Facades
Admittedly, Crystal had no idea how to react to the news. She certainly didn't feel glad or happy, but on the other hoof, what she had heard of Stratus Knight didn't give her an immediate feeling of sorrow. The emotion that did bubble to the surface after a moment of numbness, however, was sympathy.
"Why don't you come in and I'll make you some tea," Crystal said in a soft voice.
Winterspear drew a ragged breath and looked Crystal over, then shook her head. "No, I'm sorry. It looks like you have somewhere you were planning to go, I'll just—"
Crystal raised a hoof to interrupt her. "Right now, I think that somewhere is inside, making a cup of tea." She turned and started into the kitchen, her magic retrieving the kettle and starting to fill it with water.
A smile appeared and disappeared in a flash. "If you're sure..." Winterspear took a tentative step inside before walking in all the way and shutting the door behind her. "You look nice."
"Thank you," Crystal replied simply.
Winterspear sat on the couch and allowed her gaze to wander freely, almost nervously. Silence fell on them and seemed to grow too heavy because she blurted out, "I just ran away."
Crystal moved into the living room to settle on a pillow while the kettle heated up on the stove. "Hmm?"
Winterspear's ears flattened against her mane. "From my mother. I had to get away. I couldn't stand sitting at home with her another minute. She's so... so..." She groaned.
After a moment of recollection, Crystal offered, "Unfeeling?"
"Yes." Winterspear looked at her with a furrowed brow. "How did you know?"
Crystal drew a small circle in the fabric of the pillow beneath her. "I met her, while Silent Knight was in the hospital."
Winterspear paused, her gaze focused on nothing in the distance, and idly nodded. "Right, yes, you were there." She dropped her head, her mane falling into her face. "I just don't understand. How can she always be so okay with everything? Does she just not care?! Silent Knight, he—" Her breath hitched and a shudder ran through her. "He's going to be s-so upset!"
Crystal chewed on her bottom lip but remained quiet. Sometimes, it was better to say nothing at all.
A tear slid into view and down Winterspear's cheek before it fell onto the couch. At the sight of it, Winterspear jerked her head up, wiped at her eyes, and stared directly at Crystal with a hardened expression. "I can't stand it. I can't stand that he just gets to die and we're supposed to be okay with that and there's nothing I can do or say to change it! How am I supposed to protect Silent Knight from this?!"
Finally, Crystal spoke up to say in a soft voice, "I don't think you can."
The words struck a pained look across Winterspear's face. "But that's my job!"
A whistling sound from the kitchen drew their focus away, and Crystal went to attend to the kettle. She set out two teacups, added a green powder to them, then poured a few drops of hot water to make a pasty mixture before filling the cup.
While she did, Winterspear continued, "You don't understand. My—Our stupid father means—meant so much to Silent!" She flinched with every word that came out wrong and her gaze darted about in search of some kind of answer. "Despite everything he did to us, and now he's just—he's just gone. That's it. There's nothing I can do about it."
Crystal's magic set the cups of foaming green tea on the coffee table and she nestled back into her pillow, remaining otherwise quiet.
"And Mom, she just drops the news in my lap like he broke a leg or something again. But he's dead. She's not even crying! She's just sitting there, reminiscing on her life, talking about it like it's nothing." She slammed a hoof against the cushion. "How can she just be so calm?! Her husband's dead!"
"I'm sorry," Crystal said. She took in a deep breath, then let it out slowly. "I've not spent a lot of time with your mother, but when I first met her, I thought she was horrible for how little she seemed to care for Silent's wellbeing." She ducked her head, afraid of seeing Winterspear's face as she finished, "But she does. I don't know if that is any consolation, but after a while, I was left with the distinct impression that she cares."
Winterspear sneered, "It'd help if she acted like it." She picked up the tea cup in front of her, blew the steam away, and took a sip.
Crystal glanced up to watch as the tension visibly escaped the mare. Her wings were no longer tucked in close to her sides, her ears raised from their flattened position, and her jaw unclenched.
