To Be Somepony

With her cheek on her hoof and elbow on top of the desk, Ribbon did her best to pay attention to the teacher as he went on with their lesson of logarithms, but her mind was else where as she imagined going out with her friends to the Ponyville market to hang out for the first time in a while. She imagined walking along the road, side by side and listening to their gossip as she kept to herself and enjoyed their company. She imagined going to the different shops and perusing the trinkets and oddities, wondering whether or not she should by the small little toy or not, whether it would be worth her bits or if it were just a childish reaction of seeing something and wanting it desperately, then slowing realizing it was worthless and regretting the purchase.

She enjoyed the thought and closed her tired eyes and imagined the soft music she listened to every night from her record player her parents had gotten her for her birthday so many years before. It was what was always playing in her bedroom when she was doing homework or practicing her drawing, and what soothed her whenever she was in a foul or depressed mood. She simply took a record from her shelf, and depending on what she felt like listening, she would gently place it down on the spindle and place the needle then crank the mechanism and listen as the music slowly flowed from the echoing bronze cone and filled her room with the sound of instruments playing.

Ribbons head began to tilt forward as one of her favorite songs played in her head with its melody lulling her to sleep, when she opened her eyes and saw the teacher still lecturing the class from behind his desk up at the chalkboard. With regret she took her pencil and began copying the numbers and symbols they would need to solve that days homework, her tolerance of the mundane schedule of getting up in the morning and going to school at her daily limit.

Looking outside, she took a moment to look at the lush bushes that grew along the road that went by the school house. The dark green leaves rustled gently in the wind, making her sigh with delight.

"Are there any questions?" the teachers voice said, "I don't want anypony coming up to me tomorrow with an unfinished paper saying the need more time because they didn't understand."

Ribbon raise her light brown hoof in the air.

"Yes miss Ribbon."

"How do you solve for natural logarithms?" she asked.

"The same way we solve for regular ones. We just replace the 'log' sign with 'ln' and solve it like we regularly would."

"Oh... ok."

"Any more questions?"

The class was silent except for the few who whispered to each other.

"Well then tonight homework will on pages..."

Ribbon didn't here what pages it was on as she looked over at her friend who was making a face at her with her tongue sticking out the side of her mouth. The shear randomness and pure stupidity of the look on her face was enough to make Ribbon almost burst out laughing but contain it with a loud snort. She covered her mouth in embarrassment and quickly looked around to see if anypony had noticed. But the room had grown loud enough with the others students buckling their satchels and talking out loud that no one did.

She copied the homework onto the page she'd use that night and tucked it away just as the bell rang and the sound of chair legs shuffling against the wooden floors filled the room. Walking along the side of the room, bliss filled her as the feeling of freedom and fresh air surrounded her, followed by the warmth of the sun against her mane and coat and the dirt road under her hooves instead of organized wooden panels. She walked by herself to the beginning of the schools pathway to the road then stopped and turned around to wait for her friend.

"Ribbon!" she heard from her side.

She looked and saw Sprinkle, with her face back to normal and her tongue back in her mouth, trotting up to her with a group of others behind her.

"You ready to go?" Sprinkle asked.

"Of course." she replied.

The two and three others began walking towards Ponyville, Sprinkle and the other four talking among each other as Ribbon simply walked and listened, as she had imagined before.

Most of the time it was what she did when with her friends, stand by and listen and sometimes throw in her own comment or opinion, but she wasn't much for talking. She had noticed just a few weeks earlier that she hardly ever spoke for long periods of time than when she was a filly, innocent and brash with her words. Looking back, she remembered the times when saying things she had no idea got her in trouble and then feeling awful afterwards, so she kept to herself most of the time.

After a little while the group reach the middle of Ponyville where the courtroom was, that famous courtroom where Nightmare Moon had appeared before, and where the rampage of Pinkie's had been stopped. The five went by and up to the large fountain. Ribbon sat down the edge and dipped her hoof in the water and looked down at the bits ponies had thrown in and wished on. Two of the ponies said they needed to go home, then left after saying goodbye. It saddened Ribbon to see them go and the group shrink, but the feeling passed shortly.

"So I was thinking of going to the Cake's shop and getting a treat." Sprinkle said, "I heard they've been trying their hooves at a new recipe of cupcakes and I've been dying to try one of them."

"I hear Pinkie Pie is there today as well." the other mentioned, "Isn't she just the greatest pony ever, always so happy and smiling. Last week she gave me a cupcake because it was my birthday, and we hardly know each other."

