“That must have been like, so torturous.” Diamond Tiara huffed as the two fillies began their walk towards the Silver manor. “I bet they didn’t even use any Silverware to eat with either.”
“They certainly did not,” Silver Spoon forced out. “They even had their elbows on the table for the whole meal, it was like, so gross.”
“Ewe,” both girls laughed. Although for some reason, Silver Spoon was having trouble laughing at other pony’s expense. It wasn’t the only time, but this was the first time it really bit at her heart.
When Apple Bloom had told her that they were going to be partners, she didn’t know how to feel. She was more worried that she hadn’t gotten a partner at all, and would have to go straight home. The fact that it was Apple Bloom, a filly she regularly followed diamond Tiara into bullying, made her mind do a reset.
In the end, she had chosen to be happy for the pair up. Then again, being a filly that followed instead of lead, she would have enjoyed the company of anypony. The only time she ever tried anything different or on her own was when she clapped first at Granny Smith’s family appreciation day. It had been spontaneous, exhilarating, and something she never tried again after Diamond Tiara scolded her for it.
She began to wonder why she even hung out with Diamond Tiara in the first place.
“You alright, Silver?” she felt Diamond Tiara nudge her. “That blank flank didn’t give you any trouble, did she?”
“What? No, she was decent,” she leaned into her. “It beats having to go straight home.”
Diamond Tiara ruffled her hair, then shoved her off. “Hey, it will be fine, Silver. We’ll get some hoof-rubs, how does that sound?”
Silver spoon smiled. “Yeah, that sounds just fine.”
“Good, now-Achoo!”
“Bless you.”
“Thank you,” Diamond Tiara wiped her nose. “Now then, you want to hear about how like, horrible Snails was?”
The idea soothed her. “Totally.”
So she lost herself into Diamond tiara’s ramble about how somepony’s life was worse than her’s as they approached the Silver manor. The second largest house in Ponyville, it could be seen over the all the other houses with five blocks of the manor. Out front, and through the walkway, larger than life hedged and stone sculptors of past Silver family members looked down at them as Silver Spoon did her best not to look up at them.
Next came the pathway, crisp and clean, shone as it always did. Rumor was that the path was actually made of silver, when in fact, it was just a type of cheaper shining granite rock made to glint like Silver. It still wasn’t cheap to purchase or maintain thou, so it still stood out as the beacon of her family’s’ wealth to all who gazed on it.
After about a five minute walk, they finally made it to the steps to the front door, which took another minute to climb until at long last, Silver Spoon was home. It was a very light gray, lighter than Silver Spoon’s own coat, five story, with 40 rooms, and with twelve bathrooms. As always, it stood tall as it graced itself to anypony who approached it for the first time.
Too Silver Spoon, it was just a home she didn’t always look forward to returning to each evening.
“Mom, dad, I’m home!” Silver Spoon shouted out as they walked into the mansion as her voice simply echoed in the large entrance way as it always did. After she looked around waiting for a response for a bit, one of the servants finally approached her with information on her parents locations that evening.
“Good evening ladies,” he bowed. “Silver Spoon, I am here to tell you that your mother is currently in Canterlot, while your father was worried about you young lady. It’s a good thing you have such a lovely friend here.” He nodded towards Diamond Tiara.
Diamond Tiara grinned. “Thank you sir.”
“Yeah,” Silver Spoon quickly sighed, not sure what to make of the news that her parents were busy. It was better than when they were mad at each other, but not by much. “Is my father free tonight to help with my studies?” While it didn’t happen as often as she would have liked, she did find her study times to pass by more smoothly when one of her parents were around to asset her.
“Your father is currently busy with Filthy Rich, but Bookworm is currently awaits your request for him. Speaking off, Miss Tiara, would you like to me to give your father any messages?”
“Just tell him I’m going to get my hooves rubbed.” Diamond Tiara lifted up one of her spot-free hooves.
“Very well,” he nodded, “I’ll leave you girls be.” He turned to Silver Spoon one last time. “Oh, and your mother wanted me to remind you that you’ll have to put in a second piano session with Mrs. String this week, and that you’ll be expected to pick out a dress for your sisters concerts next month by tomorrow, and that you father wants you to show up at one of his business finalizations with an important client.”
Silver Spoon wrinkled her nose. “Is that all?”
“There’s a bit more,” he nodded.
Luckily, she had Diamond tiara as a friend. “Enough of this,” she put her hoof down “we want my hooves rubbed now!”
The servant rolled his eyes back. “Yes of course. I’ll make sure that your list of this mouths events are posted in your room, Ms. Silver.”
“Thank you sure,” she closed her eyes while nodding, “you may be excused.”
“Thank you, madam,” he bowed and walked out of the room.