"What is this?" Winterspear asked, looking down at the vibrantly green liquid.
"Matcha tea." Crystal smiled "I learned how to make it in my first year of tea club. That was more ceremonial, though. This is my home version."
"It's good." Winterspear kept her gaze focused on her tea until she set the cup down and shook her head. "I'm sorry. I should go so you can get back to your life."
Crystal's smile fell into a firm, straight line. "This is my life." She paused, then quickly corrected, "I mean, supporting a friend. I would much rather be here to help you than off courting the socialites all evening." She rolled her eyes.
Winterspear sighed and stood. "I should still go. I just left Mom sitting there without saying anything." She rubbed the back of her neck. "I don't know what we're going to do about Silent Knight."
Crystal tilted her head, rising to her hooves as well. "Can't Iridescence get in touch with him?"
The feathers on Winterspear's wings raised and quivered slightly. "I don't know. I haven't really talked to her about it, yet, so..." Her gaze darted off to the side. "I don't know."
"Oh." Crystal blinked a few times. "Why not?"
Winterspear looked directly at her, as if weighing her very soul, then sat back down. "It might help to talk to somepony," she muttered, looking away again. "Do you know about Caramel Mint?"
Crystal hesitated to mull the name over before she finally shook her head. "I'm afraid I don't."
"The short of it is I was serious about her, and she hurt me pretty bad." Winterspear shook her head. "I thought I was over it when Iridescence and I started dating, but it just sits there in the back of my mind. I can't just forget it, and when I look at Iridescence, I sometimes just wonder how much time we have left together before it happens again." She raised the teacup and took a long, slow sip.
Crystal's expression softened. "Oh, Winterspear." She walked around the coffee table to sit beside her, placing one of her hooves on the mare's. "I can't begin to understand how you feel, and I won't pretend I do. But I can tell you that I'm terribly sorry."
Winterspear glanced at their touching hooves before raising her gaze to meet Crystal's. She stared at her for a while until she finally smiled and said, "It's okay. I think this is something I have to figure out for myself, but..." Her wings ruffled to shake out her nerves and she stood once again. "I think I just needed to tell somepony. But I really should get back to Mom." She started for the door, then paused to look over her shoulder. "Could you come over sometime soon? Mom might talk to you differently than she does to me."
"You mean without fighting?" Crystal lightly teased. As soon as she heard herself say the words, she froze, and her eyes widened. "I'm sorry, that—"
Winterspear interrupted her with a short bark of laughter. "No, no, no, don't apologize, you're right. I do mean without fighting." She waved a hoof and made for the door. "Good luck courting the socialites."
Crystal rubbed the back of her neck, laughing softly. "Thank you. I'll drop by tonight after the art show."
With a nod of the her head, Winterspear let herself out. Once the door shut behind her, Crystal slumped against the couch and released the mournful groan she had been biting back.
Silent Knight's father was dead, and he had no clue. It was such an unsettling notion that for a moment, nausea crept up from the pit of her stomach. She clenched her eyes shut and breathed in through clenched teeth, out through her nose. After breathing that way a few more times, she opened her eyes to stare at nothing in particular.
There was nothing she could do about it. All she could do was keep moving forward, so she pushed herself up off the couch and went into the bathroom to retouch her makeup and mane.
---
Crystal was only halfway to the art exhibit when her ankles threatened to give out. She was an absolute fool for thinking she could just jump into a pair of heels and walk her way across Canterlot. The first few blocks had been easy, but now it felt like a death march. The dread she was feeling for the event itself didn't help any, either.
"Miss Crystal?" called a voice from behind her. "Miss Crystal, wait up!"
Crystal stopped and turned her head, blinking at the sight of a red stallion trotting toward her. "Axel?"
Axel smiled as he drew closer. "I was hoping to surprise you. Your neighbor said you had left already... Glad I caught up with you." He turned to the side to swing the sulky he pulled behind him into view.
