Doing the Double Shuffle

by The FraudulentBrit

A Fuller Picture

“Und a five, six, seven, eight!” Hoofer Steps called out to the class. A week had passed since the “Sleepover,” and Tender Taps hadn’t seen hide or hair of Double Shuffle. However, once dance class had rolled around, she was there, in fact she had been the first one to arrive. And sure enough, Double Shuffle tapped her way through the class, giving her all.

After a few minutes, Tender Taps heard some pony panting behind her. “Sorry Ah’m late.” Apple Bloom called out, the small farm filly still out of breath. “Apple Bloom, vhere vere you?” Apple Bloom set down her bag and pulled out four small gum boots. “Ah figured since I couldn’t get mah own tap shoes, I’d just make mah own.” She then showed off one of the soles of her boots, displaying several small nails that were set on the soles. As she slipped her boots on, Apple Bloom demonstrated her boots’ effectiveness, which while not producing as good of a sound as the other pony’s tap shoes, could still produce an audible clacking sound. “Hm…” Hoofer Steps thought out loud. “A bit unorthodox, but certainly effective. Most impressive.”

Apple Bloom made her way towards the rest of the class, placing herself in between Tender Taps and Double Shuffle. “Nice shoes.” Double Shuffle commented to the farm filly. “Thanks.” Apple Bloom replied. Hoofer Steps then called out, “Alvight every pony. From ze top!”

Class continued as normal. As it continued, Tender Taps noticed two Specific details. One was how beautiful Apple Bloom was as she danced. True, compared to every pony else she was somewhat amateurish and a bit flat footed, but there was still full of enthusiasm, which was all anyone could ask for. And the fact she was rather cute didn’t hurt either.

After shaking that somewhat awkward thought out of his head, Tender Taps noticed the other odd fact; Hoofer Steps was focusing a lot more on Double Shuffle than she did on the other students. Sure, she offered compliments or simple pieces of criticism to the class, but with Double Shuffle, she wasn’t just enthralled by her dancing, but never seemed to take her eyes off of her. Tender Taps was so puzzled by this that he didn’t notice Apple Bloom poking him, trying to get her attention. “Huh?” Tender Taps asked, surprised. “Ah was tryin’ to say class is over. You wanna head down to Sugar cube Corner?” Apple Bloom asked. Tender Taps then replied, “Sure, just give me a moment.”

Tender Taps walked over to Double Shuffle and Hoofer Steps. “You showed excellent skill zis veek.” Hoofer Steps said to the young filly. Double Shuffle replied, “Thank you Miss Steps.” Tender Taps added, “Yeah, you were amazing!” Double Shuffle then began to scuff the floor a bit and asked, “I was asking Miss Steps if I could use one of the studios a little longer. You want to practice with me?” Tender Taps replied, “That does sound fun, but I promised Apple Bloom I’d hang out with her after class. See you next week?” “Sure.” Double Shuffle answered before pulling off the shave-and-a-haircut, leaving Tender Taps to depart with Apple Bloom.

Soft Shoe hadn’t ever thought she would ever get to visit Twilight Sparkle, or any of the Princesses’ Castles. And yet here she was. She just didn’t like the circumstances that brought her here. After her chat with Double Shuffle, she suddenly found herself worried for the young filly’s safety. Still, she felt if any pony, or at least any pony she could easily get to, had the answers, it would be Twilight.

A few moments after she knocked the doors to the castle, Soft Shoe was greeted by a small purple and green dragon. “Excuse me, but is Princess Twilight busy?” Soft Shoe asked before unconsciously gulping. The little dragon happily answered, “Of course. Just let me get her. Follow me.” Soft Shoe let out a sigh of relief and followed the small dragon.

Soft Shoe couldn’t have imagined somewhere as beautiful as Twilight’s castle. From what she had heard, the space where it stood had once been the golden oaks library, at least until the building had been destroyed during Lord Tirek’s rampage and near conquest of Equestria. The castle itself had magically grown on the same site not long afterwards. Soft Shoe wasn’t entirely certain exactly how it happened, but she had lived in Ponyville (and in the close proximity of Pinkie Pie) long enough that there were some things that one simply shouldn’t try to understand and just roll with.

