//------------------------------//
// A Snowy Day 
// Story: Dented Silver 
// by Manaphy 
//------------------------------//

	Of the eight or so hours Silver Spoon reclined on her bed, only half an hour was spent sleeping. The other seven and a half hours saw Silver Spoon glancing out her bedroom's window, drops of snow descending from the sky and fluttering to the ground below; this was in addition to scanning her clock every couple of minutes, twiddling her mane, and taking deep breaths. And through all of the time spent awake, Silver Spoon's cheeks were pale as she shivered somewhat.

Foals were supposed to adore snowy days. Building snowmares and having snowball fights were a foalhood tradition in such regions. With Ponyville rarely ever experiencing snow, let alone during non-winter months, the day would be unlike any other Silver Spoon had experienced.

Such would be the case in more ways than one.

"Sweetie Belle's going to spend time with me," Silver Spoon reminded herself. "And I bet Twist would love to spend time with us." A quick breath escaped her lips, eyes widened. "I've never gone out in the snow, even when I was still friends with Diamond Tiara." Silver Spoon couldn't help but find it odd, her brow rising in return. It was a similar story for Diamond; she tended to stay cuddled up under a blanket while hissing about the cold during snowy days.

"What are we going to do?"

A series of soft knocks reached Silver Spoon's ears. Quivering for a second, she pushed herself upright.

"Can I come in for a second, sis?" Silverspeed asked. "I wanted to talk to ya."

"How did you know I was awake?" Silver Spoon replied. She cocked her head. "Were you listening in on me or something?"

"Your tossing and turning was impossible to miss." Silverspeed giggled. "Not to mention ya got up to get a drink of water three times tonight." She had a point. Every hoofstep Silver Spoon took coupled with her gulping down of water ended up louder than a thunderstorm, even if it should've been quieter than a mouse. 

"Well said." Silver Spoon rubbed her eyes; a yawn escaped her mouth. "To be fair, I was parched."

"I'm not blaming ya." A few seconds of silence passed. "But can I seriously come in for a bit?"

"You're older than me, sister." Silver Spoon crossed her forelegs. "Oh, and I'm awake. I don't think there's anything stopping you."

The door nudged open, Silverspeed shimmying through the gap. A bright smile decorated her face. "Thanks, sis."

"No problem."

With her wings closed, Silverspeed sat down on the chair to her right; her eyes locked onto Silver Spoon's. "Now then, I wanted to mention a few things you told me about the past two days."

"My friendships and the thing with the Apples, right?"

Silverspeed merely nodded.

"What's on your mind?"

"Well, I first wanted to mention how proud everypony is that you're making such fast progress." She rubbed the top of Silver Spoon's head. The circular motion surprisingly relaxed her muscles, though she'd have to comb her mane before heading out. "Making new friends isn't easy, but I knew somepony as charming as you could do it."

Blushing, a few chuckles left Silver Spoon. "Well, I wouldn't call myself charming."

"Don't be so modest, sis." Silverspeed clasped her hooves together. "Be proud of how awesome you are!"

A smirk adorned Silver Spoon's visage. "I guess I can try."

"That's a start." Silverspeed shrugged. "As I was saying, I hope you have lots of fun with your friends today." Rubbing her muzzle, Silverspeed's smile slowly widened. "I remember when it snowed during my foalhood. My friends and I got into lots of trouble at times." She snickered. "I think we learned to never anger the hothead of the class that day. Fitting that her name was Blaze."

"Well, that's names for you." Come to think of it, the idea of names and how they connected to personalities and cutie marks always piqued her interest. And with many things regarding cutie marks, it all came back to the Cutie Mark Crusaders, Sweetie Belle in particular.

The Cutie Mark Crusaders were a chunk of her life.

Maybe their special talents have been in front of them this whole time. Silver Spoon assumed a blank expression. I know I've thought about it before, but it's just so weird. Watch, they'll get their cutie marks in some grandiose way. I'll admit, I'd feel jealous at first, but I'd be proud of them nonetheless.

