Chapter 19
Her had dragged down by something heavy she couldn't shake, Silver Spoon moved herself towards Bon Bon's shop. Mechanically, she pushed open the door. And before the bell above it had turned silent once again, she heard the owner's unbearably joyful voice.
“Hello, honey. Apple Bloom here just told us what happened.”
These words dragged her head back up instantly. There she stood. The one filly she had been looking for, together with Bon Bon and Twist.
“At least up until Ah' left.” Apple Bloom added.
“Did you bring her with you?” Twist wanted to know.
Silver Spoon only shook her head as she walked over to the small group at the counter.
“Ah' guess it's for the best,” said Apple Bloom grimly. “Ah' know Ah' went against everything Ah' said to ya' and what Ah' had in mind. But this came just too unexpected.”
“Not just for you, I'd say,” said Bon Bon. “From what you've been telling us, Diamond Tiara was most likely just not able to cope with what was happening. If you give her some time and talk to her again I'm sure she'll come around.”
“Ah' sure hope so,” said Apple Bloom. Her voice made it all too clear that she had more than a few doubts.
Silver Spoon said nothing. She was still pondering if she should tell them about what Diamond Tiara had said to her after Apple Bloom had left. Wouldn't that make everything even worse than it already was? Unnecessarily so if Bon Bon was right and Di just needed some time to adjust.
“Oh, don't worry so much, honey.” Bon Bon's voice pulled Silver Spoon's attention back to her surroundings. “There's no need to look so down. Talk to her again when she has calmed down. And when you're better prepared. Believe me, all that simply happened because nopony saw it coming.”
“No, not nopony,” said Silver Spoon bitterly. “My sister knew it.”
“Well, of course a few ponies had to know. How else would Diamond Tiara have made it into your room?”
“No, not just knew she was there. My sister knew how all this would turn out. Had to turn out. And naturally, she let me run into this mess while laughing from the sidelines.”
“Naturally? What do you mean?”
Silver Spoon sighed. “That she always enjoys me getting embarrassed or being humiliated. Whenever there's a chance for her to laugh at my expense, she'll find and cease it.”
“Hm, that sounds bad.”
All three fillies stared at her expectantly, but the mare didn't say anything more. She just stared back at them and asked: “What?”
“Well...” said Silver Spoon. “Somehow I expected you would tell me she can't be all that bad or something like that.”
Bon Bon averted her gaze and started rubbing the back of her head. “Maybe I should, yes. But to be honest, I know how big sisters can be.”
Silver Spoon looked at the her two friends. And it was obvious that they had the same thought as she did.
“What do you mean?” the filly asked.
Bon Bon grimaced like she had realized a bad mistake. She looked from left to right and back. Then she grumbled: “I have no choice but to tell you now, do I?”
None of the fillies objected.
“Fine,” sighed Bon Bon. “But for you to really understand this, I'll have to start with my parents. They were both highly celebrated musicians in Canterlot. Or rather, still are. My father, being excessively proud of his success, to say it nicely, expected us to live up to his glory. A famous Earth Pony musician – 'regarded as a true master despite lacking the magic of the unicorns dominating this fine field of arts,' as he called it.
“To make it short, my sister did and I did not. She was a natural and I was struggling to even play the simplest tunes. And worst of all, my sister didn't just get my father's talent – she also got his attitude about it. The better she became, with every musical contest she won and every award she earned, she raised her nose a little higher. Sometimes I wonder how it stayed in the middle of her face and didn't juster wander up to her forehead on its own.
“All in all, I'm just glad my younger sister didn't turn out like her. Maybe that's because she happened to be a unicorn, like my mother. I guess my dad saw it as a given that she'd have musical talent. But all that left me the odd one out. And my prodigy of an older sister let me knew that every single day. My father at least tried to hide his disappointment but I always knew he loved her more. Yet she never missed a chance to tell or show me how much better she was.”
“Wow.” Silver Spoon' first thought about this revelation went straight on to her tongue. “That sounds even worse than my problem.”
Twist nodded eagerly. “Yeah. How did you tholve that?”
Bon Bon started to ruffle her own mane again. “Well, first of all, my younger sister kept me from turning mad. And when we were old enough, she and I moved here and I never spoke to my older sister again.”
“Tho, you ran away?”
Bon Bon rolled her eyes. “I guess you can say that.”
“Now that's not very helpful,” commented Apple Bloom.
“I never said it would be.”
But Silver Spoon shook her head. “It's okay. If nothing else, knowing that I'm really not the only one who has this kind of trouble is nice. In some sort of way, at least.”
