Two weeks later, under one of the many apple trees playing with a light breeze deep within the rolling hills of the vast farm of Sweet Apple Acres, the day’s work completed and evening settling in, the silver filly is left by the young farm pony as she gratefully accepts an offer of apple juice after a day of helping out of the farm, and finding, to her shock and surprise, she thoroughly enjoys hard manual labor. She pulls out a thick book, bound in a thin wood case plated with silver embossed with a startlingly-accurate and highly-intricate image of herself and inlaid with four specially-selected, Rarity-approved rubies. She opens the book to the last entry, pulls out one of three silver quills, and begins writing, her flowing script so elegant and utterly perfect in form that it looks like every letter is analyzed, measured, constructed, reconstructed, and laid down with the care of a Fluttershy-shed feather floating specifically to the crest of a tiny wave on a bubbling brook. She smiles as she writes…
I have never been more tired… or elated… in all my life.
I was correct – Apple Bloom was the right one to talk to first. Because of her family’s emphasis on honesty and trust, I was able to apologize and re-start on the right hoof. It has only been two weeks, and yet I already feel a bond stronger with her than I ever had with Diamond Tiara – a bond of true friendship, rather than the… I guess one would call it single-sided domination I have with Ponyville’s resident filly-bully. It certainly has offered me a fresh perspective on class and friendship and the relationship one has to maintain betwixt them.
Even in these past couple of weeks, I have begun to feel the thought of the separation of nobility and commoners as necessity begin to wane upon my mind, even if just slightly. It is an interesting sensation to come to realize almost overnight that just because some ponies do not have the money nor status as you do, they still play a terribly-vital role in the cogs of the world, especially if one has been raised all one’s life to believe that money is all one needs to be powerful. The Apple family is proof of the exact opposite – that it is the relationships one possesses that are the true power of a land. Collectively, the Apples of Sweet Apple Acres have sixty-two close members of their family they can name off the top of their head - eleven unique names for each person, an overlap of ten or twelve aside, almost nine hundred members in their family circle descended from Granny Smith’s parents, and over ninety thousand distant relatives across the entire country of Equestria.
And that was only those who were “known to them”, as Big Mac put it.
When I relayed these facts to Daddy last night, he was understandably utterly shocked at the vocal power this one farm could command, even without the monetary resources we have. However, he was even more shocked when ‘twas revealed that the family held a grand total of nearly eleven percent of the entire treasury of Equestria in land values alone.
“Even our family’s impressive wealth totals less than one per cent of the Treasury…” he had said in amazement. “Add Filthy Rich into the mix and we approach one-and-a-half…”
But that is something Daddy would be especially aware of, and not something I particularly concern myself with. I have discovered that I value friendship more than wealth.
The two of us, as in Apple Bloom and I, have become very close. She has shown me her sister’s apple-bucking techniques, and how to identify specific types of apples… with Applejack’s help, of course. I believe I prefer red gala apples the best… or were they of the McIntosh variety…? Regardless, I have shown her how I manufacture silver into different items, even going so far as to produce identical quills like the one I use now for their clubhouse, etched with a small logo of my own design. It is very refreshing to have someone approve of my work without judgment or bias. She seems to genuinely appreciate it. She has offered to make me a Cutie Mark Crusader Official Helper… but, as I expected and pointed out, and as she soon discovered, Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo are not quite ready for that yet.
Don’t tell her yet, but I am currently working on small busts of her family, done up in the finest silver I could find out of thanks. I’ve never looked at Big Macintosh so carefully before. Ooh… he’s truly a looker… rugged… handsome… stoic… a real catch for the right mare…
I… I wonder if he would be interested in… no… I’m too… young for…
A small doodle of Big Mac and Silver Spoon kissing, quickly scribbled out by the filly, occupies this space in the journal. Her eyes scan over to the stallion, his powerful hindquarters, rippling muscles, and flowing, blonde mane catching her admiration for a few seconds before she shakes her head furiously and returns to writing, recognizing herself as being caught in the throes of a romantic idealism akin to that of the romance novels she steals from her mother and loses herself in on occasion.
…but a girl can dream, can she not?
Another doodle, this time of the couple sharing a sweet embrace. “As friends...” Silver Spoon insists… “Yes, only as… f-r-i-e-n-d-s…” She draws out the last word with a small sigh, dejectedly knowing it will never progress beyond her filly-crush. She slowly draws a heart around the image, suddenly stopping when she half-completes the design… and slamming her quill on another part of the page, causing ink blots to appear as she writes. She bites her lip as beads of sweat begin forming on her head. Her writing loses all the careful organization it had just moments ago.