"Something on your mind?" Silverspeed asked.

Silver Spoon shook her head. "It's nothing important," she said. "It's just funny—the names and cutie mark connection."

"No arguing with ya there. Maybe we're all psychic in some way."

"Maybe we are." Silver Spoon softly chuckled. "I guess my parents knew I'd become a great pastry chef."

"Anyway, there's one—I mean—two things I wanted to say." Clearing her throat, Silverspeed then stood upright. "Firstly, Apple Bloom sent us a letter. She apologized to you for embarrassing ya."

Gasping, Silver Spoon's pupils shrunk. "She did?"

"Yep. She felt it made her look bad. While she's not on the best of terms with you, she's willing to make amends here."

"Well, I guess I'll send her a letter accepting her apology." Silver Spoon rubbed the back of her neck. "I wasn't expecting that."

"I think nopony was. It kinda came out of nowhere. Like, when I first discovered the letter, my jaw totally dropped." Silverspeed caught her breath. "Anyway, she and Scootaloo are gonna be doing their own thing, so Sweetie Belle and Twist will be hanging out with you. Oh, and they're going to be here at nine."

Silver Spoon peeked at the clock in her room, each second ticking past. The time was half past eight.

"So that gives ya half an hour to do what you need. Sound good?"

"It does." Nodding, Silver Spoon then flung the sheets off the bed. "Anyway, I'll be ready in no time."

Silverspeed ruffled her wings. She pranced out of the room, her head sticking out of the gap. "Let me know if ya need anything or wanna talk."

Silver Spoon pressed her hooves together. Something about today prodded her, her chest tightening ever so slightly. "Actually, I'm a bit nervous about how today will go."

"That's understandable, sis." Silverspeed nudged toward her; she stretched her foreleg out. "But just be the bundle of awesome I know you are, and things will turn out great. There's nothing wrong with being a bit anxious."

Quickly nodding was all Silver Spoon replied with, though her lips curled into a faint smile.

"That's the spirit!" Silverspeed pumped her hoof into the air. "I hope it's lots of fun!"

"Same here, sister."

Silver Spoon pushed herself off her bed, landing on all fours. She swiped her glasses and donned them; the same story occurred for her pearl necklace. Even on weekends, it was important to exude stylishness, at least Diamond told her as much; the compliments she received from peers and passersby only encouraged this. Yet, as she glanced at the window once more, the glass slightly foggy, Silver Spoon couldn't help but shiver. Her teeth clacked.

Something was missing.

"Right, it's cold when there's snow," she reminded herself. Swiveling her head toward the closet, Silver Spoon then nodded, a smirk adorning her face. "Well, at least I'll be able to put something else to use."



Half an hour had already passed; Silver Spoon was certain it was closer to a mere ten minutes, though her clocks never lied. Eating breakfast had to be at least two minutes as well.

But there she was, a purple cap atop her head and brown boots snugly hugging her legs. Just wearing these toasted her coat, the iciness in her veins melting away. She stood before the front door; the light blue frame looming above her. Outside, a world of wonders and anxieties awaited her. How Twist and Sweetie would behave throughout the day was anypony's guess. Silver Spoon closed her eyes for a moment; she just hoped shouting wouldn't be a part of it.

Silver Spoon exhaled. "It shouldn't be too hard," she muttered. "Like my sister said, I just have to be myself." Just then, her throat tightened. "Okay, maybe I need to dial down on the teasing. Maybe if I—"

A series of knocks rang in her ears; Silver Spoon jumped up in surprise, her heart rate skyrocketing for a second.

"W-who is it?"

"It's Twist," she answered on the other end. "I've got Sweetie Belle with me, too. Are you ready?"

Silver Spoon paused for a moment and glanced behind her. Nothing else needed to be done. Yet, there was something off-putting about going with the same ponies she teased in the past. Twist was fine; she knew Silver Spoon was changing for the better. On the other hoof, Sweetie was different. A Cutie Mark Crusader would likely still feel hesitant.

