Silver Spoon, desperate to avoid losing to Sweetie Belle, resolves to become a musical prodigy. Hijinks ensue.
Silver Spoon prides herself on being the best at everything. She's the richest foal in school, and the prettiest, and the wittiest, and the smartest... and if you don't believe that, you can just ask her. However, when she overhears Sweetie Belle singing to her sister, she quickly realizes that her own musical efforts are inferior to that of an annoying blank flank. There is only one thing for her to do -- before Sweetie Belle's debut, Silver Spoon must surpass her in music! It will be a wild adventure, and while Silver Spoon might not quite be able to achieve the virtuosity she desires in two short days, she may well learn a few things regardless... and she might just make a few friends while she's at it.
A story of the Cadanceverse, but it does not require prior knowledge of the verse.
Silver Spoon smiled as she rose out of bed and rubbed her eyes. The week had ended at last and two days of freedom stretched out before her, two days with no obligations and endless possibilities. Her homework had been completed the previous evening, her mane styling had been taken care of the day before that, and she had successfully wheedled her father into talking to the Scoutmaster of the local Filly Scouts and getting the boring 'how to identify plants' lesson rescheduled to half past never. She had no obligations or duties whatsoever, and, therefore, had the ability -- nay, the duty -- to indulge herself in her favorite pasttime.
That was, of course, enjoying herself to the fullest.
Silver Spoon trotted downstairs and looked around her house with approval. The Silver mansion was one of the biggest homes in Ponyville, extending three stories above ground and containing over twenty separate rooms. Silver Spoon loved each and every one of them, especially the living room, where many of the family's treasures were on display. She liked to relax on the plush carpet, reading a comic book or munching on a cupcake, and glance up at the silver figurines, jewelry, and utensils that lay on the shelves of the room. When it was hot out and the sun streaming through the window was uncomfortable, she would retreat under the large grand piano and play there, feeling like she had a fancier umbrella than any other pony in town. It was a good house, Silver Spoon thought. It was the kind of house she deserved.
The foal reached the dining room and rang her little silver bell to summon Betty Buttle, her servant. Betty was a brown-coated, tan-maned unicorn who had waited on Silver Spoon ever since she was a little foal; she was practically a member of the family. Silver Spoon approved of this, not in the least because she happened to know that Diamond Tiara could rarely keep a maid or servant for more than three months before they resigned and went to work somewhere less stressful. "A bowl of oats and honey," she ordered. "With a glass of orange juice, a dish of strawberries, and a chocolate candy bar."
"Yes, Miss Spoon," said Betty, scurrying away.
"And bring me the comics section of today's paper!" Silver Spoon said. "I want to see if Cobalt Cat finally caught Mauroon Mouse."
"Yes, Miss Spoon."
Silver fidgeted as the dishes were brought out. There were so many things she could do that day; she could play with Diamond Tiara in the park, or have a snack in Sugar Cube Corner, or beg her father to take her on the train to Canterlot so she could do some serious shopping. The latter option was looking quite attractive; she had noticed, in school the other day, that Apple Bloom had shown up with a fancy new saddlebag clasp, one made of silver and gold worked together and then painted into the shape of an apple. It wasn't superior to Silver Spoon's own saddlebag clasps, of course, but it did come a tiny bit closer than the gray filly would prefer. Besides, she'd been wanting to go back to Tiffaneigh's for quite some time now anyway. Most of her jewelry was made there -- especially her trademark pearl necklace -- and she was eager to have a new piece.
"Will there be anything else?" asked Betty.
"Get my saddlebags ready," instructed Silver Spoon. She decided that she'd split the difference. She would walk through Ponyville now, while most of her loser classmates were still asleep, and enjoy the solitude. Maybe she would even be able to relax at the park all by herself for a little bit, looking at the pretty birds and butterflies without that Scootaloo brat scattering them as she raced by, or Ditzy Doo flying down to greet her daughter and crashing into a bird's nest. Silver's father would wake up in an hour or so, so Silver Spoon would return then and put on her best 'You want to give your daughter what she deserves' face. In a short time, she'd be en route to Canterlot, where her new saddlebag clasp awaited.
Her plans decided, Silver Spoon polished off the rest of her breakfast and trotted to the closet where she kept her jewelry and other accessories. She was the daughter of Sterling Silver and the finest foal in Ponyville; she had to look the part. As such, she quickly sorted through the necklaces, earrings, hats, and other items until she had decided on the perfect outfit for the day. Pearl necklace, silver mane clasps, and... the blue glasses, the ones that go so well with my coat. She picked the items up gently in her mouth and carried them to the door, feeling happy. She'd look wonderful in these -- exactly as she should.
At last, she reached the door. Betty gently levitated the saddlebags onto her back and helped her get her accessories on. This done, Silver Spoon bid her goodbye, then headed out into the brighty, sunny day.
This is a beautiful morning, she thought. It's like it was made for me. I certainly deserve it, anyway. I'm the greatest filly in Ponyville, after all. She smiled. Now. I've got some serious butterfly-watching to do before I head into Canterlot. Time to go!
And with those thoughts, she went off into the streets of Ponyville.
***
My little pony... Ah ah ah... (My Little Pony) Friendship sounded so off-key to me. (My Little Pony) But now you're here, and now I see... A loyal backing Honest melodies! Songs to share With loving harmonies! Joyous dance -- Such a lovely feat -- And magic makes the perfect beat! You are my little ponies... Friends make the best music of all!
***
The streets of Ponyville were fairly quiet. It was early in a weekend morning, after all, and most of the foals were still tucked into their beds. A few adults were around, but not many. As such, Silver Spoon could enjoy the sweet morning air without being bothered by anypony else.
"Help!" somepony cried.
For the most part.
Frowning, Silver Spoon cantered forwards and reached the park. Looking before her, she saw the lake in the center of the park, and a dripping wet foal climbing out of it. Several birds were sitting on nearby branches, tweeting and chirping their obvious amusement.
"You're mean, birds!" complained the foal, rising up from the muddy bank and trying to shake her coat out. "It's not my fault newspaper doesn't float!"
Silver Spoon stared. "What are you doing, Sweetie Belle?"
The white-coated foal turned to look at the newcomer. "Oh! I wanted to sail out across the lake, but my newspaper boat got flooded." She shook a few scraps of newspaper off of her tail, splashing Silver Spoon in the process. "Oh well. Maybe next time I'll use construction paper instead. That's thicker--"
Sllver Spoon was already rolling her eyes. "Paper doesn't float," she interrupted. "If you want to make a boat, have your sister buy a barrel of cider or something and cut it in half along its length." She trotted by Sweetie Belle and gracefully reclined on one of the park benches. "That's how I'd do it." Now go away!
Sweetie Belle's eyes darted about as she thought this over. "Hey, you're right!" she said. "The barrels must already be waterproof because they hold cider without leaking! That's amazing!" She grinned. "Thanks!"
Silver Spoon made a polite noise of acknowledgement and trotted over to a bench. Stretching out on it, she opened her saddlebag and came up with a small juice carton that Buttle had packed her. "You're up early."
"Oh, Rarity was having some clients over for breakfast. And... well, the last time she had clients over I kind of set the kitchen on fire." Sweetie Belle blushed. "So I decided I'd go out until they left." She sat down on the grass, letting a butterfly fly forwards and land in her mane. "You're up early too."
"I always get up at this time," said Silver Spoon, with a mixture of pride and smugness saturating her voice. "I have a lot to do."
"What do you have to do?" asked Sweetie Belle.
Silver Spoon wondered for a moment if she should tell the other foal to go away, but decided against it. As long as they were discussing her, and her greatness, Sweetie's presence was tolerable. "Many things," she said. "I go all over town and I do all the things I need to do. I couldn't possibly get it all done if I slept in like most other foals." She began to count activities off on her hooves. "Sometimes I go in early to the stylist to get my mane and coat ready for class, and sometimes I read, and sometimes I go through my daddy's business and make sure the early employees are doing their jobs..."
Sweetie Belle chuckled. "You do a lot! Do you ever study in the mornings?"
"When I need to."
Sweetie Belle giggled. "I bet that's how you scored second in Miss Cheerilee's class!"
"First," corrected Silver Spoon.
"Oh. I thought Twist was first."
"Twist--" Silver Spoon bit back an angry insult. It would be beneath her dignity to lose her temper for the sake of a lisping blank flank whose coat usually smelled of cheap peppermint and sugar. "Twist did better than me on one test," she said. "And that was the one right before Miss Cheerilee announced validictorian and salutatorian for last month. I've already bounced back."
"Uh huh." Sweetie Belle's tone seemed unconvinced, but Silver Spoon reminded herself not to get too angry. "Well... does it really matter?"
"Of course it matters," snapped Silver Spoon. She stretched out a hoof in order for a butterfly to land on it. "Being the best is what's expected of me. I'm the daughter of Sterling Silver, the greatest pony in Ponyville--"
"Except for Rarity!" Sweetie Belle interjected.
Silver Spoon restrained herself from rolling her eyes. "The greatest stallion in Ponyville, then. I'm going to inherit his business one day. I need to be the smartest, cleverest, best-est pony around." She rolled onto her back, letting the sun play over her face. "That way, I'll be able to do as well as he did. Besides, if I did any less I wouldn't be living up to my 'potential.'" She wasn't quite sure what a potential was, but she knew that she had to live up to it. It's probably a really big tree.
"Best-est at what?"
"Everything."
"You can't be the best at everything," Sweetie Belle objected. "I mean, what if I want to be the best at something?" The white-coated foal climbed up on the bench and poked Silver Spoon. "I could be the best at lots of things! Like -- like, my special talent!"
Silver Spoon raised an eyebrow. "Which is?"
The other foal blushed. "I don't really know yet..."
"Well, I'm the best even at things that aren't my special talent. I mean, I'm great at appraisal, but I'm really good at school and sports and going into the woods and looking pretty and all kinds of things." She grinned. "Maybe I have some competition from the foals that found their cutie marks, but not really. And the ones that haven't... well, no offense, but it goes without saying."
Sweetie Belle frowned and looked down.
Silver Spoon recalled her father saying that it was important to be gracious and kind to those you surpassed. "Well, don't worry. There's no shame in being beaten by the best."
Sweetie Belle said nothing.
Guessing that the discussion on the greatness of Silver Spoon had just about run its course, the gray-coated foal yawned. "Now, if you don't mind -- I have a lot of butterfly watching to get in before I go to Canterlot today. My daddy's going to be buying me a new saddlebag clasp." She grinned. "Only the best for his daughter."
