//------------------------------//
// Why the Long Face 
// Story: The Velveteen Mask 
// by Crystal Wishes 
//------------------------------//

Despite her half-hearted efforts, Velvet let out some of her frustration in the form of a light sigh.  The distraction of working with her dad had long since worn off, as Crystal had been waiting at home for her with a list of interview questions she thought she might possibly be asked on an interview she was probably going to have.  Velvet just wanted to go to bed and hope that she'd wake up to a brighter future, but instead she was spending the evening on stupid, made-up questions.

"Is everything all right?" Crystal asked from across the little dining table in their living room.

Velvet tried not to glare as she looked up.  "Of course.  Why do you ask?"

Crystal made a circular motion with one hoof, gesturing to all of Velvet.  "You're giving off a pretty bad aura."

"Aura?"  Wow, somepony was being observant.  It had only taken her just over an hour to notice!  Velvet rolled her eyes and retorted, "Since when did you believe in auras?"

"Since you started having one."  Crystal sounded a little irritated, though Velvet couldn't blame her.  She folded her hooves over one another to prop herself up as she leaned in.  "So, what's the matter?"

Velvet jerked her gaze away to divert the glare of her growing frustration.  It wasn't Crystal's fault.  Crystal was just the nearest pony to her bad mood.  She shouldn't lash out, but she couldn't help herself, either.  "Nothing, nothing at all.  I love sitting here and running through pretend questions with you for some interview where you have no idea what they'll ask.  This is totally not a waste of time."

Crystal's brow furrowed and she tilted her head.  "You didn't seem to mind the last time we practiced for an interview."

"Who says I mind?"  Velvet threw her hooves up in a defensive gesture.  "I certainly didn't say I mind!"

"Velvet!" Crystal snapped, eyes narrowing into a glare.  "Would you cut it out and just talk to me already?  What is this about?  Is it about me going to the faire in Ponyville when Silent Knight gets home?  I can cancel."

The chair screeched against the hardwood as Velvet stood abruptly.  "Oh my gosh, Crystal!"  She stormed into the kitchen and looked around.  She wanted to break something, but that would be stupid.  Instead, she picked up a teacup and started to scrub it with a sponge.  "Not everything in my life revolves around you and your coltfriend."

Despite her best efforts, her vision started to go blurry as tears stung her eyes.  She was done crying!  She didn't want to cry anymore.

Of course Crystal would think it was about Silent Knight.  That was a pretty reasonable assumption, but Velvet was over that.  On some level, she was genuinely offended that Crystal thought she was still hung up on their relationship, but the small part of her that still clung to reason through the haze of emotion understood why.

"You know I despise how juvenile that term is, but, all right," Crystal said with a slight grit in her voice.  "So if this isn't about Silent Knight and me, then—"

"It has nothing to do with you at all!"  Velvet glared at Crystal faster than she could think the action through.

Crystal's expression softened.  She saw the tears.  She saw the pain.  And that made it hurt all the more, for some reason.

Velvet tore her gaze back to the cup she was still pretending to wash.  She sniffled and continued in a quieter voice, "I've got my own life, you know?  Independent of you."

"Okay."  Crystal's hoofsteps started to approach her.  "So what's going on in that life of yours?"

Velvet started to tremble as she bit back a sob.  What would Crystal think of her?  Would she be ashamed of her?  Would she encourage her?  Would she support her like her parents?  The teacup fell from her hooves, landing in the sink, and she buried her face.  "I can't do it anymore.  I—I'm going to quit ballet."

"What?!" Crystal shrieked.  She paused, then cleared her throat and repeated in a quieter voice, "What?  Why?  But Velvet—"

"There's no working with Perennial,"  Velvet said slowly, trying to keep herself calm.  "The bridge is too burnt at this point and I'm miserable every day I'm around her.  Which is every day.  I love working at my parents' bakery, so, I'm just going to do that full time."

A hoof landed on Velvet's shoulder.  "I knew you two didn't get along, but, to quit?  Velvet, you've loved ballet your whole life!"

Velvet recoiled from Crystal's touch and turned to face the mare.  She propped her back up against the counter while she wrapped her forelegs around her chest.  "So?  So what?  Horsey is happy as can be and she doesn't follow her cutie mark as far as I can tell.  Not all of us can be like you and just have everything work out."

Crystal sucked in a breath and her ears shot straight up.  "I—"  She rolled her eyes and snorted derisively.  "I quite literally just went to Manehattan on this very topic of how things don't just work out for me!"

