High Brass still sat upright, waiting for Alto to resume his story. But instead of continuing, the caramel pony was finished with his story. “I… think you know the worst of me because of my perfection,” Alto said as he looked down in shame.
“Indeed,” High Brass nodded. “You were quite pathetic.” Alto found the quip funny, not wanting to deny the face. Harp Hearts’ reaction was different.
“Can you not insult my friend!” the pink pony ordered.
“What if he does?” Bastion growled. Alto placed a hoof on Harp Hearts’ shoulder in case she decides to lunge at Bastion; though, the chances of that happening were minuscule. High Brass touched Bastion’s hoof with his own to calm her down as well.
“He is not wrong and it was not an insult,” Also said. “High Brass is very right; I was very pathetic. And mean.”
“But you aren't anymore,” Harp Hearts reassured, patting her friend’s back.
“Thanks to you,” he smiled.
No longer wanting to sit upright, High Brass laid back and let out a sigh of relief. “Thanks for telling me a little something about yourself, Alto,” he said.
“Your welcome,” Alto replied with a nod.
Not fond of her friend being targeted by High Brass, Harp Hearts changed the focus of the subject matter, “Let’s talk about your past. I’m sure it is much less pathetic than Alto’s.”
Harp Heart’s quip stilled the rich pony. He frowned at his ex-girlfriend and asked, “Could you at least hear my story before passing your final judgment? It seems fair considering how you helped Alto despite his once harsh character.” The mare stilled her tongue and only nodded. Just as High Brass took a deep breath, Alto leaned forward ever so slightly to listen to each word with intensity.
“I was born into a rich family,” High Brass began, “and everything I wished for was granted to me. My mother, however, taught me at a very young age to not abuse my power of wealth. And I respected my mother’s wishes, only getting what was necessary.”
Alto rose his hoof to politely interject, and High Brass allowed him to do so. “I am sure you wore better clothing and ate better foods as a means of ‘getting what was necessary.’ Unless you lived like a middle-class member of society like Harp Hearts.”
“I admit, I had better much more luxurious lifestyle than even most higher class ponies,” High Brass said. “But I was never greedy and never considered myself a greedy pony.”
Alto rose a brow, “Were you ever greedy of me when I considered Harp Hearts to be my special somepony?” The mention of her name made Harp Hearts lightly huff out her nostrils.
“No, but I was worried about her,” High Brass answered in a low tone. Alto didn't have a chance to speak when the rich pony said, “I’ll get to the ‘worried’ aspect in a moment.” Harp Hearts and Alto nodded at the same time, but the two wanted to ask questions. Alto figured he would find out the answers to his questions one way or another.
“As a colt, I was always respectful to those above, at, and below me,” High Brass resumed. “I never mocked anypony in my foal days.” The rich pony saw Alto wearing a confused bend in his brow. “Shocking how I usually wasn't so bitter toward those of the same sex as me.”
It was obvious that High Brass wanted Alto to make an input. So Alto did. “I'm just… curious. What changed your thoughts about stallions if you were raised with such standards your mother set you up in?”
“Greed and jealousy, or rather, another party’s greed and jealousy,” High Brass said. “A party of colts to be specific.” He blinked and wore a sad expression; a dark cloud has settled over him. Bastion placed a supportive hoof on her employer’s shoulder, a sign that she knew the motive behind High Brass’ emotions.
Alto looked over at Harp Hearts who had a barely visible frown. “This is just a guess,” said Harp Hearts, “but were you picked on by colts?”
“Yes,” High Brass answered without hesitation. He pursed his lips, a memory of discomfort returning to consciousness. Bastion’s hoof slid from High Brass’ shoulder to his visible hoof, gripping with care. The rich pony glanced down at it for a moment before looking up at the ceiling again. “My first day of public school was the day I realized the world doesn’t always offer kindness; even to those higher than others.” Harp Hearts sighed a depressed hum and Alto’s ear twitched at the sound. “Even though I did nothing to deserve their hatred, I received all of it!”
“That sounds quite familiar to my predicament because of a certain pony,” said Alto.
“Will you let me finish! Dear sweet Celestia, I said I was sorry to you!” High Brass gestured to himself, “If you haven’t noticed, I’m already in terrible condition, and I am trying my best not to feel any more pain! Of course, remembering my past isn’t helping, so don’t add anymore quips, okay?”
It was not Alto’s intention take a jab at High Brass; Alto was only pointing out the fact that High Brass wronged him even though he did no harm to the rich pony. In fact, Alto was trying to show that he and High Brass were in the same boat. But Alto nodded to High Brass’ request instead of saying anything further. Harp Hearts remained still, her attention firmly on High Brass. Alto didn’t see her react to the rich pony’s yelling, but that didn’t matter to him.
