//------------------------------//
// Sweet Project 
// Story: Dented Silver 
// by Manaphy 
//------------------------------//

	Even in her sadder moments, Silver Spoon never truly dreaded the arrival of a new day; she'd be anxious as to what awaited her at most, a tenseness she knew many foals in her class had experienced a few times. And whether or not her fears ended up as justified, or even if the day presented pleasant and repulsive events like the day before, she recognized things could've ended up much worse.

Today, however, didn't relate to any day before it. Her mind drew blanks as to why. As Silver Spoon trotted into the classroom, a cold sweat cascaded down her brow. Swiveling her head to the right, Silver Spoon gazed blankly at the block letters adorning the chalkboard; her heart thrashed about at the mere sight of the six words.

Attention: The group project starts today!

"I hope my partner is tolerable," Silver Spoon murmured. "And I hope he or she is kind."

Silver Spoon took another step forward. Only the chirping birds from outside reached her ears; all of the desks were empty save for Rumble's. The gray colt scrutinized the textbook in his hooves, his eyes scanning the page with a blank expression. He raised a foreleg, waving gently at Silver Spoon, who responded in kind.

After trotting another few steps, Silver Spoon spotted Cheerilee waving at her as well. The pair made eye contact.

"Good morning, Silver Spoon," Cheerilee chimed, her bright smile forcing one on Silver Spoon. "How are you feeling?"

"Nervous," Silver Spoon replied. Somehow, she kept her slight smirk. "I had a tough evening, but I'm feeling a little better." Tough was an understatement; her eyes were still reddened since last night. At least fixing up her sour attitude seemed simple enough, her family all relaying the same message Cheerilee orated prior. Recounting such an awkward situation tickled her chest, however. She sighed and then pursed her lips. "I'd rather not talk about it, if that's okay."

"Well, if you need somepony to talk to, I'm more than welcome to oblige."

Silver Spoon nodded. "Thanks, Miss Cheerilee."

With a few short steps, Silver Spoon arrived at her desk and sat down. Sticking to her before-class ritual, her body slumped and she stretched her forelegs; the smooth, cold wood hugged her back like a mattress. A yawn escaped her mouth. Shifting her eyes to the clock, Silver Spoon counted each second which flew past, the minute hand twenty ticks away from when class would begin.

Like any other day, students would arrive at irregular times; each of them arrived with nopony else or in groups of two or three. Silver Spoon only gave cursory glances to each foal trotting inside. The door's creaking and clicking had grasped most of her attention. Only a minute passed until Twist arrived, the filly waving at Silver Spoon. With her hoof raised, Silver Spoon responded in kind.

"Good morning, Twist," Silver Spoon said. "How are you?"

"I'm well," Twist replied, sitting at her desk. "And you?"

"I'm okay, though I do hope we're paired up for the project."

Twist bobbed her head. "Me too." Stretching her forelegs out, she then cracked a smile. "I know it'd be fun working on a project with you."

"I feel the same way." Glancing over to where Cheerilee sat, the mare jotting down a series of notes on the board, Silver Spoon 's throat tensed up a little. Pairing up with Twist was unlikely, though perhaps Cheerilee pulled a few strings to get them together. It wouldn't be the first time it happened; Diamond Tiara was paired up with Noi just so the latter could get the former to cease whining for once. "Here's hoping luck is on our side."

"Same here, Silver Spoon." Twist paused for a moment; her hooves pressed together. "By the way, I heard you had a bit of an incident last night with Apple Bloom."

Silver Spoon turned pale, pupils shrunk. "I-I did. What about it?" It was no secret among the other foals regarding her past behavior. The mere fact only added to the miracle of how long it took her parents to discover it. Still, she hoped Twist wouldn't brush her off right there. "Is there something you need to mention?"

"I only wanted to check if you're okay."

Silver Spoon exhaled, her chest puffing out. "Oh." She swiped beads of sweat from her brow. "Yeah, I'm okay. I learned an important lesson that day."

"That's good. Maybe we'll both learn something today."

Rubbing the back of her neck, Silver Spoon blushed; a sheepish smile adorned her face. "Well, I hope this lesson isn't embarrassing."