Anyways, it took Sweetie Belle a little longer to come around than Apple Bloom. She was still incensed at how Diamond Tiara had talked with Scootaloo, and, as anticipated, she had some trouble even trusting Apple Bloom again after the fight. She certainly wasn’t going to trust me very well because of how I stood alongside Diamond Tiara, though she also seemed to recognize that the incident in the school drove a substantial wedge between us. When I explained that even I didn’t know how she had known of that… that hideous taunt, and also how I explained how angered I was at the way the tiara-flanked acquaintance of mine belittled Apple Bloom’s grandmare, Sweetie Belle seemed to come around a little. She still doesn’t trust me, occasionally accusing me of certain things, but she is working through her feelings. I take it all in stride. I am trying to make a new friend, after all, and it would do me no good to snap back this early in the relationship.
Scootaloo seems to be the one having the hardest trouble, still severely scarred by the chicken incident. We are working on her, but it is taking a long time. I had no idea how sensitive she was about that, especially so fresh after her closest friends insisted on pushing the issue merely the day before. I begin to understand the dynamic that drew Rarity and Rainbow Dash together – “Scoots”, as Rainbow Dash calls her, is phenomenally passionate about everything she does… especially when it comes to her friends and doing things together. It is… infectiously alluring, to say the least. I have respected Scootaloo’s request that I not be around in her presence so that I can show through my compliance that I am no longer host-
The quill swirls from a lazy, cursive “t” into a straight line. Her thoughts drift back to Big Mac… She quickly shakes her head, trying to get a particularly lewd thought out of her mind.
-ile.
Ah! Thank Celestia! Apple Bloom has returned with the juice! I was hoping for some distracting conversation… her brother is just too…
Oh, there I go again…
She closes the book in a hurried rush, forgetting entirely about the ink blots. Apple Bloom settles down beside her. The two newly-found friends continue their chat about silver-smithing techniques from earlier. A sly smile plays at the corner of her eyes and mouth as she quickly steals one final look at Big Mac before returning her full attention to her friend and the conversation.
This has the potential to become a magnificent journey of friendship. I implore you to continue... please!
What the Feature Box!!!
653509
I agree wholeheartedly, this story is quite good and I would love to see more of it.
Not to be a downer, but this is okay.
One redemption per fic seems excessive, plus there seems to be way more shipping than I would have expected on first glance.
Damn you Big Mac!!!
Not even school fillies are safe from thy swag!!!!
653546 Well, get ready for things to explode. Wish I had found this sooner.
60's Spiderman likes this. I would love to see more.
I think you should end it here.
Not because it's bad, but because it's a nice open ending to leave your readers wondering. I think it was excellently written, and hey, if you want to keep going, go ahead. It was just a thought. Thank you again for the excellent read.
653654 What can you say, he's quite the stallion after all
I've always been interested in fics like this that take a supporting character and really flesh them out, and this is shaping up to be a good one. Spoon is mature enough to realize it will take time but can already tell that things are better for her. At least she's still childish enough to be distracted by a filly crush heh/
653546I LOVE YOU FOR MAKING THIS!!!
and so does this guy!
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You deserve the featured box, this is just a really good story, no shipping and it harkens back to what the series is about: "friendship" I like that Silver can understand Sweetie and Scoot's mistrust of her after years of verbal abuse it'll take time. Plus I really like that you mention the amount of control the Apple family has in Equestria and how they are everywhere, not to mention the wealthy citrus tycoons that is the Orange branch of the family which resides in Manehattan.
I love this! The way you portray Silver Spoon as being more than a mook of Diamond Tiara's, and her wanting to make amends with the crusaders, is just fantastic. And the way the story is written, mostly as if she's writing a journal, is very unique and well executed. This is great. Don't give up!
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I wrote it from the idea that Silver Spoon and Diamond Tiara have yet to discover this meaning to DT's cutie mark.
653546
You earned it, sir.
Of course, I may be biased, given that Silver Spoon is my favorite character in fanfic (because canon names her, gives her lines and importance, but provides so little in the way of actual characterization)...
Hmmm...
Nah.
Not quite "Moving on: Silver Spoon's story"-level, but close enough. Keep at it!
I'm calling this story done. I've decided to let others continue where I began. I plan on doing more with Silver (I may even incorporate this into the Crashing Equestria series somehow), but this tale has reached its conclusion.
RariDash is best implied ship?
655493
I just thought it would add a little... spark... to Silver Spoon's already-implied snooping characteristic.
As well as her love of romance and romantic scenarios.
It also let me practice a little for a shipfic I'm thinkin' of writing... though in the end it likely will not be RariDash.
Well, I'm definetly glad that you included it!
It gave us some more insight into how Silver Spoon thinks, and I think it added a welcome moment of levity to a rather melancholy (and really awesome!) story.
And a shipfic you say? I might need to keep a look out for that!
If this is truly the end of this delightful little fic, than, for its entirety... Huzzah!
660265
Thank you!
It is. I feel that to write more than this would risk me butchering the art I've already made. Even the epilogue was only written after much careful and thoughtful consideration.