But she wasn't any Cutie Mark Crusader.

"Need more time?" Sweetie asked. "We can wait if we need to?"

"No need to wait," Silver Spoon said. Without a second thought, she pushed the door open, a faint creaking sound splitting the air. "I'm ready."

Standing before her were Twist and Sweetie. Bright smiles decorated both of their faces. A quick breeze swirled past Silver Spoon, her braid whipping about as it followed the wind's current. All around her, the once lush grasslands of Ponyville were covered in a thin layer of snow, extra specks of white cascading from the sky like autumn leaves.

And through it all, Silver Spoon's eyes couldn't help but glow. Something about seeing such a landscape planted a beaming expression on her without fail, regardless of how many times she'd seen it.

"Amazing, isn't it?" Twist added. She adjusted her cherry-colored scarf and then her glasses. "I haven't been out in the snow for three years!"

"Three years?" Sweetie blurted out, voice cracked. "That's terrible. Everypony should go out in the snow whenever they can."

With a faint chuckle, Twist blushed. "Well, I haven't really had anypony to share it with."

"What about when you were still friends with Apple Bloom?" Silver Spoon asked. She cocked her head. "You two were close friends a year ago, right?"

"We were." Twist pursed her lips. "Though Apple Bloom was always doing other things—things I wasn't excited about or could do. That's all."

"I see." Trotting up to Twist, Silver Spoon then patted her shoulder. "I hope today is a lot of fun."

"Naturally." Twist paused for a moment, eyes closed. "Say, what should we do first?"

"I don't wanna do anything tough," Sweetie said. Her forelegs wiggled. "The last time I did a snowball fight with the other crusaders, I thought I'd pass out."

"I would've actually done it." Silver Spoon snickered and her cheeks flushed. On second thought, maybe she had more in common with Sweetie than she realized. Fashionable tastes, an appreciation for books, even staring attentively at certain history lectures, among other things, defined such similarities. Perhaps that accounted for the warmth yesterday.

Or maybe Cheerilee knew this all along, grouping her up with Sweetie as if she knew how it'd end.

"Stamina isn't your strong point as well?" Sweetie asked.

Silver Spoon nodded. "Ask Diamond about it if you want to know." Then again, Diamond only ever told facts to the Cutie Mark Crusaders if there was scheming ahoof. Having her relaying even the simplest story to Sweetie would be an indicator she was dreaming. "Well, how about we head on over to Sugarcube Corner? I hear they have some excellent tea."

"What doesn't Sugarcube Corner have?"

Silver Spoon shrugged. "Beats me."

"Yeah, Sugarcube Corner does have everything," Twist said. "Shall we get going?"

"We shall." Both she and Sweetie nodded.

The trio trotted across the plowed pathways, small patches of cobblestone still visible with the rest buried under the snow. All around Silver Spoon, ponies of all ages skipped and pranced across the field, every single one wearing a glowing grin. Some even stopped to roll around in the snow, build intricate sculptures, or any other snowy game their minds could create.

Ponyville truly came alive during the snowy days.

But a tingling sensation covered Silver Spoon's body nonetheless.

Why? Everything is going swimmingly. She turned to where Twist and Sweetie were, the pair chatting about school-related stories and subjects. Silliness from the other Cutie Mark Crusaders and the results of the last test made up the topics, Silver Spoon still wanting to forget the traumatic part of the latter. Maybe it's just my nerves getting to me again. That has to be it. If only getting rid of it was easy.

"Nervous?" Twist questioned; her eyes gazed into Silver Spoon's. "You've been so quiet."

Nodding was all Silver Spoon could muster, lips sealed.

"I'm nervous, too."

"Me three!" Sweetie chimed. Her smile then vanished like a mirage; replacing it was a blank expression. "But seriously, is it because you're hanging out with ponies you used to tease?"

"Hit the nail on the head right there," Silver Spoon replied. "Well, that and I'm trotting in unfamiliar territory."