"She is the greatest. I hope she really is there."

The three left the fountain and made their way towards the bakery, Ribbon still being quiet and looking around the market and admiring the shops and decor. Sprinkle and the other pony, Daisy, went on to talk about the bakery and some of their favorite sweets from there. Cakes and cookies were mostly mentioned, but Ribbon wasn't the fondest of sweets even though she enjoyed an occasional snack or two. It was the frosting that drew her away from eating so much. When she had mentioned it while the other two were talking, Sprinkle flipped.

"How can you not like the frosting?!" she shouted playfully, "It's the best part of anything."

"Its okay." Ribbon smiled guilt-fully, "It just sometimes gets everywhere. Plus if its too sweet, you hardly taste the bread and you left with a sour taste in your mouth forever."

"I can't believe this. We're not best friends anymore."

"Fine by me." Ribbon said and giggled.

"Daisy's my new best friend, right?"

Daisy pretended to start trotting in the other direction, then came back and the three of them laughed as they passed by an apple stand. A golden mare with a cowgirl hat and her little sister wearing a red bow in her equally red hair merrily calling out to those passing by were selling there bundles of apples and small boxes of apple pastries. Ribbon watched them as she passed by.

The little sister eagerly went from pony to pony, loudly asking them if they wanted to buy the apples on sale. Some said yes and went up to the older sister tending the stand, some said no but were greeted the the little fillies large sad eyes trying to get to convince them, but it didn't work.

The smell of cinnamon, sugar, and sweet apple nectar filled Ribbon's nose and tempted her to approach the stand. She looked over at her friends, who were deeply engaged in a conversation still probably about the bakery and Pinkie Pie.

"You two go ahead." she said, "I'll catch up."

"Where you goin'?" Daisy asked.

"The Apple stand."

"But you wont buy a cupcake from the bakery?!" Sprinkle said.

Ribbon rolled her eyes, smiled and trotted off.

The little sister saw her heading in her direction and was immediately in front of her smiling. One looked in her eyes and Ribbon felt her heart melt and smile relax.

"Y'all here to buy some apples?" the filly asked cheerfully.

"As a matter of fact yes."

"I knew it, the way you were headin' on over here. What can we getcha?"

"Why don't you leave her bits to me Applebloom." the older sister said, "You just keep em coming and stay out of trouble, ya here."

"Alright." Applebloom said and went off.

"Sorry if she seems a little excited. She doesn't always help with the stand, and still thinks she'll get her cutie mark in selling apples. Thought she would've learned otherwise from last time."

"That's alright." Ribbon replied, "I kind of envy her spirit."

"She's spirited all right. So what can i getcha? We've all manner of apple treats fresh from the oven here."

Ribbon looked around on the small shelves of the stand at the different treats, and spotted a small stroodle still warm and tender. She picked it and paid her bits.

"Ya'll ever had a Sweet Apple Acre pastry before?" the golden pony said as she wrapped it up.

"I cant recall, but i hear you guys make awesome cider and jam."

"We sure do. Everything we make is made from our home grown apples and never disappoints."

"I bet it doesn't."

"Names Applejack by the way."

"Ribbon. Thank you."

She went off with the small package in her satchel and continued to admire the shops and stalls along the way.

The bakery wasn't too far off, and by the time she got through the front doors, Sprinkle and Daisy were already at the counter buying their cupcakes from Mr. Cake. Ribbon looked around, and noticed it was somewhat quiet, meaning Pinkie Pie wasn't around that day and probably off at a party she was throwing. And the fact that most of the cakes and sweets on display around the room were still intact and not bitten out of was a clear indication also.

Sprinkle and Daisy turned around and went up to her.

"Watcha get?" Sprinkle asked.

"Just a small stroodle."

"That's nice I suppose. Me and Daisy both got three of their new cupcakes; Strawberry Delight. They looked so good under the glass we just had to get them."

"Can't wait to have mine." Daisy said, "Where should we go now?"

"How about the Boutique." Sprinkle said, "They always have lovely dresses on display."

"I don't think any of us has the bits to buy anything from there." Ribbon said skeptically.

"Yeah, but it'll be nice to just look around."

The three went out and made their way back down the road towards the market. They passed by the apple stand again, where Ribbon saw the little filly still running around and going up to people while her sister sold the merchandise.

"Have you ever gotten anything from the boutique?" Daisy asked Sprinkle.

