Although she hadn't meant for it to be so soon—nor for it to be with the cost of an injury—Velvet had to admit she couldn't have planned it better. She had plenty of time to feign deciding on a book from one of the many bookshelves while she searched for Crystal's secret. Somewhere in that bedroom had to be the clue to Crystal's passion.
Her gaze drifted over everything as she took it all in. The bookshelves would have to be her last resort, as trying to scan and process all of the titles would take too much time. She had to be quick. She walked over to the dresser and pulled out the bottom drawer as quietly as she could. There wasn't much out of the ordinary among the assorted clothing except for some long, thin boxes stacked to one side.
Velvet carefully pushed one of the boxes' lids aside to spy a fresh quill resting on satin. It was perfectly pristine and unused. Just to make sure, she opened another box and found another quill.
She frowned as she closed the boxes and shut the drawer. Quills? That meant—writing! She smiled as she turned to face the rest of the room. Which meant Crystal had a diary somewhere. But where?
Excited, she checked first around the bedside table, but found nothing incriminating. Then, when she looked under the bed, she spied a box pushed against the far wall, almost out of hoof's reach. Thankfully, her small size allowed her to squeeze into the space between the bed and the floor, and she batted at the corner of the box until it was close enough to pull out.
Velvet took a brief moment to breathe in. She was violating her best friend's privacy, but it was for a good cause! Surely Crystal would forgive her in that case. Right?
As she exhaled, she lifted the lid to the box. Inside, there were six notebooks of different colors. The covers were adorned with a number, the highest at the top and, as she dug down, the lowest at the bottom.
Velvet paused in awe of how much writing the notebooks contained, then pulled out the one labeled '1' and closed the lid.
After returning the box to its spot under the bed, she slid the notebook under the dresser so she could retrieve it more easily the next morning
"Everything okay up there?" Crystal called, some concern in her voice.
"Yup! Just having trouble deciding!" Velvet responded before she quickly grabbed a random book from the shelf and hurried out of the room.
When Velvet climbed onto the couch and held out the book, Crystal blinked a few times.
"Velvet?" Crystal glanced between the book and Velvet. "This is a guidebook on societal etiquette."
Velvet smiled, not skipping a beat, though her heart did. "I know! I thought it might be a nice change of pace!"
Crystal laughed and opened the book, titled Proper Form. Much to Velvet's dismay, it was a how-to on the most boring of high society rules: how to be a host, how to be a guest, how to be a customer, how to be anything but normal, apparently.
Velvet would never understand how Crystal seemed to know all of the rules by heart even before they turned to the appropriate page. Memorizing mathematics and grammar was hard enough, but pointless and silly rules on when to eat which part of a meal? However, she smiled and feigned as much interest as she could to avoid giving away her mistake.
❦
The next day, before Velvet left for school, she managed to sneak the journal into her saddlebags without getting caught. Crystal still wasn't feeling up to walking just yet, so Upper Crust gave Velvet a note to take to school that explained the absence.
All Velvet could think about the whole morning was the diary. She was so excited to finally return all the favors and kindness Crystal had given her! Once she figured out her friend's passion, it would be her sole mission to help Crystal realize it for herself. Throughout the teacher's lessons, her gaze wandered to her saddlebags, where the simple pink notebook was hiding.
"Since Crystal Wishes isn't here to steal your time, why don't you hang out with us for a change?" Golden offered, interrupting Velvet's thoughts. She gave a smile that was too innocent to believe.
Velvet blinked at her. She looked around the room, then back at the two fillies in front of her. "Huh? Is it lunch already?"
"It is!" High Horse said with excitement that died down when Golden glared at her. "I mean, yes. It is."
"Ugh." Golden rolled her eyes before she smiled again. "Why don't you tell us what happened yesterday? I heard Crystal hurt her ankle, the poor thing. So sad." Her voice dripped with venomous sarcasm.
Velvet frowned. "Why are you so mean, Golden?"
"What are you talking about? I was just asking what happened!" Golden put a hoof to her chest. "There's no need for unjust accusation! But if that's how you're going to be, then fine. Come on, High Horse." She turned and started to walk away, but stopped when she realized she wasn't being followed. "High Horse, I said come on."
There was a moment of silence before High Horse's voice said in a near-broken whisper, "No."
"What?" Golden turned her head, eyes wide in surprise.
High Horse raised her chin and stared at Golden straight on. "I said no."
Golden stormed back over to her to shove her face in High Horse's. "What do you mean, 'no'?! We're going! What part of that don't you get?"
High Horse's ears started to fall back, but she forced them straight and held Golden's gaze. "I'm tired of having lunch with you. All you do is complain or pick on me and my lunches, or—or both." She bit her lip before she said in a louder, more forceful voice, "I'm done being friends with you, Golden, if we even were friends to begin with!"
Golden's expression was at first confused, then infuriated. She made an unintelligible sound of frustration before she turned away. "Fine!" she yelled over her shoulder. "I'll just find myself a new friend! You're not irreplaceable!"