Needless to say, the castle was still amazing. Soft Shoe had never seen a building made of such crystals, let alone so seamlessly. She had grown up around carpenters and architects, as her own father, Wrecking Ball, had been one of the most renowned construction for-ponies in the Equestrian construction business. Though she had never really taken a major interest in construction and the occasional demolition, she did remember one important saying he liked to live by; “Sometimes to build a skyscraper, you have to tear the old one down.” That phrase was dancing circles around in her mind every time she thought of Double Shuffle.

After being led through the grand crystal hallways, the dragon stopped and pointed to two large doors. “Hold on a sec.” he said, a somewhat cheeky smile noticeable on his face. He then took a deep breath, opened the door, and called out, “Hey Twilight! You have a visitor!” he then turned to Soft Shoe and said, “She’ll be with you in a second.” He then departed, leaving Soft Shoe alone and somewhat baffled for a few moments.

She didn’t have to wait long. As soon as the dragon was out of sight, Twilight approached the door and greeted the yellow earth pony. “Oh, hello there.” Twilight greeted. “Hello. I’m Soft Shoe.” Soft Shoe replied as she extended her hoof. Twilight reciprocated the gesture before asking, “So, what was it you wanted to talk about?” Soft Shoe glanced around for a moment, before asking, “Um, are you sure this place is safe?” Twilight gave the yellow mare a comforting smile and said, “Trust me, it is.”

Once Soft Shoe and Twilight were seated in the castle library, Soft Shoe began to recount her tale. “Well, about a week ago, my son Tender Taps made friends with this filly named Double Shuffle.” Twilight then asked, “Well, if your son is having troubles with a bully then I would suggest….” Soft Shoe cut her off. “Oh no, if anything they’ve become really good friends. They both love to dance.” Twilight then asked, “Wait a second, isn’t Tender Taps the colt who tap danced at the jazz festival?” “He is.” Soft Shoe replied. “Both Double Shuffle and Tender Taps are really amazing tappers.”

Soft Shoe took a deep breath and said, “However that’s not what I wanted to talk about. You see, I think she has trouble at home.” She then began to recount what had she had learned from the young filly.

“So your dad is in the EUP?” Soft Shoe asked Double Shuffle. The young filly had calmed down after letting a few tears loose upon meeting some pony who had known of her mother, and was now telling her a bit of her family life. “Yup. Dad is a drill sergeant in the Canterlot Guard. At least he was until a few weeks ago. Dad said that he got transferred here.” Soft Shoe then asked, “Well, do you know why?” “I don’t know. Whenever he’s home he tries to drill me and my brothers like we’re his squad.” The mention of this seemed to agitate Double Shuffle a bit, and the young filly began to tense up.

Double Shuffle then asked, “Miss Soft Shoe, can I ask you a question?” “Of course you may.” Soft Shoe answered. Double Shuffle took a deep breath and asked, “Has there ever been a time where you felt you knew what your purpose was in life, but every pony you know didn’t like that and tried to change you?” “What do you mean?” Soft Shoe asked the filly. “Well, ever since I got my cutie mark, my dad has been saying that I need to follow the family tradition, and that he doesn’t raise weaklings.” That statement shocked Soft Shoe to the core. “Oh my goodness. Are you sure he said that?” Double Shuffle nodded and said, “He says it so much he complains about sounding like a broken record.” The young filly said this last piece of information whilst trying to suppress her anger.

Double Shuffle continued. “And it’s not like having Shell Shock, Nine Tails, and Buck Shot constantly picking on me about it helps at all.” “Who are they?” Soft Shoe asked. “They’re my brothers. Dad calls them his “Perfect Little Soldiers.”” The filly then looked up to Soft Shoe, her eyes starting to water again, and said, “Sorry if I’m venting.” Soft Shoe simply wrapped the filly in a warm hug, prompting the Double Shuffle to break into tears again. “I just….” the filly struggled to get out, her voice cracking. “Whenever I’m around my brothers or dad, I just feel like I have to nod and do what they say, otherwise it’s anything from staying up late cleaning the house or, in worst cases, going to bed hungry.”