A mixture of bright faces and drooping eyes soon followed suit. After seven or so foals had entered, a storm of cheers erupted from outside, five more seconds passing before the Cutie Mark Crusaders leaped through the doorway. Apple Bloom and Scootaloo were drenched in tree sap, but not a speck of dust clung onto Sweetie Belle's coat.

Silver Spoon rolled her eyes; she then averted her gaze. She wished she could just march up to the three, open their ears, and shriek the proper method of getting a cutie mark into them. With yesterday's incident with Apple Bloom still fresh, however, Silver Spoon kept her mouth shut.

As time continued its march forward and a hurricane of voices soon filled the room, Diamond Tiara arrived with less than a minute to spare. Sweat dripped from her brow. Her face was adorned with a deep, twisted scowl much like a manticore's. A red mark resided at the bottom of one of her hooves. Silver Spoon then locked eyes with the pink filly, the former's cheeks pale. Clenching her teeth and cringing, a slew of indistinct words left Diamond's mouth.

Maybe I should apologize. Silver Spoon bit her lip; she twiddled her braid. It's the thought that counts, right?

Diamond twisted her head toward where Silver Spoon sat, brow ruffled. "What do you want?" she asked in a harsh tone. "I'm not in the mood for much right now, okay?"

Silver Spoon recoiled. "I-I wanted to apologize."

"Um, what?" Cocking her head, Diamond then shrugged. "This has nothing to do with you."

"It doesn't?"

Diamond nodded. "If you must know, it's because I stubbed my hoof against a stupid rock. So then, could you let me rub my hoof in peace?"

Bobbing her head, eyes widened, Silver Spoon averted her gaze from Diamond. Not a single peep about last night departed her lips; Silver Spoon rubbed her eyes. She always knew Diamond's father spent most of his time sitting behind a desk, filing paperwork and counting bits with a gleaming grin. This, however, was unprecedented.

And of the few times he'd been with Diamond, Silver Spoon noticed how much he showered her former friend with gifts, turning the other cheek whenever Diamond found herself in trouble. Whenever he did try to take action, Diamond weaseled her way out of punishment with puckered lips and screechy pleas.

Silver Spoon blushed; she stared at the desk's bright sheen and whispered, "How does Di manage to do it? Is it her charisma?"

"It looks like everypony is accounted for," Cheerilee said as a matter of fact. "Anyway, I bet you're all curious as to what your group project is."

"Is it photography?" Featherweight asked. "I can do something cool with that."

Archer shook her head, muzzle scrunched. "I think it's going to be something more athletic—probably something the Cutie Mark Crusaders will win at or come close to winning as usual." She shot a glare at Scootaloo; the latter smirked sheepishly. "That's my guess."

Silver Spoon's brow shot up. Archer did have a point; the trio of fillies did have a knack for luck and having all the pieces in place for success, just so long as it didn't involve getting cutie marks. She also recalled Diamond bringing it up back when they worked with Prancy Drew. However, Silver Spoon cringed as she recalled Diamond's words, the descriptions she used fitting her sharp tongue and puffed cheeks.

Maybe Diamond Tiara wasn't as right about this as I thought. A sigh escaped Silver Spoon's lips. Sure, the Cutie Mark Crusaders are incredibly lucky, but she's so jealous to where her argument kind of falls flat.

"Maybe I'll get to meet her again—just to apologize for what I did," Silver Spoon murmured. "Again, it'd be the thought that counts." She raised her head, forcing her attention to focus solely on Cheerilee.

"You bring up interesting ideas about the project, but those are incorrect," Cheerilee said. "For this assignment, we'll be going on a little field trip."

"A field trip!" Truffle Shuffle shouted from nowhere. "Will they have food?"

With the exception of Twist and Silver Spoon, the class erupted in laughter.

"Please be more considerate about Truffle Shuffle, class," Cheerilee scolded. Exhaling, she then regained her composure. "Now then, our field trip will be to the Ponyville Weather Facility. We'll all get to learn so much about how weather is managed, recorded, and even the magic behind how the team influences it."

"Then that means Rainbow Dash will be there!" Scootaloo screamed; her petite wings buzzed about as she donned a radiant grin. "This has to be the most awesome field trip ever!"