It was exactly as she had imagined: a shimmering white fabric covered the seat with gold and pink seams and her cutie mark was emblazoned on the sides. Simple and not over-the-top, but certainly an eye-catching statement piece.
Crystal's eyes went wide after she took the sight of it in. "You finished it?!"
Axel bobbed his head in a small nod. "Yup. You sent the payment in advance, and... I know Canterlot ponies have events all the time. I assumed you'd need it soon." He grinned sheepishly. "And it looks like I was right, huh? You look nice."
"Oh, thank you." Crystal giggled and pranced over to get a closer look, her ankle pain quickly forgotten. "How did you get it done so quickly, yet it looks so exquisite?"
"I got some help." He rubbed the back of his neck. "I'm not too great with all the decorative stuff. But there's lots of ponies that are pretty generous with their time... So, yeah, I got some help." He lifted his head to his full height. "Anyway, guess I'll be your driver for tonight. Don't want you to be late."
Crystal paused to lift each hoof individually, plucking off any dirt she could see with her magic, before she gingerly stepped onto the one-pony cart. "I would attempt to politely refuse your offer, but seeing as you made the journey out here and I'm already running later than I should be, I will gladly accept. Just keep going straight down this road, then take a right at the ballet studio."
Axel chuckled, checked the harness, then started forward. "Not a problem at all."
Despite the cobblestone street beneath them, the wheels glided smoothly with hardly any bouncing or rattling. "You are a master at your craft," Crystal commented in awe as she stared at the wheels. "How do you keep it from bouncing?"
Axel glanced over his shoulder and winked. "Trade secret."
Crystal giggled, straightening up to correct her posture. There was little sense in putting on a show of a custom sulky if she was just going to slouch. "You may want to stay for the event. It's an art exhibit. As long as you ignore the ponies, I'm sure it's wonderful."
"An art exhibit, huh?" Axel kept trotting forward. "I don't know."
"It shouldn't be too large of a crowd, if you're concerned about that." She glanced down at the wheels again, smiling with foal-like curiosity. "Though, if you'd like, I could drop your name and garner you some more business."
Axel shook his head. "No, that's all right. No offense, but... I don't much care for most Canterlot ponies. I prefer my Ponyville clients."
Crystal hummed in thought, then nodded. "That's all right. It will be more fun teasing about my secret sulky source." She giggled. "I really do appreciate this. Now, not to talk business when you're so kindly pulling me along, but how is Horsey's marriage carriage coming along?"
"Maybe halfway done." He bobbed his head. "I'll have it ready in time, for sure." As they turned the corner, the brightly lit building came into view. "That it up ahead?"
Crystal nodded. "Yes, it is."
He pulled up to the front of the building and slowed to a halt. Crystal paused to primp her mane casually before she stepped down from the sulky. With her nose in the air, she looked at Axel with a light smile. "Thank you, driver."
Axel blinked, then smiled and nodded. "No problem, ma'am."
Crystal turned her gaze to the ponies outside the art exhibit and simultaneously relished and hated the eyes on her. She got what she hoped for, but their greedy eyes and raised hooves to shield their gossip only reminded her of why she had stopped going in the first place.
The doors opened and Upper Crust trotted out. She stared at Crystal with clear disbelief on her face as she exclaimed, "Darling! I didn't expect to see you here!"
That was the other reason. Crystal kept her smile firmly in place. "Hello, Mother."
Upper Crust looked her over before her expression settled into that of mild interest. "You look well, darling." Her gaze fell to the sulky behind her. "My, my! Is that yours?"
"Yes, it is." Crystal tossed her gently curled mane over her shoulder. "I had it custom made, as you can see."
"Is that so?" Upper Crust turned and went back inside, her magic lightly gripping Crystal's hoof to force the mare to follow. "Jet Set, dear, look at this!"
"Yes, dear?" As he turned around, his expression brightened at the sight of Crystal. "Crystal! Fancy seeing you here!" He walked over, his glass of champagne levitating alongside him.