This last bit shocked Soft Shoe. “You mean your dad doesn’t feed you?” Double Shuffle suddenly began to act very defensively. “I mean…. He doesn’t do it often. And he only does it when I do something wrong like doing a poor job during drill practice or mess up when cleaning or when I talk back to him. He especially hates that one.” Before Soft Shoe could ask the question on her mind, Double Shuffle quickly reassured her, “Don’t worry, he doesn’t hit or strike us.” Soft Shoe immediately insisted, “Just because he doesn’t physically hurt you doesn’t mean he doesn’t abuse you guys.” “He doesn’t abuse us!” Double Shuffle suddenly found herself saying very angrily, only to immediately and quietly say, “Uh, Sorry about that. I didn’t mean to get so angry.” Soft Shoe then gently said, “It’s alright dear.”

Double Shuffle then began to tremble again, this time seemingly unable to control her emotions. Soft Shoe then wrapped her hooves around the filly and gently said, “It’s ok sweetie. Just let everything out.” Double Shuffle didn’t speak a word, simply letting out her tears into the older mare’s shoulder. As the filly cried, Soft Shoe suddenly realized that something was very wrong with the young filly; no normal pony has this much emotional baggage. Whatever was happening to her was affecting her to the core. “I just…..” Double Shuffle managed to choke out. “Why do I have to be so different from them?”

What she said next certainly shocked Soft Shoe.

“What’s wrong with me?” This statement elicited a somewhat stern response from Soft Shoe. “Don’t you ever say something like that.” Unfortunately, Double Shuffle wrestled her way out of Soft Shoe’s embrace and began to cower. “I’m sorry. I’m sorry.” The filly began to back away. Soft Shoe immediately changed tactics and said, “I didn’t mean to snap like that. I was just surprised by what you said.” She then placed her hooves around one of Double Shuffle’s hooves and said, “What I’m trying to say is that from what I’ve seen and heard about you, you are a very polite and sweet filly.” Double Shuffle managed to sniffle whilst wiping a tear away from her eyes and asked, “Really?” Soft Shoe nodded.

The older mare continued, “I also see that you seem to be a filly determined to follow your mother’s hoof steps.” She them pointed towards the filly’s cutie mark. Double Shuffle then blushed a bit before replying, “Yeah. Sometimes I think it’s all I’m good at.” The filly took a deep breath and continued, “Dad and the others, especially Shell Shock, always poke at me or snap at me because I can’t do a lot of what they do.” She then looked down to her hooves and took a wistful breath. “But once I hit the dance floor, when I have a pair of tap shoes on, I feel like I can do anything. I feel like I actually have control over my life.”

Soft Shoe then said, “I take it you can guess my talent then.” She turned so her flank was visible to Double Shuffle. Her cutie mark was a single black shoe with two metal plates on the soles. “You know, my family, or at least the stallions, were very good at construction. My father, an earth pony stallion named Wrecking Ball, was a very skilled foreman, and my brothers wanted to follow in his hoof steps.” “But what about you?” Double Shuffle asked. “Well,” Soft Shoe continued, “You see, when I was about your age I saw a group of ponies dancing on the street corner. One of them was a blue earth filly, probably a few years older than I was at the time, with a brown mane. She had these really cool shoes on her hooves, and she made a really cool sound. I asked her what she was doing, and she said it was called tap dancing. I asked if she could teach me a step or two, and she did. I fell in love with it that moment.” She then said,

“And do you know who that filly was?” Double Shuffle shook her head. “She was this dancer named Maxi Ford.” Double Shuffle suddenly jumped in the air, asking, “You mean you started dancing because of….” Soft Shoe gave the filly a playful look, signaling to her to calm down. “As I was saying, after that day, I convinced dad to let me try dancing. Not too long later, I got my cutie mark.” Soft Shoe’s voice then began to lower in tone. “Well, my own brothers weren’t entirely thrilled about it. Said I was the “Odd one out” or something like that. However, my dad gave me one piece of advice. You want to know what he said?” Double Shuffle answered, “Yes.” Soft Shoe then pointed a hoof to the filly and said, “Your destiny is your choice, not your brothers or mine. Only you can decide what you do in life.”

Double Shuffle then leapt onto the older mare, and said, “Thanks. I guess around my family it can get kinda hard to remember that.” Soft Shoe noticed that the filly was tearing up again. “Well, if you don’t mind me asking, would you care to show me some of what you can do on the floor?” Double Shuffle then slinked away towards her dance bag and said, “Well…” she then pulled out one of her tap shoes, only to see the sole finally break off from the shoe. “Uh, I can still show you, it just might not be as loud.”

