//------------------------------// // Chapter 2: The Picture // Story: Always Stay Good // by Opal-Evanescent //------------------------------// Chapter 2: The Picture Moon's Residence, Trottingham November 13, 2010 Age 14 The rain beat softly against the young mare's bedroom window. Autumn was just now waking up from a dreamless sleep. Giving a soft yawn and stretching to wake herself up, the filly got out of bed and exited her room, walking across the hall, into the bathroom. She took a look at herself in the mirror before picking up a brush and smoothing out her mane. Autumn had never really thought of herself as pretty. Only as a common looking young pony. She didn't really mind, though. No one in her middle school had ever taken an interest in her, and so far, no one in her high school either. Autumn was only in her first year of high school, and so far, the only difference was harder work. But that didn't seem to matter so much as she had mostly 'B's. She didn't wonder why she never got attention from colts, but her friends did. * * * "I just don't understand why you don't have a coltfriend, Autumn." Sugar Pie said. A trio of ponies were having lunch in the cafeteria. A pegasus named Sugar Pie, and a unicorn named Mauve Lace. "I don't know." Autumn replied. "I mean, I'm not really looking for one." Her friends exchanged glances. "Anypony would be lucky to date you." Mauve said. "You're the sweetest filly I know." Autumn smiled at the compliment. "Thanks, Mauve." She smiled back. "Heck, if I swung that way, I'd want to date you." This comment however, threw Autumn off. She looked at her friend with a confused expression. "If you swung what way? And you'd date me? What do you mean?" Sugar Pie giggled. "Oh, Autumn. So innocent, it's adorable." Autumn was admittedly quite unworldly and didn't know about too many things. Having led a sheltered life. Right now, she was confused. She had no idea what her friends were talking about. "Can you just tell me, please?" she asked politely. Mauve looked a bit nervous. "I was just saying.. if I were a fillyfooler, I'd like to go out with you. But I'm not, so... I don't." She was cautiously looking around to make sure nopony was listening. "A fillyfooler?" Autumn was still confused. "You know, when a filly and a colt like each other and go out?" Sugar started. Autumn nodded. "Well, with fillyfoolers, it's the same, only both are fillies." "Oh.. Ohhh!" Autumn finally understood. Mauve still looked around nervously. * * * Autumn finished brushing her teeth while thinking back to that day. She had learned what a fillyfooler was, and wondered for a while if she could possibly be one. She dreaded the idea, for she also learned what many ponies think of fillyfoolers that day. She certainly didn't want to be hated by ponies everywhere simply because of who she loved. She tried to figure out how she really felt about colts, and came to the conclusion that she didn't really like them. At least not in that way. 'Maybe that's why I've never had a coltfriend.' she thought. But just because she didn't like colts, did that necessarily mean she had to like fillies? Autumn planned to test this theory. She walked out of the bathroom and headed to the kitchen. "Good morning, dear." Autumn's mother, Crimson Night greeted. She had a magenta coat and a dark red mane. "I made pancakes." On the table sat a short stack of pancakes with a cup filled with syrup sitting next to it. "Thanks, mum." Autumn sat down beside her mother and took two pancakes and set them in the plate Crimson had conveniently placed beside her for her daughter. She picked up the syrup cup with her teeth and poured a generous amount onto her pancakes. Taking a bite of the breakfast food, Autumn let out a satisfied "Mmm~" to which, her mother giggled. "There's some juice in the refrigerator too, hon." Autumn looked to the refrigerator, but her eye caught something else; the front page of the newspaper her mother was reading. The picture showed an earth pony mare, eyes closed, and playing a cello. The headline read: "Young cellist 'wow's Equestria with her music" The picture was very simple. It was in black and white, so Autumn couldn't even tell what color the pony in it was. And yet, she couldn't stop staring. There was something about this mare that made it impossible for her to look away. Crimson glanced at her daughter and took notice of her staring. She looked at the front page and saw the cellist. "Who is she?" asked Autumn. Crimson gave a little smile and set the paper down in front of her. "See for yourself." Completely losing interest in her breakfast, Autumn pulled the newspaper closer and began to read. 