Crystal had done it: she had officially graduated from Canterlot Academy. She had worked hard, persevered when the going got tough, and earned herself a diploma. Of course, the diploma was pretty worthless from a practical standpoint, given that she already had two published books under her belt, but that was beside the point.
Velvet tried to focus on the cards held in her hooves. Princess Luna was sitting across from her, light blue eyes boring into her very soul. What had she been doing again? Was she betting on this round or not? Wait, were higher numbers better or lower ones? Curse all these different games with different objectives and different rules!
"I'll just take this one," she mumbled, reaching over and sliding one of the face-down cards over to add to her collection.
Princess Luna smiled over her own cards, eyes locked with Velvet's. "We see what you are planning, Fair Velvet."
Velvet's face heated up and she averted her gaze. There was something terribly embarrassing about having one of the princesses tease her, and Princess Luna did it in spades. The princess would never let her live down their first meeting where Velvet had kissed her hoof. Ugh, just thinking about it was so embarrassing...
That was all irrelevant, though. She glanced over to the other table where Crystal played with the other group, including, of course, Silent Knight. Velvet did her best not to grin at the eyes Crystal was making at Silent.
Crystal was definitely going to graduate in more ways than one that night if Silent wasn't totally oblivious and she didn't let him get away. Velvet's grin fell. So actually, probably not, now that she thought about it.
Velvet returned her attention to the game and noticed Princess Luna looking over at the other table, as well. When their gazes met, the princess smiled and winked.
Velvet blinked a few times, then smiled back. Was that just pure coincidence, or had she just gained a comrade? Tartarus, was she even looking for one?
Yes. Yes, she was. She couldn't let her lingering reservations and fears hold Crystal back from what she wanted. Nightingale told her she'd regret it if she sabotaged Crystal's life, so she had to stop thinking that way. If Crystal wanted to have awkward first-time sex with Silent that night, then by Luna she was going to let Princess Luna help her out.
A few hours later, when Runic Phial had nearly passed out from exhaustion, Princess Luna cleared her throat and brought the game night to a close. Velvet set her cards down and trotted over to Crystal.
"Ask him," Velvet hissed in her ear, grinning when the mare jolted stiff. "You've been giving him the stare all evening. Just ask him already!"
Crystal glanced at the oblivious stallion, then back at Velvet. "What?" She quickly shook her head. "It—it's late, Velvet. We should just go home."
Velvet rolled her eyes. "Lame excuse, but whatever."
Princess Luna's voice rose over the sound of shuffling hooves and mumbled goodnights. "Silent Knight, please escort Crystal Wishes and Velvet Step home."
Good job, Princess! Velvet and she exchanged smiles. How casual and non-suspicious! She couldn't have orchestrated it better herself.
Silent walked over to them and motioned to the door. "Ladies?"
Crystal didn't move at first, paralyzed by fear or something. Velvet rolled her eyes and bumped her flank to Crystal's to get the mare in motion.
"Y-yes. Come on, Velvet," Crystal said, glaring at her.
A wicked grin seized Velvet's expression. This was too easy! "Don't you mean 'me'?"
Crystal, to no surprise, didn't get it. "Yes, I did mean you. That's why I said your name."
"Oh, Crystal, Crystal." Velvet tried not to laugh, shaking her head. "Someday, you'll be on my level, but today's just not that day."
When they reached the condo, Velvet announced as she opened the door, "I'm just going to head inside. Straight to my room. Right to bed!" She pranced toward her bedroom door. "See ya, Silent Knight!"
"Goodnight, Velvet," Silent called just as she shut the door behind her.
It was all up to Crystal now. There was no Velvet or Luna to guide her. If she wanted him, then she'd have to work for it herself.
Velvet waited with her ear pressed to the door. It was nearly perfectly quiet out there. Were they kissing? No, they were likely just staring at one another like dumb animals. Velvet sighed and waited for any sign of life.
Whispers. "Would you like to stay the night?"
No sound, then a giggle and more whispering. "This is a little fun. It feels like we're getting away with something."
Okay, they were making progress, so long as Silent understood what 'staying the night' meant. He probably didn't. No, knowing him, he definitely didn't.
After what felt like an eternity of them doing what must have been the slowest sneak ever, Silent's whisper cut through the silence. "I feel like I missed out on this experience in secondary school."