"Yeah," said a dispirited Sweetie Belle. "I'm... I'm gonna go home."
Silver Spoon waved her off as she looked at the birds, which were tweeting to each other. I wonder if birds have special talents? I bet Miss Cheerilee would know.
When she next looked down, Sweetie Belle was gone.
***
Silver Spoon saw thirty-three butterflies in the hour she spent at the park. As far as she knew, that was a town record. Hah. And Snails bragged about catching over a hundred ants last month. Ants are easy. Butterflies are graceful, and ladylike, and very shy -- and I saw over thirty. If my special talent wasn't appraisal, I bet I'd be a great bird- and bug-watcher.
The foal got up and stretched, then languidly began to head back to her home. More ponies were out and about now, and the streets were beginning to bustle with the cries of ponies in the market and the snapping and rustling of clothes being taken out to dry. In fact, more ponies than usually were up, which Silver Spoon attributed to the beautiful weather of the day. Maybe after Daddy takes me to Tiffaneigh's in Canterlot, we can go through one of the big parks there. The flowers are really pretty on days like this.
"Why, I never!"
Silver Spoon recognized the voice as belonging to Rarity, the pony who seemed to think that she could enter the upper crust of Equestrian society. Funny, I thought Sweetie Belle said that she had clients over. Maybe she's mad at them? Chuckilng to herself, Silver Spoon began cantering over to Carousel Boutique. This could make for a great story to tell Diamond Tiara...
The back window was open, and Silver Spoon poked her head inside. Rarity was there, sitting on a cushion, stroking Sweetie Belle's mane with a telekinetically-held brush. "That was awful of her! Sweetie, you know that you're good at a great many things, don't you? You're the kindest, cutest, sweetest..."
"Those aren't real things!" said Sweetie Belle. "I'm not good at anything. I don't even have my cutie mark yet. Ponies like Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon got theirs months ago! Years, for some of them!"
Silver Spoon nodded to herself. She was pretty sure that she was, in fact, the first pony of Cheerilee's class to get her mark. (Snails claimed to have gotten his two weeks earlier, but Silver Spoon wasn't sure Snails was smart enough to understand concepts like 'time.') However, she stopped nodding a moment later. Wait. Is she complaining about me to her sister? After I was so nice to her?!
"That doesn't matter. Even without a cutie mark, you're still a very talented pony." Rarity got up on all fours, then levitated Sweetie Belle onto her back. "Would a pony ride make you--"
"I'm too old for those."
"How about a darling new hat? Would that cheer you up?"
"Nope." Sweetie Belle hopped off of Rarity and buried her face in a pillow.
"Alright... then, why don't you sing to me?"
Sweetie Belle blinked. "Sing?"
Silver Spoon was similarly confused. Since when can she sing? Cheerilee had music tryouts a few weeks ago, and Sweetie Belle didn't even go!
"Yes." Rarity smiled. "I just spent all breakfast convincing a trio of ponies to use my outfits for their next social ball in Canterlot. I feel exhausted. I could really use a nice piece of music to get back on my hooves, but my record-player's all the way upstairs." She poked Sweetie Belle. "And I know that's one thing you're very good at, Sweetie Belle."
"Well..." Sweetie Belle smiled a little. "Alright..."
This'll be a disaster, thought Silver Spoon. I wish I was recording this...
Sweetie Belle cleared her throat, took a deep breath, and began to sing:
"Hush little filly, don't say a word. Sister's gonna buy you a mockingbird. And if that mockingbird won't sing-- Sister's gonna buy you a diamond ring."
Her voice was sweet, soft, and perfectly pitched. Silver Spoon's mouth dropped. Her father routinely took her to classical recitals, and while Sweetie obviously wasn't as good as professional musicians, it was undeniable that she had a lot of talent. Training, no, she wasn't doing anything technically complicated and her stage presence was atrocious (she even seemed to be cringing away from Rarity at first, as if a critic was going to rush in and bonk her on the head with a bad review), but talent...
Immense talent.
"And if that diamond ring turns brass. Sister's gonna buy you a looking glass. And if that looking glass gets broke. Sister's gonna buy you a prettty cloak."
Silver Spoon sank down on her haunches. This was impossible. Sweetie Belle was a good musician (For a foal! she insisted to herself), and she... well. Silver Spoon had never been much for music. That hadn't mattered when the most musical foals in school were Bebop, who pounded on everything she could and called the noise 'drum tracks', and Scootaloo, whose bongo solo had been shut down by Miss Cheerilee for reasons of general sanity, but this was different. Sweetie's music wasn't just noise. It was real. And that meant...
"And if that pretty cloak gets torn, Sister's gonna buy you a rose with no thorns. And if that rose with no thorns wilts brown Sister's gonna buy you the best cake around."
It's not possible! I'm supposed to be the best! I study more and I do more and I'm BETTER than all the other idiots in my class! Silver Spoon almost punched the house before remembering that she was secretly spying on the two unicorns. It's not fair! It's not right! It's--
"And if the best cake around gets ate Sister's gonna get you a piece of eight. And if that piece of eight falls down..." Sweetie Belle smiled, took a big breath, and grinned. "You'll still be the sweetest big sister in town."
Rarity hugged Sweetie Belle tightly. "Sweetie, that was lovely!"
"Aw..."
"No, it was. And I'll bet you every hat in this shop that Silver Spoon can't do anything even a tenth as good as that."
The two were hugging, but Silver Spoon ignored them. She was beginning to sweat. I have to stop this! I have to do something! I--
"I just wish other ponies knew," Sweetie Belle was saying. "But I'm too shy--"
"Well, how about this? Tootsie Flute just got her cutie mark, and she's having a cutecenara tomorrow. You're friends with her, so why don't you ask her to let you sing a song?" Rarity grinned. "I'll be there, right by your side, and all your friends will support you! It will be a wonderful opportunity!"
"But... but the crowd..."
"Dear, I personally promise you that I will ensure nopony says a word against you. And besides, a voice as pretty as yours deserves to be heard in public!"
"Well..."
"And how about this? I'll arrange for you to sing for Octavia -- Princess Cadance's music student -- right before. If she likes it, she can be there too, to support you. With me and her on your side, who would possibly say anything mean?"
Sweetie Belle was silent for a long moment. Silver Spoon shut her eyes. Say no, you blank flank. Say no, you're shy, and for good reason, so say no...
"Alright! I'll do it!" said Sweetie Belle. "I'll sing!"
"Wonderful! Now, I've got this lovely cutecenara dress for you..."
"Hey! Was this just an excuse to put me in a frilly dress?"
"No, of course not! But why waste the opportunity?" And then the sisters were laughing.
Silver Spoon ignored this. She stepped away from Carousel Boutique, eyes flashing. No. I cannot let this happen. I can't let her -- her! A blank flank! -- beat me!
She nodded fiercely to herself.
Alright. There's only one thing to do. Before that cutecenara tomorrow... I need to get better at music than Sweetie Belle!
Silver Spoon reached her home and banged through the doors. She usually took care to move with the grace and poise that a pony like her was supposed to demonstrate, but she was too impatient to focus on such things. If she was going to surpass Sweetie Belle and regain her rightful place, she couldn't waste time with things like gently shutting doors. "Daddy!" she called. "Daddy, are you awake?"
"In here, my little gem!"
Silver Spoon hurried into the dining room, where she saw her father reading his morning papers. Sterling Silver's eyes flicked between the business sections of the Canterlot Times, the Manehattan Chronicle, and some Fillydelphia paper that Silver Spoon didn't know. There was also a geology magazine, open to an article on the Castplay Mountains. No sooner had Silver Spoon entered the room, though, that her father looked up from his papers and his morning oats and turned to his daughter. "Silver! Come here." He gestured, and a servant stepped out of the corner of the room and slid a chair out for her. "How are you today?"
"I'm doing very well, daddy," said Silver Spoon. She sat in the chair and looked at the papers for a few moments. "Are you looking to buy a new a new garnet mine?" Sterling Enterprises was one of the largest dealers in raw and uncut gems and precious metals, and it sold tons and tons of materials to the jewelers and cutters who would turn them into the fashion statements and accessories of the nation. Its mineral and gem holdings were practically unfathomable, but, as Sterling often said, that was no reason to stop expanding. He was always looking for property that could turn a profit, and Silver Spoon knew it.
"Yes," said Sterling. He blinked. "Er, how...?"
"Garnets are popular in Fillydelphia, and red in general is fashionable in Manehattan right now," said Silver Spoon. She smiled, always happy for any chance to demonstrate her intellectual abilities. "And Sterling Enterprises bought three of its last four mines in the Catsplays. So, when I saw what you were reading, it was simple."
Sterling nodded. "Exactly right." He smiled. "You're very familiar with the family business. Well done."
Silver Spoon beamed. Let's see any other foal in town do that! she thought. Now, what else can I figure out? Observing that her father was unshaven, and thus not presentable for company or public viewing, she declared, "And I suppose you're planning to stay in today and research the mine?"
Her father blinked. "Actually, I was going to suggest that we went up to Hoofington. There's a gem show there where I could buy you a bracelet to go with the earrings your Aunt Emerald gave you last week." He paused, and then seemed to guess Silver Spoon's thought process. "Oh, I haven't shaven yet because my razor dulled. I need to buy a new one."
The foal immediately looked away. "Right."
"Don't worry, my little gem. It was a good guess." Her father smiled. "But I'm sure you don't want to talk about business or my personal affairs; that's for adults, and you're still a foal -- no doubt you care more about running around and playing with your friends!" He folded up one of the papers. "Any big adventures planned for today? Are you and Diamond Tiara going to do anything fun?"
"Not today," said Silver Spoon.
"Do you want to go up to Hoofington, then? We could go shopping, and I could take you to that little Prench bakery I know you like." Sterling winked. "I'll let you get a double-chocolate croissant as a reward for all your hard work in school. How does that sound?"
It did sound good to Silver Spoon, but she refused to let this tempt her. "Actually, I had another idea."
"What is it?" Sterling waved for the servant to bring him more orange juice. "Going to try starting another business like that fruit juice stand?"
The foal flushed. She didn't like thinking about her first failed venture, although it had at least taught her a lot about monopolies and why you shouldn't call your only supplier a 'blank flank noodle-nose.' Stupid Apple Bloom. "Actually, I decide that I want to learn to play an instrument." She nodded. "I'd like to start music lessons today."
"That sounds like a wonderful idea!" said Sterling Silver. "I think you would really enjoy lessons. I've always known you had an artistic bent."
Silver Spoon recovered her smile.