'Octavia Philharmonica took Canterlot by storm in her concert last night. Her powerful performance and emotional movements left the crowd wanting more. Could the young Trottingham mare possibly become the most talented cellist in all of Equestria?' "Octavia...." Autumn was mesmerized. "You seem pretty interested in her." Crimson commented. "She's beautiful..." Autumn wasn't even fully aware those words left her mouth. And now her mother's face showed slight concern. "You think she's... beautiful?" Autumn looked at her mother, now slightly nervous. "Well... I mean, yes she looks very simple, but.. she has a certain elegance to her simpleness, and...." She trailed off, not knowing exactly what to say. The room was filled with an awkward silence for about a minute, until Crimson spoke up. "Do you.... like fillies, Autumn..?" Autumn wasn't sure how to answer. She was only now trying to find the answer to this question herself. She wasn't certain she had ever felt anything romantic toward anypony at all in the past, much less a filly. Looking at the picture again, she confirmed that she did feel something for this mare, but she wasn't sure what it was. "I suppose..."Autumn began softly. "I like this one... I'm not really sure.." She slumped slightly in her chair, a bit ashamed for feeling this way. She didn't know how her mother was going to react. "Well.. how do you feel about her? Can you tell me that?" Autumn thought. "Well, like I said, she's beautiful." She looked closer at the picture. "Gorgeous even... So... pretty...." She seemed to be staring a little too long. "I'd love to meet her...." Crimson made a conclusion. "It sounds to me like you have a little crush." Was that what it was? Autumn knew what a crush was, but had never had one herself before. She wasn't even sure this was one, because she was fairly certain she didn't feel any butterflies in her stomach. But she knew she had some kind of feelings for the mare. It was only to look at her mother that Autumn finally tore away from the picture in the newspaper. "M-maybe, but..." Autumn was worried. She didn't know what her mother thought of fillies liking other fillies. She was afraid of what she would think. Crimson seemed to notice this fear and gently pulled her daughter into a hug, which she returned. "Sweetheart, what's the problem..?" she asked, concern in her voice. "I-I know what ponies think of... fillyfoolers..." She whispered the last word, suddenly afraid that her father may possibly be in the other room and hear her. She was very open about things with her mother, but her father was thick-headed and very judgmental. She didn't want to have to deal with him. Crimson gently brushed a hoof against Autumn's mane. "Yes sweetheart, a lot of ponies aren't too fond of same-gender couples... But, I'll tell you a secret." Autumn looked at her as she held her closer. "There is absolutely nothing wrong with being gay. If you have feelings for a filly, that's okay. In fact, it's good." Autumn smiled and snuggled into her mother's embrace. "My little girl's got her first crush." Crimson kissed Autumn's forehead. "You're growing up, dear." Autumn giggled, then looked back at the paper. "Hey, mum?" she asked. "Hmm?" "Could we.. possibly... go to her next concert?" A sudden pang of worry and guilt built up inside Crimson. She knew they couldn't afford to go to Canterlot or to attend a concert. But letting down her daughter was the last thing she planned to do. "Well, we'll have to save up for it. And it could take a long time. Can you wait that long, dear?" Autumn smiled. "Of course I can! In fact, I'll even help save up." Crimson giggled. "Alright." She kissed Autumn's forehead once again. "Now, you'd better hurry up or you'll be late for school." Autumn looked at her pancakes, they had gone cold and she didn't really want to eat them anymore. Her attention once again turned to the newspaper. She picked it up. "Mum, could.. could I keep this?" Crimson smiled warmly. "Of couse, sweetheart." Autumn grinned and carried the newspaper into her room. She walked to her bed and placed the paper underneath her pillow. She would cut out the picture and article to pin on her wall when she had more time. Before leaving, she took one last glance at the mare in the picture. "Octavia..."