"But we're in Ponyville, silly." Sweetie bit her lip, holding in a chuckle. "And Sugarcube Corner is in sight!"

"It's a figure of speech."

"Oh. I guess I'm the silly one now!"

All three fillies shared a quick laugh. Looking up, Silver Spoon spotted the familiar gingerbread house which marked Sugarcube Corner. A group of ponies huddled around the building's perimeter, Silver Spoon arching an eyebrow in response.

Since when did the bakery become so huge among ponies? I don't recall Sugarcube Corner ever being this busy. Maybe somepony from out of town is visiting and brought her friends along.

Silver Spoon shook her head. The queue wrapped around two of the establishment's walls. Either somepony had more friends than the Princess of Friendship, or it was another commotion altogether. Waiting in line wasn't Silver Spoon's idea of fun. To some, the mere act would constitute as torture.

Regardless of the circumstances, Twist and Sweetie's widened eyes and gaping mouths said it all.

"Do you want look elsewhere?" Silver Spoon asked. "Or shall we deal with the long line and head on in?"

"Head on in, of course," Sweetie answered. "We gotta try some of their treats!"

"I'm with Sweetie Belle on this one," Twist added. "I've been meaning to try some of their candies."

"If you insist." Silver Spoon's limbs tensed up. She then twiddled her braid, hoping things wouldn't go south. Large crowds never carried the allure some ponies thought they did; they only increased the odds of conflict in Silver Spoon's eyes. Brushing against somepony's shoulders or having every square inch covered with hooves also grew tiring after the first few seconds. How Diamond loved it was beyond her. "Just don't blame me if waiting in line gets too boring."

"That's only fair. Not everypony is like Diamond Tiara, you know."

Silver Spoon sulked for a moment. "Yeah, Diamond's an interesting filly." In a flash, she perked up, such negativity wasn't welcome at a time like this. "Anyway, let's hope the wait isn't too long."

Trudging up to Sugarcube Corner, the three took their place at the back of the line upon arriving. A storm of chatter polluted the air, most of the words reaching Silver Spoon's ears regarding the bakery and what it sold, though such was to be expected. Yet, mutterings of a mare from Cloudsdale also reached her ears. No name was given, as far as she knew, but her ears couldn't help but twitch in response.

"I'm bored," Sweetie moaned. Her head hung low; a sigh escaped her lips. "Maybe waiting wasn't such a good idea."

"We've only been here for a few minutes," Silver Spoon said. She shrugged. "Trust me, some lines are even longer than this."

"I don't know how any line could be longer."

The ponies before Silver Spoon nudged an inch forward; she and her friends followed suit. A pair of ponies skipped across the snow with beaming grins. Boxes of sweets and a paper rested in the mint-colored mare's forelegs; the sheet of paper bearing the autograph of somepony.

"Oh, brother," Silver Spoon murmured. She rolled her eyes and groaned. "Of all the things to make a huge deal about."

Tilting her head, Twist shrugged. "Did you find something?" she asked.

"Well, something tells me those who adore celebrities have stormed Sugarcube Corner."

"Who do you think it is?" Sweetie questioned. She rubbed her muzzle. "I'm hoping it's somepony cool. Maybe it's Sapphire Shores."

"Or Princess Celestia," Twist added. "Maybe even Princess Luna!"

"Well, I guess we'll find out," Silver Spoon said.

As time continued its march forward, the line moved bit by bit, those exiting Sugarcube corner wearing the same faces as the ones to leave before them. At least Silver Spoon knew they could spend the time and get to know each other better. Stories spanning years departed their mouths. Sweetie told of the time she met Princess Luna in a dream and her muddy participation in the Sisterhooves Social. Silver Spoon's eyes were permanently glued to Sweetie's during both stories. Twist, on the other hoof, reflected on how she got her cutie mark and the embarrassing tales of when she was partnered with Truffle Shuffle. The three of them had shared laughs at the latter.