Upper Crust pawed at the air in Crystal's direction. "She's what all that ruckus was about, dear. She pulled up in a sulky. A custom one."
Jet Set smiled. "Is that so! Then I suppose we'll be seeing more of you from now on?"
Crystal lifted her shoulders and dropped them in a light shrug. "I suppose."
"You simply must come with me, then, darling," Upper Crust said with an airy, sweet cadence. "I will introduce you to all the ponies you should know."
"I—" Crystal snapped her mouth shut. Though she was loath to utter the words, her lips twitched into a smile and allowed her to say, "That would be most appreciated, Mother."
As they walked over to a group of ponies, Crystal saw it out of the corner of her eye. Her mother bobbed her head from side to side just ever so slightly. She jerked her gaze back forward and flashed a well-practiced smile at the ponies they approached while she tried to ignore the dread building in the back of her mind.
She could maintain the facade for one night a week. She'd done it all her life until she moved out, and that was not even three years ago. After all, her much-too-pleased-with-herself mother had ensured that she breathed the socialite world.
"Pardon my interruption," Upper Crust said and smiled when the three ponies turned their heads to look at her, "but my daughter has just arrived." She inclined her head to look at Crystal. "Darling, you remember Lyrica Lilac, surely?"
Crystal nodded. "Most certainly. How is your daughter faring as of late, Mrs. Lilac?"
The earth mare brushed back a blonde strand that had strayed from her carefully maintained pompadour, then smiled. "Oh, you know how the fashion world can be, cricket. Darling Au has just hit a bit of a rough patch, but I'm sure she'll be back in vogue soon."
Crystal didn't have to glance at her mother before Upper Crust tactfully explained, "Yes, it is dreadful for her that the crystal ponies have dominated the industry as of late."
Lyrica sighed and clicked her tongue. "I'm sure she'll make a wonderful comeback. Oh, cricket, have you ever met my brother, Sealed Scroll?" She looked at the stallion beside her.
"We have met before, I believe, albeit not formally introduced," Crystal said with a polite bow of her head. "It's a pleasure."
The stallion tossed his light blonde mane, which resembled a deflated version of his sister's pompadour. "No, no, the pleasure's all mine. You've grown into such a wonderful young lady, it seems."
"And this is my dear friend, Royal Ribbon," Lyrica said, turning her head to the mare standing at her other side. "She's Au's stylist, you know. Best in Canterlot."
Crystal kept smiling. It hurt to maintain it, but she wouldn't dare let it fall. "I did not know that. It's a—"
Upper Crust raised her nose as she interrupted, "My darling Crystal is a very popular author, you know."
Lyrica nodded. "That only seems fitting for such a thinky filly."
"And," she continued, pausing to examine her hoof, "as of late she has been in the familiar company of the Commander of Princess Luna's House Guard."
Crystal's blood ran cold when all three pairs of eyes turned on her with almost predatory interest. She wanted to grab her mother, shake her, and scream in her face for treating her relationship like a prop, but it was too late. Her smile tugged just a little wider to hide the rage boiling inside.
"What prestigious company you keep," Royal Ribbon purred. "Does that mean you spend time at the castle?"
"Oh, only as is appropriate," Crystal replied. She had to keep smiling. "Of course, to me, he is just a stallion."
Upper Crust huffed. "Darling, that's disrespectful to the owner of a Celestia Cross."
The eyes on her grew even more greedy. It was too late to back away now, however, so she shrugged and said, "I suppose, Mother." She made eye contact with Upper Crust and they both held firm, neither giving ground, both maintaining their trained smiles.
Just one night. That's all she had to endure. One long, painful night of being her mother's puppet.
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Oh, Crystal's mom using her daughter's relationship with SK as a status prop is something that only rich snobby jerks do. Oh wait, yeah that's right.
Don't worry Crystal, it's only one night. You don't have to endure it for much longer. I imagine Crystal will have some choice words for her mom when she gets an opportunity.