Well, color her impressed. Maybe he did have a clue after all.
"Sneaking around this late at night, that is," he added.
Velvet slapped her hoof to her face. Or not.
"My parents would never approve, especially when you were in school."
Really, Crystal? Velvet lolled her head back to stare at the ceiling. Oh, for Celestia's sake! This was almost too painful to listen to!
"Oh?" Silent unsurprisingly questioned. "Then maybe I should just sleep out here. The pillows just are fine."
Velvet shook her head. Pack it up, folks, because the awkward virgins just stumbled over their own hooves. She sighed and as she contemplated if she should run interference or let Crystal make her own mistakes, she heard Silent's voice gasp out a startled "whoa!" and the sound of a door shutting.
Velvet's jaw dropped open. Had Crystal just yanked him into her bedroom? She clamped a hoof over her mouth to smother a laugh. She had not expected that.
She pranced around the room in a jittery, excited circle. Crystal was going to get some, and then in the morning they were going to gossip about sex, Velvet would oh-so-casually mention her own fondness for the act, and her life would become a whole lot easier.
Certain that they were more than distracted, Velvet snuck out and across the living room to head for the front door. Once she was safely outside the condo, she made a galloping dash out of the building to head to her parents'.
It was time. Of course, it was also extremely late in the evening, so much so that it might as well be morning, but it was time nonetheless. When she arrived at her parents' door, she knocked a few times and trotted in place to keep her body active. Coming to a sudden stop after such a gallop felt like running into a brick wall.
Finally, the door opened. Pepper blinked down at her. "Sweetie?"
Velvet grinned up at him and bounced on the tips of her hooves. "I need Mom. Tell her that Operation Love Cake is a go."
Pepper furrowed his brow, yawned, and nodded. "Okay, sweetie." He wandered from the door, leaving it open so she could come inside.
Velvet remained where she was, slowing down to a light jog as her heart rate calmed down. A few moments later, Sunbeam skidded to a halt in front of the door, a wild grin on her face.
"It's time?"
Velvet nodded. "It's time."
---
Seriously? Wasn't Silent Knight a guard? Didn't they have a strict sense of duty and whatnot that meant they got up early?
Velvet stared at the two heart-shaped cupcakes sitting on a plate in front of her. Her ears pinned back and she poked at one with a hoof.
They were perfectly decorated, which was a given since Sunbeam had made them . Two cute little cupcakes, one that had the lattice work of a traditional apple pie and the other with a fondant topping of a long eclair.
She snorted. Putting them side by side, the pie was way too big for the eclair. Poor Silent. Apparently he had a little eclair.
Her stomach rumbled and she slowly tugged the plate closer to herself. They could share one cupcake, right? After all, they had shared a night together, so surely that applied to celebratory love cakes.
The door creaked open and she jerked her hoof back like a foal caught reaching into the cookie jar. She looked over to see Silent tiphoofing out of the bedroom.
That scamp! Leaving Crystal to wake up alone? Why, if he wasn't likely late for work and probably thinking himself polite by letting Crystal sleep in, Velvet would have sent his plot right back in there to try again.
Instead, she straightened up and teased, "Well, good morning, soldier colt."
Silent froze. His eyes went wide as he turned his head toward her. Now who was the foal caught with the cookie jar? "Good morning..."
Velvet smirked and folded her hooves over her chest. "So."
He just stared with a dumbfounded, nervous look on his face.
"Would you like some breakfast?"
Silent took a step toward the door and shook his head. "That—that would be great, Velvet, but I can't. I have to fly home, get ready, and report in to work. I'm in command of the palace right now so I don't want to set a poor example for the others by coming in late." He cleared his throat. "Not even for a great breakfast."
Oh, he was almost too easy to tease! She had hardly said anything and he was fidgeting like a shy colt. "Well, suit yourself. Maybe next time you should bring your stuff here."
His ears flicked and he took one more step. "I, er, yes, that would probably be wise, I agree. I just hope this isn't an inconvenience to you." He swallowed. "Do you forgive me?"
Velvet giggled and leaned in, resting her elbow on the table and her chin on her hoof. "Forgive you? Hmm, for what exactly?"
Silent stared at her with a clenched jaw, wide eyes, and a tiny shake of his head.