Not once had Silver Spoon averted her gaze from the pair. Rarely had she blinked.

It all warmed her heart. Maybe she could share something as well.

Am I becoming friends with them?

"Do you have any interesting stories to share?" Twist asked out of the blue. "I'd love to hear any."

Shrugging, Silver Spoon slowly nodded. "Sort of. I remember when Diamond tried designing a cart for a parade."

"I remember that, too!" Sweetie chimed. "It was around the time Babs Seed visited Ponyville, right?"

"Correct. See, Diamond desperately wanted to outdo the Cutie Mark Crusaders."

Rolling her eyes was all Sweetie did. She clearly wasn't surprised, and Silver Spoon understood where she was coming from.

"Yeah, Sweetie has the right idea." Silver Spoon paused. "Anyway, I kinda told her that we should just focus on befriending Babs, and Diamond was so adamant to where she tried building the cart on her own." A brief snicker left Silver Spoon's mouth. "Guess how that went?"

"I'm guessing it ended poorly," Twist said. "Did it fall apart?"

"I bet it did," Sweetie added.

Silver Spoon bobbed her head. "Yep. However, Diamond prancing around and yodeling was actually kinda humorous." Silver Spoon tugged her braid. "I-I know it's not the most appropriate thing to laugh at, but since nopony was hurt and Diamond even whined about why algebra was a thing, it was funny at the moment."

"It's okay." Sweetie chuckled. "I'd have laughed as well. Still, that's a cool story."

"Yeah, I guess it's cool. Thanks for sharing one of your stories."

"You're a nice pony, Silver Spoon," Twist said. A bright grin decorated her visage. "I'm glad I got the chance to know you."

"You're welcome," Silver Spoon said, nodding. "Thanks for sharing yours as well, and I'm glad I got to know you better."

And with thirty minutes having flown past, Silver Spoon and company faced the glass door leading into Sugarcube Corner. The discussions were as lively as ever; silhouettes within the building trotting back and forth. A crisp, warm aroma tickled Silver Spoon's nostrils.

"That smell is simply divine," Sweetie said, her tone mimicking somepony else.

Silver Spoon arched an eyebrow. "Huh?"

"Just imitating my sister." Sweetie giggled, Silver Spoon responding in kind. "She talks like that."

"I'm guessing she's a stylish mare."

"I guess you could call it that."

A faint knocking sound then followed. "Next!" a familiar voice called out, Silver Spoon recognizing it as Mr. Cake's.

The doors opened up; the three fillies trotted inside, most of the tables already occupied. Mr. Cake stood before them with bags under his eyes. A yawn escaped his lips.

"Are you here to get an autograph?" Mr. Cake asked with a clipboard in tow. He wiped his brow, a forced smile across his face. "Or do you plan on having a meal here?"

"The second, please," Silver Spoon said.

"Thank goodness." Mr. Cake stepped back, his head turned around for a moment. "That young pony could use a break from all these signings and all."

"Who's even causing this commotion?" Twist questioned. "Not many famous ponies come to Ponyville—often."

"A mare named Blaze, if you're wondering."

Silver Spoon's eyes widened. The same mare Silverspeed knew in her youth had become this famous? She seemed so nonchalant about her as well, not even squealing with twinkling eyes upon dropping her name. Perhaps this Blaze was known for an amazing discovery or something which got Equestria talking.

"Hey, aren't you Silverspeed's sis?" a peppy voice called out.

Silver Spoon peeked behind Mr. Cake, a yellow mare clenching a newspaper sitting at one of the tables with a strawberry smoothie before her, the sweet flavors touching her tongue at the sight. The mare's mane was a dark orange; its streamlined form seemed perfect for flying, as did her stretched wings which probably sheared the air into pieces.

"Who are you?" Silver Spoon asked. "Are you this Blaze everypony seems to be talking about?"

"The one and only," Blaze replied. Placing the newspaper down, she placed her hooves behind her head. She smirked. "I used to hang out with your sis. She told me about you some time ago and says you're pretty smart."