"Maybe we'll see her, Scootaloo. And perhaps we'll learn something from her as well." Cheerilee trotted over to her desk. Opening one of the cabinets, she procured a small stack of papers, bringing the topmost sheet to her face. "Now then, you'll be split up into groups of two and receive further instruction upon arriving at the facility." Cheerilee peeked behind the paper, her eyes scanning the classroom. "Does everypony understand?"

"Yes, Miss Cheerilee," the class replied in unison.

"Good! Now then, let's announce the groups you'll all be in."

Silver Spoon held her breath; her head swiveled about, studying the blank expressions her classmates wore. One of the foals in the back gulped, another had tautened cheeks, and Silver Spoon herself shivered a tad. For something as minor as being paired up with somepony, it carried a tightness not unlike a python strangling her. However, prior instances of nemeses being paired up saw them averting glances and sealing their lips for the most part. Only one or two incidents saw somepony coming home with a black eye.

"The first group will consist of Apple Bloom and—" Cheerilee's cheeks turned pale "Scootaloo."

"Yes!" the pair shouted in unison, hooves punching the air.

"Please tell me Sweetie Belle gets to be with Pipsqueak!" Apple Bloom added. In a way, Pipsqueak was like an honorary Cutie Mark Crusader; he just didn't bother with blindly entering rodeos or jumping through a flaming hoop, among other things. Apple Bloom then pressed her hooves together; a bright smile adorned her visage as she leaned closer toward Cheerilee. "Please!"

"Patience, Apple Bloom," Cheerilee replied. With a stern expression, she placed a hoof on her desk. "These groups are assigned randomly, remember?"

"I know, but Sweetie Belle has to be with Pipsqueak, right?"

"Apple Bloom." Cheerilee trotted toward the filly. "Please be patient with me."

Sighing, Apple Bloom then remained as still as a statue, her mouth sealed.

Cheerilee cleared her throat. "As I was saying, the next group will include Pipsqueak and Berry Pinch."

"Oh," Scootaloo murmured.

Silver Spoon kept her gaze locked onto Cheerilee, her muscles tightening the longer her name wasn't called. Group after group had their names orated, some cheering with grins across their faces, some shrugging, and others sulking as they released deep sighs. Diamond Tiara ended up being paired with Shady Daze, the former metamorphosing into a pale green when her group was announced while the latter teasingly winked at her. Silver Spoon couldn't help herself from releasing a chuckle upon spotting Diamond's slight scowl. Even other students joined in on the brief laughter; Diamond's cheeks turned a bright red.

Yet, as only four ponies remained, sweat trickled down her brow. Truffle Shuffle and Sweetie Belle awaited their names, two ponies Silver Spoon would rather distance herself from with a yardstick or two. The third of these was Twist, the one pony she wished to partner up with.

"Please let me be with Twist," Silver Spoon muttered. She tapped her hoof against the cold, smooth floor. "Please let me be with Twist."

Cheerilee shuffled the papers in her hooves, arriving at what Silver Spoon assumed to be the last page. "The second to last group will include Silver Spoon—" the gray filly pursed her lips "—and Sweetie Belle."

Silver Spoon's heart skipped a beat; she glanced over to where Sweetie sat, the latter's eyes locked onto her. Of course she'd end up with one of the Cutie Mark Crusaders. Then again, Sweetie prodded her coat the least of the three, though her antics and history still managed to freeze her blood.

"Looks like we're in this together, Silver Spoon," Sweetie said. She shrugged, then forced a smile.

Nodding, Silver Spoon's cheeks tautened, a faint smile forming across her visage. "I-I guess so," she responded. "Look, let's try to do the best we can on the assignment." She paused for a second. "And let's not hurt each other during the class trip." She recalled the day when Diamond ended up having to work with Scootaloo; their coats were covered in black, brown, and blue for the remainder of the day. "Promise?"

Sweetie bobbed her head, eyes widened. "Duh. We'd just get into trouble and get a bad grade if we did that. Besides, you're different now, Silver Spoon." She rubbed her muzzle, brow raised and head cocked. "You're acting differently, right?"

"I guess so." Turning back to where Cheerilee stood, then back to Sweetie, Silver Spoon then pulled her braid. "Look, we'll talk once the assignment gets going, okay?"

"Makes sense." Sweetie's smile brightened. "Let's do a great job."