Soft Shoe then said, “Oh no dear. I won’t allow a fellow tapper allow herself to risk damaging her hooves needlessly.” She then said, “I think I have an idea…”

“Oh my goodness.” Twilight said as Soft Shoe finished the story. “You see, I was somewhat horrified by how she described what she told me, but I didn’t know what to do or say. I figured if there was any pony that could help me regarding what to do next, it was probably you.” Soft Shoe said to the princess. Twilight pondered for a moment, letting everything sink in, before asking her own question. “You said that she said her father was transferred to Ponyville?” Soft Shoe nodded. “Well then…” Twilight said with determination. “I can send a letter to Princess Celestia and Shining Armor. Hopefully they can offer some advice on what to do next.” Soft Shoe replied, “Well, it should be better than nothing.” Twilight reassured the earth pony mare and said, “Don’t worry; I have a feeling we should be able to help.”

Soft Shoe then got up from her seat and said, “Thank you princess. Promise you’ll let me know if there’s anything else I can do.” Twilight answered, “Of course.” Soft Shoe then left the castle, and Twilight began to write a letter to the Princesses.

Tender Taps and Apple Bloom were enjoying a snack at Sugar Cube Corner. “Come on Apple Bloom, I think the boots idea is actually pretty clever.” Tender Taps complimented his friend. “Ah guess. Still didn’t sound quite right.” Apple Bloom replied as she took a bite from her cupcake. “Ah mean, why do we gotta wear such funny shoes anyway?” “Well for one, they make better sounds than just using your hooves.” Tender Taps answered. “And secondly, apparently not too long ago some pony in a class somewhere split a hoof open.” This statement made Apple Bloom feel kinda queasy.” “Ya could have waited until after Ah finished mah cupcake to tell me that part.” Tender Taps continued, “Sorry about that. Anyway, all fillies and colts need to wear some kind of hoof wear in dance class. It’s kinda why Hoofer Steps is so adamant about you getting a pair of tap shoes for yourself.”

“Ah know.” Apple Bloom replied. “Apple Jack and Granny Smith just don’t feel too kindly about spendin’ bits on somethin’ as expensive as tap shoes. Ah mean, almost two hundred and fifty bits?” Tender Taps then had an idea, “You know, my mom has more than a few pairs. She’d be more than willing to give you a pair, or at least sell you one. Should at least be cheaper than others.”

Before either Apple Bloom or Tender Taps could say another word, a vaguely familiar voice caught their attention. “Well, what do we have here?” the two friends turned to see three earth pony colts. One was light green with a blue mane, another was dark blue with a white mane, and the third was, at least to Tender Taps, a very familiar olive khaki colt with a dark green mane. The dark blue one turned to the olive one and asked, “So Shell Shock, is this the sissy who handed your flank to you?” “Yeah, that’s the one Buck Shot.” Shell Shock replied, his face glowing with anger.

Apple Bloom turned towards Tender Taps and asked, “What’s going on?” Tender Taps answered, “These guys are Double Shuffle’s brothers.” The dark blue one, Buck Shot if he heard correctly, walked up to Tender Taps and asked, “So, you the colt our sis has been blabbing about?” “I take it you want to know if we’re friends?”

The blue colt continued, “Well, I guess it’s not surprising she’d befriend a weirdo like you.” The light green colt then added, “I bet I could take this wimp with a hoof tied behind my back.” Tender Taps began to back down and said, “Luckily I’m not a fighter, so I think I’ll just…” Shell Shock stepped behind him and said, “You aren’t going anywhere.” Before any pony could react, Shell Shock grabbed Tender Taps and held him restrained as Buck Shot began to punch Tender Taps. Apple Bloom tried to intervene, but Nine Tails pounced in front of her and said, “You keep your hooves out of this!”

Unsurprisingly, the sound of punching caught the attention of the Cakes. Mr. Cake was the first to arrive on the scene. “Alright, what’s going on?” the three colts quickly bolted out of the restaurant. “Tendy!!” Apple Bloom cried out as she wrapped her hooves around her friend. Mr. Cake walked over to the two young ponies and asked, “You mind telling me what that was all about?” Tender Taps, staggering to his feet and unaware of his new black eye, answered, “Well, I know they don’t seem to like me being friends for their sister.” Mr. Cake then said, “Well, you just stay here for a sec. I’ll go get some ice.”