On that note, they should have Fluttershy say "huzzah!" as a cheer in Season 3!
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Zytharros, my friend, you've done wonders with this fic. There's so much more that could be done, but I'd have to agree that what you've done is enough. Your piece is great and deserves getting featured. You deserve a pat on the back, dude! Great job!
661458
Thank you!
Always appreciate my work being complimented… or critiqued!
Oh. Twilight is best smile pony.
Excellent story, and quite well written.
I particularly liked the silversmith part, and the musings about Big Mac.
Definitely worth a spot on my user page wall of favorite oneshots.
I want an episode like this.
Seriously, what the hell is Diamond Tiara's special talent anyway? I know the symbolism can get a little abstract with ponies but come on.
664676
i think her talent is being a snobby, spoiled princess.
how sweet
This was a nice insight on Silver Spoons character, infact I wouldn't be surprised if they tried this idea on the show in the future.
Awesome story, makes me wish I could write stuff half this good.
Third time in the Popular Stories list. Second time in the Top Ten. First in the Top Five. Thanks, EQD and FimFiction!!
The voice is really inconsistent. If you want Silver Spoon to sound like she grew up reading letters between seventeenth-century aristocrats, go for it, but you should go for a consistent style throughout - the contractions and slangy words stick out like a sore thumb.
This filly combines 4 of my fetishes.
Very nice! The only thing I don't like, and keep in mind this is very minor, is that your word choice is a bit inconsistent. The biggest example is "twas", which doesn't quite fit in with the rest of the story. Other than that, you've done quite an amazing job!
Great ending, I hope Scootaloo wiill finally come around. Silver Spoon and Big Macintosh.... Nnope.
Awesome story though.
I liked the writing - very pleasing to read - and the idea of Silver Spoon becoming friends with the CMC.
However, the writing is too formal for her character. I'm basing that on the impression I got from SS in the show itself. She's a child, not a 19th century author. That, more than anything, prevented me from being drawn in.
Big Mac you animal!
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Very cute story. I enjoyed reading it, and am a little sad to see it is completed now. Thank you for writing it!
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665444
The idea I had was she was a kid trying to write like a 17th-c. author - a little over her head. Knowing how some kids think, I expect some inconsistency as they write.
I thank you for your advice. When I plan a character who speaks like that, I will try to be more consistent.
Heck, I've noticed even Rarity is inconsistent at times.
my god, another 'unimportant' character; who actually needs an episode
so much potential in her
Good stuff!!!
Excellent story. Finished? A shame, but a good place to leave off. You did Silver Spoon well, drawing upon her 'pet the dog' moments, as it were.
Such a good story! Many manly tears were shed. As someone for whom Silver Spoon is a favorite character, I heartily appreciate this!
Thank you for writing this, eh! I enjoyed your take on Silver Spoon and her willingness to bravely move beyond what her social situation expected of her and show her true... er... mettle.
If you're willing to continue, I think you've got another whole story you could make of this if you had Silver Spoon bring Diamond Tiara around (along with the opportunity to explore why Diamond is so mean, eh.)
Anyway, thanks!
Wait a sec... COMPLETE?! But... But... ;n;
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I rather enjoyed this. The open-ended way you finished it can imply many things, but I can see in my mind's eye a good future for Silver Spoon with real, true friends at her side.
But still, ninety thousand relatives of the Apple Family that they at least knew about? That's a disgustingly large number of ponies.
May the Grace of the Valar Protect You
Shire Folk
This...this was absolutely fantastic! Your vocabulary extends universes beyond my simple collection of foot notes and the curious verbiage I attempt to construct. Your flow so elequent, so graceful, it is as if a river of poetry pours from your writing, quickly drowning your reader in a current of emotions and vivid dreams, never to resurface without the rebirth of new inspiration! I implore you; you must let us know how such a wonderous work of the literary arts is born! Where did you learn your skill?!
A very nice start to the story, I am really enjoying what you written so far. Please keep up the good work.
667776
Thank you for the compliment!
I guess it stems from being raised by a dictionary... well, my mom liked to read the dictionary in her spare time. Coupled with being challenged by teachers, challenging myself against my peers, and taking a creative writing class where we did very little learning and a lot of writing... I guess it comes from a lifelong love of writing, the English language, and creating worlds.
Oh, by the way, "elequent" is spelled "eloquent"... just F.Y.I.
667653
It... may not be as complete as I thought... I'm thinking of creating another one-shot (maybe two-shot?) sequel from Scootaloo's perspective...
But, that's amongst a host of ideas I have right now... I'll see where my creativity takes me!
I came here from EQ, and I was not disappointed. Great sweet little story!
When I read about the part where she found out that she enjoyed manual labour I yelled "Because you're an earth pony!!" but then I suddenly felt ashamed for say that.
Very heart warming... Just what i needed right now :3 Thanks :3
A very lovely read :) great job