"Now then, let's cover what some of your assignments will be during our trip," Cheerilee said. "First off, feel free to complete any of the questions on the worksheet in any order. They're broken into sections, and some questions are based off of those in the same group. There are twenty-five questions in all, and it shouldn't take you too long to complete it." Skipping over to the front door, Cheerilee pushed it open, a soft creak filling the air. "And I hope all of you have a wonderful time on our field trip. Follow me, please!"



Trotting across Ponyville almost always brought sights to grasp Silver Spoon's attention; some produced a slight smile while others chilled her spine. However, nothing dazzling or shocking gripped Silver Spoon throughout the class' journey. A hurricane of voices filled much of the air, most of it spewing from her classmates' mouths. Songs, gossip, and formulating where to go first were among what Silver Spoon heard; she assumed a straight face whenever any word reached her ears.

"Silver Spoon, you've been so quiet since we left," Sweetie said. She caught up to Silver Spoon, the pair now trotting next to each other. "I know we're—not friends and all, but I don't want to make you feel all alone in this."

Silver Spoon arched an eyebrow; she locked gazes with Sweetie. "I know," she replied. "I just don't have much to say. Nothing wrong with that, right?"

"Yeah." Sweetie shrugged. "Still, maybe we should talk a bit so we're prepared to work together."

"Okay." Silver Spoon paused. Pursing her lips, she then exhaled quickly. "Where should we go first? I'm thinking of the exhibit titled 'Weather and Water', as it's the closest to the entrance and the questions seem simple enough. What do you think?"

"That was my first option as well." With her foreleg raised, Sweetie tapped Silver Spoon's back, a soft chuckle leaving the former's mouth. "But I don't know where we should go from there."

Silver Spoon glanced at her saddlebag, the packet of questions stuffed inside with some essential materials. Rubbing her muzzle for a second, she then brought her attention back to Sweetie. "It's rather simple. We circle the facility one room at a time, getting the questions written down. If the packet is anything to go by, they seem to be written in order depending on how close they are to the room's entrance."

Sweetie's jaw dropped, eyes widened. "How did you figure that out?"

"It's common sense based on previous field trips we've had."

"It wasn't common sense to me."

"Oh."

Silver Spoon looked ahead, the glass structure defining the Ponyville Weather Facility looming in the horizon. For such a complicated building, the architecture unlike most of what Ponyville offered aside from the gaudy castle, few ponies even bothered to give it a cursory glance. Of these ponies, only a few of them scrutinized the building or entered it. Most of them carried thick books or wore glasses and suits. Otherwise, it may as well have been invisible to all but those who tinkered within it.

"That's the Ponyville Weather Facility?" Apple Bloom asked. Everypony's eyes locked onto her. "It looks like modern art."

"The outside isn't what one would call beautiful," Cheerilee admitted; a smirk formed across her face. She blushed. "However, the inside of the facility is truly awe-inspiring. Just wait until you get to see the exhibits open to the public! Anypony interested in the sciences will be drawn to the different things there. I remember when I visited it for the first time."

"Was it always this—different?"

"The facility was built around ten years ago, and it has been chugging along ever since!" Cheerilee paused for a few seconds. "If I had to guess, the standards of beauty were probably different back then compared to what they are now."

"Ponies used to think that was beautiful?" Shady Daze asked, his tone high-pitched. "That's messed up, though maybe not as messed up as how Archer drinks eggnog."

"I heard that!" Archer called out. Her brow ruffled. "Eggnog is totally fine, you know."

Silver Spoon groaned softly. She then turned back to Sweetie Belle. Such arguments or background chatter did grow stale after some time, especially with a project coming up where some planning or quiet would be preferred.

Nevertheless, Sweetie filled her mind. Wrapping her head around her kinder persona only prodded Silver Spoon's head. Her hooves aching somewhat only accelerated the problem, Silver Spoon wishing she could sit on a bench for a few minutes.

But there was schoolwork to be done. Since Diamond no longer defined her life, there was no justifiable reason to relax before starting.

At least the worksheet would only take an hour of exploring at most; the entrance to Ponyville Weather Facility merely a few hoofsteps away.

"Ready, Silver Spoon?" Sweetie asked. "I'm ready to finish this."

Silver Spoon nodded. "Same here, Sweetie Belle," she said.