Oh also, thanks for letting my OC pull your character on her custom sulky Ms. Wishes. I didn't expect that. That was really nice.
Oh yes, I think I can take a guess at that "trade secret". 
Upper Crust is really good at the social game. I am not sure if going at Winterspear/Sk's mother place just after this is a good idea. She will be in a really bad mood
The time is right Crystal, your mother's 'friends' should hear about everything you write, perhaps recite a few choice lines to them. Or you can go check if your face glue is projecting the approved social look.
I... huh.
Really and truly, Upper Crust doesn't actually stand to gain that much by letting everyone know who Crystal is dating. Think about it:
If they want to try to get into the castle, they won't go to Upper Crust; they'll go to Crystal. They won't owe any favors to Upper Crust, but to Crystal. And no matter what, Crystal will get the recognition, and Upper Crust will be known only as her mother.
In her own, weird way, she really is trying to look out for Crystal, and make sure she doesn't want for anything.
It's sort of like your cat bringing you a dead bird. It's not because it wants to impress you; it's because it never sees you hunt and thinks you're incapable of feeding yourself.
Upper Crust never sees Crystal at these events, and just wants to make sure she doesn't get taken advantage of. It's a strange and kind of twisted love, but it's still love.
6282506
archive.desustorage.org/foolfuuka/boards/mlp/image/1417/27/1417279325908.gif
Another great chapter, Crystal.
6282506 Glad to see that I'm not the only one who thought of that. If we were face-to-face, I'd offer you a cookie. Without the sarcasm normally held in the gesture :P
I really liked Winterspear's reaction to what happened with Stratus and how her mother's handling it. There was just so much depth there, especially given what we know of her relationship with her father from Memoirs. Seeing how that's impacted her relationship with her mother is something I really can't wait to see.
Edit: forgot the gif I was gonna add here...
i.imgur.com/oh5boML.gif
As a side note, it amuses me that Crystal gets so mad at her mother, but as soon as she has to deal with a social situation she falls right into the habits her mother instilled in her. And they work. She's great at dealing with other people's issues and relationships, but as soon as it comes to actual romance--the one area her mother never trained her for--she falls apart.
6282506
I think that's always been one of my favorite things about Upper Crust. Despite how misguided she is (from Crystal's perspective), and how much you want to really dislike her at times, it's obvious that, in her own way, she really does care about Crystal. She's a really bad good parent, but she tries so hard you just can't hate her for it. There's a reason she's my favorite antagonist in the story, after all.
I've been looking forward to the moment when Crystal and her mother finally have a real talk about this stuff. There are a lot of things they're both missing about each other.
Oh, Winterspear! Older siblings and their habits, I suppose. The stallion in question IS a lieutenant, but of course, she still feels like she has to protect him. It would be funnier if it wasn't so heartbreaking. </3
Smart, smart pony. Consider this another red flag, Ms. Wishes. Not like you'll listen...
Speaking of not listening. *facehoof* Good instincts, bad decision. I love how even her own subconscious is telling her what a bad idea this all is.
Oh, oh eww. I know that was a play to get her mother to back off, but some things just shouldn't be said. What would happen if any of that got back to SK, eh? Spectacularly thoughtless. I have a feeling Crystal isn't as good at this game as she thinks she is and (possible spoiler prediction) I can only hope her social chessmaster of a mother has one of her rare decent moments at just the right time. This has all the hallmarks of blowing up in somepony's face.
All that just so Crystal can be a proper Canterlot mare for Silent? It's only been a couple day, but does she remember who he is?
I kinda' hope that the story ends when Lovey is just about to enter the pool for some reason, and another pink hoof lashes out and grabs her hoof.
"You really, really don't want to do that," says Pinkie.
Lovey and Pinkie stare at each other for a long, tense moment, expressionless.
"Okay!" says Lovey, gleefully.
"Yay!" shouts Pinkie.
The End.