"I think Bluenote has a few openings; I'll leave her a message today. What instrument do you want to play?" Sterling began to make a note on a little sheet of paper. "If it's piano, I can ask Medley to come tune up the grand. If not, we can go later and I can buy you whatever you want."
Silver Spoon paused, one word of her father's speech sticking in her mind. "Bluenote?"
"You're always talking about how much you like her music. She teaches foals too, so I think she'd be a perfect match." Sterling Silver chuckled. "And, between you and me, I've always had a warm spot for her ever since she cheered you up when you skinned your knee last summer."
"I like her music, but..." Silver Spoon paused. She had to beat Sweetie Belle and the other foals; nothing else would allow her to reestablish her place as the best foal in town. Bluenote's music was great, but more importantly, that mare wasn't very competitive. It was well known that Bluenote wasn't as good of a musician as others in Ponyville, but that didn't seem to be bothering her like it would Silver Spoon. No, any Silver-family student would need a teacher that could understand the importance of being the best, the supreme, the number-one contender in her age bracket. Bluenote didn't qualify. "I was thinking of some other teachers. Would it be okay if I asked some of the other musicians in town?"
Sterling nodded. "There should be money on the desk in the front hall if your teacher wants an immediate payment. Let me know how it goes!"
Silver Spoon rose. Great. Daddy will pay for the lessons; now I just need to find a great teacher and learn all I can. I can do it! "Thank you, Daddy! I'll be the best foal musician in town!"
"That's the spirit!" called Sterling Silver. "Have fun!"
Silver Spoon excused herself and scurried out of the dining room. Alright! Just a little more work, and I've got this in the bag!
***
As she trotted through the town, Silver Spoon began making up a list of teachers that she would consider. There were a lot of musicians in town, after all, and she needed to make sure she chose the best one. 'Only the best for the best' was one of her daddy's favorite sayings, usually when he was giving her some new gift, and she wasn't going to let him down by picking a mediocre mare to teach her. "This is for me, after all," Silver Spoon mused. "My teacher has to be perfect."
She began running down the qualifications in her head. Her teacher had be a virtuoso, of course. How could an average musician help to propel Silver Spoon into her obligatory greatness? And her teacher also had to understand Silver Spoon's drive to be the best, and be willing to work with her instead of making stupid comments like 'Rank doesn't matter as long as everypony's having fun', or other silly things that adults had to say to foals who weren't fit for greatness. Lastly, her teacher needed to be willing to work fast. If Sweetie Belle was still better than her, Silver Spoon, by the cutecenara... that would be a disaster. I won't let it happen. I'll find somepony who will help me, and I'll beat her and maintain my position!
Fortunately, there was definitely one such pony whom Silver Spoon knew fulfilled all those criteria. She was a brilliant musician, one who cared very much about surpassing others, and one who worked extremely hard. The foal smiled as she opened the door to this pony's residence. She would go to this pony, sign up for lessons, and would become a great musician. That was all there was to it, and absolutely nothing would stand in her way. She--
She was run over by a turquoise-coated foal blasting past her and dashing out the door.
"Hey! Come back!" a cream-colored pony with blue and purple mane curls raced after her. "You didn't finish picking out your candy yet!"
"Pick whatever you want! I'm feeling lucky!" yelled a voice. Then the foal was gone.
Silver Spoon's eyes rolled about as she struggled to her hooves. "Stupid brat..."
"Are you alright?" Bonbon, the best confectioner in Ponyville, helped Silver Spoon to her hooves. "Sorry about that. Some of my customers are very exciteable, and Tootsie Flute's been so happy about her new cutie mark..."
Bonbon's Bonbons, as usual, smelled of sugar, caramel, and chocolate. Silver Spoon couldn't help a small smile from popping onto her face as the scents brought back memories of parties, and festivals, and late night hot chocolate with Diamond Tiara. She was on a mission, though, and so Silver Spoon forced herself to remain serious. "Never mind."
"Would you like some candy?"
"No."
Bonbon blinked. "Then... um..."
"I'm looking for Miss Octavia, Miss Bonbon."
"She's right over there. You caught her just in time for morning tea."
Silver Spoon turned towards the small dining area, where she saw the gray-coated mare that she was looking for. Octavia had a steaming mug of tea in front of her, but she wasn't drinking it. Rather, she was watching the foals with a bemused expression. "I must say, the foals in this town are so much more rambunctious than those I grew up with," she told Bonbon. "I cannot even imagine being permitted to race about in a store like that."
"You missed out," said Bonbon, pouring herself a cup of hot chocolate. "I grew up in Las Pegasus. There was a big candy store there, with its own playground, and I loved to climb on the jungle gym with a comic book and a candy bar."
"Well, I--"
Silver Spoon clambered up so that she was sitting opposite Octavia. Pay attention to me! This is important! she thought. "Miss Octavia?" she said. "I'd like to take music lessons from you."
Octavia blinked several times. "I could not teach you," she said at last. "I am still a student myself."
"Maybe, but you're one of the best musicians in the area. And everypony knows how good your music is." Silver Spoon beamed. "I would be honored if you taught me even a few things." Let's see, that book on negotiation I borrowed from Golden Oaks recommended flattery here. I think I'm doing it right...
The cellist hesitated. "Well... what is it that you like about my music?" she said at last.
Silver Spoon frowned. Truth be told, she didn't really like Octavia's music -- Bluenote's was more her style -- but Bluenote wouldn't take it seriously enough, and besides, Silver Spoon didn't need to like classical music to surpass Sweetie Belle in it. "I like how you make all the hard parts sound so easy and natural," she said. "It doesn't sound hard to listen to at all, even if it's hard to play." That was a safe answer; almost any musician -- or artist, for that matter -- would likely want such a compliment applied to them.
It certainly seemed to placate Octavia. She nodded a little. "That is something for which I strive. If you too are interested in that quality... I suppose I could begin to teach you--"
Bonbon quickly brought out a pair of cupcakes. "Your first student, right? I think this calls for a celebration."
"I couldn't..."
Bonbon grinned and poked Octavia. "Come on, Tavi. We agreed. One sweet a week, minimum. You're just about due."
"I--"
Silver Spoon coughed. "Um, could we begin my lesson now, please?" she asked. Come on, I don't have time for cupcakes! I need to get good, now! Right away!
Octavia nodded. "Of course. Perhaps for lunch, Bonbon."
"Alright... if you promise you'll have one at lunch."
Octavia nodded, and gestured to the stairs. "We can begin in my room," she told Silver Spoon.
The foal frowned when she saw Octavia's furnishings. She had expected more knickknacks and fancy objects; Octavia was the daughter of a rich duchess, after all. Nonetheless, there were a few expesnive items, the most prominent of which was the cello. Silver Spoon's special talent was appraisal, and she could tell at a glance that the instrument was a work of art and could be valued to match. From the high-quality wood in the instrument to the precise carving of the shape, everything about it screamed class. Perfect. She understands quality. "I'm ready to start!" she announced.
"I assume you wish to learn the cello?" asked Octavia.
Silver Spoon couldn't care less, but she supposed that made sense, given who she wanted to teach her. "Yes!"
"Alright. I will start you just as I began."
Silver Spoon got up and approached the instrument, wondering if Octavia would let her take a turn on it once she'd taught her the secrets. It doesn't even look that hard. It's just moving your hooves and legs in certain patterns to make the sounds. I can master this before the cutecenara, no sweat. In fact, I--
There was a loud thump behind her, and when Silver Spoon turned, she saw a half-dozen thick tomes.
"These are the same theory textbooks that I began with," said Octavia. "A thorough grounding in music theory is an absolutely essential prerequisite for classical music. By understanding the intervals and how different combinations of notes produce different affects, you will be able to understand how the music works. Once you have learned all this theory, composition will be straightforward."
Silver Spoon blinked. "How long will this, uh, 'theory' take?"
"It took me most of a year to master it, although I have been told I was a quick study."
A YEAR?! "And you didn't touch your instrument until that was done?"
"No, I did." Octavia picked up the cello and played one single interval, a deep and low tone. "Every day, for three to four hours, I practiced my intervals and individual notes. When I was done, I could intuitively sense my position on the cello; when I needed to play even a most difficult passage, I knew how to move my bow to perform each and every note. This technical work is the foundation of all that I know."
"But -- but, actual music--"
"Bad habits, once learned, take time to unlearn. If a young musician begins by simply trying to perform in a haphazard way, they may learn some easy pieces, but it will be very difficult later on to play anything even moderately complicated without first discarding all they know and learning the correct methods anew." Octavia turned back to her books, flipping through them to find a certain passage. "I would not advise playing anything more than intervals and scales for at least a year. However, after that period, if you practice diligently, you will find even difficult works to be easily within your grasp. Now -- for the first lesson, let us look at the case of the major third interval. This..."
When she turned, Silver Spoon had vanished.
***
"A year?! I can't wait a year! She's a quack!"
Silver Spoon was trotting through town at a rapid pace. She had stormed out of the candy shop without even buying her favorite, licorice gumdrops. She was too upset to think of candy.
"I don't care about theory! I don't care about any of that! I just want to get good enough to keep my place on..." She trailed off. "It doesn't matter. Octavia doesn't know anything. Who's next on my list?"
After some deliberation, she decided on Vinyl Scratch.The DJ was an extremely popular entertainer, and it was well known that she aspired to nothing less than being the greatest in the world at her craft. And I bet she doesn't have time for stupid 'music theory' stuff. It'll be just getting into her studio and watching her work! Drums are even easier than cello. This shouldn't be hard at all.
Vinyl's house quickly came into view. It looked like an egg with a weird bulge on one side; Silver Spoon had heard this was due to the mare's eccentricities, but wasn't quite sure of what, exactly, those were .Still, it didn't matter. She had money, which Vinyl would probably want, and she had every confidence that the DJ would teach her to play. This would be fine.
As she approached the DJ's door, though, it opened from the other side and bonked her on the muzzle.
"Woah! Sorry, little fella," said Vinyl Scratch, who was balancing a load of records on her back. She quickly helped Silver Spoon up and checked her nose for injuries. "Didn't see you coming. What brings you out this way?"
"Well, I--"
"VINYL! VINYL!" There was a pause. "VINNNNYL!"
Vinyl binked. "Uh."
A teal-coated, yellow-maned pegasus foal scampered up with a large drum balanced on her back. "Vinyl! Vinyl! Vinyl! I came up with a new song!" She hopped from hoof to hoof. "It's gonna be EPIC!"