“But do ya' have any better idea how to improve things with yer sister now?” Apple Bloom wanted to know.
This sent a needle deep into Silver Spoon's soul. She had already forgotten that her friend also didn't know about her last confrontation with Marecedes. Trying her best to not let her face give her mood away, Silver Spoon said: “No. But now I know more than ever I should find one. I don't want to move to another town. I like Ponyville.”
To Silver Spoon's amazement, the others simply laughed at her remark.
When she kept staring back at them, not showing the least bit of amusement, Bon Bon said: “Oh, don't worry honey. I'm sure you will find a way to fix it. After all I heard you saying about Apple Bloom and seeing how that turned out in the end, I have no doubt you won't have to leave town over this.”
Apple Bloom nodded. “Say, why don't we go see Fluttershy? Maybe she can help us with this too?”
“You mentioned her before,” said Bon Bon. “Isn't she that one pegasus who lives with all those animals?”
“Yes,” confirmed Silver Spoon. “Why do you ask?”
“It's just that I'm a little bit surprised. I don't see her that often, but when I do, it's just that. I see her. I never really talked to her. She's always so quiet and shy that I sometimes ask myself if those animals are the only she ever talks to.”
“Of course not,” said Apple Bloom. “She's friends with ma' sister and ma' sister's friends.”
“And she's really nice and kind,” added Silver Spoon. “Kind of like my grandma.”
“Your grandma?” repeated Bon Bon. “But, she doesn't look like she's older than me. I'd even say a few years younger.”
“I know. But the way she talks to me or that kind smile... It just reminds me of my grandma.”
“And if it hadn't been for her,” Apple Bloom threw in, “Ah' think Silver Spoon and Ah' would still be fightin' with each other.”
“Well, then I don't want to keep you any longer from seeing her. I'm sorry I couldn't be of any help. But please come by again and tell me if you had any luck, okay?”
“Okay!” the two fillies agreed and left the store.
They had only come a few steps away from Bon Bon's store when Silver Spoon stopped suddenly. She closed her eyes and her right hoof hit her fore-head.
“What?” she heard the concerned voice of her friend.
“I forgot to ask,” replied Silver Spoon. “Again.”
“Ask what? And who?”
“Bon Bon. About the Braeburn's.”
“Yer still serious about that?” laughed Apple Bloom.
Silver Spoon opened her eyes again. “Of course.”
“Well then, want to go back?”
“No, that would be too embarrassing. I can still ask the next time I see her. If I don't forget it. Again.”
Apple Bloom laughed again. “Okay, so if we're not goin' back, let's get to Fluttershy's!”
Silver Spoon held her friend by the shoulder. In her mind, she already saw her dashing off once again. And going by the puzzled look this earned her, she was right. Silver Spoon shook her head and said: “Please, let's not hurry this time. I absolutely have no time I want to save right now.”
“Oh, right. I guess ya' wouldn't mind goin' 'round the market then? Ah' still don't think Ah' can face ma' sister after what Ah' did.”
“What, you really think she would get mad about that at you?”
“No, but... Well, it would be too embarrassin', ya' know?”
Silver Spoon smiled. “I think I do. Okay then, let's get going.”
After an almost leisurely stroll through Ponyville they arrived at Fluttershy's home. Just watching the animals all around her as they walked the last yards towards the house soothed Silver Spoon's mind. It was a welcome distraction from the last few hours. So much that she asked herself why she hadn't come here in the first place.
But the moment Fluttershy had opened the door, she knew the answer. Instantly, she found herself locked in the surveying gaze of the little white watchdog of a bunny. Oblivious to her pet's behavior, Fluttershy greeted them happily. She wasted no time to welcome them inside and provide them with some tea and cookies.
Once they were all settled in her living room the fillies told her all about the last days. They wanted to get right to the point of Diamond Tiara's unexpected return, but their host was so eager to hear everything that happened since their camping night that there was no way around it. Not only that, Fluttershy was so shocked when she heard about Silver Spoon's butler they had a hard time convincing her that they were completely satisfied with the agreement he and Silver Spoon had come to. Even harder due to this being only partly the truth.
After all that her reaction to Diamond Tiara's arrival seemed surprisingly calm to Silver Spoon. Maybe that was also because Silver Spoon still neglected telling everything that had been said between her and her friend. Yet she still heard what she had expected, with Fluttershy basically telling them what Bon Bon had already given as advice: “From what you are telling me this sounds like she was simply a bit overwhelmed. I'm sure it was all just too much for her at once. Give her a day or two. You said she will go to school with you, didn't you Silver Spoon? Maybe that is the best thing to happen for you. Talk to her again then, at a more neutral place. And explain to her exactly what happened. Oh, and most importantly, make sure to let her know you won't abandon her just because you have another friend now.”