"Well, I do appreciate the praise." Silver Spoon blushed. "What do you do?"

"Stuff." Blaze adjusted her seating posture. Taking a quick breath, she made eye contact with Silver Spoon. "Not really in the mood to go into specifics."

"Say, you look kinda familiar," Sweetie said; she stretched a foreleg toward Blaze. "Weren't you chasing down Spike when he—"

"Let's not go into too much detail." Blaze's cheeks turned a bright red and she bit her lip. She then cleared her throat and took another sip of her smoothie. "As I was saying, I'm doing a mission of sorts. It's about—"

"And didn't you—"

Blaze's brow sagged; her muzzle scrunched somewhat.

"Let's not push her buttons, Sweetie Belle," Silver Spoon interrupted. "Sorry, Blaze."

"Yeah." With a soft sigh, Sweetie's shoulders sagged. "Sorry."

"It's cool now," Blaze replied. She donned a mild smile. "At least ya know I'm a bit of a hothead."

"You can thank Silverspeed for letting me know." Silver Spoon snickered for a second. "What was it like hanging out with her?"

"It was totally awesome." Blaze's eyes shimmered. "Trust me, we got into some crazy stuff back then. A lot of it was fun. Other moments—" Blaze tapped her hoof on the table; she sighed "—weren't."

A sharp sensation poked Silver Spoon's head. For reasons she couldn't comprehend, something about the pale expression Blaze bore spoke to her. It was as though all she needed to do was peer into her eyes and learn Blaze's true story. Even the air's warmth seemed familiar, just like the day when her friendship with Diamond first cracked.

"So you're curious about what went on?" Blaze asked. Leaning forward, she took yet another sip; the glass' contents were now only a quarter full. "You wanna know my past?"

Shuddering in surprise, Silver Spoon then bobbed her head. "Y-yes," she answered. "How did you know?"

"The look in your eyes said it all. Ya know, you're not so different from your sis. Honest."

"What makes you say that?"

"But first, a question." Blaze raised her hoof and shifted her focus to Sweetie and Twist. "How did you see Silver Spoon before coming friends with her?"

Gently kicking the air was all Sweetie could do. She shrugged.

"You can tell the truth," Silver Spoon muttered. She placed a hoof to her chest. "I know what I did, so you explaining it won't hurt me."

Blaze raised an eyebrow; she clasped her hooves together. "You were a bully in the past, weren't you?"

Quickly shuddering was Silver Spoon's response. She gulped. "I guess that cat's out of the bag."

"Former bullies always have the same look behind their eyes. It's especially true when they've just realized how wrong it was."

Twist glanced over to Silver Spoon. Surveying her for a few seconds as though she was a work of art and then looking left and right, shimmying across the room, Twist nodded in the end. "Huh. She does have that glint in her eyes," she said. Rolling her shoulders, she looked back up to Blaze. "So what you're saying is—"

"I was a bully as a foal." Blaze cringed, teeth clenched. "I used to be such a brat, always touting my superiority over the other students. I even had a friend of mine back me up on everything."

Silver Spoon leaned closer to Blaze. "Sounds like somepony I know."

"So I'm guessing you were the partner in crime."

"I was."

"But when and how did you realize it was wrong?" Sweetie questioned. She massaged her muzzle. "It's not like you can just learn it, right?"

"Simple. I scared somepony I cared for—and she just so happens to be the same mare I work for now." With a sigh, Blaze then rubbed her eyes. "I played a prank on my cousin."

"You did?" A gasp escaped Sweetie's mouth. "Why?"

"I thought it'd be funny. My cousin was a shy filly back then—before the tough mare she became to be known as. See, she was visiting us from Cloudsdale with her parents, and I kinda dumped a cold glass of water on her." Blaze glanced at the floor below. The grim expression she wore sucked the brightness from Sugarcube Corner away, the world seemingly paler than before. "I made fun of the look on her face, and that drove her to tears. It hurt seeing her like that."