"Great, Bebop," said Vinyl, though Silver Spoon could hear a hint of frustration in Vinyl's voice. "But I'm on my--"
"Wait, I'll play it!" Bebop got the drum off her back and balanced it in the grass. Vinyl looked at the bottom, where the metal rim was touching the wet dirt, and winced, but Bebop didn't seem to notice. "Alright! Here goes!"
And she began to bang on the drum.
Vinyl was polite enough not to clap her hooves to her ears, but Silver Spoon was not. She tried to block out as much of the sound as she could, though a few painful drum beats broke through. It wasn't music, Silver Spoon thought. It was torture with a drumskin.
"What did you think?" yelled Bebop, when she was done. "Wasn't it AWESOME?"
"It was... energetic," managed Vinyl. "But I--"
"Oh! Hang on!" Bebop jumped in the air, her wings beating frantically. "I got another idea! I'll go write it down! See you soon!" And she blasted off, yelling her head off in joy.
"... is she your student?" Silver Spoon asked.
"She seems to think she is." Vinyl chuckled. "Honestly, I appreciate her enthusiasm. Rare to find a foal so into music like that."
"It sounded horrible," objected Silver Spoon.
"Just needs some refinement. A little discipline, a little practicing, and I think she could do some great stuff. Why, you interested?" Vinyl grinned. "I don't really have any formal students right now, but if you're willing to put up with a somewhat odd schedule, I'm game."
"Sure." I won't be doing it for long anyway. Just as long as she's got time today and tomorrow... "I'd be happy to learn from you."
Vinyl nodded. "Alright... so, what kind of music do you like?"
Silver Spoon hesitated. Who cares? Just teach me what you know! "Your music!" she pronounced.
"But what kind? I do a few different styles, even if I'm a wubstep expert."
"Wubstep, then."
Vinyl hesitated. "Could you list a few pieces that you like?"
Silver Spoon forced herself to stop from yelling at the mare. I'll be paying you, let's just start already! "I don't know their names."
"What about popular artists? I mean, yes, I'm awesome, but what other ones?"
"... what's with all the questions?" asked Silver Spoon.
"I need to know what music you like so I could know what to teach you," said Vinyl Scratch. "I can't just teach you what I like. That'd be unfair to you." She clapped her hooves. "Alright, here's your first assignment." She floated several records off her back and plopped them on Silver Spoon's. "This is a good overview of the genre. Listen to all this music, and pick out your five favorite songs. Write down why you like them, and we'll talk again... let's say next weekend. Once I know what you want, I can figure out how to teach you."
Silver Spoon shook her head quickly. "That doesn't matter to me," she said. "You can teach me anything--"
Vinyl waved this off. "That doesn't work. Music's got to come from the heart. If you don't like it, I won't be able to teach you. I'd just be taking your money for nothing, and that's not how DJ PON-3 works."
She began to rush off again. "Listen to those records!" she called and was gone.
Silver Spoon could only stare in frustration and anger. First Octavia, then Vinyl -- it'll take years to learn anything if I keep having to do all this waiting and studying first! That's not fast enough! I need to be good NOW!
She threw the records to the grass and rushed off. She would find a teacher who would actually teach her. She would.
She'd do it if she had to bother every musician in Ponyville.
Silver Spoon rolled over. She had retreated to a quiet park bench to think of who to ask next, and had been hoping that nopony would bother her. Unfortunately, such was not to be the case. "What?"
It was Diamond Tiara that was approaching her. Silver Spoon liked Diamond Tiara, as they had similar tastes in fashion and playtime activities, and they also were two of the earliest in their class to get cutie marks. They also came from similar social strata, as Filthy Rich was the second richest pony in town, only after Sterling Silver. That allowed them to enjoy various cultural activities that, Silver Spoon knew, the other foals in town simply didn't have the ability to get. Granted, Diamond could be a little vain, and she probably wasn't as smart as she thought she was, but she was still a good friend to have. Silver Spoon had even thrown herself around Diamond Tiara in a big hug after the tyrant alicorns had been defeated at the equinox... though she would never admit that to another living pony.
The other foal scurried over to Silver Spoon, her face a blinding smile. "Look at what Daddy got me!" She tilted her head to reveal two shining sapphire earrings, each one looking like it would cost no less than three hundred bits. "He said it was because I did so well on that math test last week!"
Silver Spoon knew for a fact that Diamond Tiara had scraped a 'B' on that test, while Silver Spoon, as usual, had gotten an 'A.' Still, the earrings did look nice on her, and a 'B' was fine for other foals. "Congratulations!" said Silver Spoon. "They look really nice."
"I know!" Diamond Tiara bounced up onto the bench. "You should get your sparkly pearl necklace, and we should show off at Tootsie's cutecenara!" She grinned. "I bet every foal in town's going to be there. A great chance to show them just what we're made of."
"Oh, right. The cutecenara." Silver Spoon tried to work up some fake cheer. "Yeah, that'll be a lot of fun."
"I heard that Sweetie Belle's going to try singing." Diamond Tiara snickered. "She's not even good at anything yet, since she doesn't have her mark... she's going to be a total disaster." Diamond Tiara grinned. "We should make sure to get front row seats, so we can yell that blank-flank off the stage."
"Yeah... good idea." Silver Spoon rolled over again. "You're right. She's probably a terrible singer."
"She just thinks she can sing because her sister's got that delusion that she can somehow work her way into high society." Diamond Tiara reared back on her hooes and did her best impression of Rarity's voice. "Oh, yes, all my clothes are honest haute couture and none of that pret-a-porter stuff. What do you take me for, a commoner with delusions of grandeur? Now, let's all go to the opera where we'll watch some show I don't understand and drink wines that I can't tell apart. Oh, won't you please let me into all your little high society clubs yet? No? What if I adopt zees outrageous Prench accent?"
Silver Spoon laughed. "She's not even that good of a designer. I mean, she's creative, but her dresses are so showy and glitzy. Sometimes less is more. I bet if she had to design a plain, simple dress, she'd probably pop."
After a few minutes, the foals stopped laughing. Diamond Tiara said, "But enough about those idiots. Let's do something!" The foal grinned. "My daddy bought me a rail pass too. Let's go into Canterlot and go shopping!"
"Who would take us?"
"My new maid. She's a bit whiny, but I'll train her up soon enough." Diamond Tiara chuckled. "Anyways, I want to look at that fashion show. I need some clothes to go with these sapphires. You game?"
Silver Spoon shook her head. The mention of a show had brought her problem back to the forefront of her mind. "I'm busy today," she said. "You go ahead."
There was, but Silver Spoon would never admit it to any of the other ponies in town. "No," she said. "I've just got some stuff to do. For Daddy's business... you know. Grown-up stuff."
"Blech." Diamond Tiara stuck her tongue out. "Sorry. Can't you just pay somepony to do it for you? That's what I do when Daddy insists on giving me chores."
"Nah, my Daddy doesn't like that." Filthy Rich didn't like it either, but Diamond Tiara, Silver Spoon knew, was usually clever enough to sneak Truffle Shuffle or Dinky or some other foal into the house to do her chores for her without her father being the wiser. Silver Spoon, though, wouldn't take part in such actions. They were low, and unbefitting of a foal of her capabilities and stature. "You have fun, though."
"Okay. See you later, then." Diamond Tiara waved, then ran off.
Silver Spoon lay still for another few moments, then rolled off the bench and got to her hooves. It was already past noon; she simply didn't have time to waste anymore. Now that she knew Diamond Tiara would be at the cutecenara, it was all the more important that Sweetie Belle's performance not be unchallenged. Silver Spoon would need to take her on and win. And now she had an idea how.
Before, I just wanted to find a teacher who would make me good on some instrument. But the teachers in this town suck. What I need now is an instrument that I can make myself into a virtuoso on. She nodded. I heard that Medley has instruments that practically play themselves. I'll just get the best one of those and use it to sound wounderful! Medley's poor, so I should be able to just buy the best instrument she has in stock -- she won't ask questions. Then I'll get it going and play it right after Sweetie. That'll show her!
She hurried off in the direction of Medley's Music Emporium.
***
Medley seemed strangely skeptical. "I'm... not quite sure what you're looking for," she told Silver Spoon. "Do you want something that you will play, or do you want a self-playing instrument?"
"I want your best instrument," said Silver Spoon. She trotted through the showroom, casting a critical eye over the various wares. They all seemed to be high quality, in contrast to the shop, which was almost crumbling -- even the ceiling fan overhead creaked ominously. Still, the instruments were what mattered. Any of these might do, but I want the very best. "My Daddy can pay whatever you ask, so don't worry about that. Just find the best--"
"It's not about the price," said Medley, looking mildly annoyed. "If I'm going to sell you an instrument, I want to make sure it's the right one for you." She flapped her wings. "I take customer satisfaction very seriously."
Silver Spoon struggled not to roll her eyes. Her, too? Good grief. Well, if I say I want to buy something, I don't think she's going to refuse to sell it to me. "Well, I'll look around and ask you if I need help," she said. And then, before Medley could respond, she darted behind the shelves and was lost to the proprietor's sight.
It was interesting, the foal thought, looking at all the different kinds of instruments. From the simple recorder to the massive, and massively complicated, grand piano, Medley's shop had something for everypony. Silver Spoon smiled as she looked among all her choices. Which would be best? I need sometihng that I can learn with a bit of effort, but it should also be able to play something really great, and...
Her gaze was drawn to a large box on one side of the room. It was labeled with a price tag of one hundred and forty bits, but there was no other indication of what the box's contents actually were. Judging from the box's size, the instrument was fairly large and bulky, but that was as far as Silver Spoon could get. "Hmm..."
"Oh, that one isn't for sale yet." Medley flew over. "I haven't got it set up yet. I only just built it."
"Built?"
Medley nodded. "I craft instruments that are played by wind and water, and I just started selling a few of those." She nodded at some windchimes that were set up around the room and were making sweet, soft tones in the gentle breeze of the ceiling fan. "The other Bearers recommended it... anyways, that one's a new design. I built it downstairs, but I'm not ready to sell it yet."
"Why not?"
"I had to take it apart to get it up here, and I need to put it back together to show customers. I can't sell somepony an instrument sight-unseen."
Silver Spoon smiled to herself. New design? Nopony knows what it sounds like? Good. Sweetie'll never expect this. "I've heard such good things about your crafted instruments, though," said the foal. "Especially your aeolian harp. I was by the park that day when you set it up there, and I just listened to it for over an hour. Your instruments are really nice."
Medley blushed. "Thank you."
"I bet this one'll be even better than all the others. It's your best instrument yet, right?"
"Well, personally, I prefer my aeolian harp, but... in a certain sense, yes. It can produce more tones with more shading than the harp can."