About thirty minutes later, Soft Shoe entered Sugar Cube Corner, only to be horrified at the sight of her son with a black eye. “Oh my goodness! Tender Taps are you alright?” She called out to her son. “Hey mom.” Tender Taps said to his mother. As she approached her son, Soft Shoe noticed her son’s black eye. “What happened? Who did this?” Tender Taps answered, “Double Shuffle’s brothers. Turns out their names are Shell Shock, Nine Tails, and Buck Shot.” Mr. Cake walked into the room carrying a glass of ginger ale and said, “Ah, ma’am. Don’t worry, you’re son didn’t start the fight. If anything he didn’t swing any punches.” Soft Shoe sighed and said, “I’m just glad he’s alright.”

Apple Bloom then asked, “Ah don’t get it. Why would they wanna beat Tender up just because he’s friends with their sister?” Tender Taps then said, “Well, that day she came over, Double Shuffle and I had a run in with Shell Shock, the olive guy. He talked about standing up for her and her brothers while calling me a wimp.” Mr. Cake then said, “Wow, talking about standing up for some pony but picking on another. Talk about hypocrisy.”

However, Soft Shoe started to worry. Considering what Double Shuffle had said about her brothers (Which was relatively little), they sounded pretty nasty. She just hoped that Double Shuffle was alright.”

Double Shuffle had made it home, even if it was only because it was where she returned eventually every night. As soon as she closed the door, she could hear her father call out, “Double Shuffle, report to me at once.” “Sir yes sir.” She found herself repeating almost instinctually. Marching to her father, she stated, “Double Shuffle reporting sir.” Semper Fi approached his daughter and very coldly said, “You’re late. I expected you hear at least forty five minutes ago.”

Double Shuffle began to scuff the floor in front of her and answered, “Sorry dad, I was staying late at the dance studio practicing and I guess I lost track of time.” At the mention of the dance studio, Semper Fi groaned and said, “I thought I ordered you to not go there anymore. I won’t allow a promising future guard lower herself by wasting her time at some namby pamby dance studio.” Double Shuffle tried to protest. “But dad, I don’t want to be a guard.” This statement attracted Semper Fi’s ire. “Listen to me young filly, the guard not only pays well, but provides the opportunity to acquire many life skills. Why can’t you see that?” “Because I want to be a dancer.” Double Shuffle answered somewhat defiantly.

Semper Fi immediately shouted back, “You do not talk back to a commanding officer! Am I clear?” Double Shuffle nervously backed away and nodded. “Y-y-yes sir.” She answered very worriedly. “Very good.” Semper Fi said before continuing. “You will return to your room until I call for you. Am I clear” “Sir Yes sir.” Double Shuffle answered nervously. “You are dismissed.”Semper Fi said, and Double Shuffle made no haste in dashing up the stairs to her room.

Double Shuffle’s room was very different compared to every other room in her father’s house. Though it was simple and rather Spartan (much like the rest of the house) Double Shuffle had used everything she could to make it a makeshift studio. She set her saddle bag on two large dumbbells that she used as a barre, and took a good look at herself through the series of mirrors she had set up on the side of her room opposite her bed.

Double Shuffle certainly looked and felt exhausted. Her mane was frizzy and a bit messy, she had clearly been sweating, her bow tie was now crooked, and she even had a bag or two under her eyes. But despite that, she felt amazing. Sure, her father wasn’t happy with her, but she had been able to get extra practice time at a dance studio, a REAL studio and not her room like most days.

But most of all, Double Shuffle loved having friends she could dance with. Tender Taps was a phenomenal tap dancer, his sounds were clean, and he was almost as graceful as he was precise. And while she hadn’t seen that much of Apple Bloom, she could tell that she was an incredibly earnest filly and certainly enjoyed dancing. Double Shuffle also noticed the way Tender Taps and Apple Bloom looked at each other, she could tell they liked each other.

