The Fillydelphia Experiment: Hearts and Hooves Day
Sugar Rush flew a kite in the park, the noisemaker attached to it giving off its signature whistling drone. Like clockwork, her pegasus friend Lightning Zephyr peeked out from her cloud house's balcony. "Hey Rush! I'll be down in a sec!" Lightning flew down to meet her friend.
"What're your plans for lunch today, LZ?" said Sugar Rush
"Nothing, til you stopped by. Why, do you wanna do something?"
"Nothing fancy, just thought I'd invite you over to my place for some sandwiches, see if you wanted to try the new candies I've been working on."
"The new batch you're preparing for Hearts and Hooves Day? I'm there." The pegasus grinned and hovered beside Sugar Rush as she walked back to her apartment.
Inside Sugar Rush's apartment, the two of them munched on dandelion-and-daffodil sandwiches and made conversation. "So, Hearts and Hooves Day is coming up. You got a very special somepony to spend the day with?"
LZ snorted and grinned. "Right, because I need to spend an entire day fawning over some stallion. An excellent use of my time."
"Yeah, me neither. Never seem to find the time between work and Treble Clef's schemes to get me noticed."
Lightning took a big bite out of her sandwich and continued talking around it. "Your time is better spent at your booth anyway - what stallion could resist buying your sweets for his sweet?"
Sugar Rush giggled. "I doubt any stallion worth having is gonna be buying on Hearts and Hooves Day."
"Right, the smart ones would think ahead, but some always forget, and you'd be a fool to not take advantage of that," Lightning said.
"See this?" Sugar Rush trotted over to her cart, opening its display window, showing dozens of varieties of heart-shaped sweets. "I fully intend to be 'taking advantage'."
"Wow, these look amazing, Rush."
"I do take pride in my work, Lightning." The two of them went back to eating. "Say, uh. Elzee?"
"Mm?" she asked around a mouthful of sandwich.
"I don't much like to talk about this, but Hearts and Hooves Day sets me to thinking. And I figured you were the filly to talk to about it." She took a sip from a glass of water. "Sometimes I feel like I only talk about colts because I'm supposed ta. N-not saying I like fillies or anything. I just... wonder sometimes."
Lightning blinked. She sat down her sandwich. She finished chewing and swallowed. She took a drink of water. "Who says you're 'supposed ta?'."
"Well, you're a pegasus, I know you saw those films growing up. And they may not have used so many words back in Mare Valley, but the message was the same."
Lightning snorted, clearly amused. "Want to know a secret about those filmstrips, Rush?" She was grinning broadly.
"What's that, Elzee?"
"They're old and nopony really takes them seriously anymore. They're all 'Your Role as an Efficient Pegasus' but that's not what we really care about. The important thing to pegasi is that you pull your weight and follow orders, not living some standardized lifestyle."
Sugar Rush smiled, relaxing a bit from before. "That's what the earth ponies back home value, too. I just... I think about Blackstrap and little Taffy and I just feel horrified that I might disappoint them."
"You're their sister. You're there for them when they need you, you care about them, why should it matter who you'd rather spend Hearts and Hooves Day with?" Lightning had both hooves planted on the table, her nostrils flaring a little.
"Well, that's the problem, LZ. I'm not there for them." She hung her head, her mane hanging over her eyes.
"That may be the case but it's got nothing to do with this. This kind of 'wondering' you're doing isn't a disappointment because you're not doing anything wrong." She tried to think of a suitable analogy. "It's like... clouds. There are all kinds of clouds in the sky, even if they all just look like clouds to you earth ponies. Pegasi know that we need all of them for things to work right, and we can't just pretend there's only one way for a cloud to be."
"Like how I have all kinds of candies because everypony likes something different!"
"Right, exactly! And just because you'd rather have chocolate and somepony else wants candied clovers doesn't mean either of you are wrong. Candy is beautiful and should be celebrated no matter what form it takes!"
"... I think that last one stretched the metaphor a little, hon." Sugar Rush grinned across the table at her friend. "It's just that Blackstrap sent me a bottle of rum last week, with a note saying to share it with my very special somepony." She sighed and propped her head in her hooves. "I haven't even opened it."