"I'll take that one, then," said Silver Spoon.
"You don't know what it sounds like--"
"I know it sounds beautiful, because all your instruments do," the foal flattered. "And I'd really like to try this one right away." She put on her best pleading face. "You wouldn't want to force me to wait until it got all set up again, would you?"
"Er..."
Silver Spoon took her money out of her saddlebag. She noticed Medley's gaze flickering over to it for the barest of moments. "I can pay right now," she informed the pegasus. "As long as you assure me it sounds beautiful -- that's all I need to know." She beamed.
"But..." Medley shut her eyes for a moment. "I don't have time to set it up today. I have to watch my shop, and then I have a meeting with Lyra, Lily, Rose, and Daisy. We're trying to make an instrument that can be played by sunlight and... anyway. I won't be able to set this up for a couple of days. You won't be able to use the instrument without assembly--"
"Can I do it?"
"I can write down instructions, but it might be difficult." Medley hesitated. "It wouldn't be right if I sold you something you couldn't use. If you'll just wait--"
Maybe for others. Not for me! "No, that's fine," said Silver Spoon. "Assembling it should give me a closer connection with the instrument anyway." She put the bits on the counter. "Just send that on over to Mr. Sterling Silver, 11 Main Street. I'll get it put together right away. Thank you!"
Before Medley could say anything else, Silver Spoon was out the door. She waited until she was a suitable distance from Medley's shop, then let out a joyous laugh and began to run back home.
Her problem was finally solved. Medley would send over the instrument, and all Silver Spoon had to do was put it together. Then she just needed to turn it on or whatever, and it would play something so beautiful that Sweetie Belle would be blown away. Silver Spoon would definitely be the best musical foal in town. The world would be set right.
With another laugh, Silver Spoon changed courses to head for the post office. Maybe she could browbeat or bribe some of the mailmares into making sure her instrument reached her home as quickly as possible. The sooner it arrived, the sooner Silver Spoon could assemble it, and the sooner everything would be ok.
***
Silver Spoon, upon returning home, whiled away half an hour reading a book until Medley's package arrived. She then gave strict orders to Buttle and the other household servants that she was not to be disturbed for anything short of a catastrophe, such as some other foal in town turning up with an outfit that was better than hers. She then followed the package into the living room and shut all the doors. It was time to get to work.
Her father had a tool chest which Silver Spoon was reasonably conversant with; as with everything else, she had wanted to ensure that she was better at using a hammer and chisel than any other foal in town. Silver Spoon took the hammer now, and holding it carefully in hooves and mouth, managed to pry the box open. The four sides came down, and Silver Spoon was able to look at the parts.
There were a lot of parts.
For a moment, the foal felt a tinge of fear -- but only for a moment. Then she nodded sharply. She could build this instrument. She was exceptional, after all. She had great potential; that was what her father, and Miss Cheerilee, and every other adult worth considering said. Would a foal with great potential give up just because the instrument before that foal had twenty-five or so parts? No. That foal would build the instrument and be done with it, and Silver Spoon was resolved to do just that.
True to her word, Medley had included four sheets of parchment -- complete with illustrations -- indicating how the instrument was to be assembled. Silver Spoon looked at the first few lines and made sure she had all the required tools. Then, with a grunt of effort as she hauled the first piece into its proper position, she got to work. The second piece was moved over to its right spot, then connected to the first one by means of a clever interlocking screw mechanism. Silver Spoon smiled as she put the screwdriver down. That wasn't so hard. Only two dozen more parts to go.
With that thought, she got back to work.
***
Building the instrument took several hours.
Irritatingly, she wasn't able to remain completely free of distractions while she worked, much as she tried. The servants came in a couple of times, having apparently forgotten her injunction to remain free of the room. Her father had also come in, watching her for a bit and making some encouraging noises as she wrestled another piece of the instrument into position. And then there had been dinner. Sterling Silver had been quite adamant that his daughter was to eat something, even though Silver Spoon wanted nothing more than to keep working on the machine. She was almost done, after all, and she wasn't the kind of pony who needed to stop to have cookies and juice every couple of hours, unlike a certain hyperactive orange-and-purple pegasus foal that she could name. But her father had been insistant, and that had cost her another hour.
Still, though, she did finish at last.
It was dark out, and Silver Spoon smiled out the large Prench windows as she looked at the moon and stars. It felt good, she thought. She had built the instrument. She had done what the others couldn't. And now all she had to do was get it to the cutecenara, and all would be well. She could play it, and...
She paused.
Would the instrument fit through the door?
The device itself consisted of a large set of metal bars, each tuned to a specific pitch like a xylophone. The bars were fixed fast to a frame and covered by a wooden board, which would vibrate when the bars were struck and amplify the sound. Beneath the bars were several mounted mallets, each one connected to a small water wheel. The entire thing was longer than a full-grown pony lying prone. It would be challenging to move.
Silver Spoon shook her head. That shouldn't matter; the instrument was long, but relatively narrow, and if she had a couple servants help her she should be able to get it pointed through the door and then out of the house. If nothing else, it could go out the window and then around and through the back gate. That wouldn't be a problem. She was fine there.
Silver Spoon laughed at that. To think I was almost defeated by such a silly concern. Of course I can move the thing. After all this, how could I not? She grinned, slapping the instrument lightly. "You won't beat me," she told it. "Not like that."
All that remained, then, was figuring out how to play it. Silver Spoon looked back in the instructions, eyes flicking down to the final paragraph. "Let's see... place instrument in river, preferably where there are strong currents or tides." She blinked. "Wait, what?"
Looking at the instrument again, she realized how it was supposed to work. The device was mounted in a stream, suspended above the riverbed at a narrow point. The water would flow through the water wheels and spin them, which moved the mallets to knock into the various metal bars. The bars would vibrate, the frame would vibrate as well, and tones would be produced. All well and good. Except--
"Wait. Tootsie Flute's cutecenara is going to be inside." Silver Spoon blinked. "There won't be a river there."
She was silent for a moment. Then she let out a little cry of rage. "Fine! I'll just spin the wheels myself!" She pushed at one... and strained against it futilely. It would not budge. Now that it was connected to a heavy mallet, it could not be moved by a little foal pushing on it. Only a strong river current could move the wheel enough to bring the mallet to the bars.
"No!" Silver Spoon yelled as she began slamming her hooves at the water wheels. The instrument still refused to play. "No! No! No! I have to play this! I spent all day building it! I can't have nothing to show for it!"
The instrument remained placidly useless.
A door to the study opened, and Betty Buttle poked her head in. "Does the Young Mistress desire something?"
Silver Spoon bit back a sharp remark. "No, nothing new. Please leave me alone in this room."
Betty hesitated, but withdrew.
Silver Spoon turned back to the instrument and glared at it with fire in her eyes. "You stupid! Broken! Piece of junk!" she thundered. "Work!"
It did not work.
"FINE!" Silver Spoon turned away from the instrument and sprang at the grand piano. "Fine! I don't need Medley! Or Vinyl or Octavia or anypony! I'll do this all MYSELF!" She grabbed some sheet music at random. "I'll learn it myself! I'll play piano, and I'll show Sweetie Belle!" She thumped her first note. "Nothing is going to stop me!"
***
Early next morning, Betty Buttle went downstairs to fix herself some breakfast. She liked the weekend mornings, finding them a peaceful break from the usual hubbub of her life. Granted, she cared dearly for Silver Spoon, as she was able to well identify with the foal's zeal to excel in all sorts of things -- she had been very similar, when she was young. But it was nice sometimes to be able to fix a plate of eggs and hash browns, prepare a cup of tea, and consume them without needing to worry about the Young Mistress getting ready for a play date.
As it happened, though, she was interrupted from her reverie by muffled complaints coming from the study. Betty frowned. She knew she had sent Silver Spoon to bed the previous night. Had the foal snuck out and spent the night downstairs? That wasn't usually like her; she generally obeyed her father's commands. Confused, Betty went to the study and opened the door. The room seemed deserted.
Then the piano lid cracked open a bit.
Betty hurried over and lifted the lid. Silver Spoon was inside, tangled up and held fast by the piano strings. She looked as if she'd tried to get into a fight with the piano and somehow lost. Betty could only stare.
Silver stared up at her with bleary, sleep-deprived eyes. She looked like she had been struggling all night. "I hate music," she managed, and then slumped down in defeat.
Blearily, the foal raised a hoof and rubbed at her eyes. She lifted herself up, felt her strength give out, and fell back among her comfy pillows and blankets. Maybe she could sleep through the day, she thought. It wasn't like there was anything important going on, or at least nothing that she could remember. It might be okay to just take a day off and sleep.
Yeah... sleep sounds good... Silver Spoon put her pillow over her head and tried to recapture her slumber, but it proved to be too elusive. There seemed to be something inside her telling her that she was making a mistake; that she did in fact have things to do that day. Silver Spoon tried to shut it out, rationalizing that she didn't even know what time it was, so she may well have hours to complete whatever task she had to finish. Unfortunately, this didn't work, and the feeling that she was going to be late for something was as strong as ever.
The mare reached a shaky hoof to her bedside and found her glasses. Putting them on, she found herself once again able to see the clock on the other side of the room. It read that the time was half past noon. That was okay, then; she hadn't missed dinner, and there wasn't anything else important happening that day except for Tootsie Flute's cutecenara. And--
Silver Spoon jolted as if she'd been struck by lightning. The cutecenara was in only a few hours, and she still hadn't learned any music! She was running out of time!
She sprang to her hooves, tangled herself in her sheets, and crashed to the ground. A few moments later, her door opened and her father stepped in. "Are you alright, dear? I heard something crash."
"I'm fine," grumbled Silver Spoon as she tried to work her way out from the pile of blankets. She managed to poke her muzzle out through the sheets. "Just fine."
"Betty said that she found you... inside the piano?" Sterling Silver frowned. "I hope you aren't working too hard. You're a very talented little filly, Silver Spoon, but you should make sure to spend enough time resting too. Even I didn't work twenty-four hours a day as a foal." He chuckled.
"Yes, father," managed Silver Spoon.
"By the way, I saw that lovely bit of machinery you set up in the living room, and I looked at the playing instructions. It's one of Medley's new waterwheel instruments, is it not?" Sterling grinned. "You did very well at putting it together. As it happens, I have some time today. What say we head on over to the river on the east side of town and set it up? I can have Betty pack us a picnic lunch, and--"
Silver Spoon shook her head. "It's okay. Maybe some other time." She had no interest in the instrument, as it could not be used at the cutecenara. I wasted all that time for no reason...