"You two are adults, Silent!" she managed through her giggling. "Nothing to apologize for as long as you make her happy."
Sex seemed to have changed him, because his ears perked straight up and a red blush shone through his white coat, and she hadn't even been trying to make an innuendo! She burst into laughter and waved a hoof. "Not like that! Well—yeah, like that—but—" It was too much. The laughter seized her and she had to clutch her sides.
Silent glanced at and pointed to the door, his face growing even redder. All she could do was nod while he struggled a "bye" and ran for the door.
Velvet leaned back in the chair and gasped for air, trying to calm her laughter. That was priceless! And to think, Lieutenant Oblivious had turned her words dirty! If one night had had that kind of effect on him, she could only imagine what happened to Crystal.
First, however, was the matter of the cupcakes. There was only one Crystal, but there were two goodies on the plate. Velvet grinned and snatched up the one decorated like an eclair. It was only fair. Crystal had gotten to try one, so now it was her turn.
When she bit into it and the creamy center gushed into her mouth, she choked and struggled to swallow around another fit of laughter that threatened to break free. Oh, Mom! She may not be the best baker—the cake itself was a little dry—but she was an evil genius with frosting.
Velvet rose to her hooves and trotted over to Crystal's bedroom door. She pushed it open and peered into the darkness of the room. There was the lump under the sheets, completely still. Velvet grinned. Didn't Crystal know that sleeping ponies breathed?
"You two-bit dam," Velvet said in a playfully low voice. "I know you're awake."
The blanket was flung aside as Crystal shot upright. "What did you call me?!"
"You heard me." Velvet smirked and sniffed the air. It smelled normal in there. Huh. Maybe if she stayed the night with a mare, the smell of sex would go away on its own. Interesting. "Silent looked preeetty guilty, slinking out of your bedroom like he stole something."
Crystal giggled and dropped down to bury her face into her pillow. "Oh, I think he did."
Velvet gasped. No embarrassed flush? No 'Velvet, stop that!'? She tossed her head back as she laughed. "Wow! Must've been some night, huh?"
More giggles from the mare as she curled around the pillow. "Oh, I think it was."
Velvet stared at Crystal a moment as her grin slowly fell. Something was different—not about Crystal, but about her reaction. She almost seemed to be glowing with bliss, and her voice was full of such joy. Her ears pinned back against her mane as she turned and started for the kitchen. The cupcake would bring her out of this sugary-sweet mood.
"Velvet?" Crystal called.
Velvet glanced over her shoulder and replied, "What?"
Crystal sat upright and tilted her head. "You're not going to come tickle me until I spill the details, or threaten me with blackmail?" She frowned lightly.
Aww, the poor filly was disappointed and wanted to talk about it, but suddenly, Velvet wasn't so sure she wanted to anymore. Something was wrong.
"No way!" Velvet flashed a playful grin. "It smells like sex in there and I don't want to know how you two did it. There are some lines, yanno?" She laughed and walked over to the dinner table. "A mare is entitled to some secrets, and this is totally one of them."
Crystal squeakily shrieked, "It does not smell like—like—like that in here!"
"Fine, it smells like stallion sweat and mare scent." She rolled her eyes and picked up the plate that held the lone cupcake. She frowned down at it, torn between feeling guilty for eating the other and feeling glad that she wasn't the only one alone. "Now come on, I have breakfast ready."
She was a fool. A complete and utter fool. Crystal hadn't had sex—she had made love. There was nothing similar between the act driven by base desires that Velvet indulged in and the sweet, soul-bonding experience Crystal had just discovered.
Aw, poor Velvet Somebody should give her a hug. I hope she can pluck up the courage to tell Crystal some day. That last paragraph was really effective!
Poor Velvet
Not all of our plans pan out how we expect them to. Hard luck Velvet.
Sign me up to never play cards against Luna.
Hah!
Bwhahahahaha! You know, Velvet, you could always share a tip or two and make it less awkward (and simultaneously more awkward, just in a different way).
Thank you Luna!
Well, that plan isn't going to work out, but I wonder how and why.
It's time!
Poor Silent, he's as much not on Velvet's level as Crystal.
Huh. Well that kind of went off Velvet's script in a way I didn't expect. She should have gone through with her plan to open up about her life anyway, IMO, if you have a chance to stop living a double life, seize it.