Cheerilee then ceased trotting and turned to face the group of foals, her limbs becoming as static as a statue. The rest of the class followed suit; everypony looked upward into Cheerilee's eyes, her grin brighter than the sun which sailed above her.

"I think it goes without saying, but just as a reminder, please do not touch the exhibits unless explicitly stated," Cheerilee announced. The class bobbed their heads in unison. "Also, feel free to ask any of the representatives present if you're unsure about something. They'll definitely give a helping hoof if they're able to." With a step forward, her eyes then widened in a flash, pupils dilated. "One more thing. We'll meet up at the local cafe when we're all done. As mentioned prior, we do have a lunch plan for everypony, and there's a variety of options available."

"That's good," Sweetie whispered into Silver Spoon's ears. "And my big sister won't nag me about trying new foods, so that's also nice."

"Picky eater?" Silver Spoon asked.

Sweetie nodded without hesitating. "Yep."

"I don't think you could be much pickier than Diamond Tiara." Silver Spoon snickered. "You have to coerce her to even eat something she hasn't seen before."

"I've liked new foods before. Maybe I should try one of your treats, Silver Spoon—if you bring them to class, that is."

A mild smile adorned Silver Spoon's visage. "I'll see if I'm able to bring treats to class one day. No guarantees, however."

"Cool!"

Up ahead, Cheerilee waved her hoof; the class all lined up double file in a flash, all organized by group members. With each hoofstep she took, Silver Spoon's head rose, her eyes locking onto the looming building. She couldn't help but feel shorter as she gazed at the building with widening eyes. However, even the tallest of ponies trotting around it were crumbs in comparison.

And as Silver Spoon approached the front gate, giving a quick glance at Sweetie's bright smile, her throat tightened. Even with this tension, she couldn't help but faintly smirk through it all. Exhaling, she then passed the gate and approached the nearest building with the rest of the class, the collective voices polluting the air.

"I know you're all excited, class, but please follow the facility's etiquette," Cheerilee said. "Don't make too much noise, as some students and visitors may want peace and quiet while touring the Ponyville Weather Facility." She paused. "Does everypony understand?"

"Yes, Miss Cheerilee," the class replied in unison.

"Good!" Cheerilee grinned. She opened the glass door, allowing those outside to pass through effortlessly. "Please explore the exhibits at your own leisure, but don't stray from this building, please. And ask the staff or me if you have any questions."

Most of the class nodded together, though both Diamond and Scootaloo stared off into space. A second later, they all passed through the front door with no difficulties, nopony pushing or shoving their neighbor. Silver Spoon breathed a sigh of relief; Sweetie followed suit. Her first step in the facility earned her a sudden breeze. Silver Spoon shivered for a moment.

Scanning the first room, Silver Spoon was drawn to a scale model of a conceptual flying machine dangling from the ceiling, the wires holding it up invisible when viewed from afar. The graphite-like walls and floor covering the interior all wore a radiant sheen; Silver Spoon gawked at her own reflection for a second or two. It was as though she had huddled up in a canopy floating through space. Sweetie, however, flailed her tongue and spoke gibberish. Silver Spoon blinked, then twisted her head toward Sweetie.

"Um, Sweetie?" Silver Spoon muttered, eyebrow raised. "What was that about?"

Blushing, Sweetie crossed her forelegs. "Sorry, I was having fun with the reflections," she said. A giggle left her mouth, trailing off soon after. "You know, not everything has to be serious all the time."

Silver Spoon raised her head; she made eye contact with Sweetie. "What do you mean?"

"I mean, aside from how you giggled when you bullied others, everything else has been about keeping an image—or doing well in class. It's especially true now. You can be serious and goof around, silly."

"How so?"

Sweetie skipped ahead; her tail swished around. "Just be yourself! It's easy—but it's kinda hard, too."

Shrugging, Silver Spoon followed Sweetie toward the nearest exhibit, the latter whistling. "Well, it's good to know that it's easier said than done, but what if this is who I am?"

"I know it's not who you really are."

Silver Spoon quivered, cheeks pale and pupils shrunk. "W-what? What makes you say that?"

"Call it a lunch, but—"

"Hunch," Silver Spoon corrected.

"Call it a hunch, but I know there's a fun side to you." Sweetie hopped back toward Silver Spoon; the two were now inches apart. "Those times you laughed with Diamond Tiara weren't for no reason, right?"