Velvet sat there in shock, not sure if she should try to console High Horse. Was she even supposed to have seen all of that? She just stared, her mouth hanging open.
High Horse broke the silence with a sniffling sob. "We—We've been friends forever," she whispered.
Velvet quietly listened, her panic falling into a somber lull of pity.
"Everything used to be fun and happy, but then her mother sent her to a summer camp to learn how to be a 'power pony'." High Horse hiccupped. "She's never been the same since then. I don't know what a power pony is supposed to be, but I don't like who she's become. She's always mean to me, and I thought it was okay, as long as we were friends, but—"
High Horse turned her head to look at Velvet and continued, "She had me follow you and Crystal to your ballet lessons and spy on you two, and when Crystal hurt her ankle, you rushed right to her and never left her side."
Tears were welling up into big drops before they fell down High Horse's cheeks. "I'm just tired of not having what you and Crystal have."
Velvet slid out of her seat and went over to High Horse. She said nothing and simply wrapped both forelegs around her in a tight hug, one hoof stroking her mane.
They remained like that for a while until High Horse's tears subsided and she pulled away, rubbing at her puffy eyes. "Anyway," she whimpered. "I'll leave you alone."
"Wait!" Velvet smiled. "Why don't you have lunch with me?" She retrieved her lunch bag and waggled it. "Crystal's mom made it for me. It was really funny to see her face. I guess Crystal packs her own lunches, 'cause Upper Crust had no idea what I was talking about."
High Horse returned the smile, though hers was much weaker. "You don't have to have lunch with me just because you feel bad for me. I'll be okay by myself."
Velvet shook her head. "No! Well—I mean, yeah, I do feel bad about what happened, but I really would like to have lunch with you. If Crystal were here, she would, too."
There was a long pause before, slowly, High Horse nodded. "Okay. If you're sure."
"Absolutely!" Velvet trotted for the door. "C'mon, it's more fun to eat out in the sun!"
Once they had found a spot and settled down, Velvet opened her bag and burst into giggles. When High Horse glanced at her, she tilted the bag to show its contents.
Inside the bag was a single, lone apple wrapped in plastic wrap.
"Really?" Velvet lifted the apple and started to peel the wrap away. "I mean, really?"
High Horse smothered a giggle. "Maybe Jet Set is the one who does the cooking?"
"You know, I never actually paid attention. I asked the wrong pony to make my lunch!" Velvet gave a dramatic sigh before taking a bite.
High Horse pulled out her sandwich, which was already cut in half, and offered one of the halves to Velvet. "Here. I'm supposed to be on a diet, anyway."
Velvet blinked. She opened her mouth, blinked again, closed it, then frowned. "What? A diet?"
High Horse averted her gaze, biting her lip, and nodded.
"Nuh-uh." Velvet rolled her eyes. "I dunno who's telling you that, but diets are for our parents. We've got years before we need to worry!"
"You really think so?" High Horse stared at her sandwich, then looked down at herself.
"I do." She smiled. "I've learned a lot since I came to Canterlot, but mostly I've learned that all the fillies and colts in our class keep trying to act like adults. What happened to having fun? I thought that's what being young was about. And anyway, I'll just go by my parents' bakery after school and have a late lunch there."
Slowly, High Horse started to smile, brighter and brighter until she was practically beaming. "Then, I'll eat all of my sandwich!" She nodded triumphantly. "And I'll go to Sunridge Sweets and get a cupcake, too!"
"Yay!" Velvet cheered, giggling. "Don't you feel happier now?"
High Horse nodded again. "Uh-huh."
"Good." Velvet smiled and took another bite of apple, saying around it with a hoof over her mouth, "I'm glad."
High Horse had never smiled so earnestly before, and Velvet was happy to see it.
❦
Once she was home that evening, Velvet went straight to her room and tossed her saddlebags on her bed. She jumped up to land next to them and opened one of the flaps, pulling out the journal.
"At last!" She rubbed her hooves together, then traced the '1' on the cover. "Hmm." She tilted her head.
When she and Crystal were still only tentative friends, now that she thought about it, Crystal was always carrying a notebook like the one in front of her, though she was pretty sure it was a different color.
However, the more they had spent time together, the less she brought it around. In fact, when was the last time she had seen Crystal clutching it protectively to her chest?
Velvet's eyes widened. That must mean, somewhere in one of them, was a secret that Crystal was guarding! Her ears folded back. "Is this really okay?" she wondered aloud. Her hoof started to tremble as she opened the journal. "I mean, my intentions are good, so it must be okay, right?"
Her gaze landed on the first page and it was too late to turn back now.
"Once upon a time," she read, then stopped. "Once upon a time? That's a funny way to address a diary." She shook her head and continued, "there once was a beautiful unicorn princess." She giggled. "I knew it! Crystal wants to be a princess! Oh, Velvet, focus!" She cleared her throat. "She was a lonely princess, locked away in a tall tower in the far reaches of Equestria's wild."
Velvet's smile fell. "Wait, this isn't a diary." She flipped a few pages and gasped. "It's a story?!"