Ok ... at this moment I had a picture of Velvet in my head sitting in a turning chair while stroking a (imaginary) cat with the words
"I've been expecting you ... Mr. Knight."
And just with that Velvet is back in the feeling dumpster ... she can't seem to get a break, does she?
I mean she's definitely right with her assessment, yet I really hope she gets some good experiences soon, because I get the feeling, that she is not really happy with how certain parts of her life are going.
Picturing a certain royal tush.
...and arousing.
Some princess figured out how to get the premium dream channels unscrambled for this evenings viewing.
I think Crystal is actually fairly close to Velvet's level, however she has a penalty whenever she is the subject.
That is so wrong but so right on so many levels.
Velvet 1, Love Cakes - 0
Velvet 1, Love Cakes - 1
Velvet -10, Love Cakes - 1
Whelp, looks like Velvet has a pretty big case of jealously to figure out here. Hopefully one of these days she catches a break.
That last paragraph was like, Mariana's Trench deep.
I guess no matter how much time we put into planning something, it never seems to work does it
gg no re velvet
I hate how much I love this.
Definitely hate. Crystal! (Snorts) I bet you're not even sorry. *grumbles*
Well shit . Velvet is much too hard on herself, poor thing. I don't know where she gets this guilt, but it seems the kind of self inflicted wound that will only heal once it's been properly opened and drained.
All of velvets family amuses me. Suggestive frosting is hilarious. But I think Velvet just got smacked in the face that she dont really know what love is, compared to what Crystal and Silent shared that night. Then again I think this is something Velvet truely needed to see... well. the after effects of that, not the act its self. anyway I great chapter. Im happy to have red it.
Awwwww... *hugs Velvet - a perfectly respectable, platonic, and thoroughly sympathetic one* We should commiserate sometime.
Y'know, I may not be all that experienced in the bedroom... Ahem- *goes all shifty-eyed* ...buuuuut, I just can't imagine it would be completely odorless in Crystal's room. Not with the lack of showering afterward.
6564819
Let's just say that the unicorn contraceptive spell involves portals to random locations at least 1000 feet above current ground level and leave it at that.
Gee, I dunno everyone. I get that we all want to give Velvet a hug to cheer her up, but, well, there are so many of us, and only one Velvet. We should probably take turns. I don't know if she can handle all of us at the same time!
But, you know, she probably has some experience with large groups, so maybe? I wonder how many of us she could handle at one time....
ohh SOO much to love about this chapter. This was one of the first chapters when I was reading Memoirs that I read Crystals side too (I did that a few times until I decided to simply start from the beginning). I think this brings out the core difference between Velvet and Crystal, at least the difference that I feel is the point of this story. This is what I hope is a big change in Velvet's perception of relationships.
HAH! Good to see that even after some time of character development (which is beautifully orchestrated over time in these stories) his oblivious natures shows through.
This sent up a red flag in my head. It's hard to describe why but it feels like the first time that Velvet's true lack of understanding about sex in a real relationship shows through.
Pfft!! or Sunbeam believes he does
I ABSOLUTELY LOVED this whole part. First you have Velvet notice Crystals "bliss" and "joy", a different emotion then when Velvet has sex with somepony. Then the ears pinning back against her mane could be, what? Guilt that she wanted to gossip about something so meaningful to Crystal? ashamed that she never had this kind of experience? Then finally is my favorite bit, almost saying "you're too happy Crystal, stop it!"
I wonder how much this realization affects Velvet's future decisions? As far as I know she isn't in a long-term relationship at any point so far based off information from Wishes and Secrets. Could she be in one but hiding it?
Overall, probably my favorite Mask chapter so far, and mostly because it strikes a chord with me on a topic I am very opinionated about and the chord resonates nearly perfectly with everything I believe in.
6564496 ...there isn't the slightest chance you play World of Tanks, is there?
This is so wonderfuly complicated
I will say that it does feel like a fair amount of "sad abuse" going on for Velvet, but things will look up for her soon, I promise! It's just a fair amount of build-up and framing necessary before we get to the juicy bits. Which are soon!
6564051 It hurts even more given how happy she was and how quickly she took that happiness away from herself!
6564085 Yes indeed.
6564140 So true, and it never seems to get easier when things go off our planned course no matter how many times it may happen.