"But you made amends, right?" Twist asked.

"We did. I think we both learned something that day, but the memory still sticks to me. I'm just glad we're on friendly terms now."

"Same here," Silver Spoon said. "Well, thanks for sharing your story with us."

"Not a problem." Stretching her forelegs out, Blaze then pushed herself upright. A smile decorated her face. "It was nice just letting it all out. Nice meeting you all."

"Nice to meet you as well, Blaze."

A grumbling sound filled the air, Sweetie's eyes widening. It was soon followed by a purring, Twist assuming the same expression Sweetie wore. Making eye contact with each other, the three fillies all snickered for a moment. Perhaps the theory of getting hungry after reading stories had some truth to it after all.

Silver Spoon licked her lips; she peered at the menu above the counter. "Ready to get some grub?"

"You bet!" Sweetie chimed. In the blink of an eye, she dived toward the display counter, her nose gently poking the glass separating her from the treats. "I'm starving!"

"I'm ready for food when you are," Twist added. She nudged an inch closer to Silver Spoon. "Say, thanks for spending time with us. It was brave of you to come join us, you know."

"You're welcome," Silver Spoon replied. "I think I learned a lot today. It was nice to experience it with all of you."

"Agreed. And I think we all learned something. Then again, don't we learn something each day?"

Bobbing her head, Silver Spoon slowly approached the counter. "Yeah, we do learn something each day. It's what makes life exciting and scary, but worth experiencing."

"And I just know there's still tons of fun waiting for us," Sweetie said. "We should go for a brief walk together after our meal. How about it?"

"I'm up for it." She knew trotting along the snow-covered roads would be better than wrapping herself in a blanket and watching the fireplace's dancing flames. Having other ponies with her was the icing on the cake. "Let's just take it slow and steady. You know, so we can appreciate the scenery."

"Sounds great to me!"

The trio each ordered a selection of treats, Sweetie asking for the largest load by a fair margin. Milkshakes, candies, and other delicacies filled her order. Even Twist's generous order of a sundae seemed modest by comparison. Silver Spoon, on the other hoof, just ordered a croissant and a small cupcake. While devouring a pile of food was something she and other foals had been guilty of before, her stomach wasn't in the mood for overindulging. It didn't even utter a peep.

"That's it?" Sweetie blurted out. "C'mon, there has to be more you like."

Blushing, Silver Spoon snickered. "Of course there's more I like." Silver Spoon approached an empty table; she sat on the chair, its cold and curved surface hugging her back. "I'm just not as hungry."

"Makes sense to me," Twist said. "Sweetie sounds like she hasn't eaten in decades."

A sheepish smile decorated Sweetie's face. She blushed. "It's not that bad," she said. "Just a few years—or hours."

A white bag, perhaps larger than Silver Spoon herself, plopped before Sweetie. Mrs. Cake, a bright smile adorning her visage, trotted up from the kitchen and stared at Sweetie. Chuckles escaped her mouth.

"You must be hungry," Mrs. Cake teased. She hoisted the bag up, veins bulging for a split second, and brought it up to where Silver Spoon resided. "Either that or you three have a party planned."

"No parties yet," Twist said. She trotted up toward Silver Spoon, Sweetie following suit while she licked her lips. "We're just getting some deliciousness."

"Well, I hope you enjoy."

"We totally will!" Sweetie shouted. She leaped onto the chair, her body shivering; star-like twinkles formed within her eyes. "Thank you!"

"You're welcome."

Sweetie rummaged through the bag's contents. Delicacy after delicacy spewed out, eventually sliding toward its owner. Silver Spoon's eyes widened as a mountain of sugary sweets ascended in front of Sweetie. A heavy eater like Truffle Shuffle would've ended up stopping two-thirds of the way through the orders. Perhaps Sweetie was planning on saving some for later.

If it was enough to where she'd have to help carry it, Silver Spoon knew the journey home would take ages.



The journey home was taking ages.

