father would support his work.
Now Silver Spoon, like herself, already had a designed goal since fillyhood: to take their family's business. Silver Spoon would obviously marry into another powerful family, like all of her other siblings and take the social part of her husbands work.
This is were their goals diverted from one another: since Diamond Tiara worked for nopony but herself.
Yet being marry was important, in fact her own lovelife would be judged constantly, this was a detail she'd yet to figure an answer to. Since she couldn't force anything upon Scootaloo: who had her own hopes and dreams. Being in the highest point of business didn't make it easy, she still had to the climb the social ladder in order to keep her business running and understood her father's worried since she was his only living child. Her mother died with her birth, but old photos had proven she'd wasn't the only child born into the Rich family. Her father never mention it and she pretended she never knew. It was obvious he'd loved both his wife and first foal, in his darkest moments he'd drunkly admit some regrets he had about those events, details were still very vague for her.
The travel was a short one, being greeted at the door by two other maids, servants ready to drop dead for her at any moment.
Getting out of the carriage she was greeted by her large white mansion, having dark brown wooden rooftop, bearing two wings at the edge of Ponyville. If one were to walk down her garden, she'd be greeted by the Apple's farm, where she'd often visit if she was bored. It was private land that nopony could venture unless noticed as one of the guest planned out days in advance with very few exception. One being that of Granny Smith, who was no longer part of their world. In return, Big Macintosh and Fluttershy had married, giving birth two a set of twins. Marrying between races was a rare occurrence, but more accepted amongst ponies, if it was of opposite gender. As the saying goes: when one door closes another one opens. Maybe she was the open door, to her father's double loss, or so she wanted to believe.
Strolling down the well paved road to her home, the maids bowed to her before opening the door that was larger than any stallion. Her house was well lit by the natural lights that entered upon the high widows.
Flooring was made by cut decorative stones, having colors of dark blue, brown, gray and white, already leading the spiral staircase was a velvet rug for her hooves to walk on. If she were to walk, like her servants, her hoofsteps would echoed within the large entrance hall. The chandelier was made of pure gold, with silver loops holding a couple dozen diamond shaped diamonds, that would bring a rainbow color to the lights. The bars of her elegant staircase were colored gold on wood, which did a good enough job and didn't look at all tact. A sad thing she'd seen in commoners homes. Walking her was up to the second floor, the walls were all the same color of white, being outlines by natural oak wood color by the supports. On those walls were a few portraits of older generation and some branch family members that made it big, neverminding the fact that they were inferiors.
The only portrait that ever got her attention was a elegant young mare around her age.
It was in the middle of all the twenty painted pictures, showing a young mare smiling sincerely at the painter's direction. Her mane was violet being very long that it nearly reach her shins, highlighted by a smokey white, one streak on her mane and tail. It was straight, her tail being more curled similarly to Rarity's style. Her pelt was a pastel violet having a cutiemark of a unraveled scroll that actually had a legible writing, however faded, despite its well condition state. Her dark violet eyes seem to trap you, welcoming you into a warm embrace, like her smiling muzzle. On her neck she had a red bow that held between her hooves was a small doll of a dragon.
It had became a family heirloom given only on the day of marriage.
Its design was like the Neighponese folktales, if Spike, Twilight's pet, had a body of a sea serpent. It had no outward stomach, seemingly like a snake with limbs, which was believed to have the power of flight without wings.
She always scoffed at the idea of an impossible concept.
Passing her favorite Portrait, she entered into another hall way, taking the eastern wing to enter into her bedroom. Entering it she saw a happily smiling gray mare on her king sized bed.
"Silver Spoon! Oh how I've miss you, dear!" She couldn't contain herself and hug the mare, jumping onto the bed, laughing together to an oddly shy pony. Silver Spoon returned her hug, laughing everso lightly, before letting go a bit too quickly for her taste.
"Diamond... I've missed you to. Are you okay? How was your mini vacation?" Her voice always got more softer each time they met. It was almost to the point she felt like she was talking the previous owner of Kindness. Silver wouldn't even look her in the eyes, her hooves hidden underneath her own chest, never having a smile more than a minute at a time.
She gave a sad smile, overly dramatizing her feelings "I wish I could say I missed you, which I did, but I was having a blast with Scoot. We went to see the Lunarbolts, they've seemingly improved, not that I would know all that much. But honey... are you okay? You seem weird."
Silver turned her head, giving a blank look before blinking, only to sake her head "Really? I think I'm the same as ever."