"Well, uh..." Lightning looked around awkwardly, rustling her feathers and inspecting her hooves. "You could use some of it in candy? Then all of Fillydelphia would be your very special someponies."
Sugar Rush giggled. "I suppose that's one way of solving it. Thanks, Elzee." She clapped her friend on the back. "I don't feel so lonely with you and Treble Clef around."
"Aww, what are friends for?" She finished up her sandwich. "I know sweets are your thing, but you're just fine at sandwiches too."
"Thank you kindly, Lightning." Sugar Rush beamed, before turning serious again. "Hey, uh. Do me a favor and don't mention this little talk to any of our friends? Cloudburst is shy enough around me as it is."
"I won't, don't worry. And I don't mention ANYTHING to Cloudburst anyway."
Rush laughed. "I don't know why you get so strange about that filly. She just wants to impress you."
"We work together, and that's all. She doesn't need to impress me, it's not going to change anything." Lightning looked upset. "And I'm not sure I like how she's trying to make friends with my friends."
"Well, I invited her to my birthday party next Friday night, I hope you don't mind."
Lightning sighed and placed a hoof to her forehead. "I'll go anyway, because it's you. But don't try to make me get along with her."
"She's a good pegasus, Elzee, even if she weren't raised in Cloudsdale like you. I don't know why you dislike her so much."
"Where she was raised has nothing to do with it! It's just... she's too much. She gets all worked up about me, like I'm special somehow, and all I want to do is my job, and for her to do the same." Lightning was sounding frustrated. "It's not that I dislike her, I just want us to get our work done without her bugging me or trying to impress me or be my friend."
"If I can speak my mind on the subject, I think that just makes her want to impress you harder."
Lightning let out a prolonged sigh, dragging her hooves down her face.
"She feels like if she just tried hard enough, you wouldn't feel that way."
"Sugar Rush, she just doesn't get that I don't want to be her friend. Just because she thinks I'm special, or cool, or a real pegasus whatever that means, doesn't mean I'm obligated to spend time with her."
Rush turned away, holding herself in her front hooves. "...Do you feel that way about me?"
"What? What? N- no!" She flew over the table, landing in front of Sugar Rush so she could look her in the eye. "I chose to be friends with you! I met you and said, 'hey! here's a pony who needs backup!'. Ever since you thought I was a cloud." She grinned mischieviously, remembering.
"I was kinda hoping you'd forget about that." Sugar Rush grinned too.
"I'm sorry, it was just too funny for me to ever forget. If it helps, I haven't told anypony else that story."
"Good, the fewer ponies know about that, the better. I've learned a lot since I met you. You've been a good friend, Lightning."
"All I really did was point Treble Clef in your direction and help you find your hooves." She shrugged. "And eat lunch with you a lot."
"You can't discount the emotional aspect just because it wasn't as big a deal for you, Lightning. You were there for me when I didn't have anypony else."
"I know, you're right, I just don't feel like I did anything special."
"Well, you did." After an awkward silence, Sugar Rush took a bite out of her sandwich, which had been neglected for the past few minutes. The pair finished their sandwiches in silence.
"Okay, Rush, I can tell something's on your mind. What is it?"
"I'm just hoping you find your very special somepony someday, is all."
"That's pretty low on my list of priorities, but I appreciate it."
Sugar Rush carried their plates to the sink. "Well, you got anything else going on this afternoon?"
"Bringing in some clouds around four. Nothing til then."
"Maybe you'd like to help me with those rum candies you suggested?"
Lightning snapped a salute. "I'm your mare! As long as you don't think I'd get in the way."
"I doubt you'd ever be in the way, hon."
"Right, like that. We need to get the mixture consistent or the filling won't turn out right." Sugar Rush held the bowl steady while Lightning beat the contents. "And now we add the rum..." She poured in a small amount of the bottle's contents. "Good. I'm sure my customers will enjoy this." Lightning was balanced on her back hooves, the whisk held in both of her forehooves, her face screwed in concentration. Sugar giggled inwardly at the sight of her friend. Maybe this isn't what her big brother had in mind when he sent the bottle, and maybe this isn't how she had hoped things would happen, but she couldn't think of anything she'd rather be doing, or anypony she'd rather share it with.
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."