This coming from the mare who had a successful job.  The mare who was engaged to the stallion of her dreams.  Velvet's frustration bubbled back up and she glowered.  "Oh, boo hoo, you're not famous."  Velvet's self-hug shifted into an irritated cross of her forelegs.  "Really?  You're going to compare not being famous to being miserable and hating the pony I work with?  You've got Sunset Coffee as your lovable agent who does like, everything he can.  He bends over backward for you.  Perennial wouldn't even lift a hoof to help me if I asked for it."  She sighed, then raised a hoof and waved it to dismiss the conversation.  "Whatever.  It doesn't matter.  I'm going to quit and that's final."

Crystal stared for a moment.  Then she sucked in a breath, puffed out her cheeks, and held it for a while as she thought.  Her gaze darted about to follow her own stream of consciousness, then she sighed.  "There's another ballet company in Canterlot."

Velvet raised one brow.  Was she talking about the Royal Ballet?  "D'uh?  And it's like, the most prestigious in Equestria."

Crystal started to smile.  "And their audition exams are at the end of next month!"

"Audition exams for the most prestigious in Equestria," Velvet repeated, the brow falling as her eyes narrowed.

Crystal poked Velvet in the chest with one hoof and beamed at her.  "You should try out!"

Velvet glared down at the hoof touching her, then up at Crystal.  "What part of most prestigious do you not get?"

"What part of you can't succeed if you don't try do you not get?"  Crystal smiled so wide that Velvet was starting to become concerned for her safety.  "Oh, Velvet, this is perfect timing!  A month should surely be enough time to get yourself in peak condition!"

Was Crystal serious?  Velvet had just failed to audition for Odette at a much smaller company!  Well, she hadn't failed, but she still didn't get the role.  It was the same thing!

Negative thoughts.  Nightingale was always nagging her about the negative thoughts.  Velvet started to relax as she tried the thought process over again.

No, she hadn't failed.  Actually, Beauchamps had even praised her.  She could work as an understudy in the event both Perennial and Beryl couldn't do the role.  And that was only after four days of practice.

Finally, Velvet relaxed completely and asked, "You really think I have a shot?"

Crystal huffed and pawed at the air  "Darling, would I lie to you?"

"I don't know."  A smile teased Velvet's lips.  "Would you?"

Crystal returned the smile and squeezed Velvet's shoulder.  "Not unless I had to, and in this case, I truly think you should try.  It's not often that I get the chance to push you to better yourself, so let me have this one, all right?"

Velvet looked at Crystal, at the determination on her face, and it filled her with confidence.  She laughed and rested her hoof over Crystal's, shaking her head.  "Okay, all right, fine.  I'll try out for the Royal Ballet of Equestria.  But don't get your hopes up, okay?"

The confidence filled her with warmth from head to hooves.  Yes, she could do this.  All she needed was a tutor.

Oh, crabapples.  Where was she going to find a tutor on short notice?  With the Royal Ballet auditions around the corner, most ballet teachers were probably already well into classes with their own students.

Velvet just tried to keep smiling, but the confidence started to fade.  She'd have to start looking first thing in the morning.  If she was really going to do this—and for Crystal's sake, she sure as hay was—then she had no time to waste.


---


Practice for Swan Lake had gone on longer than Velvet would have liked, so she ended up skipping the post-workout shower and heading straight to the building she had spent so much time at before she started her career as a ballerina.  She stopped to look up at the sign that read "Shimmering Ballet Conservatory" and, for a moment, felt apprehension and fear gripping her chest.

Shimmering Waltz was an old mare who had taken the title of prima ballerina assoluta in the Royal Ballet of Equestria many, many, many years ago.  In fact, her stunning and unrivaled performances in her youth had inspired the company to create the title just to acknowledge her accomplishments.  There had only been two other ballerinas who rose high enough in the ballet world to have the title bestowed upon them after her.

With age and prestige had come bitterness.  Shimmering knew everything there was to know about ballet and after retiring from dance, she had enjoyed a long career as the artistic director for the Royal Ballet.  And she never let any of the ponies she now tutored at her own studio forget any of that.

"No, no, no," that familiar voice chided the moment Velvet walked inside.  "Fifth position.  Fifth!  Do you think you can slack off and I won't notice?  Fifth!"

Velvet smiled lightly.  Shimmering was the same as ever.