"Maybe." Silver Spoon rubbed the back of her neck. She'd rather not admit how enjoyable teasing used to be, especially in the moment. Stumbling into an awkward conversation with just one Cutie Mark Crusader was more than enough. Two or three would churn her stomach, nausea building up at the mere thought. She twiddled her braid again. "It's not something I want to talk about. No offense."

"None taken." Sweetie trotted over to the nearest exhibit, a bowl of water with a variety of materials inside it to visually represent buoyancy, at least according to the bronze plaque to its left. "Let's knock this first question out of the park, Silver Spoon!"

"Sounds like a plan." Silver Spoon froze for a moment, her head twisting a tad before bringing her focus back to Sweetie. "By the way, can I ask a quick question before we start?"

"Sure! What's up?"

Silver Spoon massaged her muzzle. "How—how has your search for a cutie mark gone? I'm not asking to tease you. I'm genuinely curious."

"About as well as you'd expect." Sweetie chuckled. "My friends and I tried to get vine swinging cutie marks before school. I told Apple Bloom and Scootaloo that it wouldn't work, and I think the tree sap they got covered in to start the day should tell you what happened."

"I'm guessing it's not the first time they've tried that."

Sweetie shook her head. "Well, not exactly. You see, I think the answer might have been in front of us this whole time."

"That's how you know when you're close to getting your cutie mark." Silver Spoon glanced at her flank, focusing on the spoon adorning it and the stylized heart. "When I was younger, I had no idea what my special talent would be. Like you, I did some experimenting myself, and curiosity and a touch of experience helped me discover that talent." Her cheeks metamorphosed into a hot pink. "To be honest, I kind of felt silly not realizing it until then; the same could be said for many ponies as far as I know."

"What do you think my special talent is?"

"Just do what you like and think you could be talented at." Silver Spoon cracked the slightest of smiles. "That's what I'd recommend."

"Cool!" Sweetie turned to face the exhibit, her eyes following the wooden ball's motion. "And one more thing."

Silver Spoon glanced at the worksheet below, noting the first question of what objects floated on the water. "What is it, Sweetie Belle?"

"You're a cooler pony than I thought. Maybe—we could hang out one day. It'll just be the two of us to start."

Arching an eyebrow, Silver Spoon gazed into Sweetie's pupils. "Are you serious? But we barely even had time to get to know each other."

"That's why we're going to have fun together, silly! We can't become best friends in a day, you know."

"Well, that makes sense to me." Silver Spoon glanced over at the exhibit's plaque, then jotted down the answer to a question in her worksheet. "But what will we do?"

"I'm glad you asked, Silver Spoon." Sweetie hopped over toward the next exhibit; Silver Spoon followed close by, her hoofsteps short. "Did you know that there might be snow tomorrow?"

"Huh?" Silver Spoon cocked her head. While weather patterns throughout Equestria did lean toward the irregular, snow arriving in such a short time poked her mind. "Where did you hear this?"

"Scootaloo told me about it. She's excited that it'll be snowing during the weekend, and she wants to do a bunch of stunts when it snows." Sweetie studied the barometer encased in a glass box, her eyes wiggling in unison with the instrument's needle. "I wanted to just enjoy the sights, maybe go skating." She then swiveled her head toward Silver Spoon. "So it's a perfect time to hang out and have fun. It'll just be the two of us!" Leaning toward Silver Spoon, Sweetie's eyes widened. "What do you say?"

Silver Spoon stepped back; her shoulders perked up as she assumed a bemused expression. "Um, sure."

"Awesome!" Sweetie wrote down another answer on the worksheet. "Alright, Silver Spoon. That's a few questions down. We'll be done in no time!"

"Sounds fair."

And as the pair of fillies meandered throughout the exhibit halls, gawking at displays and writing down answers, Silver Spoon couldn't help but wonder how Sweetie warmed her heart. For some reason, it was akin to the warmth she experienced upon bonding with Twist, yet Sweetie was a Cutie Mark Crusader.

A few days ago, Silver Spoon would have laughed off the idea of becoming closer to one of the Cutie Mark Crusaders.

But there she was, smiling and working together with Sweetie Belle.

Silver Spoon then thought about what tomorrow would bring; she hoped it'd be as good or better than today.