“My first day of public school was a miserable one,” High Brass said. “Because of my status, everypony knew of my arrival. The fillies were, of course, all googly-eyed over me and I was swarmed with compliments by them. I tried my best to evenly greet myself with everypony, especially with the colts, but I was given no chance.” High Brass smiled, “It did feel good to be swarmed with attention by the fillies, but I didn’t let it get to my head. And when recess came, I made the chance to greet myself to the other colts.” The smile High Brass wore dried up. “That was my first mistake.” Alto opened his mouth to say something but quickly shut it back inside him. “The moment I reached out to greet myself, Pencil Pusher shoved me back and began to fling insults at me, telling me I was using my good looks and riches to get all the fillies’ attention. I reassured to Pencil Pusher that romantic relationships were gross and my intention was to not cater to just the opposite sex.” Harp Hearts giggled a little bit and High Brass lips and cheeks lit up. High Brass looked at the pink pony and said, “Funny how we once thought love was such a strange concept when we were kids.”
Harp Hearts nodded, “I once thought boys were gross. But yes, I do agree.” Alto couldn’t deny High Brass’ fact. But then again, romance was such a foreign concept to children. Only when hormones kicked in was when fillies and colts began to see the beauty in the opposite sex.
“So, instead of being a friend, Pencil Pusher refused to listen to my words, and he and his gang began to bully me. They punched. They bucked.” High Brass sighed, “And while that was being beaten down, I cried out, ‘why are you doing this to me?’ And Pencil Pusher said, ‘because you are a greedy rich pony.’” High Brass tried to keep his emotions in check but failed. “What type of stupid logic was that? I was willingly reaching out my hoof to him and the others, and all I got back was pain! Not all wealthy families here in Canterlot are the typical snooty lot that others seem to stereotype. The assumption is just an insult!” High Brass looked at Alto and asked, “Am I right, Alto?”
“Yes,” Alto answered. “It was irritating when I told others about my parents and their fortune, I would be called a stuck up rich pony or some nonsense like that. All because my parents had their wealth and status. Why do you think I don’t talk about them?” Of course, there was the fact that Alto disliked them because of their near constant absence as they traveled across Equestria, leaving their child to wonder about in a large house. Most ponies would love to be in such a home, but to Alto, too much open space made him feel lonely. Which is why he loved his small studio apartment than living with his non-existent parents and their large house.
“So, what happened after you were picked on?” Harp Hearts asked, wanting to resume the story.
“My beat down only lasted for a short moment,” High Brass smiled. Alto didn't know why High Brass made such an expression, but the unicorn knew it would be explained without his help. “And that is when I met her.” High Brass pointed his hoof at Bastion and the mare couldn't help but blush.
“No way!” Harp Hearts shouted. Alto flinched when his friend screamed into his ear, and he had to bat at it to be sure it wasn't permanently damaged. Despite her painful outburst, Alto was surprised.
“Well, that explains a few things,” Alto smiled at Bastion.
“Wh-what are you implying!” Bastion ordered, her blush revealing more emotion.
“How protective you are for High Brass.” Alto didn't bring to light how she cradled High Brass the night before. It might further upset the already flustered pegasus.
“She was quite the guardian angel,” said High Brass.
“Continue your story, please,” Bastion pleaded; the spotlight was already beaming on her and she would rather have it elsewhere as soon as possible.
“I remember how Bastion shouted at the colts bullying me, ordering them to stop.” High Brass tapped his hoof on his chin, “Bastion, what did you say that day? What was your heroic demand?”
With very little enthusiasm, the dark-purple pegasus flushed and said, “'In the name of Princess Celestia, I demand that you stop at once or face justice.'” Harp Hearts tried her best to hide her smirk, but pressing her hoof on her mouth made it more obvious that she was.
Alto continued to hold his smirk and asked, “You were quite the bearer of justice, weren't you?”
Instead of having her composure cracked any further, Bastion took a moment to straighten herself. With pride, she answered, “It was a dream of mine to be apart of the Canterlot Guard. Thanks to my oldest brother, he trained me a little when I was a filly. And whenever I saw injustice, I would always point it out.”
Alto rose a brow and asked High Brass, “Did she beat up your bullies?”
“Oh, if you were there,” High Brass said, a smile widening on his face. “After she demanded them to stop, they only laughed at her.”
“That was their first mistake,” Bastion chimed in. “The moment I stepped in and traded a few blows, they ran to our teacher, crying how I was bullying them. Thankfully, Ms. Candlelight saw through their little game and reported them to their parents.” The personal guard then snorted, “And then Ms. Candlelight lectured me about using justice without the use of violence. Was she not aware I was protecting you, High Brass?”
“I believe so,” High Brass said. “Regardless of Ms. Candle Light’s message to you and the bullies, I made a friend. A very wonderful friend who turned out to be quite lovely as she got older.”
“The story!” Bastion barked. “C-continue with it!”