Once he was gone, silver spoon rubbed her eyes out, and gave her friend a smile. “Thanks for that.”
“Puff,” she blew on her bangs, “like, you just need to know how to talk to them. Now come on, I want those hooves rubbed.”
Even though it sounded like it wasn’t going to be as busy a month as it could have been, a good hoof-rub sounded like something she needed.
The Filly’s then made their way to the spa room where a pair of unicorns awaited. They levitated out their scratch pads and various lotions to get to work, leaving the fillies to get ready. They took off their jewelry, Silver spoon carefully placed her glasses on a table, and laid down on her private spa beds.
“Oh I swear Sliver,” Diamond Tiara spoke up once the unicorns got started, “forget about what a country runt your parent is, mine is unbearable! Snails is like, the worst partner in the world. He keep’s spelling words wrong and mixing up the important date. Worst of all, he’s got like, the most boring family in Equestria, and he wouldn’t stop smelling, and sneezing on me! Oh and if you think that’s gross…”
Silver Spoon didn’t hear a word Diamond Tiara said after she said, Apple Bloom. Once she did, she began to fantasize about her dinner at the Apple’s.
It was certainly a different type of meal from whenever her family at alone together. Not just with the type of food, but with how everypony acted. There was no awkward silence, or loud shouting after somepony said something. Everypony seemed to get along, any drams they might have had from the day were replaced with times of laughter and joy. Even Apple Bloom, who she knew was still mad about her, treated her with kindness.
Silver Spoon shook her head furiously. Why should she even be thinking this? She was rich, and that blank flank was middle class at best, so why did she care? Did she really care that much how different Apple Bloom’s life was compared to her own? She shouldn’t have been beating herself up for how poorly mannered she acted at the Apple’s at dinner. She was a Silver, she could have any material thing she wanted. So then why did the Apple family seem happier?
“Hello, like, Silver Spoon!” Diamond Tiara waved a hoof in front of her face
“Hun, what?” Silver Spoon shook her head.
“I was saying, do you think Snips and Snails are getting dumb and dumber by the day?”
“Oh, oh like yeah,” Silver Spoon sighed as the massager hit her most sensitive part of her hoof. It went on as such until Silver Spoon’s private tutor, Bookworm, walked into the spa.
“I’m sorry madam,” Bookworm said to Diamond Tiara, “but your father said he wants you home now. It is time for Silver Spoon’s study session”
Diamond Tiara’s ears perked up when Silver Spoon moaned. “Tell daddy I’ll head home in like, a minute.” She sank herself deeper into the spa chair.
“He said that if you said that, to go home, like now.” Silver Spoon couldn’t keep her laugh in. It was a pretty good imitation of Diamond Tiara. She coughed into her hoof when Diamond Tiara glared at her. “Besides, Miss Silver has a lot of work to do before her bedtime. She needs to get her mathematics, piano, then table manners, followed by reading, as well as…”
“Um hum,” Silver Spoon nodded, “I get it.”
Bookworm’s lip twitched. “It’s not much tonight, we’’ get it done in no time.”
“Whatever.” Diamond Tiara leapt off the chair as she nearly shoved a spa pony out of the way. “Don’t stress too much about the homework, social events, or that blank flank, okay? I’ll see- see… ACHOO!” She wiped her nose. “See you tomorrow, Silver Spoon.
“Goodnight,” she waved back. She then looked back at her tutor.
“Ready to go?”
Silver Spoon struggled to lift her hooves. “Yeah, let’s get this over with.”
**********************
For the next hour, all Silver Spoon did was study, nothing but studied, and read, study and read. Every night it was the same old thing, learn something new, make sure she knew about her family history, live up to her family history. It was more than she ever needed to know to get the highest grades in her class, but not enough to consider herself a proper Silver yet.
Some day’s she wondered how she handled all of the exception her family placed on her. It made her think back to her jealously of Apple Bloom, and after all the work, she began to justify those feelings. She might not have had it big and rich, but she had it easy compared to her life.
“Madam,” a butler interrupted sometime late. “Your mother has returned, and wishes to see you.”
Her head bolted up. “Really?”
“Yes, she says she has something special for you.”
Silver Spoon looked up to Bookworm. The unicorn closed all of their books. “I suppose that is enough for one night. Now go ahead, and enjoy some family time.”
That would be nice if that happened. Still, whatever her mother wanted had to be better than another hour of pointless lessons. She bowed to her tutor, and gracefully headed downstairs.
“Mom?” She called from the top of the stairs as a group of Pony’s carried in a bunch of bags. He mother, a light bright tan earth pony with a silver platter and lid cutie mark named, silver Platter, looked up with a tired, but pleasant smile at her daughter.