Sterling frowned slightly, but nodded. "Very well. Don't forget, Tootsie Flute's cutecenara begins at four. I'll have Betty prepare a nice dress for you, and a present for you to bring. Unless you had an idea of your own?"
"No, father. That will be fine."
"Very well. Have a good afternoon, my gem." Sterling Silver backed out of the room and was gone.
As soon as he left, Silver Spoon rolled under the bed. With the luck she had been having, she figured, there was little chance that she could surpass Sweetie Belle by the time of the cutecenara. Only one option remained: don't show up. She needed to hide, and stay hidden until it was all over. Then she could claim that of course she would have beat Sweetie Belle, had she not been delayed by some horrible and mysterious catastrophe. That would buy her a few more days in which she could figure out a better plan. In the meantime, it was the best idea she had, and it should work... provided nopony thought to look for her under her bed.
But -- she realized -- that wouldn't work. Her father would know she was there, and he might tell others later. She would need to hide somewhere far from home. That would entail fooling her father, which Silver Spoon was loathe to do -- her father had drilled into her the importance of honor, especially for ponies of such breeding and quality as the Silvers -- but there was no other choice. She couldn't possibly face her father and tell him the truth, that she, his daughter and most precious gem, was no longer the best foal in town. How could she admit that sort of failure? Better to run, and hide, and come up with a story to explain it away.
The foal listened carefully. Nopony was around; the top floor seemed silent. She darted to her door and took a breath, then inched it open. She just needed to get to the front door, then slip out and--
"Miss Spoon?"
Silver Spoon squeaked as Betty Buttle poked her head out from the servant's quarters. The mare continued. "Do you need anything?"
"No, I'm... just going out," said Silver Spoon. "I'll be back later."
"Your father asked me to remind you to be back by three, so that you may wash up and dress for the cutecenara."
Silver Spoon had no intention of returning by then, and was already concocting a story of being stranded somehow far from home. "Yes, yes, of course," she said absently. "See you later."
Betty hesitated. "Miss Spoon... are you sure you're alright? You've been acting very tense since yesterday afternoon."
"I'm fine," said Silver Spoon, snapping as little as she possibly could.
"If there is anything I could help with, please don't hesitate to ask."
"I won't." Go away! "You are dismissed, Betty."
Betty bowed and withdrew.
Silver Spoon let out a long breath. I could confide in her... but she'd have to tell father. She's my maidservant, but she works for my father. That won't do. No -- I need to get out of here. That's the only option. She nodded once, took a step forward... and then she was running out the door.
I need to find a place to hide!
***
It was a quiet little field of flowers, but it seemed as good a hiding place as any.
Silver Spoon ducked behind a row of tall sunflowers, picking one to munch on while she waited. I walked out here, then got lost. I wandered around and around, and by the time I found my way back to Ponyville the cutecenara was already over. Sorry, daddy, I won't go out into the flower fields east of town alone again. She looked up at the clouds, several of which looked like ducks -- probably due to Blossomforth, who had a tendency to play with the clouds when there wasn't enough work for the weather patrol to do. Okay, I'm good. I just have to stay here, and--
"Hi!"
Silver Spoon screamed and jumped into the air.
Tootsie Flute giggled. "What are you doing all the way out here?" she asked. "I thought you were still in town!"
Silver Spoon stared. "How did you find me?!"
"Find you?" Tootsie shrugged. "Just lucky, I guess. It's my special talent, after all." She nodded at the horseshoe on her flank. "Isn't it great? Other ponies are talented at sewing or mining or farming or something, but I'm talented at being lucky! That means I can do anything!"
Silver Spoon wasn't sure that it worked like that, but she didn't want to argue. "Yes, but you've got a cutecenara in a few hours. Shouldn't you be getting ready?"
Tootsie Flute waved a hoof. "That'll take care of itself, right? It'll work out. That's how luck works!" She laughed. "My Mom was all worried that I hadn't told her what kind of food I wanted yet. And then, when I was going out this morning, I ran into Applejack -- who said that they were overstocked with green and yellow apples, and did we know any ponies who were maybe throwing a party soon and could use a bunch of apple pies and cakes?" She clapped her hooves. "Same with the candy! I didn't want to spend hours picking out how many of each treat, so I asked Bonbon to just put something together -- and when I saw her selection I knew it was just what I wanted!"
"...that doesn't explain why you're here."
"Oh, that? I was hoping to run into Lyra Heartstrings." Tootsie Flute grinned. "I love her ballads and stories. I know she likes to play in the flowers sometimes, so I thought -- aha! There!"
Indeed, a green unicorn with a lyre was skipping amongst the flowers and singing:
"...my Bonnie went over the ocean, my Bonnie went over the sea! My Bonnie went over the ocean, so bring back my Bonnie to me!"
She leapt up and clacked her hooves together, then strummed another few notes together. "Bring back, bring back, bring back my Bonnie to me, to me!" She spun around. "Bring back, bring back, bring back my Bonnie to me!" She gave one final hop, then fell down and rolled over in the flowers. "Yeah," she said. "That's a good one."
Tootsie jumped up and down. "Yay!" she cheered. "That was really good! I like that song! Play it again!"
Lyra rose to her hooves and looked about in surprise, apparently startled that she had an audience. "Who's there?" she called.
Tootsie Flute led Silver Spoon out to a more open section of the field of flowers. "It's me!" she said. "Tootsie Flute! I wanted to hear your music!"
"Always good to have a fan!" said Lyra, grinning. "Although... I tried to play you that ballad last week-end, but you weren't there. Did something happen?"
"Oh, right." Tootsie Flute blushed. "I was going to be there, but then I couldn't find one of my horseshoes and I had to tear the house apart to find it." She shrugged. "Even I can't always be lucky, I guess."
"I suppose that makes sense," said Lyra. "Anyway! I'd be happy to play something for you now -- but didn't you have a cutecenara to go to? I wouldn't want to make you late by keeping you with my music."
Tootsie Flute shrugged. "I'll be there on time," she said. "Don't worry!"
Silver Spoon rolled her eyes. 'Tootsie Flute, you seem to be tied to railroad tracks. Shouldn't you be trying to escape?' 'No, don't worry! I'm sure a bunch of mice will come by and nibble the ropes them to bits before the train comes!'
"Hey!" Tootsie Flute was saying. "Lyra, could you please play at my cutecenara? My Mom said we can spend eighty bits on entertainment, and I'd like your music better than any other pony in town!"
Lyra blushed. "Aww, that's really nice of you!" She struck a heroic pose. "Well, I could hardly let down such a big fan -- that wouldn't be very honorable of me! Have no fear, Tootsie Flute! I will perform at your cutecenara, and it will be an event to BEHOLD!"
"YAY!" cheered Tootsie Flute.
Silver Spoon blanched. Maybe it's not such a bad thing I'm missing this. This looks like it's going to be really silly, and with Lyra's music -- hey, wiat a minute! "Um, Miss Heartstrings?"
Lyra stuck out her tongue. "Please, call me Lyra. Miss Heartstrings makes me sound like I'm really old."
"I'm looking for a music teacher. Would you be able--"
Lyra's eyes sparkled. "To teach music, and spread my love of note and song on to the next generation?" She swept out a hoof. "Why, Silver Spoon! I would be absolutely honored! Truly, there is no greater honor you could bestow upon me than to ask me to engage in such a sacred and profound task!"
Silver Spoon stared. "Um... okay. I need to--"
"What instrument do you want to play?"
"The lyre," said Silver Spoon. Lyra's supposed to be really into music... not theory, not genre, but just the sound. Maybe she can actually teach me something practical. I--
"Wonderful!" Lyra grinned. "Truly, in my opinion, there is no better instrument. It produces the sweetest sounds, capable of expressing joy! Fury! Sorrow! And every other emotion! It's light and portable, so you can play it wherever you please, but it's big and sturdy enough to stand up to the most demanding of music!" She held up her lyre high. "Truly, it is the queen of all instruments!"
"But don't the other Elements play different instruments?" wondered Tootsie Flute.
Lyra shrugged. "They like theirs best -- but in my opinion, nothing but the lyre will do." She hugged it tight. "Now -- you've come to me, Silver Spoon. Surely then you must be moved by my musical ballads and bard songs. Music that tells great tales from long ago of love! And revenge! And danger and excitement!"
"Yes," said Silver Spoon, who had a somewhat hazy idea of what she was agreeing to. "I like... that. Can you teach me?"
"Of course! Now -- the first thing we'll need is to get you your own lyre. Medley should be able to get a perfect one for you."
"Okay--"
"And second, we need to find some good stories for you to perform!" Lyra grinned. "What moves you, Silver Spoon? Tales of love and romance? Stories of heroes besting evil villains? Brave adventurers overcoming great dangers?"
"I--"
Lyra nodded. "So your first task is -- to the library, with you! Get some history books, some novels, anything involving great, epic tales! Find out which ones you like the best, and I'll help you write some brilliant music for them!"
Silver Spoon blanched. Seriously? Her too? "Can't you just teach me some of your music?"
Lyra shook her head. "Real music comes from within. When I play, say, 'Sonata for True Love,' it isn't my hooves playing the music... it's my heart. My hooves just help." She waggled them a little ."When I think of old ballads, I can play them because I'm rooting for the heroes as they fight evil. When I play love songs, it works because I'm feeling the love in the music. If you don't feel exactly like I do, you won't be able to play my music like I can."
Silver Spoon sighed. "So, you want me to do some research first."
"Yep!"
The foal wished she could sink into the ground. Every single one of them. Why won't any adult in town teach me what I want to know right away? Why do they all insist on boring old research first?
"Anyway," said Tootsie Flute. "Silver Spoon, you're coming to my cutecenara, right?" The foal smiled brightly. "I'd love to have you there!"
"Er..."
"Of course she is!" said Lyra. "She's your friend, isn't she?"
Well, no, not really, thought Silver Spoon. But she wasn't able to see any way out of it. "Um..."
"Hey, I know! Your special talent's appraisal, right?" asked the other foal. "We'll be doing a party game at the cutecenara in which each foal has to pick which of two objects is worth more -- you know, a dozen medium apples or four big apples, that kind of thing. There's a prize for whichever pony gets the most right, and I bet you'd do well." She beamed. "You're coming, I hope?"
"Uh..."
Tootsie Flute waited expectantly.
Silver Spoon couldn't see a good way to say 'no.' It would undoubtably find its way back to her father, who would be disappointed -- and she'd likely have to explain everything to him, which she desperately wanted to avoid. How could she tell her father that she wasn't the best foal in Ponyville anymore? "Sure," she said at last.