I think the most telling part of this chapter is this little line right here:
Well said, Crystal. You made your choice to court real friends and relationships, and you have been blossoming because of it. It's too bad that you think that you must return to the sty for the good of your beloved. That has the beginnings of resentment built into it.
6282506 I never would have looked at Upper's motivation that way. However, it is also possible that she hasn't thought about that consequence. Pride is like that. Short term thinking, life-long regrets.
6282825
I don't know. If you look at past interactions, Upper Crust has never said that going to an event or meeting a pony was important for them. She's always said it was important for Crystal specifically.
"You need to attend"
"You need to meet"
"You need to be ready"
Remember Blueblood? She was trying to hook Crystal up because she thought she'd be taken care of and never have to worry about anything; she'd even be able to focus completely on her writing without fear of starving! Her confidence was shaken because of how badly she'd sussed him out; what other mistakes had she made?
But now, Crystal has things under control, and she even appears to want to do this high society stuff. Upper Crust was selling, you notice, Crystal's merits rather than the family's. Her daughter has shown that she wants to do things on her own, and Upper Crust will allow her to do that.
But surely there's no harm in giving her little girl an advantageous starting position, right?
Lovey Dovey with a mirror pool....
RUN FOR YOU LIVES! IT'S THE END OF THE WORLD AS WE KNOW IT!
Or actually.... I'd probably be the guy hiding on the rooftop watching in morbid curiosity as to what happens when that mare has more multiples of herself... 
TBH, at this point I don't think there is anything Upper Crust could do that wouldn't just make me tell her to piss off. I can't stand people like her, even if she is doing something good for Crystal in the end.
I love these two fics it is like reading the game Tails of Xillia with them a bit staggered. Get to see what each character is doing when they are separated from eachother. Praise Luna I need to finish that game, but I am playing Ocarina of Time and FFX. Still not seeing why Crystal thought this all was a good idea.
I'm not sure which idea i like more; that Upper Crust has been trading on her Daughters name to stay relevant or that she's been cataloguing Crystals social accomplishments in the faint hope Crystal ever showed up again.
Talk about a bipolar chapter. Starts off sad about Silents dad. I.. cant really find fault with winterspear's actions. her mother does come across as extremely cold at times. Though that is no fault of her own. Then it was happy with seeing Axel and stuff getting there to help her.. and then... -sighs- Her mother. I have to give her abit of credit she does seem pretty well connected to know whats going on with her daughter even before she tells her. But dropping that much of a info bomb and trying to use it is no good. Not good at all. I have a feeling Crystal may lash out at her mom before the night is over.
Wow, lots of thumb-ups on comments this chapter. And also lots of great comments, but that's not out of the ordinary for you folks.
6282336 Thank you for being a supporter! I hoped you won't mind the position of cart puller, but the scene just looked too perfect in my mind!
6282369 Years and years of practice! And, yes, it's usually not a good idea to enter potentially hostile territory after a frustrating evening.
6282468 I'm sure she'd be fine with sharing anything that C.W. Step has written... Actually, given the audience, maybe that's still not safe territory for sharing!
6282506 Even though I already gave this a gif response, it still warrants a happy face.
Look at you, being a thinky filly!
6282553 Thank you!
6282593 Do I get a cookie, too?
6282604 I'm so glad the part with Winterspear didn't get overshadowed by the part with Upper Crust, because that was of equal importance. It was a fun challenge to try to write the multiple layers of emotions that are clouding Winterspear's mind as all this is going on. Also love your thoughts about Crystal and Upper Crust... Hah! Antagonist, indeed.
She's certainly well disliked!
6282653 No matter how big your little sibling gets, they're still your little sibling! As for your other points about things blowing up in her face... Well, it won't be an Acme moment where soot is all in her face and her mane blown back, but I also wouldn't say the unease y'all feel about the down-the-road problems this might bring up are too far off the mark.
6282779 Welp, folks, forget what I was going to write. Minfic achieved!
6282825 Happy that line got a little comment love. It was an earnest, kneejerk response, and those are indeed always the most telling.
