Better the bitter truth than a sweet lie
It was beautiful morning in Equestria, like always, there were no clouds and sun was shining. The improvement of technical devises and magic made it possible to get rid of clouds permanently so sky was always clear and sunny. Magenta coloured pegasi was flying trough the sky. She had brown bag on her cutie mark and her usually beautiful long golden mane was now in a terrible shape.
“Oh god! Oh god! What I am going to do! Come on Blue Comet, where are you!” Pegasi shrieked. After a short flight, pegasi saw what she was looking for. Her friend was walking towards the center of Canterlot . “Thank god I found you Comet! Something terrible has happened!”
Blue mare, with green hair, looked up and started to laugh loudly. “Um… ha hah… What happened to your mane Liefly?”
“I know, I know! It's terribly but this is more urgent!” Liefly panicked. She landed near Blue Comet (who was still laughing). “Stop it already! My subject is about… Ghilper.”
“Wait.. what? Your boyfriend? Has he died?!” Comet said.
“No, no, NO! HE ASKED ME TO MARRY HIM!”
“Well… umm… How that could be a terrible thing? You love him don’t you?” Blue Comet pointed out. Liefly was now almost crying out loud. They were lucky that there where nopony on that street where they had conversation. “Calm down my friend. Tell me everything that has happened.”
Liefly took a deep breath and started to explain. “Ghilper took me to a picnic. Everything went great until he revealed his idea. His proposal was most beautiful and so sweet! Of course I love him and I said yes but now… I ruined everything! I… I… have never told him that I don’t have cutie mark. I have lied to him too, all there years.
And now that we’re going to get married I must tell him and… he will be furious! He won’t marry me… What should I do? I can not lose him... Please Comet, you have to help me.”
Blue Comet just stared the crying mare and could say a word. She was shocked and first thing that came out of her mouth was: “’I am not a psychologist I am astronomer.”
“Please Blue Come, you’re my best friend!”
“Umm… I just that you lied to me too. I have always known that you don’t have cutie mark and that you don’t like that subject. I mean you told me that you have told to Ghilper about your missing cutie mark!” Blue Comet shrieked. “You really are what your name says…”
“I am sorry Comet… I just didn’t want to bother you with it… I… I misjudged everything.” cried Liefly.
Pegasi and unicorn stared each other a long time without a word spoken out. Liefly cried silenly and sat down. Unicorn sighed and moved to near her friend. She sat next to Liefly and smiled a little.
“Your hair is in terrible shape. How you let that happen?” Blue Comet said and broke the ice.
“I was so upset about everything that my flight here wasn’t the smoothest. I crash landed and this is the result.” Liefly muttered. “It’s so embarrassing! I hope nopony saw that.”
“Ha! Who would have guessed!” Comet said. “I am sorry about what I said about your name. I know that your name it's only nickname that I use. Sorry, I have never used to your real name Leaf Dust. Liefly suits you better!
There is one thing I don’t understand. How have you been hiding your missing cutie mark all these years from Ghilper? If I remember right you've been dating for 4 years.”
“It’s ok, I deserve that nickname.” Magenta pegasi said with a smile. “I always carry a bag or something else with me so that it covers my missing mark. Just like now. When Ghilper asks about my cutie mark I smile and say that I will reveal it to him after we get married. Then I make a joke that my cutie mark is so terrible that otherwise he would leave me.”
“And he will always fall for that? Are you serious?” Comet laughed.
“It’s true! That is how I keep myself mysterious to him!”
“Oh god… How stupid he is!?”
Both ponies were now laughing and all lies were now forgotten. After a long relieving laughter ponies stood up and grinned to each others.
“So Comet what were you doing before I interrupted you?” Liefly asked with curiosity in her voice.
“I was going to the post office. Our amulets have finally arrived. I am going to get transparent wings and you’re going to get transparent horn! Isn’t that exciting! With those amulets I can learn how to fly and you can use simple magic! I love our time! Those amulets are the best invention.” joyed Blue Comet.
“Finally! Let’s get going!”