"Great!" Tootsie Flute turned to Lyra. "I'll show you back to Sugar Cube Corner -- that's where it's being hosted. There's a stage set up, and..." She trotted off with the green unicorn.
"Okay. Silver Spoon -- let me know once you've done some reading! I'd recommend starting with a few Shakespony love sonnets, some adventure tales from Feudal Neighpon, and a good book of fairy tales and legends from the Brothers Grime! Those are great places to start!"
"Sure, whatever," said Silver Spoon.
When the others were gone, Silver Spoon put a hoof over her face. Now what was she going to do? She'd struck out again with a teacher, but that wasn't the biggest problem. Now she'd given her word to Tootsie Flute, and she couldn't back out -- it would reflect badly on the family name, for a Silver to be seen as a liar. Now she had to go. She had to go, and it was increasingly clear that nopony in town could teach her what she needed in the time required. So she'd have to be there when Sweetie Belle sang, and she'd have to be there when ponies realized that she, Silver Spoon, was no longer the filly on top. This sucks... she thought.
Head low, she turned and began to walk home. She had to get washed up and dressed appropriately before her world ended. Maybe it won't be so bad, she thought. Maybe nopony will notice. Or maybe Sweetie Belle will flake. Yeah. She's just a stupid little blank flank anyway. Maybe she'll get on stage and be so frightened of the audience that she'll run away crying, and I won't need to worry about her for a while. Maybe her sister will be so wrapped up in sewing her a dress that she won't make it to the cutecenara. Maybe she'll be struck by a rock from outer space. Maybe...
She sighed. Those scenarios weren't likely, she had to admit. Sweetie Belle was going to show up Silver Spoon, and that was all there was to it.
"Now, be sure to have a good time!" said Sterling Silver. "I want to see a big smile on your face!"
"Yes, father," muttered Silver Spoon. She rubbed one of the sleeves of her dress awkwardly. I hate this stupid dress. Why did I ever ask Daddy to buy it for me? Sure, I couldn't let Diamond Tiara be the only foal in town with a Prench silk dress, but this one's way too hot and it clashes with my mane. This hadn't been her view of the dress even last week, when she had begged her father for permission to wear it at school to show off, but she didn't care. She was upset, and she was wearing the dress, ergo, the dress was terrible. That was all there was to it.
"I've been thinking about getting into the party business," mused Sterling as the two approached Sugar Cube Corner. "The Cakes seem to be doing very well at it. A discrete investment might be just what they need to expand their operation, and if I owned some of their stock..."
Silver Spoon tuned out her father as they reached the bakery. Normally she loved to hear his business musings, but not when her own doom was so close. "How long is this party?" she asked. Maybe I can delay until it's over...
"Oh, knowing Pinkie Pie, I'd be surprised if it didn't last all evening -- but you do have school tomorrow, so you'll probably be leaving by seven, okay?" Sterling grinned.
"Okay." Three hours... no, that's way too long. Nuts...
"Now -- get in there, and have a blast!" Sterling said. "Remember -- Silvers know how to work hard, but they also know how to play hard!"
Silver Spoon nodded to her father and stepped inside. Let's get this over with...
***
Sugar Cube Corner had been converted into a party theatre. Games and party favors had been set up on the tables, and party games such as 'pin the tail on the pony' were affixed to various surfaces. Brightly-colored streamers and ribbons coated every available surface, to the point where it looked like some kind of party pirate with a prediliction for pink had attacked the room. As for the food, there was enough candy and chocolate to put an elephant into diabetic shock. Silver Spoon had to acknowledge that, whatever Pinkie Pie's eccentricities, she could certainly throw a quality party. For a pony like Tootsie Flute, at least.
Most of the foals in town were there. Silver Spoon saw Scootaloo and Archer talking as they sipped chocolate shakes; Scootaloo was miming with her wings and seemed to be describing something scooter-related. Sweet Wheat and Apple Bloom were furiously devouring pies as Dinky waited to declare which of them finished first. Twist was sitting at a table, setting up a chess game. Sweetie Belle was wearing a pink-and-purple dress (one not as pretty as Silver Spoon's own, Silver Spoon was pleased to note) and talking with her sister Rarity by a little stage area. And Diamond Tiara--
Diamond Tiara was running right at her.
"Spoony!" Diamond Tiara skidded to a halt in front of the bewildered gray foal. Diamond's dress was only slightly less fancy than Silver Spoon's, but it was dusty, sweaty, and askew. Father would never let me show such disrespect to my things, Silver Spoon thought. Of course, I wouldn't in the first place, but...
But it wasn't important; Diamond Tiara was her friend, and she seemed distressed. "What's wrong?"
"Come with me!" Diamond Tiara grabbed her by the hoof and began dragging her away. "We need to talk somewhere!"
"Okay, but -- um --"
'Somewhere' proved to be a quiet little corner, well-removed from the hustle and bustle of the party. Diamond Tiara glanced about to make sure nopony was watching, then draped a big tablecloth over them. "Thank goodness!" she said.
"What's wrong?" asked Silver Spoon. "Are you alright?"
"No! I'm not alright! It's horrible!" Diamond Tiara began shaking Silver Spoon. "It's terrible! We've got to do something!"
Silver Spoon forced herself out of her friend's grasp. "What is it?" she asked. "What's wrong, Diamond?"
"It's daddy!" Diamond Tiara scowled. "Right when I got here, Scootaloo wanted to talk to me, and I was all, 'get lost, blank flank,' but Daddy overheard and he got mad! And now he said he's staying and he won't go away, and now all the other brats in town keep bothering me and I can't tell them off!"
"I know!" Diamond Tiara shuddered. "Apple Bloom caught me in conversation, and I couldn't escape for five minutes! And she was just blathering on about pigs and farming and all sorts of other dirty things! I almost stuffed cake in my ears just to get it to stop! It's like she thinks she's as important as ponies like us..."
Silver Spoon wasn't sure what to say. Yes, the blank flank foals were annoying and obnoxious, not to mention inferior, but Silver Spoon would never behave this... disgracefully in public. "Well, I guess we just need to bear it and--"
"No! I can't! I just can't stand these idiots, and neither can you. We need to cancel this stupid thing." Diamond Tiara nodded her head fiercely. "But I've got a plan. You know how vinegar and baking soda explode when you put them together?"
"Yes. That was my science fair project." That had been everypony's science fair project, although most of them hadn't built their volcanoes out of imported authentic volcanic rock like Silver Spoon had. "But what--"
"Pinkie's got a bunch of the baking supplies stacked up in the kitchen. When I give the signal, you cause a distraction, and I'll sneak in and dump the vinegar into the baking soda! Then this stupid event can get canceled, and Tootsie Flute can go back to her stupid life and we can do something useful -- like getting our manes styled." Diamond Tiara nodded. "You in?"
Before Silver Spoon could answer, the tablecloth rustled and Pinkie Pie poked her muzzle under it. "Oh! Are you playing hide and seek?" she asked. "Because if you are, I found you! I win!" She paused for a moment. "Next time, you can try to find me!"
"Sure," said Diamond Tiara, rolling her eyes. She turned back to Silver Spoon. "You're in, right? On my signal--"
"Silver Spoon!" said Pinkie Pie, eyes bright and happy. "Tootsie Flute said she was looking for you! She looked really, really eager to see you!" She grinned. "You two must be great friends!"
"Uh huh." Silver Spoon was mulling over Diamond Tiara's proposal. That sort of disaster would certainly stop Sweetie Belle from upstaging her, but it still felt... wrong, somehow. Mean, even. Granted, the foals in Ponyville were uniformly beneath her, but her father had taught her to be gracious and gentle with those beneath her. "Miss Cheerilee knows more than both of us," he had told her once, "But we want her to be nice to us despite that, right? So we should be nice to ponies who maybe aren't quite at that level." He had poked her in the barrel, and she had giggled. "You're a very smart foal with a lot of potential. You'll surpass a lot of foals... but you should never be mean to them about it."
Of course, she hadn't always obeyed the 'dont' be mean' injunction, but she liked to think she followed the advice more often than not. On the other hoof, though, destroying the cutecenara would certainly get her out of her problem with Sweetie, and...
"Well?" Pinkie said. "Don't you want to say hi to your bestest-best friend?"
"I'm Silver's best friend," growled Diamond Tiara.
"Her second best friend, then?"
Silver Spoon still wasn't sure what she was going to do about Diamond's proposal, but she didn't think it would help matters to hide under a tablecloth all day. "Of course," she said at last.
Pinkie grinned. "Yay!" She whipped the tablecloth off of the foals. "Hey Tootsie Flute! She's over here!"
Silver Spoon got up and began approaching the foal of the hour. Behind her, she heard Filthy Rich trotting over and asking Diamond Tiara what in the wide world of Equestria she thought she was doing by hiding during the party -- but that didn't matter; she had her own issues to deal with. Here we go, she thought.
***
"Silver! You came! Yay!" Tootsie Flute almost tackled her. "Oh wow, is that for me?" She pointed at the big present on Silver Spoon's back. "Is it?"
"Yes," said SIlver Spoon, carefully setting it down. Ugh. She's so uncouth... "Congratulations on getting your cutie mark, Tootsie Flute." She took care to enunciate each word perfectly; no member of the Silver family would ever fail to follow appropriate ceremony, be it at a wedding, a funeral, or a cutecenara. "I am certain--"
"Yeah, my Momma already said the same thing. Come on! We've got games to play!" Tootsie almost dragged Silver Spoon over to a large area in the center of Sugar Cube Corner, where Pinkie Pie was setting up four tables. "We've got pin the tail on the pony over there, and Twist and Snails are playing chess over there--"
"You invited Snails?" asked Silver Spoon, her nose wrinkling involuntarily.
"Sure! He told me that if I gave him a big piece of cake, he'd make sure no ants or bugs bothered me during the party!" Tootsie grinned. "He's a really friendly colt."
"... uh huh." Ew... Silver Spoon hid her disgust, though, and merrily looked at the tables. "What's this?"
"Oh, this is the appraisal game I told you about before!" Tootsie Flute looked around. "Although, I don't see the game..." She shrugged, then gestured at Mrs. Cake, who was setting up a big fruit tart on a nearby buffet table. "Well, I bet Mrs. Cake is going to set up the appraisal game any moment now!"
"Did you tell her you wanted it?"
Tootsie Flute waved a hoof. "Nah. I didn't want to spend all that time describing just what I wanted -- and I'm lucky, remember? I just said I wanted really, really, really fun party games! I'm sure she figured it out."