6282918
6283260 What could possibly go wrong?!
6283517 Upper Crust is definitely not a well-liked character across the readers, so you're definitely not alone in that. As for Stratus... Well, when you decide to read Memoirs, and especially Secrets, I think it'll give you some good insight there.
6283580
Poor Crusty!
6283588 It is pretty fun to show what Anzel doesn't and vice versa! And, well, Crystal thinks she's doing the right thing. Potentially (probably) misguided, but her heart's in the right place. That counts for something... doesn't it?
6283610 Day 237... She published another short story. Seems to be well-received. Added to the scrapbook with two and a half star stickers. .....
Upper Crust doesn't keep a baby album. She keeps an accomplishments album! I like the idea!
6284052 Given Crystal's general feelings for her mother, I would say you're right on the money that the evening won't end without some sort of fight. If it ruins her chances at social acceptance, I think most readers would be happy about that.
6284100 I think thats what me and most everyone is hoping for. for it to blow up in Upper Crusts face. On the off hand though, I do like her father as a character. He aint really as bad as her mom.
6284100
Yeah, had to be sure I mentioned this. Screwed up the game title it is Tales of Xillia, not Tails of Xillia. Had to get that out. Yeah the way these fic's are is pretty awesome. Also anyone with a ps3 should check out the game it is pretty good, easily an 8/10 jrpg.
6284100 Silly, Crystal! The writer doesn't get a cookie! The readers get cookies for picking up on it!
"accidentally" drops a box of cookies
6284100
No backing out when this wins, you must tackle the questions of existence. When a pony enters the pool and two emerge do they share the same lines proving they truly are the same pony, do they have separate lines meaning the pool is literally creating new life, or is the clone not connected to anypony showing them to be the abomination we fear them to be?
Lovey Dovey and the Mirror Pool: Tangled Lines
Lovey Dovey and the Mirror Pool: Brother by Another Mother
Lovey Dovey and the Mirror Pool: Die Die Die Die!
6284142 Actually, I don't know if it'll fully satisfy your curiosity, but the story will actually very much rely on love lines as a plot point.
This was originally going to be a silly standalone story that isn't canon, but I couldn't quite flesh it out into a full-fledged short story, so I tossed it into the minific pile. Currently planning for it to be a two-parter, but we'll see where the muse takes me!
Good reaction, Crystal.
Wow, I wasn't expecting the first part of this chapter to hit me quite like it did. Makes me wonder how I'd react in a similar circumstance.
Axel to the rescue!
Oh man, so of course the first pony Crystal runs into is her mother, who immediately uses all those tidbits about Crystal in the status game. Well, at least she didn't know enough about the direct friendship with Luna to make a mess with that too. I suppose participating in high society means you get to experience the sorts of ponies you find in high society.
6284100
I think it'll be particularly interesting to see her involvement in the next few chapters since we'll be seeing her directly alongside Stratus. They're both antagonistic characters, but they're cut from very different cloths. Maybe it'll even get some of these haters to see that Upper Crust, for all her faults, isn't really a bad person.
Nice. I'm interested to see how Crystal played off the palace visitation bits. She could easily have trumped it up, but didn't. Partially to get back at her mother, since she doesn't feel her private life is her mother's concern. However, as time progresses, if she keeps these social events up, her access will be noticed at some point.
YAY! POLITIC AND NOBLES!
6282918
You nailed it! You perfectly interpreted Upper's motivation/intention.
I knew that even as I typed in my rebuttal hypothesis. But I thought I should give my train of thought, even if it was weak and unsupported.
And then you have to go and beautifully support your point... Because apparently you weren't so obviously correct enough already.
TeachersAuthor's pet!You do know we aren't getting graded, don't you?
(yes, I'm just insanely jealous that I didn't think of it first)
6285177
Son, I write fan fiction of this fan fiction, on top of my water-tight analysis and writing Crystal's most favorite version of King Sombra ever.