Silver Spoon tried to nod but something in the back of her head kept her from moving. She simply kept staring at the table between her and Fluttershy. “Do you honestly think that would work?”
“Of course I do.” The pegasus's voice was as gentle as always but Silver was certain she heard a grain of indignation burried in it. “Getting into fights and staying angry at each other may be the easier way to settle things. But you will see, over time nopony will be happy with it.”
“Okay, I guess I'll have to trust you on that. You and Bon Bon.”
“It worked out just fine the last time,” said Apple Bloom with her ever lasting force of optimism. “And we won't know if it works unless we try. Ah' promise Ah won't let her get to me the next time. But Ah' have to admit, she's terribly good at that.”
Silver Spoon gave a hollow laugh. “Believe me, I know how that feels.”
“Well, this time she won't catch me off-guard. Ah' guess this is worth tryin'.”
“It always is,” said Fluttershy with one of her heart warming smiles. “You'll see. In the end, showing some kindness will always be the better answer.”
Silver Spoon nodded silently. He heart told her that Fluttershy was right. She had to be right. It would just be too unsettling if she wasn't. But at the same time, her mind formed a question. The one she had wanted to ask more than anything that had come up until now. And her tongue ceased the chance for her: “Do you think this is also true for older sisters?”
“Definitely,” replied Fluttershy. “Why wouldn't it be?”
“I don't know. I just hope it is. It's just that my sister, well, makes it more than hard for me to do that.”
“What do you mean?”
“You still remember I said she was waiting in front of my room and waited for Di and us to run into each other?”
“Yes, I do. But what is so bad about that? If I had a younger sister who would get a surprise visit from her friend I would want to see it too.”
“Yes, but the difference is, you'd be expecting it to be a happy thing, right?”
“Who wouldn't?”
Fluttershy's honest confusion let Silver Spoon's throat run dry. This had to be what grown-ups felt like when they had to explain all those unkind things about the world to a foal. Maybe this was even what Raising Hammer had felt like when she tried to explain the meaning behind a monimentum. The filly took a long sip from her teacup – only to almost spill most of it over the floor. She had completely forgotten how hot it still was.
Coughing and wiping her mouth with the back of her hoof, she said: “My sister.”
This sounded so much less dramatic than she had wanted it to. Yet still, her words had an obvious impact on the mare in front of her. Her disbelief was written all over her face. Silver Spoon might as well have told her that Angel was Cerberus in disguise.
Not waiting for Fluttershy to say anything Silver Spoon said: “All she wanted to see was things breaking down between Di, Apple Bloom and me. She even freely admitted it. She said she wanted to be there when I get it. All she wanted was to see all three of us getting into a fight.”
“But...but...” Fluttershy stammered.
“But she's my sister?” Silver Spoon offered.
“Yes!” Fluttershy exclaimed. “I can't believe somepony would do that to their own family. Are you sure this wasn't a misunderstanding?”
Silver Spoon snorted. “If that was a misunderstanding, I must have had a lot of misunderstandings with her. As far back as I can remember, my sister either ignored me or tried to pick a fight with me. And usually, her tries were astonishingly good.”
“And why does she do that?”
“That's what I want to know. I didn't do anything to her.”
“I never said you did. But there has to be a reason for what she does. Nopony just acts so mean out of nowhere. You should know that, don't you, Silver Spoon?”
“I know what you want to say. But, what if she does?”
“Just because you can't see it doesn't mean there is no reason. Sometimes they are hidden so well you have look real close to find it. But there always is one.”
“What makes you so sure about that?”
“Experience. You know, once my friends and I had been attacked by a manticore in the Everfree Forest. We happened to run into it and before we knew what was happening, it roared and raged at us. And all of my friends didn't hesitate to pick up this fight. Yet once I've got them all to stop for just a few seconds, I found out that the poor thing had a thorn stuck in his paw. As soon as I had removed that teeny tiny thing, the manticore became peaceful and friendly.”
“Wait, you actually went close enough to an angry manticore to look at its paws?”
“Of course. I had to help him, didn't I?”
“But... aren't those things huge? And dangerous? Weren't you afraid of what it could it have done to you?”