"Now, move your forelegs—"  Shimmering's head turned as she heard Velvet's hoofsteps approaching.  Her light grey mane was cropped short, but her tail still flowed with elegant waves that fell down to the floor.  "Excuse me?  Hello.  You've long since missed the auditions.  You'll have to wait until next season."

"Er, sorry."  Velvet rubbed the back of her neck.  "Miss Waltz, it's me, Velvet Step."

Shimmering stared at Velvet with a sharp, piercing gaze.  "I'm aware.  And you'll still have to wait.  I do not make exceptions for ponies that are eager to learn.  I certainly don't make exceptions for dropouts."

"I...  I'm sorry, Miss Waltz."  Velvet dropped her head.  "I'm really sorry I dropped out!  But I'm serious now.  And I really need your help!"

"You made your choice."  The old mare's horn lit up and Velvet felt herself being pushed by an invisible force.  "Please, I have students to teach that are dedicated to the craft and not looking for the shortest path."

"But—"

Shimmering turned back to the group of fillies, mares, and two colts that awaited her instruction.  "Good day, Miss Step."

Velvet opened her mouth to fight, but she quickly closed it.  She knew she had no good argument, and Shimmering had already gone back to her students.  The students who were dedicated.  Who weren't quitters.

Turning away and leaving the building with her jaw clenched, Velvet fought back the tears.  She wasn't a quitter!  At least, she wasn't anymore.  She was just lost.  Who could she turn to on such short notice?

Right then, she needed somepony to talk to, but her options were pretty limited.  Crystal had already given her a pep talk, and she didn't know any ballerinas that Velvet didn't already know.  Dawn was no help at all in this case.  That just left Nightingale.

Velvet's ears perked.  Nightingale!  She'd know somepony for sure!  Velvet smiled as her hooves started to carry her to Nightingale's apartment.  Of course, there was one teensy problem: she hadn't told Nightingale that she was planning on quitting yet.

Well, better now than never.  Assuming the mare was even home on a weekend.

As luck would have it—this time, anyway—when Velvet got to Nightingale's apartment and knocked, the door opened and the tawny brown mare smiled at her.

"Oh, hey, Velvet!"  Nightingale's smile widened.  "You look like you're feeling happier than the last time I saw you!  Come on in!  What's up?"

Velvet bobbed her head as she stepped inside.  "I, uh, I was wondering if you knew any good tutors."

Nightingale blinked.  "Huh?  What for?"

"Well, I guess I should start with that."  Velvet sat down on the couch and took a deep breath.  Once Nightingale was seated beside her, Velvet said, "I'm going to try out for the Royal Ballet."

"What?!"  Nightingale's ears perked straight up, then drooped.  "But that means—"

"Yeah."  Velvet rubbed the back of her neck.  "That means you and I can't hang out at work anymore."  She offered a light grin.  "Not unless you want to hop ship with me?"

Nightingale blinked a few times.  Finally, she giggled and shook her head.  "Oh, no, no, no.  I'm happy right where I am."

Velvet's grin fell.  "How can you be?  Perennial is the worst!"

"She's not—I mean, she's—Well, the thing is—"  Nightingale puffed out her cheeks and crossed her forelegs.  "Look, she's got her problems, but...  She works harder than the rest of us, you know."

Velvet just snorted and turned her head away.

Slowly, Nightingale relaxed against the couch and looked up at the ceiling.  "Are you really sure you want to do this?  I mean, the board offered you understudy, didn't they?  That's a pretty good deal."

"I'm sure.  I'm really, really sure."  Velvet twiddled her hooves.  "The problem is, I'm not sure I'm, you know, Royal Ballet quality."

"Oh!  Right!  That's why you asked for a tutor!"  Nightingale rolled her head to the side to look at Velvet.  "We can practice together, if you want.  Like we did for the Stepsisters."

Velvet sighed.  "No offense, but you and I are mostly equals, you know?  It's not that you're not talented, I just...  This is the Royal Ballet.  I need a tutor that's leaps and bounds above us."

One of Nightingale's hooves flew to her mouth to try and smother a giggling snort.

"What?"  Velvet raised her brow.  "What's so funny?"

"You realize there is a pony that completely fits that bill, right?"  Nightingale's hoof lowered to show a grin.

"Really?  Who?"  Velvet's ears wiggled when Nightingale just giggled again.  "I don't have any time to waste.  I need to ask them about it, like, yesterday."

Nightingale cleared her throat, her lips squirming as she tried to straighten her grin.  "When she's not being a cranky flank, you know, Perennial is an amazing dancer."

