ACT TWO
Cadance and Twilight both rubbed their eyes to shake off the flash blindness.
“I can’t believe he did that.” said Twilight. “He really was desperate to get away from his friends.”
The gang were a mix of feelings.
Red, Pierce, and Seeker were shocked by Snap’s actions, while Droplet and Slam were outraged.
“I can’t believe he did that!” growled Droplet. “He practically just committed assault.”
Slam was especially annoyed. “We ought to have him arrested or something.”
“No!” snapped Twilight. “There will be no charges.”
“I agree.” added Cadance.
“What?!” snapped Slam.
Even Spike was inclined to agree with him. “But Twilight, he could have permanently blinded you and Cadance.”
“True… but he didn’t.” protested Twilight. “I still want to know his problem. It’s the only way we can sort this out.”
Most of the gang agreed, even though they were still appalled by Snap’s actions.
“If we hear his side of story,” said Red “It won’t really excuse his actions, but maybe it’ll help explain them better.”
Slam was still unconvinced, but then he noted how upset Pirouette looked. “Are you okay?” he asked. His mare-friend shook her head, “I don’t know, but I think I may understand a little why Snap is avoiding us.”
Slam sighed, “Look, like I said… he needs get over his crush on you. It’s the only way he’ll find peace, and we can all forget about this mess.”
What was this? All of a sudden he went from seemingly uncaring to understanding?
Pirouette actually bought into it. She knew the others were just as upset too, which only made her more desperate to learn the truth and fast.
“Maybe we can talk to him at work.” she suggested.
Spike disagreed, “After what just happened, I don’t think he seems too much up for talking.”
Cadance then intervened, “I have a better idea; one so we don’t actually have to talk to him.”
“What’s that?” asked Seeker.
Later on, he got his answer…
At the Ponyville Times headquarters, Twilight had disguised herself as a janitor; complete with a suit, a cap, and even a fake mustache.
In the pocket on her side, sat a pink, gold-rimmed pen, with Cadance’s head on the ballpoint; for it really was Cadance transformed.
She pulled a cart through the building in search of Snapshot, which would not be easy as there were several floors, plus loads of reporters and other staff members all walking about.
“Hey, you there.” called a worker.
Twilight gasped and nearly jumped out of her disguise. “Yes?” she squeaked in her normal voice before correcting herself and saying “Yes?” in a disguised, masculine voice.
“There’s a spill upstairs in the Editor’s office.”
“Um… yeah… I’ll get right on it.” replied Twilight, and she wheeled her cart to the elevator.
Luckily, the elevator had a directory to where she needed to go-- the top floor where the Editor’s office was.
Would luck have it, the second the elevator doors opened Twilight saw Snapshot at his desk a few ways down the door from the office.
He was just going through files of old photos and sorting out new ones, but he looked and felt rather nervous and upset.
“I can’t believe I did that.” he grumbled, and he plopped his head down into his arms on his desk in shame.
He was feeling extreme remorse for blinding Twilight and Cadance with his camera flash. He felt afraid that maybe he’d get arrested for it, or the Princesses would hold him in contempt for it.
He was just so desperate to get away from them, knowing what they were up to about his former friends, he just acted on impulse.
He wanted to apologize if he ever saw them again, but he didn’t know what to say or do.
He was so lost in his wreck, he didn’t even notice Twilight approaching him from behind, and she magically levitated the Cadance Pen, slipping it into a jar of pencils on the desk.
“Hey, you there!” the Editor suddenly called from her officer, making Twilight nearly jump out of character again.
Snap also jumped by the sudden surprise of the yelling that he knocked his pencils off the desk, and of all the items to fall off, Cadance was the only pen to fall to the floor, landing just under the desk.
“Come on in here, I need this coffee spill cleaned up.”
“Yes, ma’am.” replied Twilight. She started to wheel her cart in to get to work, and as Snap watched her go, he couldn’t help but feel “That guy looks kind of familiar.”
Obviously, he was too fooled to see past Twilight’s obvious disguise, and then he just gathered up all his own pencils still scattered all over the desk…
…Not noticing that Cadance was right below him, and even though she was at such an angle, it was still perfect for what she was about to do.
Even as pen, she was going to her magic to look into Snap’s heart, or rather his subconscious and determine what he was up to.
And what she saw would be viewed by the rest of the gang…
The five ponies were sitting with Spike in a quiet area in the park where no pony else was likely to disturb them.
A small glowing ball of sparkling aura had been formed by Twilight, and was linked to Cadance’s powers.
“I’ve read about this spell,” said Seeker. “It’ll allow us to see whatever the princess finds out about Snap.”
The others all leaned in with excitement.
“And Snap can’t hear or see us?” asked Pirouette.
“Not at all.” explained Spike. “We just have to hope he doesn’t spot Cadance.”
Droplet cringed, “Talk about pressure, but at least we can finally figure things out.”
“Shh… it’s starting.” said Pierce.
Cadance’s eyes glowed brightly, and so did her cutiemark on the side of the pen.
She could see clear into Snapshot’s subconscious…
The first things she saw was Pirouette at a dance audition.