“No need to get upset, my friend. It was just a compliment.”
“Y-yeah. Just… a compliment.” It didn't take an astronomer to tell Alto and Harp Hearts how easily Bastion was flustered by High Brass’ kind words. But Alto wondered if Bastion had other feelings toward her friend. Alto figured asking Bastion if she liked High Brass would cause him to end up like the rich pony. So he quickly dismissed the idea from his mind.
“Word quickly spread across the school about me being bullied by Pencil Pusher due to a few fillies witnessing everything,” High Brass continued. “And due to the many fillies and their kindness, along with Bastion’s protective nature toward me, I was deemed a villain by Pencil Pusher. He pushed this false narrative about how I was hateful toward males and used my rich status to swoo fillies.”
“Why would he do that to you?” Harp Hearts asked.
“Just like High Brass said before: ‘Greed and jealousy,’” Alto answered for High Brass. But then Alto wondered if that really was the case about Pencil Pusher’s true motives. Alto asked High Brass, “Was that really the case about Pencil Pusher?”
“Yes,” said High Brass. “When I tried to make things right, I confronted Pencil Pusher all on my own; without Bastion. I wanted to be the bigger pony and show that I didn't want any quarrels between him and I. Pencil Pusher exclaimed how he hated how rich ponies held their nose higher than their status, looking down at others they deem as lesser ponies. I assured him that I was not apart of the cliche, but he didn't believe me, nor did he let up on the rumors.”
“The rumors spread like cancer,” Bastion said. “And with others constantly wanting to hurt High Brass, I made it a point to always be by his side.”
“Then why did High Brass want you to have the night off if there was an ever lingering threat,” Alto asked.
The pegasus gave High Brass an irritated look, “He said that he wouldn't be attacked at the dance with so many ponies around.”
“I wanted to give you a day off,” High Brass responded. “You are always killing yourself by protecting me.”
“You forget that I was trained in the Canterlot Guard and was hired by you to keep you safe. I am designed to be up night and day for the princess and for you.” Neither Alto or Harp Hearts said a word as the two argued at one another. The argument was beginning to make Harp Hearts uncomfortable and Alto gave her a rub on the shoulder as a means of distraction. It was a temporary one but enough to get the pink pony to look up at Alto and smile.
“Just because it is your job, I still care about you very much,” High Brass spoke a little louder to get his words into Bastion’s ears. His comment kept the guard quiet. “You are no tool to me. You are a friend. And an amazing one at that.” Bastion offered no response or retort. Her cheeks flushed by the consistent compliments dizzying her mind, preventing any possible straight thinking.
Alto could see how High Brass, despite the rich pony’s frustration, never let up on his complementing toward Bastion. Alto smirked, seeing how High Brass always made an attempt to charm a mare with his words when appropriate, even if it was his friend.
“Are you done with arguing, Bastion?” High Brass said, his less injured arm reaching for Bastion’s closest hoof. Bastion quickly took the offered hoof like a child snatching an offered cookie. The mare nodded, her thoughts invisible to everypony. A smile and a chuckle left High Brass, “It’s funny how some discussions segway into other subjects, deviating from what the main purpose of the talk was about.”
“It happens,” said Alto with a shrug. “Especially when Harp Hearts and I get into deep discussion.”
Harp Hearts poked at his shoulder, “Like that time we were talking about history and then went on about how obsessed you were with the arcade?”
“Hey, I wanted to be sure my scores are grade A.” Alto cleared his throat and had to quickly get back on course. “See what I mean? Segways.”
“I believe Harp Hearts told me about that story,” High Brass said, humming in thought. “Isn't that the story where Alto spent nearly all his rent money on a skeeball game?”
“Yes!” Harp Hearts beamed.
“Segways!” Alto spoke with irritation. He looked at Bastion and said, “Now I know how you feel when the story goes off the rails. The difference between you and I is you get called 'pretty,' I get made fun of.” The joke got Bastion and a smile curled at her cheeks.
“I guarantee we won't be deviating from the discussion once I start talking about my, as the stallions at school say, ‘mare snatching game,’” High Brass said nonchalantly. All silly emotions evaporated from the room and was replaced with seriousness. Bastion straightened her back and Harp Hearts turned all her attention to High Brass.
“Yeah, that's what it is called,” Alto nodded. And I was a victim to your little game. “Since you brought it up, why don't you resume there; tell us how your game began.”
“Well, I can begin by asking you both a question,” said High Brass. “Who, in the beginning, wronged me for no reason?”
“Pencil Pusher,” Harp Hearts answered. “You started with him.” The pink mare frowned, not wanting to believe the stallion who said he loved her was motivated by a bully. Harp Hearts’ expression didn't make High Brass feel any better, but he knew she and Alto needed to know the truth.
“So, you exacted revenge,” Alto said.
A cold scowl darkened High Brass’ expression.