The cottages and fields of Ponyville still shielded by a few inches of snow didn't help matters. Ponies trotting across the roads, some prancing and giggling, made maneuvering a nightmare.

A crisp, buttery flavor coupled with a chocolaty taste tickled Silver Spoon's nostrils ever since departing Sugarcube Corner, a smile on her face throughout the meal. Twist wore the same expression as she took her time digging into the sundae. Just gawking at the ice cream, chocolate chips, and bananas excited Silver Spoon during their meal. She'd have asked for a taste if her stomach wasn't close to filled.

Sweetie also donned a similar, bright expression. Only pale green cheeks and puckered lips replaced it minutes later. The following four minutes saw Silver Spoon trying to convince Twist in dragging the bag of treats up to Carousel Boutique; Twist tried to do the same. In the end, a quick guessing game resolved the matter, the loser assigned to trudge along the snow with the candies and chocolates.

And as Silver Spoon panted, tongue sticking out, she wished clairvoyance was possible among ponies.

"You okay, Silver Spoon?" Twist asked. "I know you said physical stuff wasn't your thing, but you look ready to faint."

Silver Spoon wanted to scold Twist for getting her into this mess, her blood close to boiling. Her tongue knew all the right words. However, she knew it'd only make the situation worse; Twist wasn't a bad pony. Good ponies deserved respect, even if they needed a tongue-lashing or two. Blaze's story also swirling in her mind only further encouraged her to keep such phrases at bay. Silver Spoon sighed, head hung low.

"I'm not doing so well," she murmured. "Carrying this is—is so hard."

"Try feeling like you're going to throw up," Sweetie added; a groan escaped her lips. "Maybe I should've eaten less. Sorry about that."

"It's—it's fine." Silver Spoon slowed down; she then came to a halt. "Hold on."

Collapsing onto the snow, Silver Spoon's muscles loosened at last, the bag toppling off her back. The sun's rays beat down on her, specks of snow slowly falling and poking her cheeks. In a way, the chill coursing through her body seemed soothing. Perhaps it was her winter clothes striking the balance between warm and cold.

"Look, sorry I made you do this instead," Twist muttered. She pressed her hooves together and bit her lip. "I-I just didn't want to mess up."

"It's fine, Twist." Actually, it wasn't fine, but such events were in the past. Silver Spoon's huffing and puffing quietened; white steam left her mouth. "I'll be okay."

A second passed by. Blinking, Twist shuffled closer to Silver Spoon, leaned down, and lifted her on all fours. "I'm glad, but let's get this thing to Carousel Boutique together."

Silver Spoon wrapped a foreleg around Twist. "Thank you. I appreciate it."

"Anything for a friend, right?"

Silver Spoon paused. Friend. I know we've butted heads before, today being an example, but perhaps that's what being a friend is all about. Her lips curled into a bright smile. When we fall down, we'll be there to lift each other back up. And no matter how long or severe the conflict is, making amends might be what being a friend is about. Warmth spread throughout her body. It's weird having this repaired so easily, and while I still think Twist screwed up, I harbor no negative feelings. Perhaps—

"Everypony!" a familiar voice shrieked. "Everypony!"

Sliding into view was none other than Featherweight. With a camera in hoof and a blue scarf wrapping around his neck, he flailed his forelegs about, locking gazes with Silver Spoon and company. He always made a scene whenever a story or gossip came up, but something about this instance carried tension with it.

"What's wrong?" Silver Spoon asked.

"Diamond Tiara is gonna ask Rumble on a date!"

"What?" the three fillies shouted together.

"That's what came from her huge mouth." Featherweight exhaled, his limbs calming down. "Anyway, tomorrow is going to be huge. I just had to tell ya."

"Wait a second, isn't Rumble super-sensitive?" Sweetie asked. "He doesn't seem like Diamond Tiara's type."

Silver Spoon's heart skipped a beat. Her pupils shrunk.

"Oh, no."

Tomorrow was going to be eventful. Fate wouldn't have it any other way.