'No your not...' She frowned immediately at such a half-assed lie. Before faking a pleasant smile "So what shall we do today, my lover won't be here for weeks, so we have all the time in the world to do what you want! Isn't that wonderful?"
"..." There was no emotions in those eyes, despite Silver Spoon returning a fake, happy smile. It was like her friend was somepony else and saying out loud felt like admitting defeat. "For me?" Titling her head, before returning into its original position. "I guess we can have a night at the spa. Then end it at Shan's Lo Relli."
"That just perfect!" She agreed just to get out of her house.
The place was always the same, with some new modifcation here and there. Entering within the doors, they were greeted by the famous spa sister twins, whom's name she could never remember. Silver Spoon on the other hand, bowed herself slightly before letting her muscles relax into the warmth of steam room. It was all natural wood, completely heated up rocks at the left corner and somepony placing water in every half-hour. Taking off her braids, her hair was completely loose like her tail for once. The mare had to leave her glasses outside, since the sauna was not a place which would do any good for her lens, like it would her body. Silver decided to sit on all fours, unlike her, who rested on her forelegs across from her friend.
She couldn't hold her content smirk, only seconds in and she felt the stress from the present problems together with future vanish. She paid good money already.
Hopefully this would allow for Silver to shine like her name proclaimed.
After a good twenty minutes they begun to talk of what their family projects were. Of course, this made them be vague with meaning, since they now were very responsible if anything were to go awry. Friendship being deeper than blood, now became something of very common formal events they both daily with. Acting with conduct that was given to co-workers and influential people together, with only one differential that they had personal jokes only they could understand. Looking down the end of their school year, talking about how stupid the inferior fillies were and their promotional future. Then there was that marriage...
"So how is he?" She asked, unable to hide her concern.
Silver Spoon's pleasantry smile appeared, her voice becoming softer, her eyes lost in the distance "He's a kind stallion, he has such a vast culture being a native in Nations ruled by Griffions. You'd be surprise what he gave me for this Hearts and Hooves Day. Too bad, it wasn't in my fine taste but interesting nonetheless."
"So you'll be married two months from our final day at school, huh?" She muttered a bit sadly.
Silver nodded happily, never letting that calm smile fade "Yep. It almost feels like my life is flying by me. Soon I will join the Elista, it's a pity you won't join."
"Not my thing, you know." She shrugged, trying her best not to mention why, which silently accepted between the two mares. "I'll be busy learning how to get to my father's seat soon enough. I'll be transferring into Canterlot, if I can make within my two years and not screw up, father might let me return home. Only then can I start my internship at Ponyville our headquarters. Only when you can live in the comfort of our own home, that you've know you've won in social and business life."
"How will Scootaloo take it? You definitely moving to Canterlot?" A valid question was asked.
She responded shrugging casually, like it was the weather they spoke of. "I haven't. I don't think we can stay as a couple. I'm planning to break it off after you marry."
Silver Spoon look like she had a moment of chilliness, which was impossible, mumbling something.
"Silver, are you okay?" Titling her head, unable to understand her friend's odd reaction.
Shaking her head, she said in even softer, almost impossible hearable level "I don't think well thought idea. I'm sure she would go with you."
"What would make you say that? Even if Scoot came to Canterlot I'd be busy socializing and working my ass off. I don't think our relationship would be in an healthy environment. I don't know why you sound confident." Shaking her head, chuckling at Silver's odd sense of being naive.
"I'm certain...."
Flickering her ears closer to the mare, raising a brow "What's that? I didn't hear you."
"Nothing. But you should talk to her. You'd be surprise about how passionate she is. Despite her own dreams, I'm sure she'd try to settle in Canterlot." Silver Spoon finally sounded like Silver Spoon having her confident smile in place and her eyes burning.
"Ah... but that's the thing. She would have to start from scratch finding a job, then she would have to move back anyway. Seems a bit pointless to me, if you ask." Being a passionate mare, she couldn't allow anypony to limit themselves, if she cared for their well-being. Scootaloo was one of those ponies, that had a lot to offer, but still lack tons of experience to find jobs that would be willing to accept her. It be unfair to her marefriend to ask her to drop everything.
Then again waiting till the last minute to finish their relationship wouldn't end well either.
'I really have to think these through.' She thought, chuckling at her own naive, cowardly actions. But she'd already made up her mind. 'Nevertheless I just want to enjoy the relationship as long as I can.'
"It's for her own good." She finally stated.
Silver frowned, her ears drop together with her head, letting herself to lay down on the bench.
"I hope so..."