Just give it up, kid. You don't stand a chance against me! This isn't even my final form!
6284224 If you weren't expecting it to get to you and it did, then I am going to have a victory milkshake.
In my head, as Crystal pulled up, the grapevine activated immediately. "Hey, there's a mare coming up the road!" "Who?" "I don't know, but she's in sulky with a brand icon I've never seen before, a heart with a quill? Anyone know that designer?" "No, hey, you, do you know of a designer with a heart and quill logo?" "No... hey, you..." Upper Crust overheard and went to the front doors kind of like an excited puppy. Okay, maybe not, but I like the mental image of that better than her casually standing by the door and peering out.
6284311 Hahah! "Get some haters" Haters gonna hate... Upper Crust's gonna ...... crust?
Okay, that didn't work out right. I am glad, though, that there are varied reactions and opinions of her. It keeps things interesting and means I'm doing my job right!
6284429 You are right... The more she presents herself, the more of her is presented. I don't know if she's fully realized the complete implications of her actions!
6285006 YAY! Aren't they so fun?
6285177 Now, now, you're both equal and valid individuals... Wait... Graded? Oh, right, hey! I was giving out points for a while! Thanks for the reminder!
6285200 +10pts for your analysis, +10pts for making me laugh because this will further annoy fastbike.
6285643
You can say what you want about Horsey's name, but I still say that dear old "Crusty" has the most unfortunate nickname.
Good to see that this event is not a disaster so far.
New vocabulary added: pompadour
6282506 I'd upvote you, but I'm on my phone. I'll remember to do it tomorrow.
6285643 The comments section of this story should be titled "Trolling Wishes" By Crystal Krusk
6285200
It was nice to see the Crystal and Winterspear being good friends. In-laws are very important in a long lasting relationship. Now on that note, Upper Crust is being mean. I understand why Crystal is putting up with her, but jezz. I wonder who long before Crystal sees the similarities between herself and her mom. Her Mom wanted to socialize so she could fit in. Crystal wants to socialize so everyone will know who she is with (Please phrase that better for me, it came out wrong.) You can't help but see the parallel there.
Jeez. Crust is rather overbearing, isn't she? Oh well, on to the next cha-
... I caught up? ... I caught up! Woo! After nearly a week of burst reading(and that entire night of marthon reading back in the beginning), I finally reached the most recent chapters!
6286975
....
I can't exactly blame you
..
6286490 Hehehe, I look at her mindset/reasoning as... "She wants to be the pony at Silent's side everypony should know, and therefore reflect well on him." I'm not saying her reasoning is correct or valid, just that's what's going on in her head.
6288009 You caught up!
Welcome to the end of the road. Pull up a chair. It'll be a while. ... And by while, I mean I'll be posting an update sometime today!
Crystal... seriously...
quickmeme.com/img/a9/a976c58ec5c0dbc0fb5ab16f05c8a61a512d8acc4b58d3692703464fb6f4cbac.jpg
Oh Crystal! I have the feeling that you are turning into your mother! Upper Crust changed for Jet Set and i don't want you to make the same mistake!
Not nearly as disrespectful as using it as a means to garner status.
I love Upper Crust, but, bigods, I hate Upper Crust.
You've managed in a few short sentences to not only rekindle that, not only bring it to flame, not only burn it brighter, but make it incadescent. Boiling Rage, indeed.
It is impressive and distressing to see how readily Crystal goes back to Canterlotting when under durress.
every time Jet Set and Upper Crust appear, i think of this scene:
specifically, those two ponies who insult Rarity's friends then do a complete about-face when Fancy Pants says he likes them...
Ooh, I have some veeery unpleasant words for Uppity Crunch here...
Fortunately, I too have been trained in wording insults correctly to the situation, so I don't think I'd make too much of a scene.
And so begin the Friday night dinners. Just as tooth-grindingly masterful as I remember. We'll see what's to come on the next episode of Gilmore Mares!
Aww, I really do like Axel in this. I hope he shows up some more.