“Not really. Maybe a little bit, but I was even more afraid of what that poor little thing would have to endure if nopony ever helped him.”
Silver Spoon stared wide eyed at Fluttershy. If she hadn't seen her with the bear before and heard of the cockatrice from Apple Bloom, she wouldn't have dared to consider this anything but a lie. But this way, she couldn't stop imagining the quiet pegasus as maybe the bravest pony in all of Equestria.
After a moment of admiring silence she finally managed to ask: “And how is this supposed to help me with my sister?”
“Didn't I tell you? All you have to do is look for that thorn in your sister's paw. Or hoof, I guess.”
Silver Spoon nodded reluctantly. She didn't know what she had hoped for, yet this was not it. She knew what Fluttershy was saying. And she also knew that it basically was no different from what she had gotten as advice before.
“Say, Silver Spoon,” said Apple Bloom, reminding Silver Spoon her friend still sat by her side. “Have ya' already tried what ma' sister and brother had told ya'?”
The filly swallowed hard. She felt like Apple Bloom had stuck her hoof deep inside her belly and twisted her guts around. “Well, no. I tried to but... You know, it's not that easy...”
“What did they tell you?” asked Fluttershy.
“Basically, that I should be nicer to her and watch out not to start fights on my part.”
“And that thing about speaking with her friends,” added Apple Bloom.
Silver Spoon's inside twisted a bit further. “Yes, that too. But I didn't get a chance... And, to be honest, I don't know if I will ever again.”
“Of course ya' will. Or did yer sister say anythin' about never bringin' a friend over again?”
“No, she didn't. But I didn't mean just that. You know, it's that...that...” Silver Spoon had to stop for a moment and take a deep breath. “I blew up right in her face. When I wanted to leave, she had nothing better to do than to rub it all in. Everything that happened and that she wanted it to go that way. You know, I couldn't stand it anymore. I told her to leave me alone and never speak to me again.”
Staring at the remains of her tea, Silver Spoon waited for their reactions. She prepared herself to hear the disappointment, maybe even anger about what she did.
But when Apple Bloom talked again, she didn't sound any different than usually. “Then, why don't ya' go back to her and tell her yer sorry?”
Silver Spoon raised her had and looked into those amber eyes, not betraying the undying friendliness in Apple Bloom's voice.
Then she said: “Yeah, right. She teases, taunts and torments me for years. And this one time I am actually fighting back, I'll go and apologize for it?”
Apple Bloom shrugged. “Ya' don't have to. But do ya' think this will make her come to ya' and apologize?”
“No, of course it won't. But then, what will?”
“Maybe,” said Fluttershy, tapping her chin with her hoof, “you really shouldn't apologize.”
Both fillies fell silent. A short exchange of looks told Silver Spoon that Apple Bloom also couldn't believe she had heard Fluttershy say that.
“Maybe,” the pegasus continued, “you should simply explain to your sister why you said what you said. And then ask her why she did, well, whatever it was she has been doing.”
“But, won't I run into the same problem I faced before?” asked Silver Spoon. “Every time I try to talk to her or she talks to me, we end up fighting. And I don't know how to avoid that other than not talking to her at all.”
“Then,” said Apple Bloom, “why don't ya' go back to the idea with talkin' to her friends?”
“But, I don't know...” she started, but then she jumped to her hooves. “Wait, I do know where one of them is. I saw her at the market earlier.”
“Okay, Ah'm not gonna ask why ya' haven't talked to her then already. But ya'd better go and look if she's still there.”
Silver Spoon's heart sank a few inches. “Aren't you coming with me?”
“Um, no Ah' think that is something ya' should do on yer own. And there's somethin' else Ah' want to ask Fluttershy.”
Instinctively Silver Spoon looked at the mare at the mentioning of her name. Fluttershy once more had the same soothing aura as her grandma. “I think Apple Bloom is right. You want her help, not Apple Bloom. And doing this on your own makes it more honest, you know.”
Silver Spoon didn't. But so far, Fluttershy had given her no reason to doubt her words. So she nodded and turned back to Apple Bloom. “Okay, I'll try, no, do my best.”
“Ah' hope that Ah' get some good news from you tomorrow then. Meeting at the library still stands?”
“Of course,” confirmed Silver Spoon.
When she had closed the front door behind her, she stood still for several moments. Doubts if all this had any chance of success at all were still clinging to her legs. But then she shook her head and whispered to herself: “You'll never find out unless you go now.”