"Lets see." she said, looked up and pondered her mind, "Oh! This one time me and my mother were there looking for dresses for a party. I remember trying on a purple dress with small jewels in it, since it would've gone good with my white coat, but it was too expensive. We didn't end up buying anything fancy, but i did get a nice little shirt that I like to wear to bed sometimes."

"I remember when i my older sister was having her wedding in Manehatten, and she came down here to find a dress. When she told the mistress there her story, she said that she nearly freaked as they were trying to find her the perfect dress."

"I here she's a bit of a snob."

"Not really." Ribbon said trying to defend the pony.

"Then why are there jewels and gems in practically everything that's in there?"

Sprinkle exaggerated by rolling her head and lowering her voice. Ribbon giggled at the gesture.

"But I here she's also one of nicest and most generous ponies in Ponyville." Daisy said.

"We'll see."

They made it to boutique, where the glimmer of beautiful dress came from the two front windows of the prestigious looking house. Ribbon was the last to go in, but stopped and looked at the small meadow by the store. Off in the distance, she saw a pony near the pond throwing what looked like seeds from a bag into the water and the ducks gathering around to nimble on them. Squinting her eyes, she noticed the pony had a long mane and tail that was a vibrant pink and a yellow coat. The pony glanced back at her and smiled. Ribbon went inside and felt her face blush at the pony's smile.

Inside, there were a few others than the three of them looking around, one up on the alter surrounded by mirrors and looking at each to see the dress on her body. Going back and forth between all of them was Spike, the renowned a only dragon in Ponyville, whose conspicuous intentions of being the shop weren't surprising; helping the mistress with her business.

Sprinkle and Daisy went off on their own to ponder the dresses and gowns while Ribbon sat down on one of the rounded cushioned seats and thought to herself, then reached into her satchel and munched on the stroodle, which tasted better than it smelt.

"Hey." she heard a curious voice, then looked to see Spike walking up to her, "Did you by any chance get that from Applejack's stand out in the market?"

"Yeah, you know her?" she said.

"Of course. We're like best friends. I know her cooking anywhere."

"It's pretty good, I'll give her that."

"My names Spike by the way." he said and stuck out his claw.

"I'm Ribbon."

They shook claw and hoof.

"So is there anything I can help you find here?" he asked, "I don't actually work here, but I'm friends with Rarity and help her out sometimes. She's... she's nice like that."

At the mention of her name the little dragons eyes softened and he blushed. Ribbon smiled at him.

"Well I don't think me or my friends over there are gonna buy anything, just looking really."

"Ah that's okay, I need a break anyway." he said then hopped up on the seat next to her.

"So do you know Rarity or Applejack?"

"No. I just met Applejack in the market, and I don't think I've ever seen Rarity. What's she look like?"

"Oh...well," he started, "She's got the most dazzling coat of white and a beautifully groomed mane and tail of purple, and three diamonds as her cutie mark."

"Hmmm. She does seem familiar."

"She helps decorate the hall for when the princesses come by."

"Oh she does! I always love the way it looks inside!"

"Yeah, she pretty good at stuff like that." he said then scratched the back of his scaly head.

Ribbon smiled at him, then it disappeared when a loud thud come above both of them, followed by womanly grunt. A loud voice called out.

"Spiiiiiiike?! Could you be a dear and come up here! Some of the boxes fell and I'm much to busy with my new designs!"

"Coming Rarity!" he answered, "I'll be right back in a few. You can stay here if you wan... wa..."

He suddenly belched green fire, which magically turned into rolled piece of parchment with the Princess Celestias's seal on it.

"Oh man. Talk about bad timing. I've got to get this to Twilight... but Rarity..." he said with regret.

"You mean Princess Twilight?" Ribbon said.

"Well... yeah, but she prefers just Twilight."

"Ooh, could I take it to her?"

"Sure, i guess. Just be careful. I don't want her giving me a hard time later." he laughed.

He quickly went up the stairs as she carefully tucked the letter in her satchel. Only just recently had it been Twilight Sparkle's coronation, and Ribbon had always been fascinated with magic but never saw it from her before.

Sprinkle and Daisy came up, disappointed in not finding anything within there bits limit.

"You guys want to go to the library?" Ribbon asked, eager out of her normal standards.

"The library?" Daisy said, sketchy, "I don't know, I think i should get home before it's dark since it's a school night. It's too bad I couldn't find anything."

"Me too." Sprinkle said reluctantly, "Besides, I'm not much for reading."

Ribbons heart sunk, but not by much. The three said goodbye from outside the boutique then went their separate ways.