Her friends were the only ponies in the audience watching her, including Snap. The way Pirouette danced, and spun, and slid on stage so majestically from all her practicing… she was the most beautiful thing he had ever seen…
He had fallen in love with her the very moment they had first met, even in school.
“Can I take a picture of you for the school paper?” asked a young Snapshot, to which Pirouette giggled. “Okay.”
So many shots, so many wonderful, warm feelings spreading through him; it was too magical for him.
They became good friends, and met up with the rest of the gang and formed a big group of five.
Snap always tried to be supportive and caring towards his friends, always lending a hand when he could, but he was especially kind to Pirouette, and always perking her up when she was down.
“I’ve always wanted to be a dancer, but I just don’t know if I’m good enough.
Would you watch me, Snapshot…? I’d feel comfortable if some pony I knew would watch me dance.”
Snap felt as if his heart would race clear out of his body. “Sure, I’d love to.”
So he would watch her while she practiced privately, and the more she danced so gracefully, the more and more Snap fell in love with her.
More than that, Pirouette did other things besides dancing. She read to children at the library. She helped out the elderly at retirement homes, and she was a straight-A student too.
She was starting to seem like a perfect filly, that Snap was starting to consider asking her out.
The gang were astounded by the images shown.
“I guess Snap liked you more than we thought.” said Red, and Pirouette could hardly believe her eyes herself, nor could Slam.
However, the next images showed that of Slam, in a basketball court whom Pirouette recognized as her oldest friend from kindergarten.
“Slam Dunk…?”
“Pirouette…?”
The two ponies were delighted to see one another, and hugged warmly, much to Snap’s shock.
As if that weren’t enough, Snap transferred to the same high-school as the rest of the gang, and Pirouette and Slam seemed to get closer and closer than before.
Snap tried his best not to let his jealousy show, but it was too obvious. Pirouette even began to tease Snap a little, as she was fully aware of his crush on her.
“You’re not jealous, are you?”
“Who, me… jealous…?” Snap asked, trying to keep it cool “Oh, no, no. Me, Jealous....? No way…”
Pirouette giggled.
…In real life she giggled too, “He was just so funny the way he would try to cover up and act like he was the bigger pony.”
Slam thought it was kind of funny too, but all the others didn’t think it was so funny, especially not Spike. “When someone really likes you, it isn’t cool to tease them like that.” he scolded.
“What?” said Slam “It was just a friendly tease. Friends tease friends all the time.”
Spike was aware, but still, “There’s a difference between teasing someone and taking advantage of their feelings.”
Even droplet had to agree with that. “Ponies often made fun of me that I would never find romance. They said I was too plain, or too pushy.”
Seeker softly laid his hoof over hers and smiled at her, “They were wrong. I don’t think you’re too plain, or too pushy.”
Grinning brightly at him, she leaned forth and pecked him on the cheek.
“Wait a minute.” said Pierce, and he began to look a bit remorseful, “I think I know what’s coming now.”
All the others felt a bit harsh and down about it too, especially Pirouette.
The images continued to show that Slam and Pirouette got closer and closer, spending more time with one another, and Slam was even invited to join the gang as a sixth member.
Snapshot didn’t really have any objections to it, but he was starting to object to how much Pirouette paid more attention to Slam.
She let Slam watch her dance the way he used to.
She would buddy up with him for studying, only because Slam had a hard time with math and stuff, but still it irked Snap to see them getting closer than ever.
After graduation, Slam finally asked Pirouette to the prom, and they had been going out ever since, much to Snap’s deep inner heartbreak.
Red and the others knew Snap was feeling a bit down, and rather of being truly sympathetic like good friends should, it was a different story and attitude.
“Don’t they look so cute together.” sighed Droplet.
“They sure do.” agreed Seeker.
Red and Pierce were pleased to see them so happy, and watched as they danced.
“What do you think, Snap?” asked Red, but then he could see and sense how visibly upset he was. “They are together now, right?”
“Yes, I guess they are.” replied Snap.
“Snap, you’ll just have to get over it.” said Pierce. “We should all be happy for them both.”
Even Seeker was unsympathetic. “It’ll be okay, Snap.”
Each and every word was like another knife to the heart. Snap began to feel he was falling out of place not just with Pirouette, but with everyone.
As the weeks went by, Snap tried his hardest, but it was no use. He always retained his feelings for Pirouette, but he could see how happy she was with Slam.
They went on many dates, he would see them playing basketball, or Slam would watch her dance.
Then when it came to meetings with the rest of the gang, they would always talk about how happy they were, or what they did on their dates, and would occasionally flirt with each other and be affectionate, which wooed the others, but inside Snap felt like he was breaking in half.
Seeing them so happy only made him more envious, more upset, and he would keep wishing it was him holding Pirouette like that.
He did his best to behave and not let things get to him, but it was no use.
Finally, Pirouette tried to talk to him herself… just as she said she did, and admitted that she only ever thought of Snap as a friend and would never have dated him anyway.
Though she quickly regretted saying such a harsh thing, it was too late; the last straw had been drawn.