“Hello darling." She addressed Silver Spoon like a lady. "What a day I had. I am going to tell you, it doesn’t easier when you get older.” She would keep that in mind. “I presume your lessons went well?"
"It was fine mother." She muttered. She snapped herself out of it. She didn’t get to spend a lot of time alone with her, and she was going to enjoy it. "We have a class project at school today,” she beamed. “It is a group project. We got paired up-"
"Oh, there you are, darling." A dark gray stallion with a complete set of dinning utensils for a cutie mark entered the room.
So much for mother time, Silver Spoon thought to herself.
Silver Spoons father, Silverware, had a baggy eyed and gray composition the reeks from his skin. His friend, Filthy Rich, looked much the same way they always did after doing, big business.
Filthy Rich took one look at Silverware and his wife, all the stuff she had bought and began to chuckle nervously. "Well now," he tapped his front hooves together. “I see you don’t need me, so I’ll just be going, buy!" He the galloped off, leaving Silver Spoon to wish she could follow for once.
“I see you had a good time.” Silverware glanced down the servants carried up a box of fine jewelry.
“More then I bet you had with your little cider buddy there.” She turned her head away. “At least got some work done that contributes to society.”
“Hey,” Silverwares voice began to rise, “I’m the one who pays for your little shopping sprees.”
“I earn my own money you know!”
“Yeah, well my bank account would tell you differently!”
Head held down, Silver Spoon took their momentary distraction to drag herself back to her room. She knew that they would most likely go into this argument well past her bed time if they could help it, and she wasn’t going to just stand around to wait. It was getting worse, and she could only imagine where it would go from here. She hope they wouldn’t end up like Diamond Tiara’s parents, at least until she graduated in two more years. It would have been the least they could do for what they made her put up with.
She made her way to her room, where Bookworm was still packing up all of his supplies. “I hear your parents are home.” Silver Spoon ignored him as she crawled under the covers of her bed. “You know it’s not lady-like to not answer a question.” She threw her head out of the covers to glare at him.
“Alright,” he closed up his case and levitated it onto his back. “You are doing very well you know, Silver Spoon? I’m sure if most colt lived with those two constant bickering every night as they except the world from their foal,” he chuckled, “well, you are a very mature foal for how you turned out.” He walked out the door. “Goodnight.” He waited a moment for a reply, and when he got none, he gently closed the door.
Left alone, with nothing but her covers and parents shouting from below, she began to feel the need to release. She threw off the covers, and walked up to her room’s two-way wall speaker.
“Hello down there?” She shouted into the speaker.
“Yes, Miss Silver?” One of the maids shouted up.
“Fetch me a glass of warm milk, and a hot fudge Sunday, extra nuts and two cherries with no seeds in them, and while you at it, I want some hot socks to sleep in.”
“As you wish Miss Silver.” She threw the cover back on and proceed to her closet.
Truth be told, she would likely not even touch the sundae. She only ordered it up in the most complex way simply because she could. It was what she was good at, so why let her special talent go to waste?
With her parents voices still echoing loudly from below, she opened closet and pulled out a giant plush book with a picture of a gray unicorn with a music note cutie make on the cover.
It was a gift from her older sister, Octavia, the pride of the family, many years ago. It was meant to be gag gift, one Hearth Warming, and she had original every intention to throw it away the following day. When she didn’t, she found another way to put it to good use.
She positioned it against the wall. The years had not been kind to the poor plush, as it was readily stitched and mended at her command. It also looked like the current picture of Octavia would have to be replaced, but that could wait for another day.
She turned her rear to it, and went to work beating and bucking the stuffing out of the book. Each strike took released a wave of hatred she had bottled up, each kick made up for the fillies and colts she had to pick on to feel better about herself, and each buck made her parents screams and pressure they put on her more bearable.
Sometime later, a knock on the door made her realize something, her parents weren’t arguing anymore. She raced towards the door, thinking for a moment that it might be either one of them to apologize. She only let herself dream of that for moment. She opened the door, and as expected, it was only one of the servants with her requests.
“Your dessert madam.” The maid wheeled the cart in.
“Huff,” she sighed, “thank you.”
“I hope you have a good night.” He said as Silver Spoon closed the door on her. The poor thing didn’t deserve the rude treatment, and she could hear her displeasure on the outside the door. She didn’t care, she just wanted her sunday.
With no one looking she slipped on the warm pair of socks as she downed the glass of milk and took a few bits out of her sunday. She then went right back to her book, and began to beat and buck at it even harder for a good hour. By then, her sunday had long melted as the milk had finally done its job as Silver Spoon only had enough energy left to claw into bed.
When she woke up, she saw several new sets of shoes from Canterlot. She threw her head back into her pillow, finding no satisfaction in any of them.