“You sure? Your mane is still quite afful…”
Liefly looked up and sighed “Indeed it is… What should I do to it? I don’t have brush with me now. You always forgot it when you most need it.”
“Let me see… I know one spell that could fix your mane but I not good at it. So are you willing to take risk that you’re mane will look a way more terrible after my spell?” asked Comet.
“Errr… You’re my best friend and I lied to you so I guess it shall be my punishment.” Liefly said slowly “And I trust you completely.”
“OK! Here it goes!”
Blue Comets horn glowed in green light and magic burst towards Lieflyes hair. A loud bang and grey smoke was created. Loud bang had attracted a few ponies and when the smoke started to clear it was obvious to everypony who was watching that the spell had backfired. Everypony who saw the Lieflys hair laughed including Blue Comet. Lieflys hair had burnt spots in it and it was straight up towards the sky. It wasn’t gold coloured anymore either.
“Get me out of here. Now!” Liefly demanded.
“Ok, ok! That is a spell I know. I’ll teleport us to the nearest hairdresser.” Comet giggled and concentrated on teleport spell.
Another loud bang was heard and they successfully teleported to nearest hairdresser. Thought Blue Comet was dizzy after her spell but managed to get inside the hairdresser.
“Oh my! What in Equestria have happened to your mane!” Shrieked the hairstylist.
“What happened? Well she happened!” murmured Liefly and pointed Blue Comet.
“Come here darling. I take it to my first priority to fix your mane.” Hairstylist spoke.
“Thank you so much! Comet you will wait there… this might take some time to fix.” relieved Liefly said.
Blue Comet sat down and waited. First Blue Comet wondered should she really let her friends lies be forgotten this easily. She had been lying to her years. Comet knew that Liefly had hard time with the missing cutie mark so Comet decided to forgive to Liefly. Comet was a very kind person and the mare couldn't let her friend to suffer. At least she ruined Lieflys mane. She didn’t feel guilty of ruining Lieflys mane since she had permission to make a spell that she didn’t know well and it could be counted as revenge of all the lies Liefly had told to her. Blue Comets specialty was astronomy; her cutie mark was spiral galaxy that told the story for her. Comet eventually fell a sleep while waiting her friend. Mare had been gazing the stars all night and didn't have much time to sleep.
“It’s time to wake up Blue Comet! My mane is fabulous once more!” Liefly said while poking her friends head.
“What? Oh.. Sorry.” Blue Comet mumbled “I didn’t have much sleep last night”
“I know. You never do. Now lets go! I want those amulets!”
Better the bitter truth than a sweet lie
There were only few ponies in the post office. Liefly and Blue Comet quickly got what they wanted. Amulets were wrapped safely in beautiful green paper. Both ponies knew that they couldn't open those packets inside the post office. Blue Comet used her magic to carry the packet.
“Your apartment is closer than mine isn't it? Shall we go there?” Comet asked and grinned to Liefly.
“Sure! My apartment is might be big enough for you to try flying too.” Liefly agreed “I bet you will crash on the wall!”
“No way! I know I am a good at flying!” Comet bragged, until she had an idea “Hey Liefly! What if your cutie mark comes from magic! You haven’t tried it before so what do you think?”
Lieflys eyes brightened “That must be it! Quickly follow me!”
Liefly flew off as fast as she could. Mare was too impatient to walk with her friend. Pegasi slowed down when she saw her apartment. She landed near the door and took her keys from the saddlebag. Liefly opened the door and walked in, her apartment was wide and clean. There were only few paintings on the walls and all furniture was dark brown which matched with the white walls. Liefly took off her saddlebag and went searching beverages.
“Why comet has to be so slow? Can’t she just teleport here?” muttered Liefly by herself.
It didn’t took long when Liefly heard knocking from her door.
“There you are! What took you so long?”
Panting Comet answered “You just fly way too fast and I can’t teleport since I used so much my strength to get you to that hairdresser. Take the packet already and open it. I must rest for a while.”
