//------------------------------// // A Broken Record // Story: Sulfur Courtship // by GermanBrony_12 //------------------------------// I’ve been getting suspicious stares all day. I prefer it, of course, to the enraged assault I expected, but something about it feels worse in its own way. Perhaps it would have been poorer, had Featherbangs come to class, but both situations have their consequences. I miss Featherbangs, even after just a day, but in reality, it is dangerous to show myself around him - at least at school. Finally, the class came to a close and I left my seat to exit the room. On my way out, I passed Featherbangs’ desk. Atop it sat a single rubber duck, clothed in embroidered purple robes and a golden crown. Clearly somecreature thought it funny to display upon his desk in his absence. I cast out my hoof to remove it, but as I should have struck it, it vanished. Puzzled, I shifted back to my original task of exiting the classroom. For some reason, however, every step I took felt as though I were walking on dried petals.  —------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Once again, I came to the cafe after leaving the university. The sun lay just over the horizon, illuminating the quaint shop with its warm glow. The familiar jingle of the store bells filled my ears as I approached the back of the room. Steedplayer sat at the table, engrossed in some small object he held between his hooves. He looked up at me, smiling. “Where did you go yesterday?” Suddenly, I remembered how I had seen him waiting at the table. “S-sorry…” I began, despising myself for abandoning him as I did. Steedplayer, however, merely chuckled at this. “It’s fine. Now, have a seat.” I sat down across from him and took a sip of the boba tea he handed to me. The cafe seemed especially calm today: only a couple ponies aside from us remained, and they too left within a few minutes. It was a cold winter evening, dark and dreary, yet the cafe still glowed amidst the great sea of cloudy skies and icy paths. I was distracted yet again by the actions of my partner, “What is it you hold, Steedplayer?” He looked excited as he lifted up a collection of three rubber ducks, all dressed as famous ponies of the past. “Just some old play-things I found around. They're  quite fun,” he said, gazing at them with infinite engrossment.  I take a look at them myself. All of them held tremendous detail, all the way down to the wrinkles of their clothes. They were, in fact, quite similar to the one I had seen earlier on the desk of Featherbangs.  “They’re very cute! I swear I’ve seen one before though. Do you, by any chance, have one dressed as a king?” “Hmm… I’m not sure, I’d have to check.” Steedplayer seemed to stare at the floor for a while, perhaps envisioning his vast collection of rubber ducks so that he might find a match. Contrary to my predictions, however, he completely dropped the subject.  Without warning, the conversation shifted to love. I was hopelessly dragged along and ended up weeping again over my boundless loneliness. I went on and on about Featherbangs and about my classmates; Steedplayer listened intently all the while. At the end of my miserable tale, he offered me his words of wisdom. “Love is fickle; You really ought to take care in your romantic escapades. You may feel blessed for the moment, but only a certain few will continue to love you.” “I must be lucky then; I’m sure Featherbangs is one of those few,” I say, filled with confidence. I would never admit it to him, but I quite disagree in this matter. Little was said after that and we soon parted. This time, I did not look back at him, but I could tell his smile had faded. —------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ I walked to school the following day. A light snow swirled in the sky, pushed along by an icy wind, the breath of winter. All around me, bells rang in a sort of welcome to the holidays. Hearth’s Warming Eve was just around the corner, and the city was filled with cheer because of it. It was difficult not to stop and admire it all. The charm of the holiday season makes a great distraction for a nigh tardy student like myself, and one must take care to remain focused on the task at hand in such a situation. I hurry to the university, nearly dropping my bags along the way, but it seems the holiday cheer ended long before I arrived. Crowds of students lined the hall, all anxiously chatting amongst themselves. The great vestibule had become far too loud to make out what was being said, but with a brief glance, one could easily come to understand at least part of the situation. Students ran in a panic, rushing to share the news with those who had not yet heard; everywhere I look I see the distraught and angered faces of my peers. The school has become a den of chaos. I look about to find someone whom I can ask for information from, yet everyone seems to look at me with disdain and obloquy. A raucous flapping of wings catches my attention, and I turn to meet an alarming sight of Smoulder just before receiving a hearty blow to my head, knocking me to the floor. I rise to meet my rival, but am immediately pressed down again. “You murderer!”