Luckily Double Shuffle didn’t mind. While she couldn’t deny she had a certain feeling about him, she didn’t see him as a colt friend. If anything she, she saw him as a….., no she didn’t want to say it. But it was true, in the very short time she had known Tender Taps, he almost seemed like a, a brother. Double Shuffle thought back to that day Tender and his family welcomed her in, and treated her as one of her own. She couldn’t even remember the last time her father or brothers treated any pony with even half as much respect as Soft Shoe and Hornpipe had shown her.

Double Shuffle was so lost in her own thoughts that she didn’t notice Shell Shock trying to call to her. “Hey metal hoof! Dad called for inspection five minutes ago.” “Oh, Sorry.” Double Shuffle nervously responded. Shell Shock gave his sister a cheeky grin. “You thinking about that little wimp?” Double Shuffle angrily shot back, “Hey, Tender Taps is not a wimp.” Before either could react, Semper Fi shouted, “Shell Shock, Double Shuffle, get your flanks down here on the double!” “Yes sir.” Both foals said in unison as they dashed for the living room.

Double Shuffle and Shell Shock fell in line next to Buck Shot and Nine Tails. Their father then approached the group, and began to speak. “It has come to my attention that there was a little scuffle between you and a colt earlier today.” Double Shuffle gulped. She really hoped that it wasn’t who she thought it was. Semper Fi continued, “So it seems that three of you are now forbidden from returning to Sugar Cube Corner.” Double Shuffle let out a sigh of relief, clearly forgetting that she was still standing before her father. “Is there something you would like to say?”

Double Shuffle gulped again and said, “I guess it seems that some pony is finally willing to stand up to them?” Clearly she had made a terrible mistake. Semper Fi stomped forward and shouted, “HOW DARE YOU STAND AGAINST YOUR FAMILY!” Double Shuffle backed up a bit, raising a hoof to cover her face. Semper Fi sighed and asked, “Do you really think I would ever strike one of my children?” Double Shuffle quickly shook her head no, while Buck Shot snarkily remarked, “You’re such a coward. Maybe if you spent all that time prancing around and spent it training to be a guard like us you wouldn’t be such a wimp like that Tender fella.” Double Shuffle angrily replied, “At least he’s polite.”

“That’s enough!” Semper Fi shouted, quieting the room. He turned to Double Shuffle and said, “Your brother is right. Starting tomorrow you will cease dancing immediately. You will train with your brothers to follow the family tradition. Am I clear?” Double Shuffle tried to protest, “But dad, I already told you, I don’t want to join the guard.” Semper Fi walked over to his daughter, and said, “That is my will. And I will find a way of doing something about that embarrassment of a cutie mark on your flank. Am I clear?” Double Shuffle nodded yes. “Very well.” Semper Fi said, a smile growing on his face. “You are dismissed. You will each return to your rooms and get some sleep. We all have a long day tomorrow.” The foals each nodded and departed for their rooms. As Double Shuffle left, Shell Shock roughly bumped into her and remarked, “You’re almost as weak as that loser.”

Double Shuffle quickly bumped back into her brother, only to have him leap on her and held her down on the ground. Luckily, she was able to kick him off, sending him to the wall. Semper Fi saw this and belted, “Return to your rooms now!!” Double Shuffle darted up towards her room.

Semper Fi approached Shell Shock and coldly said, “I heard you also allowed that dancer to do that to you as well. I did not train you to have you beaten by some prancing fool.” He then departed for his room, leaving Shell Shock alone, who angrily growled, “I’ll get you for this Tender Taps, even if only one of us walks away from it.”

Double Shuffle couldn’t help but begin to weep. She knew dancing was her calling, not joining the guard like her father. She loved tap dancing, it made her feel free and strong. And why did he have to hold her to the same standards as her brothers? She couldn’t stand not being able to dance, but she knew she couldn’t stay. Her father wouldn’t allow it, and she didn’t exactly feel her brothers would stand up for her.

Feeling Desperate, Double Shuffle did the only thing she could think of; she packed her dance bag with whatever trinkets and supplies she could, and managed to leap out of the window. She then made a desperate dash towards Tender Taps’ home, but she suddenly remembered, ‘If I go there, I’ll put Tender and his family in danger.’ Now worried on where to go, as well as knowing her dad would be furious if he caught her outside, made a mad dash to the only place she could think of; Hoofer Steps’ dance studio.