Whatever hope Velvet had felt came crashing down like a ton of bricks, and she glared at Nightingale.  "Seriously?  Nightingale, I'm serious!"

"I am, too!"  Nightingale scrunched up her nose.  "I'm totally serious!  You should go and ask Perennial."

"Right, because she would totally help me."  Velvet fell back against one of the cushions and rolled her eyes, ears folding back against her mane.  "I might as well just give up ballet entirely if that's my only option."

After a moment of tense silence, Nightingale said in a soft voice, "You never know.  She helped me when I started out at the company.  She's actually a pretty good teacher, even if she is kind of tough.  She just has really high standards."

Velvet stared at the far wall.  Her jaw was clenched tight—so tight she was actually a little concerned she might break a tooth.  With a derisive snort, she shook her head.  "Forget it.  Let's talk about something else."  She tried to lighten her tone, but the irritation still seeped through.  "How goes the hunt for a coltfriend?"

The sound of Nightingale's wings trying to flutter but limited by her leaning back on them responded, followed by a light giggle.

"That good, huh?"  Velvet grinned.  "Who's the current lucky stallion?"

"Oh, well, I wouldn't say he's lucky just yet."  Nightingale waved a hoof.  "We've only been on one date.  But he's really super hot.  So I agreed to a second one!"

Velvet's grin widened before she laughed.  "Wow, a stallion is actually going to make it past the first date?"

Nightingale beamed at her.  "Yup!  But it's all uphill from here if he wants a third one."  She poked Velvet's side.  "How goes your hunt for a... uh... companion... thing?"

"What?"  Velvet waved the offending hoof away.  "I'm not hunting for a companion!"

"Oh yeah?"  Nightingale sat up and leaned in toward Velvet, wiggling her ears.  "So you and Dawn are getting along?"

Velvet just frowned for a moment, then huffed.  "Sure, whatever!  Yeah.  Things are okay."

The mischief in Nightingale's tone faded.  "Just 'okay'?"

"Yeah?"

Nightingale hummed for a moment.  Her gaze drifted across the room before she pressed, "So, like, when you say 'just okay', does that mean you could be happier, but you're settling?"

What did that even mean?  Velvet furrowed her brow as she mulled it over.  "I don't know?  I don't think I'm settling.  I mean, we're not special someponies.  I see her, and I see other mares, too.  Things are 'just okay' because, I guess, I haven't found the right kind of mare for me."

"What kind of mares have you tried?"

Velvet leaned away from her.  "What is this, an interrogation?"

"Nope!"  Nightingale smiled.  "I just think I'm on to something.  I've been wondering about it for a while, actually.  So answer the question!"

"I, uh."  Velvet's gaze flickered away.  "The cute kind?"

Nightingale's smile widened into a grin.  "So you'd say that you've only been with wing ponies?"

Velvet paused.  "Well, I am a lead pony, so... ?"

"What if you're not?"  Before Velvet could reply, Nightingale straightened up.  "No, seriously!  What if you're not?  You always complain how you've never felt like how Dawn describes you make her feel.  Well, she feels that way because she has a pony like you taking care of her.  Have you tried being the little pony?"

"Of course not!"  Velvet puffed out her chest.  "Being the big pony is fun!  It's exciting when they blush and giggle and squirm.  I'm not good at any of those things.  How could I possibly be a wing pony?"

Nightingale shrugged as she stood and started over toward the kitchen.  "Fine, but it wouldn't kill you to try it for one night!  Just let go and let another mare take care of you, and see how it feels."  Her wings fluttered lightly.  "I know I really, really like it when a stallion takes care of me."

Velvet rolled her eyes.  She was no Dawn Walker.  How could she giggle and be flirted with and act all demure and shy?  That just wasn't her way of doing things!  Sure, it wouldn't kill her, but what was the point?

She gave a quick shake of her head and sighed.  Besides, she had much more important things to focus on that might actually kill her.  There was no way she could stand to spend more time with Perennial than already necessary.  And there was no way Perennial would agree to it in the first place!

But she was the best dancer Velvet knew.

And even though the guidance she barked out usually came with a bite, they had always perfected their routines by the time the performances came around.

Not to mention, with the auditions just a month away, did she really have time to waste on being stubborn?  If there was a chance Perennial would do it, then she would just have to find a way to survive.

Or, worst case, end up ruining her career in a blaze of glory by punching Perennial in the face after one too many snide remarks—and right then, that didn't seem like too bad of a worst case scenario.  What did she really have to lose?