6564255 I love Matchmaker Luna. She and Lovey should compare notes. ... Scratch that, that's probably a bad idea. And I wholly agree with you on the double life thing. Unfortunately I can't tell my characters what to think! Err, well, I can, but... you know what I mean.
6564287 Hahah! I love your mental image of evil Velvet! It is sad for her lately but it's okay! Just give me... three or four chapters? ... Yeah, something like that.
6564388 Few things please me more than having something I write be "so wrong, but so right"! Yeah, Velvet definitely has some things she needs to figure out and come to terms with, one way or another.
6564496 I shall take the perceived depth of my last paragraph as a sign of success.
6564602 I am SO not sorry. Sunbeam's shenanigans are some of the best things around! And I think your assessment is correct. It is definitely self-inflicted and not something that will just up and disappear on its own.
6564691 Sunbeam is definitely one of my favorite characters to write when she's on her troll game. I feel bad for Pepper Ridge because he's overshadowed by his silly wife! He's more of a quiet dork that just lets his wife have the spotlight. He will get some important scenes in this story, though. Can't let him languish in the background!
6564819 I definitely would never claim to be an expert on the dissipation of certain smells after all hours of the night, and Velvet does have a more keen nose than me, but... You know what, I'm not sure I want to follow this train of conversation. I'll just stick with, I've never walked into a room the next morning and could smell any activities that may or may not have occurred the evening prior.
6565437 There's only one way to find out... Let's find her and pin her down to see how she reacts! Wait, no, that sounds wrong. Err... Please be gentle with her?
6565524 This was definitely a very important chapter, for better and for worse. Velvet does have a skewed understanding of relationships and that was supposed to come to light here. I tried to keep the whole of the chapter silly and humorous with the whole celebratory love cakes thing, if only for the evil tactic of making the sad more prominent. I'm so glad the scene of dawning revelation pulled through just how I wanted it to.
6569606 Drama intensifies!!
6569659 Thats good, although personally I think Pepper ridge is happy to let his wife take the spotlight. they counter balance each other well
6569817 Oh, he definitely is. I just don't want to give the impression he doesn't do anything besides bake and stand behind the counter...
6569826 Oh of course. Its nice to see character development.
6569659
three for four chapter? THREE OR FOUR CHAPTERS?! that's like 2 months!! Look Crystal, I have a lot I want to do in my life but seeing your and Anzels stories to the end is up on the list. Anything could happen in life, right? I could be DEAD in 2 months from some crazy accident like a buffalo stampede or a helicopter falling out of the sky or something! I don't want you to stop other writings to finish this one because Wishes should really catch up to Secrets but at the same time stuff is really heating up with this one and...and *gasps for air*
I guess I'm saying I can't wait for the next chapter
Maybe reading the next chapter of secrets will cheer me up...
6569981
You could just spontaneously combust too. Or discover an allergy to liquids. I mean you can't take any chances.
6570485
you are absolutely correct, i will make sure to have a fire extinguisher with me everywhere i go and have a water IV hooked up to my arm in case I get an allergy to water touching my skin.
Thank you for your selfless thought for my safety. If you think of anything else please let me know, one can't be too safe!
6570503
Um... you really don't want to start down this path. Once I start I will not stop.
6570503 If it makes you feel any better, you only have to be super paranoid for four weeks if it ends up being four chapters, since this will update once a week... (If someone wants to pay me my salary to put out a chapter every day, let me know. )
Then again, there will be chapters after that I'm sure you'll want to read... so... maybe hold on to that paranoia a while longer.
6569659
Oh don't worry about me being distraught about Velvet's current plight, I liked "Background Pony" and "Fallout Equestria" I can deal with fictional hardships ... I think.
Ah, I remember that part of the story from Sekrets. Bombing Day! The date that could be Canterlot's last!
This is fun. In Wishes we see this incredibly confident mare through Crystal's eyes but then in this we see Velvet from her own point and we see this mare who's just lost. Sure she's still confident but she's lost in life not sure where she stands
6581645 I'm glad you're enjoying the very different perspectives! It's really interesting to write, especially with this being in the "past" compared to Wishes, haha!
Oh geeze, the end of that chapter.
Could not stop laughing at that one.
Oh my isn't that awfully descriptive LOL