//------------------------------// // Fillyhood Fond Memories // Story: Changing Ways // by DerpyStarlet //------------------------------// I arrive at school happily skipping, I make a beeline for my desk and drop my bag off only seconds after entering the room. I look around quickly and find my group of friends huddled together, they wave me over. Smiling, I skip over to them. "Hey, Diamond!" My gaze wanders over to the pony saying this. It's my best friend, Comet Chaser. "Hi, Comet." I cheer. I notice he seems to have a look of momentary relief. Everyone else looks a little annoyed, almost like he's... "Stalling." Another friend, Prism Glider, says. I look over at Comet once more, his cheeks are flushed. "Quit stalling and answer the question." Prism insists. "Well, Diamond just got here, and-" he tries to respond. "Go ahead and answer the question I'll figure it out from there." I tell him. He looks at everypony nervously before relenting with a sigh. "fine, Yes." He says. I frown in thought. "Okay, I'm gonna need a little more to go on then Yes." I say. Another friend, Strawberry Fields is more than happy to explain the situation to me. "Comet's got a crush on Blaze." Strawberry explains. "Wait, Blaze as in, Blaze Feathers? The Pegasus colt?" Comet nods his head solemnly, I think on this. "Good for you, Comet!" I tell him, patting him on the back. "What? You're not grossed out?" He asks incredulously. "What, no, of course not! Why would I be, you just like him. Right guys?" I look at our friends and find not everyone has the same opinion as me. Strawberry looks excited about it, but Prism looks pensive. Another friend, Dawn Light looks confused. "But, you're a colt." Dawn says innocently. "Exactly!" Comet exclaims, then he stops a second. "Wait..." as he ponders why he's arguing against himself I butt in. "So? Why does that determine who he can love?" I ask, she looks at the ceiling in thought and eventually shrugs. "I dunno, it just seemed weird." She says. "See! She thinks it's weird!" Comet says. "What do you want from us? Do you want us to criticize you?" Strawberry asks. "Well, no, I guess not..." he says, rubbing his fetlock. " I guess I just wanted my fears validated." "I can hate you, if that would help?" He looks horrified for a second before I sit on my haunches and hold my front hooves out in surrender. "I'm kidding, I'm kidding! Calm down." He sighs and I just lean into him playfully. "So... you gonna ask him out?" And... he's back to looking mortified. "Why would I do that?" He asks, to which I roll my eyes. "Strawberry, correct me if I'm wrong, but is that not what you do with ponies you like?" Strawberry nods, but Dawn Light butts in. "Actually, my brother usually fumbles over his hooves and tells himself he's gonna tell them without ever actually telling them." she nods to herself, happy to have helped. She pauses in her happy nodding to think, "kinda pathetic, Actually." "Social ineptness aside, I think you should at least let him know you feel this way" I urge. "But... what if he doesn't like me?" He asks, his legs quivering slightly. "So? What does it matter if he doesn't like you?" Strawberry answers for me. "You guys really think so?" I don't miss the fact that Prism Glider doesn't nod, but he doesn't shake his head. "I think... I think I need some time to figure stuff out first." He says quietly. "Fine..." I groan. "But be quick about it. Summer is fast approaching, and if you ask him while I'm visiting my dad there will be Tartarus at your doorstep!" I say, shaking a hoof. He nods in understanding and I sigh. "Hey, who's that?" Dawn asks, nudging me slightly and pointing a hoof. Comet sighs in relief, but I make a note in my head to bug him later. Our group turns to see a new pony walk into the classroom. It wouldn't be very strange, if summer weren't right around the corner. But it is, and that makes it very strange. "She can't be a new student... she couldn't be. Right?" Strawberry asks, but everypony is too busy gawking at the new filly. She's got a steel grey coat and a light silver mane, along with a lighter bluish gray pair of glasses. She's pretty for sure, but in a superficial holier than thou way. You can tell by the way her nose is slightly upturned, showing the entirety of her arrogance. Our eyes meet and I stumble for a second. Judgement. I see it deep in her eyes, and it is very unpleasant. She doesn't even seem to be trying to hide it. I roll my eyes and turn my head away. Last thing I need is somebody like that killing my good mood, more than likely over something superficial. "Just another privileged snob..." I mutter to my friends. Strawberry and Prism nod, but Comet looks kinda nervous. "What's the problem Comet? You a little scared of some stupid money and silly self-entitled filly?" I tease, Strawberry gains his same look and gulps a little, backing away slightly. "You know that joke where you're talking about somebody and it turns out their behind you?" Comet says in his not so subtle way of telling me I've made an idiot of myself. I drag a weary hoof down my face before slowly turning around to face what is surely to be my newest adversary. Being one of few earthponies at this prestigious school allows me no shortage of scuffles, but being from a town like Ponyville only solidifies my status at the bottom of the social ladder at this school. This status affords me no