Liefly took the package to her mouth and carried it to the table. She opened the packet as quickly as she could and there they were two amulets. In both amulets there were name attached to it. Blue amulet for Liefly and purple amulet for Blue Comet. There was a small letter in packet. Liefly didn’t care about the letter and put the blue amulet on. In seconds transparent horn appeared to Lieflys head.
“Cool! I can FEEL the magic!” Liefly enjoyed.
Blue Comet, who was now resting at the sofa, levitated the letter and purple amulet to her. Mare placed amulet next to her and red the letter out loud:
“These are your new amulets. They are designed only for the user and no one else can get the benefit from them.
Amulet allows you to redirect the power that you would usually use for earth pony abilities, flying or magic to that which you do not yet use. Amulets guide your magic along another path for example unicorn power will be redirected to wings.
When using your new ability, for example flying, your magic will be weakened only the time you spend flying. Amulets will not grand you lightness and speed of pegasus or full magical power of an unicorn.
Take your time to get to know your new ability and take precautions when using your new ability for the first time.
These amulets are not toys.”
“Sounds easy enough.” Comet muttered. “This cost me all my savings! I bet I can’t get to moon now!”
“Don’t worry about that! I can get us there with very cheap price! I have been there twice. You would definitely like it!” Liefly responded “Anyway! I am going to try now! I heard you have to just concentrate to your spell!”
Liefly shut her eyes and concentrated on a book, her intention was to levitate it. The transparent horn started to glow and slowly a magic took hold the book. Nothing happened. The book didn’t levitate. Liefly opened her eyes in disappointment she had high hopes of magic.
“I.. I.. What did I do wrong?”
“Liefly that was very good try! You can’t expect to succeed in the first try.” Comet comforted her friend.
Liefly sighed and tried once more. Her horn glowed but nothing happened. Pegasi tried several times with no results. She was really frustrated in the end.
“Why can’t I get anything done! I suck a t everything!” Liefly screamed.
“You don’t believe me! You’re goof at many things!” Comet responded with a kind voice.
“You just say that!! It’s easy to you to say since you have your cutie mark! You are SO AMAZING at gazing the stars! But me! I am just some Jane Doe without a cutie mark!”
Liefly was now screaming. Tears filled her eye and she stared Blue Comet in anger. Blue unicorn was uncertain of what she should do. If she said anything Liefly might shout some more to her. Comet walked to Liefly and gave a hug to her friend.
After a long while she spoke “I am certain we find your special talent.”
“No.” Liefly sighed. “No you’re not. You just say so to make me feel better.”
Pegasi pushed Comet away her, went to the door crying and flew away.
“Liefly! Don’t go! Come back1 I really mean it! I know we’ll find your special talent!” Comet shouted but it was too late. Liefly was already a far away and wouldn’t even have listened her best friend.
Blue Comet opened her new wings and tried to fly but she didn’t know how to fly and crash landed. Comet tried few more times to fly but it always ended up to a crash to the ground. Comet went in to panic. Where would her friend have gone? Where Comet would find her friend?
“This is all my fault! I ordered those amulets and gave her false hope.” Comet cried alone. She walked to her friend’s house and sat next to the door. For several minutes Comet sat quietly and wondered what she should do. Then all of sudden she remembered Ghilper. Comet galloped away, she knew where Liefly boyfriend lived. Comet strongly believed that Liefly would have gone to him.
After a long run to Ghilpers apartment Comet knock the door impatiently. She heard somepony coming to the door. Door opened and a brown unicorn with eye glasses came out. Unicorns cutie mark was scroll of paper. Unicorn at the door was definitely Ghilper, his cutie mark indicated to his philosopher career and like now, Ghilper had huge smile on his face.
“Oh hi Blue Comet! What brings you here? Leaf Dust said that you would be trying our new amulets all day.” Ghilper said.
“Ghilper… It’s.. about Liefly…” Comet panted.
“About Leaf Dust? Has something happened?” Ghilper said and his smile faded away.
“Is she here?” Comet asked.
“No” Now Ghilper was serious. “Comet. What has happened?”