Vinyl sat in her room, forlornly gazing at her white rose. One of the petals fell, falling upon the satin covers of her bed. Reluctantly, she put the flower back into a vase on her bedstand. “...oh, E...”
There was a knock on her bedroom door. “Is anypony there?” The voice was familiar, a refined, if somewhat forced, accent.
Panicking slightly, she placed a glass dome over the rose and draped a sheet on top of that. Clearing her throat, she called out to her visitor. “C-come in, Rarity.”
The door opened, revealing the fashionable white unicorn. “Hello darling!” Rarity smiled, “How are you doing today?”
Vinyl sighed, running a hoof through her mane. “...oh, just...the usual...”
Rarity furrowed her brow. “Unless the usual is depressed, then I would think that something is wrong.”
The disk jockey waved a hoof, avoiding her friend’s gaze. “...it’s nothing...really...” She looked up, worry clear in her eyes. “...did...did E see you?”
“No darling, why?” Rarity soon let the idea process as a goofy grin was planted on her face. “Is there something about your love life that you aren’t telling me, Vinyl?”
The mare shifted nervously on her bed, her cheeks flushing with color. “...I-I don’t know what you’re talking about...” She coughed, hoping to change the subject. “...you brought my purchase, right?”
Rarity rolled her eyes and brought out a neat little parcel, tied with a perfectly symmetrical bow. “Right here!” The purple-maned mare used her magic to levitate the package over to Vinyl.
The disk jockey brought it to her chest, holding it close and smiling softly. “...one step closer...”
The usually snoopy Rarity decided not to question the gift, instead sticking her nose in the EnigmaxVinyl case. “Now, answer my question, is there something about your love life that you aren’t telling me?”
Vinyl looked away, her gaze settling on the covered rose. “...I...I love somepony...but...” She groaned, holding her head in her hooves. “...everytime I try to tell him...he...something keeps me from telling the truth...” Her body was trembling, her face still hidden in her hooves.
Rarity looked sadly at Vinyl. “Darling,” she sat down and hugged the DJ. “You need to keep your head held high. You need to go right up to him and tell him. Let nothing stop you, let every doubt disappear, be strong. I will be by your side the whole time when you decide you want to tell him, but you need to tell him soon if you ever want to know. He may just think you're his friend and move on.”
The musical mare finally looked up, her eyes shining with hope despite the tears staining her cheeks. Rarity held out her hoof. “C’mon. Let’s go right now.”
Vinyl blushed, glancing down at the parcel next to her. “...I’ll tell him...tomorrow.” She held up a hoof, making an x over her heart. “Cross my heart, hope to fly, stick a cupcake in my eye.” She smiled softly, wiping the tears off her face.
Rarity gave a warm smile. “Remember, you promised, so that means you need to tell him.”
“OR YOU WON’T KNOW!”
The unicorns jumped as they heard Pinkie. “PINK-IE!” Rarity growled.
The mares began to bicker - playfully, mind you - as the disk jockey watched. Vinyl chuckled, shaking her head at her hyper friend’s antics. She looked over at the rose, her mind drifting. ...I hope you feel the same...
It was almost lunchtime at the schoolhouse, and the lesson was being wrapped up rather nicely. “And that’s the Legend of the Seven Artifacts. Now, class, we are going to-” Cheerilee was soon interrupted by a late student coming in. “Archer, why are you-”
“FLUTTERSHY HAS THE RESULTS FOR THE RAP BATTLE!!!”
The school teacher watched as her students stampeded out of the classroom. “...late.” The mare chuckled, shaking her head as she trotted after her students.
It was a normal day for the shy pegasus. She spent her morning at Sugarcube Corner. It was quite peaceful until one of the schoolfillies came up to her and asked if the results were up. Fluttershy began to nod and was about to tell her when she ran out. At least there won’t be any more interruptions...
“STAMPEDE!” screamed Pinkie as she ran through the doors of the sweets shop. “STAMPEDE OF SCHOOL PONIES!!!”
She was right - a whole classroom’s worth of fillies and colts were running down Stirrup Street, and they were all headed for Fluttershy. The timid mare’s eyes widened in fear. “Ohmygoodnessohmygoodness!”
She tried to hide underneath the table, but they were already inside, clamoring around her and barraging her with words.
“Who won?”
“I bet it was Miss Cheerilee!”
“No you dumb colt! Zecora obviously won!”
“Cheerilee!”
“Zecora!”
“Sweet Celestia, I lost my tiara!”
“QUIET!!!!” They all turned to the doorway. Framed in the opening was Apple Bloom, the rhyming zebra by her side. “Sorry for wakin’ ya, Zecora, but Fluttershy has the results from th’ rap battle!”
“Don’t worry Apple Bloom, it was a minor hiccup. Now, what was that about the results being up?” Everypony turned their attention to the butter-yellow pegasus, causing her to shrink a little.
“...um...” Fluttershy tapped a few buttons on her device, counting the votes. Soon enough, she looked up, sheepishly smiling. “...Zecora won...”
A few of the students cheered while others groaned. One of the fillies reluctantly handed a few bits to a beaming colt.
The zebra smiled, nodding to show her recognition. “Good. Now, where is the one who teaches the ponies in childhood?”
“Right here,” grumbled the teacher. “I didn’t take anything from you. I’ve never even been to your hut!”
Zecora narrowed her eyes. “You can say that, but are you aware that I found, in its place, one of your hairs? And I saw you walking away from my hut, so you obviously think I’m a nut!”
Cheerilee sighed, holding a hoof to her head. “When do you think this took place?” She glared at her former-opponent, completely ignoring the dark red pegasus that was approaching them.
The shaman quirked an eyebrow, frowning deeply. “When did this heinous crime go down? Around ten, when I was in town.”
“Then it couldn’t have been me!” The earth pony looked directly into the zebra’s eyes. “I was teaching my little ponies at the time!”
Now, the stallion hadn’t heard all of their argument, but he could read the teacher’s body language. ...unwavering eye contact... He glanced at her hooves, then her ears. ...no fidgeting...no ear twitch... Finally, he examined her posture. ...defensive stance...no doubt about it. “She’s telling the truth.”
Zecora and Cheerilee stared at him, eyes wide in a mix of shock and confusion. The former broke the silence, cynicism clear in her voice. “I hate to be the voice of doubt, but why should we believe your clout?”
He stared at her, frowning deeply. “What use would Cheerilee, an earth pony, have for the Alicorn Amulet?”
The zebra opened her mouth to answer, but stopped, thinking about that. After a few moments, she sighed, turning to the dark purple mare. “Please forgive me, Miss Cheerilee. It seems as though I wasn’t thinking clearly.”
The teacher waved a hoof dismissively. “It’s no problem, Zecora. I’m sorry for saying such hurtful things the other day.”
Enigma nodded, smiling at them both. “Glad you two made up. Now, I need to go.” He left, his smile slowly turning into a worried frown. “I fear that there’s something amiss, here...”
On the outskirts of Ponyville, there exists a farm. The Apple family resided here, harvesting their namesake to maintain their livelihood. A certain canine also lived there, content to keep watch over the youngest of the ponies.
One might argue that she should have kept closer watch on her hiding place. If she had, then she wouldn’t have lost an heirloom. Especially not one that was as powerful as what had been taken.