Then she broke into a run, down the path towards the town and straight to the market place. She didn't slow down there. The past days spent with Apple Bloom had been a good training. She dodged the moving ponies around her with ease. Took every corner as close as possible. And didn't even care anymore about angry shouts trailing after her.
And she didn't stop until she was there. Right in front of the stand offering a vast variety of nuts and vegetables. And behind it stood a pine-green coated mare with a turquoise mane. There was striking resemblance with the one Silver Spoon was looking for – but Marecedes's friend wasn't there. The filly stared her, futilely trying to say something. And the mare stared back at the heavily panting filly.
“You... not...where...” was all that made it out of Silver Spoon's throat.
“Calm down little one,” said the mare. “And then tell me if and how I can help you.”
Silver Spoon stepped aside to get out of the way of some customers. While she was catching her breath the mare behind the stand kept glancing at her out of the corner of her eye.
When she was finally able to talk normally again, Silver Spoon said: “I am looking for the mare that was here before.”
“I'm afraid you have to be a bit more specific than that. A lot of mares were here today.”
“No, not a customer. She was working here.”
“Oh, you mean my daughter?”
“Maybe?”
“Well, there haven't been many more mares working here than her and me. Why are you looking for her?”
“I, um, need to talk to her.”
“About what?”
“My sister. They are friends and I need her help with something.”
“I guess you're lucky then, little one.”
With these words the mare looked at some point behind Silver Spoon. When the filly turned around she saw Mareces's friend, carrying fully stuffed saddlebags, coming straight towards her. Or maybe her mother's stand, but that didn't matter to Silver Spoon right now.
Yet before she could say anything, the young mare said: “Hello there, um, Silver Spoon was it, right?”
“Yes, it is. And you really are a friend of my sister, right?”
“How else do you think I know your name?”
“Yeah, right.” Silver Spoon laughed nervously. “But still, I never heard your name.”
“Really? Well, it's Honey Blossom. Nice to finally talk to you. So, what brings you here? Nuts or vegetables?”
“Neither. I wanted to see you.”
“Me? Why?”
“Well, how should I say this... I need to know your secret.”
The only response Silver Spoon got was a confused stare.
Then she heard the mother's voice from behind her: “Good luck, little one. I've been trying that for years now.”
“Mom, please,” Marecedes's friend threw an annoyed look at her mother. Then she said to Silver Spoon: “What secret are you talking about?”
“Your secret how you are able to talk with my sister. Without getting into fights, that is.”
“How is that a secret?”
“I just don't know how you do it. And I need to find out.”
“Okay, I think this might take a while. Just let me get rid of this stuff and come behind the stand.”
Silver Spoon followed the invitation. After Honey Blossom had restocked most of the nuts she said: “Now let me see if I got this right. You are asking me about how you can properly talk with your own sister. Does that sum it up?”
“Um, yes,” answered Silver Spoon. Hearing it spoken out loud made it seem even more pathetic than she already felt. And the grin she saw didn't do anything to help her.
“Okay, this is great. Let's see what I can do. First of all, why can't you just talk with her?”
“That's what I want to know! It always ends with us getting into fights. And I have no idea why.”
“Funny. Marecedes said the same thing.”
“She did?”
“Not word by word, but yes. And now that I have the chance to ask, why are you fighting with each other? What is this all about?”
“That's just it, I don't know. It's always been that way and I have no idea why.”
“Always? Are you sure?”
“Yes. As long as I remember.”
“Can't you remember anything that happened between you two?”
“I wish I could.”
“Thought so. Neither can she.”
“She? My sister? How do you know that?”
“Do you really have to ask that? She too has no clue why you keep fighting with each other. Marecedes told me once she wished she knew a reason. But from what I could gather, you were quite close when you were younger. But then you grew apart, as far as I can see it.”
“She and I? Close? The only time we're close to each other is when she's trying to mock me.”
“Oh, yeah, that's also a thing. Why won't you talk with her in any other way?”
“Sorry? I said she is mocking me, not the other way around.”
“Yes, I heard that. But I also know you won't listen to her at all if she doesn't do that. That's not to say I think she should do it, but-”
“Wait a moment. How am I supposed to react to anything else she does if that's all she ever does?”
“Like I wanted to say, I don't think it's a good thing. But she once admitted to me that she has no other way of reaching you. That's what she told me. She has given up on talking normally to you because you just kept ignoring her.”
“But... but...” Silver Spoon wasn't able to give any reply. Her mind was suddenly filled with a question she had been asked during the dinner at the Apple Farm. Sitting down, she said: “Maybe Big Mac was right.”