Ribbons trot was quicker and had just the slight hint of a skip as she went down the road towards the library, getting her mind ready for meeting Twilight. She went over different greetings and ways to break the ice; ways on how to present the letter from Spike so the two could start up a conversation. She was nervous but also excited in a strange and yet thrilling way.

As she went, she looked back at the pond and noticed the pony that fed the ducks was gone then remembered the smile they gave her from the distance. But she didn't give it too much thought, the the meeting of Princess Twilight clouding her mind with glee.

She made it to the front of the library, ruffled her free flowing mane to help straighten it to appear presentable, took a small breath and walked through the door. Inside were three other ponies, none of them Twilight and each with their eyes in a book or looking through the shelves to find something that fancied them. One she noticed and knew right away was Rainbow Dash, with her signature rainbow mane and tail, a volume of Daring Do in her hoof and head resting on the other. Never had she seen her up close from the usual thousands of feet as she soared in the sky on occasions, but she wasn't as avid a fan as her other admirers.

Looking around, she saw a door leading to the basement underneath the giant tree open and saw Twilight Sparkle walk out. Her heart skipped a beat as it nearly jumped from her chest and she felt as if she would burst out in tears of joy. But she kept calm and casually made her way over to her as she went up to Rainbow Dash.

"Have you seen Spike anywhere?" she asked, "Celestia should be sending me a letter soon but i don't know where he is."

"Take a guess." Rainbow said.

"Rarity?"

"Rarity."

Twilight sighed.

"Honestly, one of these days."

"I have it." Ribbon said.

"Oh?"

"Yeah. I was at the boutique when he got it, but he needed to take care of something, so i asked if I could take it."

She unbuckled her satchel and gave her the letter. It floated from her hoof as Twilight's magic unwrapped it and she read over its seemingly sacred contents.

"Ah! Thank you very much. I'll be sure to let Spike know he need to get some of his priorities straight."

Then with just a simple nod to her, Twilight left Ribbon with an anxious look on her face and headed towards the door. The look quickly vanished as she watched the pony walk through the door and it magically close behind her. Her mind went blank for a moment as she tried to comprehend what had happened within the ten seconds she had met Twilight for the first time.

When the door closed, Ribbon felt her heart sink again, only this time it was into a freezing lake that would never let it go. Her jaw dropped slightly, and tears began to form in her eyes as her lip began to quiver. Not only was it the sight of seeing what was possibly her idol and the most important pony in Ponyville just walk away from her while barely acknowledging her, it was the realization of how foolish she was. She began to regret ever conceiving the idea that she would actually get to talk with Twilight Sparkle, and how childish and overzealous she had felt. It was like the child and the toy they so desperately wanted, then seeing how worthless it was after spending the money on it. She knew it was just like what she thought of at the end of class, only hundreds of times worse.

A tear dropped from her eye lash and hit the floor with a soft trickle. Rainbow Dash's ear pricked from the sound, then she looked down then up at Ribbons face.

"Hey." she said, slightly worried a the pure sadness on her face, "Something wrong?"

Ribbon choked and bit her lip as she tried not to cry, but a tear still managed to streak across her face.

"N...n...no, no." she said and wiped it away, "I'm...I'm fine. I'll j...just go now."

She quickly turned around and went out the library, leaving Rainbow Dash to wonder what caused her to cry.

The sun had begun to set over the surrounding mountains and bathed the sky in beautiful shades of yellow, orange and red as Ribbon made it to the front door of her house. The tears had gone away, but now she felt a void in her chest form, feeling nothing but numb sadness. Her limbs felt weak as she opened the door then closed it behind her. The smell of her favorite soup, warm and zesty, came as she set her bag down against the sofa, but did little to lift her spirits.

"Ribbon! Is that you?" he mother called out from the kitchen, "How was the market?"

"Fine." she said just loud enough that her mother could barely hear her.

"That's good! Dinner's pretty much ready if you want to dish up!"

"I'll be right there."

She slowly went up the stairs and into her bedroom, opened the windowsill and looked out to Ponyville as it bathed in the twilight. It was one of her favorite times of day, when it wasn't too bright or dark and neither cold or hot but just perfect. The view had always been a source of inspiration for her drawing, even if she knew she was mediocre at it but still kept trying. She didn't even feel like putting on a record to drown out her sorrow with cymbals and strings.

"Ribbon!" her mother called out again.

"Coming!" she answered.

She took in a deep breath and exhaled through her nose, then bumped against the door frame on her way out.