shortage of harassment, if I wasn't as tough as I am then I probably wouldn't last here. "Stupid money?" She asks, I look into her bespectacled eyes with disinterest. She's just like the rest of them. "What, you gonna try to tell me that you're money has intelligence?" I retort. She pauses and really looks at me, more than just that judging glance from before. "You've got a mouth on you." She comments, I just arch my brow questioningly. "Don't let it get you in trouble. There are some fillies you just don't mess with." She says. "What, am I supposed to be scared?" I challenge. "Not scared, just wary." She warns, turning away from me. "Hmph, as if." I mutter, turning back to my friends. ~~~~~~~ Aside from her flashy and unexpected entrance, Silver Spoon, as we soon found she's called, didn't make a big impression. She's from Ponyville too, much to my ire. A fact most ponies had no problem pointing out. And despite having such a haughty air about her, most students placed her in the same category as me. Which I am actually quite pleased about. Apparently She's from the one family that could rival my father's power and influence, but daddy has them beat in power and money. Mostly money. She gives me the most unnerving feeling, mostly because I can tell she's staring holes into the back of my head. She seemed surprised that I was from Ponyville, but only slightly. Like only part of this was news... every once in a while I catch her staring, and she often doesn't even try to hide it. Her seats offset by one row and back a couple seats, granting her a good view of my head. I don't know what the Tartarus her problem is. Like right now, Comet and Strawberry are talking about goddess knows what and me and prism sit across from them. Prism is paying attention, but I'm trying real hard to just eat. I'd taken note of where Silver was as I was taking my seat and made sure to place myself facing her, she didn't cease her staring. In fact, this seemed to encourage it. Though, most of the time it didn't seem like she was staring at me. Almost like she was staring through me. My earlier decision turns out to have been about the worst I could have made, because knowing She's watching me makes it hard to pay attention to anything but her in return. Even eating is harder. I look at her and her gaze hasn't moved, she's still just staring at me. Likely lost in thought about something, if the way she's staring is any indication. She's sitting alone, likely because of her status as a Ponyvillian. Same as I would be if I didn't have the friends I do. "Hey, Diamond!" I snap my focus back to the rest of my group and they're trying to get my attention. "Why do you keep on staring at Silver like that?" Comet asks curiously. "She keeps on staring at me. It's weird." I tell them. "With how much you two are staring, one might think you like each other." Strawberry teases. I can feel my cheeks going rosy of their own accord. "Absolutely not. I can't stand her!" I exclaim. "You know Diamond, it's Okay if you're a fillyfooler." Comet says. "I'm not having this conversation." I say, throwing my hooves up in frustration. "Okay. Okay. But if you are right about her staring at you, why do you think she would be?" Strawberry asks. "How the hay should I know?" I ask aggrevatedly. "You're the only one of us here from Ponyville." Prism pipes up, Dawn and Strawberry nodding in agreement. "That one fact does not grant me secret knowledge about her." I say, rolling my eyes. "I honestly have no clue why She's so fascinated with me." "None at all?" Strawberry asks. "None, I said. Back off about it." I say, turning to my food. I don't take a bite. I glance back up at her, she's chewing into her sandwich while still staring at me. I look at my food and raise it to my lips, not feeling the urge to eat. The bell rings. I sigh and pick up my entire tray, dumping it into the trash. I look at the trashcan in disgust before turning back to my friends, all looking at me in disbelief. "You didn't even eat," Comet says. "I'm not hungry," I say emotionlessly, glancing at the now empty table where Silver Spoon was seated. Something feels wrong about that filly. ~~~~~~~ "Diamond! How was school?" I look up at my mom and she gives me a large smile. I try my hardest to return it, I do. But the eyes are the windows to the soul for a reason. "Long." I flop my saddlebag onto the counter lazily. I head for the fridge and look at its contents. "That bad, huh?" She replies goodnaturedly. "I'd rather not talk about it," I say exasperatedly. She nods and I can hear the crinkle of paper behind me. I turn to look as her hoofsteps approach. She sets down what looks like a flyer on the counter right beside me and I glance at it, closing the door to the fridge as I do so. "What's this?" "Apparently there's a play at the theatre every day this week. It's later in the evening." She says. My eyes brighten up at the thought, I love plays. "I figured that we could go catch the play and then eat out afterwards?" Mom raises an eyebrow, giving me a knowing look. "That sounds great! I'll go get my necklace!" I hurry upstairs to do just that. I look at the pearl necklace briefly before putting it on. I rush back downstairs and find my mom putting her saddlebags on. She smiles at me brightly and beckons for me to follow. I comply gladly, thoughts of the upcoming performance filling me with childlike glee.