“Big Mac? As in Big Macintosh from the Apple Farm?"
“Yes. Is there another Big Macintosh in Ponyville?”
“Not that I know of. Does this mean you talked to him? And he answered?”
“Of course he did.”
Whatever Honey Blossom wanted to say next was drowned by her mother' voice floating over: “Are you done chatting over there? You're here to help out, not to hang out.”
“Give me a moment, this is important!” she shouted back. Then Honey Blossom said to Silver Spoon: “I'm sorry, let's get back to the point. What was he right about?”
“That maybe I'm responsible for my sister and I not getting along. But, that still doesn't help me.”
“I wouldn't say it's all your fault. After all, she should know better. And it's not like she has always been the nice mare she is today.”
“Is she?”
“Yes, she is. But I know she had some troubles getting there. We know each other since we were about your age. And I can tell you she had big troubles fitting in when she came into out class.”
“Like me?”
“I don't know you good enough to say that. But let's just say she left no chance to make the other foals mad at her untouched.”
“Then how did you end up becoming friends?”
“She, um, had to stay at the hospital for a few weeks after she did something, let's say, beyond stupid.”
“What did she do?”
“I'm sorry, but she'd never forgive me if I told you that. But maybe that is something you should ask her about. Anyway, since I was class rep at that time I had the duty to bring her the homework. And, long story short, that's when I finally got to know her better. And we've been friends ever since. Not only that, she completely turned around into the pony she is today.”
“But if you've know her for that long, can't you think of anything that happened that made her hate me?”
Honey Blossom's eyes widened. Silver Spoon saw her lips silently repeating what she had just said. Then the young mare sat down too and said: “Hate you? What makes you think she hates you?”
“Well, there would be everything we just talked about, for starters.”
“No.” She closed her eyes. “Please, don't ever say that. Don't think that. She does not hate you. You have to believe me”
“I wish I could.”
Once again the answer to Silver Spoon's words got cut off. “Sweetie, I really need you at the stand. We have a lot of customers today and-”
“Not now mom!” Honey Blossom shot back. “This is more important right now.”
Her mother's face started to take on a deep crimson but before she could say anything new customers distracted her.
Honey blossom took the chance to continue: “Listen, Silver Spoon. Your sister told me more than once that she is afraid of how you will turn out to be in the future. She is honestly concerned about you. Maybe I'm saying more here than I should, but I think she really is suffering from what's going on between you and her.”
Silver Spoon's head was swirling. She still didn't know what she had expected coming here. But this was not it. She couldn't decide if this was a thought worth clinging to or just too good to be true.
This question was left unanswered due to the third time Honey Blossom's mother raised her voice. But this time, she did it coming over to them. “I am very sorry, but what ever you have to talk about must wait for now. I need you to help me.”
“You don't understand, mom. Look, this is Silver Spoon, Marecedes's little sister. And she needs my help more than you right now. So, please, just give me one more moment and-”
“No, you had more than enough moments here. Unless you helping her puts some food on our table, whatever it is has to wait.” Then she turned to Silver Spoon. “Again, I am very sorry my dear. But I do have to ask you to leave now.”
“Mom, you can't do that. Don't you see-”
“Yes, I see. I see to you understanding what it means to take care of a family. When we're done here you can help her as much as you want. But for now you'll have to help me. And don't look at me like that, sweetie. When you have a family of your own you'll know I'm right. I just want you to be a good mother one day.”
“If you wanted me to be a mother at all you wouldn't sneak up at my door every five minutes whenever my coltfriend's over.”
The second she had finished her retort Honey Blossom covered her mouth. Her cheeks took a pink shade for reasons Silver Spoon didn't know. Yet wondering about it was blown away by the rising voice of the mother next to them.
“Young lady, if you think you can talk to me like that-”
“Please!” Silver Spoon threw in, seeing the mare swelling up with anger. “It's okay, I'll just go. You already helped me better than I had hoped.”
Torn between Silver Spoon's plea and her mother's deep frown, Honey Blossom gave in. “Alright, alright. Silver Spoon, please promise me you will make up with your sister, okay?”
Silver Spoon nodded and said goodbye. Then she left the market stand and gingerly staggered through the crowd. Her legs moved mechanically, steering the filly on their own. Somewhere behind her she heard a – by now – familiar voice yell: “Your father didn't get sick on purpose!”
But she barely heard it. Her mind was still cluttered with questions. Was Honey Blossom right? How could she be? And if she really was right, didn't that make the last things Silver Spoon had said to her sister even worse?