The Fillydelphia Experiment: Hearts and Hooves Day

Lightning Zephyr left the skyball match in high spirits; Cloudsdale played the Fillydelphia Falcons in their cloud arena above Fillydelphia Harbor. The match was intense and got her blood pumping, but what had really excited the pegasus was the halftime show, where the Cannons' band played an arrangement of popular tunes from the cloud city itself. It had been so long since she had seen home, some of them were completely foreign to her, but they were all amazing. The drums in one part really spoke to her. She flew to the away side of the stands and asked somepony what it was called.

"It's For the New Lunar Republic," said the annoyed pegasus. "Now lemme watch the game."

After the game ended, she dashed directly to her friend Treble Clef's shop, because she knew Treble kept records to demonstrate artists' work to prospective clients. If anypony could find a recording of this song, it'd be Treble Clef.

Lightning plowed through Treble's front door, skidding to a stop before she hit anything valuable. She sat on the carpet, wings still throbbing to the beat in her head.

A pink pony with teal hair rushed into the room at the door's opening. "Lightning?! Oh my, are you hurt my dear? Or is it a musical emergency?"

"Treble, Treble, you can relax, nothing's wrong. I heard this song and it was GREAT and I need to hear it again." Lightning was back on her hooves, excitedly pacing and stomping for emphasis.

"Oh. Well, darling, you know I do try to stay on top of the latest musical trends in Fillydelphia and in Equestria at large. Do you know the name of the artist or recording?"

"Somepony at the stadium said it was called-" she cut herself off and began staring at the floor, her wings snapping firmly against her sides. "mrmble of the rmrble republrmg", she mumbled.

"I'm afraid I didn't quite catch that title, Lightning."

Lightning sighed. She knew Treble Clef wouldn't approve of the title, but she had come too far to back down now. She scooted close to the unicorn and almost whispered the title. "For the New Lunar Republic..."

Treble Clef's face hardened a bit at the title. "I don't talk politics in my shop or with my friends, Lightning, but I will tell you that it won't do to be seen knowing that tune, particularly around, say, high society unicorns from Canterlot."

Lightning took a step back, her wings unfurling. "Treble, you know me," she said defensively. "It's not about the politics, the song just has a really good bassline! I heard it at the game and I just can't get it out of my head."

"I happen to have a recording of it performed by Hurricane's Own. I'll give it to you, but please do me a favor and don't mention who gave it to you if anypony asks."

Lightning nodded excitedly. "I won't tell a soul, Treble. You're the best."

"Yes, yes, but I never tire of hearing it," Treble Clef joked as she drew the record from her stacks with her magic and packaged it for her friend. "I do ask that you would do me the favor of answering a question, in return for this." She floated the package over to Lightning's grasp.

"Of course! What's on your mind?"

"What are your intentions towards Sugar Rush?" Her face betrayed nothing except concern for their mutual friend.

Lightning Zephyr looked baffled. "I'm... friends with her and I intend to stay friends with her? I'm probably going to meet her for lunch sometime this week?"

Treble Clef's gaze narrowed as she inspected her friend's features for guile. "You... Celestia save us, you don't even realize it. I thought for sure you were stringing the silly filly along, from the way she talked."

A few seconds of awkward silence later, Lightning's eyes widened and her jaw dropped. "Wait, so you mean Rush...?"

"I do mean Rush, yes. Do you know what she did Hearts and Hooves Day?"

"... no? I figured she was going to be busy selling those awesome candies we made, so I left her alone."

"For a while, yes, you are correct. That night she dropped by my shop. She dropped by my shop smelling of drink." She took a few steps towards Lightning, a look of disgust on her face. "And while she was in my shop, smelling of drink, she tried to reason out why you never responded to any of her cues. The music, the candles, her new perfume that I helped her pick out; it was like none of it even registered for you." She took a drink of water. "I had plans, of course, but I cancelled them to be with my friend in her hour of need."

Lightning shuffled her hooves and rustled her wings awkwardly, eyes taking in everything around her that wasn't an irate mare. "Well, I guess I didn't notice. If Rush wanted to put out candles and listen to music that was her business; I figured she just wanted to try being a little fancier than normal."

Treble Clef looked down her nose at the navy blue pegasus. "If you read weather the way you read ponies, Fillydelphia would look like a Windigo's hunting ground."

Lightning sighed. "I know, I know. I guess I just don't bother paying attention to things like that. So what am I supposed to do now? If Rush is thinking about me like that... I'm gonna have to let her down, because I am not thinking about anypony like that."

"... You're not?" Treble Clef cocked her head to the side, awkwardly playing with her mane as she calculated her next move. "Oh, dear. I'm afraid I went and made a mess of things for no reason."

"Maybe we can just pretend you didn't say anything?" Lightning asked hopefully.

Treble Clef composed herself, tossing back her mane and smiling slightly. "I could live with that. Celestia knows I've said some things that I regret today; we hardly want Sugar Rush finding out about this." She threw her front hooves around Lightning Zephyr. "Friends?"

Lightning awkwardly leaned into the hug. "Of course, Treble. After all, you were only trying to look out for a friend."

"Correct. Speaking of, you should find some way to let our friend down easy, Lightning. You can hardly feign ignorance once when she gets desperate, after all."

Lightning laughed and wriggled out of Treble's hug. "I've been doing a good job at it so far, haven't I?"

"Yes, but I brought it up. It's like when somepony mentions your annoying laugh and you spend the next week obsessing over it." She glanced away awkwardly. "Not that I know what it's like."

"Um. Right. Now that I know what's going on, I won't be able to ignore it. I'll probably find some way in the next few days to break it to her easy." She turned to leave. "Thanks for the record, Treble, and I'm glad Sugar Rush has friends like you looking out for her." She trotted out the door, her thoughts too preoccupied for flight.

All alone, Treble Clef went over to her chaise lounge in her bedroom and stretched out on it. "Yes... being a good friend. That's all I'm doing, right?" She used her magic to bring a picture of Sugar Rush and herself over to her. "I just want what's best for her... and I suppose I am the best."

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That night, Treble Clef kneeled by her bed, her head bowed and her horn between her front hooves. "Dear Princess Celestia," she prayed, "today I learned that sometimes, things are exactly how they appear, and overthinking them can make you look like a mule in front of your friends. When a pony has the best of intentions, but imperfect information, she cannot make the right decision. I ask for guidance in the future, with your permission, to aid me in this." She paused for a moment, composing the rest of her thoughts. "And I know that you cherish love in all its many forms but just once I wish you'd actually say that two mares or two stallions being together is proper, so your little ponies could stop arguing about it. Your faithful subject, Treble Clef."