Couldn't resist.
Anywho, really cute chapter. Especially loved when Velvet and High Horse had lunch together. Velvet's such a sweetheart and I think I'll grow to like High Horse too.
Can't believe how fast you're publishing these chapters! And I thought I was doing okay with one chapter a week. Then again, mine average 5k words . . . Great job as always! I'll be waiting to read more.
Oh, that Velvet. Somepony's being sneaky.
Anyway, sorry I haven't dropped you a comment in a while. But I have to say I'm still really enjoying this story; it's nice to read after a hard day.
I like how Velvet is trying to help High break away from the dark side. The part where they ate lunch together is great, and I feel there's a lot of truth with how Velvet said,
I remember when I was younger and all I wanted was to be an adult (mostly so I could drive, but still), and I know I'm not the only one who's felt that way. Sometimes it seems kids are so eager to grow up, whether from their own accord or from the expectations placed on them, they don't bother to enjoy the simplicity of their own youth before it's gone.
Also, that last part with Velvet's realization was set up really well, and I'll admit I was like "Oh yus. All us readers know what that book really is. Boy are you for a surprise." and then when Velvet realized this too I was giggling like crazy wanting to know what happens next.
And then I saw the chapter ended there, and I was like,
legendzero.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/darth-vader-nooooo.jpg
Really looking forward to the next thrilling installment.
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Thank you both! I heard the Mission Impossible theme in my head for the first part. And... yes... definitely a dramatic chipmunk at the end.
Admittedly, High Horse was just going to be a less mean-spirited Golden, much like Silver Spoon in the show, but mostly just a part of the "antagonistic cast." I think we all know Silver Spoon would be a different pony if it weren't for Diamond Tiara, so when the opportunity arose, I decided to give Horsey the chance that so far Silver Spoon hasn't.
Thanks for reading, and thanks for your comments!
I do feel a little proud of High Horse. It's not easy to stand up for yourself. Especially in the face of peer pressure and habit. I wonder if she and Goldie will make up. I suppose it depends on whether you side with either Lamark or Hobbes. It also looks like Crystal and Velvet's friendship though is about to face its next big test.
ata girl! standing up to someone like that isnt easy. on a side note, the picture, she's so cute!
this could strain their friendship some, because no matter how velvet takes this, crystal wont be happy that she snooped.
I hate kids who make a sarcastic statement, and when ya accuse 'em of it, they cover it up. Sigh, some kids, their asses I want to kick, and then I want to chew bubblegum. Oh, wait, I don't have bubblegum.....
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IC wat u did there.
A "Power Pony"!?
5971619 ...
I legitimately did not think about that. Um... hm... I was just trying to be playful with the whole 'power woman' and 'power leader' and
'flower power' no wait that's not rightwhatnot... Well, I guess we all know Golden Pants's secret now, including me!high horse is so god damn adorable
6097021 Ahh hello~ Thank you for taking the time to read my story and comment! High Horse became an unexpected fan favorite (and mine!). I'm glad you like her, too!
Every time I see the name "Golden Pants", I silently append "of the Hammerdance".
6128865 If you want to believe that she spends her super-secret private time wearing parachute pants and dancing around, I won't stop you. Also, hi, thank you for reading and commenting!
6128865 I thought you said "Hamsterdance"
Didda-dee-da-dee-da-do-do...
(Darn. Now I have an image of a hamster doing the hammerdance )
It's nice to see High Horse finally stepping off of her high horse hur-de-hur-de-hur.
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BUM BUM BUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM!!!!!!!!!
Velvet has the right idea. Instead of going CMC-STYLE trying random things, you can just try to observe what a pony really enjoys in order to get an idea for the cutie mark.
Yes Velvet, creeping is magic, ain't it?
Dayum velvet, why you do dis???
Also, loving the suspense!
6239417 YOU GOT THAT SONG IN MY HEEAAADDDD
7392378 oh, i had that song in one of my birthday cards when i was 6!
Okay, i get that they're children and that they are still learning boundaries, but my respect for the little filly just.... well it flew off. it hasn't exploded and died, but the breach of trust is just a little bit....... unforgettable for people like me.
My respect:
i.imgur.com/skoRO8U.gif
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You have extra spaces between the words "Away" and "Fine", as well as "shoulder" and "I'll" and "friend" and "You're."
I'm not quite sure why.
7769450 It's double spacing. Normally that is how all of my chapters are and was—when I was being taught—once considered the standard way of typing. It is engrained in me that when it became optional by style guides, I'm unable to turn off the habit because it's just the way I was taught.
But as I've been doing revisions for the book—which will be in justified text and thus double spacing disrupts the formatting—I've removed the double spacing, so chapters that I've copied revisions over from the book document have lost their double spacing. I've not copied this chapter over yet so there is still double spacing present.
Aw, schnapps!
Why do I get the feeling this line was written with the "Mission Impossible" sting in mind?
👍
The road to Tartarus is paved with good intentions, Velvet.