Daddy says that smart ponies make their own luck, thought Silver Spoon. Aloud, she said, "Well... I hope it works out. Now--"
"Oh!" Tootsie Flute pointed at a little platform set up by the bakery's counter. "That's the stage Pinkie Pie set up. Sweetie Belle's going to do an act later!" She grinned. "Hey, maybe you could do something too!"
Blowing up the baking soda looked better all the time, Silver Spoon thought. "Uh."
"Oh -- but that's later. Come on, let's get the game set up. I'll bet you win!"
That did cheer Silver Spoon up a bit. "Okay. So... how does this game work?"
***
The game was a lot more fun that Silver Spoon would have thought, given her state of mind. But it was something she was very good at, and she was able to beat the other foals -- and even a few adults who tried their hooves at it.
"Well, shoot," said Applejack, blushing slightly. "That there foal knows the prices of Sweet Apple Acres apples better'n Ah do."
"It's okay," said Silver Spoon in a generous tone. "I saw that green apple had a dimple on the bottom. That reduces its value by an average of two jangles. Its stem was short too, and the color was just slightly darker than the pure green one wants in an apple. Besides--"
Applejack laughed. "Alright, alright. Good game, kiddo."
"Wow!" Silver Spoon turned to see Bebop watching her. The foal had two very full saddlebags on her sides. "That was AWESOME!" she yelled. "You're really good at that, Silver Spoon!"
"I'm good at everything," said Silver Spoon in a matter-of-fact voice. "I--"
"Really?" Bebop twisted her head about. "Everything?"
"Yes. All Silvers are."
"Then... then you can help me get the speaker equipment set up!"
"I what?" Silver Spoon blinked.
Bebop nodded. "I wanted to play one of my songs, but Pinkie said it was up to Vinyl, since she's DJ-ing, and Vinyl didn't want me to use her stuff. But I brought my own!" She gestured at her saddlebags. "But I had to take my speakers apart to get them here, and I'm not really sure how to put them back together..."
Silver Spoon opened her mouth to refuse, but then she saw Sweetie Belle approaching their area along with Rarity. "Alright," she said. "I'll help--"
"YAY!" roared Bebop in a deafening cheer. "Let's go!"
***
Fixing the speakers turned out to be a four-foal job. Silver Spoon and Bebop were soon joined by Apple Bloom, who seemed to have a strange aptitude for mechanical devices (for a blank flank, at least), and Snips, who had no aptitude for mechanical devices but seemed to be following Apple Bloom around for some reason. Bebop wasn't much better than Snips, so it quickly turned into Silver Spoon and Apple Bloom doing most of the work. To make up for it, though, Bebop did most of the talking.
"...so I was trying to get somepony to play my music, and everypony keeps saying I'm not ready. But I'm more than ready! I mean, my music is really loud and awesome -- so I've already got the most important parts!"
"Mm-hmm." Silver Spoon looked at the pieces before her and worked on determining how they went back together. Apple Bloom was slightly ahead of her, but the gray-coated foal was not going to allow that to last. If I screw these two things together, and plug this wire in here, I think this whole thing will snap back into place... there!
Silver Spoon nodded as she fit her components together. "That's how to do it," she said. "Just like that."
"Wow!" Bebop grinned. "You really are good at everything!"
"Nuh-uh!" said Apple Bloom. Silver Spoon looked up to see that the farm foal was also done; she seemed to have finished at about the same time as her. "What about farming?" she challenged. "I betcha can't farm."
"I could if I tried," said Silver Spoon.
"I'm sure you're a great farmer, Apple Bloom," said Snips.
"Thanks!" said Apple Bloom. "But Silver Spoon--"
"We should have a contest!" announced Bebop. "I'll put on some music, and... and you two can both plant cupcakes and see which one grows first!"
"You can't grow cupcakes..." Apple Bloom's voice trailed off. "Then again, maybe ma sis just says that cause she doesn't want ma ta eat ta many. Maybe it's worth a try!"
Silver Spoon frowned, but then reasoned that, singing aside, she was a very talented foal. If anypony could grow cupcakes, it was her. "I think the Cakes have some plant pots. And there's dirt outside."
"Great! Let's get the music going, and then we'll be ready to rock!"
***
Later, as Silver Spoon sat with a fully belly of cake and punch, and with a little party hat on her head, she remarked to herself that she was surprisingly happy.
The cupcake-growing contest had been fun, if inconclusive, and so had pin-the-tail-on-the-pony, and so had Pinkie's dancing lessons (which were, as far as Silver Spoon could tell, just instructions on bouncing as high in the air as possible). Even the adventures with Bebop's music (which had lasted twenty-six seconds before adults intervened) had been entertaining. It really was a very nice party. She had even forgotten, for the most part, what she had been dreading.
But, as time passed by, the fateful moment came. Pinkie Pie bounced her way to the microphone. "Everypony!" she chirped. "Attention, please! Attention! I have a super-special-awesome announcement for all of you!"
Tootsie Flute scampered in front of her. "Yeah! I wanted to thank you all for coming! This has been the best cutecenara ever!"
Mine was better, thought Silver Spoon, but without much bite.
"Now -- one more thing! Sweetie Belle wants to sing a little song for us, and she's really good at it, so I thought it'd be a great idea!" Tootsie Flute giggled. "So come on up, Sweetie Belle! Let's hear you sing!"
Sweetie Belle ascended the stage. Her outfit, Silver Spoon noted, really was pretty, and had the haute couture style to it -- like Rarity had just made it for her that day. There was no trace of the foal's stage fright now. She was just a pony who was going to give a good show, and who knew it.
"Um..." Sweetie Belle hopped up and down to try to reach the microphone, until Rarity used her telekinesis to lower it. "Okay, I'm going to sing something!" She took a deep breath and then coughed a few times to clear her throat. "Here I go!"
A flicker of motion caught Silver Spoon's attention. She turned to see Diamond Tiara waving to her from the back of the room, near the kitchen doors. Diamond Tiara tilted her head towards the door, then flailed her hooves about -- foal-language for 'make a big disturbance.'
It wouldn't be hard to do, Silver Spoon noted. Not with all eyes on Sweetie Belle, who was taking a few more deep coughs. There was a gigantic pile of presents just behind the gathered foals; Silver Spoon could easily slip back there and knock them down on the back row. The presents would fall, covering some of the foals, and in the commotion, Diamond Tiara would be able to get into the kitchen. And then it'd be over.
"Good luck!" cheered Tootsie Flute. "You're gonna do great!" She waved her hooves. "You're going to make this the best cutecenara ever!"
"YEAH!" bellowed Bebop.
Silver Spoon frowned. She'd had a lot more fun than she'd thought with Tootsie and Bebop; the two foals were silly and immature, but they were surprisingly entertaining. The games had been fun, as had the cake and punch. I don't want Sweetie to show me up, but I don't want to ruin their good time either...
She was still for a long moment, then sighed and settled back. No, she wouldn't ruin the cutecenara. That was unworthy of a Silver anyway, and it wouldn't be fair to the other foals -- even wastes of cutie marks like Snips and Snails. Sweetie Belle would surpass her, and that would be that. I tried, at least. I hope Daddy isn't too mad at me...
Diamond Tiara waved again, but Silver Spoon quietly shook her head. Then Filthy Rich was hurrying over to retrieve his errant daughter, and Sweetie Belle had stopped clearing her throat. "Here goes," she murmured, and then began to sing:
"Hush little filly, don't say a word. Momma's gonna buy you a mocking bird..."
The song was even more beautiful than before; she had probably practiced before one of the professional musicians in town. But Sweetie Belle hit every pitch perfectly, while disregarding any needless ornamentation. It was a simple and sweet performance, the kind that Fluttershy gave for her charity events. And it was lovely. Sweetie Belle seemed to have a knack for conveying emotion in her song; when she sang about the lovely gifts the big sister was getting the little one, Silver Spoon was swept away by the compassion and love of it all. Even her own troubles seemed to fade as she visualized the sister getting her younger sibling one more replacement gift.
A thought came to Silver Spoon's mind. A few years ago, when she'd still been a very young foal, one of her toys had broken and she'd been crying about it. The door had opened and Sterling Silver had come in. He had carefully taken the broken toy away, he had dried his daughter's tears, and -- though, as Silver Spoon later learned, he'd been in the middle of some important work -- he had taken the time to go with her to the nearest toy store and get her a replacement. Silver Spoon had always favored that toy above her others. That... that was a good day, all in all...
And so Silver Spoon felt utterly at peace as Sweetie sang. But it did have to end eventually, and when it did, the feeling faded. Silver Spoon felt herself sinking down in her chair, her face even more ashen-colored than usual. Here it comes, she thought.
"That was really great!" cheered Tootsie Flute as the other foals clapped and applauded. "Yay!"
"YAY!" roared Bebop.
Silver Spoon began to try to slip to the other side of the room.
"Now -- oh, I know! Silver Spoon, you said you were doing music stuff too, right?" Tootsie Flute hurried to her side. "Why don't you play something?"
Seriously?! Silver Spoon blushed, feeling everypony's eyes on her. "Um."
"You can sing? Or play an instrument? What is it?" asked Bebop.
Not so loud. "Not right now... I mean... uh..."
She decided to get it over with. "I can't sing as well as her. I'd be a letdown," she said at last.
"Oh," said Tootsie.
For a moment, it was silent.
"Then... Bebop! How about you!"
"ALRIGHT!"
Silver Spoon blinked as all attention turned to Bebop. Nopony was even paying attention to her anymore. Huh? I just admitted I was inferior to her... don't they care? Shouldn't they be all over that?
"Having fun, my little gem?"
Silver Spoon looked up to see that she had drifted over to her father. "Sorry, Daddy."
"About what?"
"That I can't sing as well as her."
Sterling seemed genuinely confused, so Silver Spoon continued. "I know you expect me to be the best and I have great potential and--"
Sterling gathered into a hug. "Dear, you already are the best in my eyes. I wouldn't trade you for any other daughter." He gripped her tight, and Silver Spoon couldn't help hugging him back as the impact of his words struck her. "You're a wonderful little pony, dear, and don't let anypony tell you different -- singing or no."
"Even though I'm not as good as Sweetie Belle?"
Sterling shook his head. "I love you," he said. "That's not contingent on anything Sweetie Belle does or is or ever will be. You are one of the brightest, most diligent, and greatest ponies I know. Whatever you choose to do, you will excel in... and if what you want to do is music, then yes, one day you will surpass all others and be the greatest in the land. Maybe someday soon, because you are an incredibly talented pony" He pat her on the head. "But if that's not what you want to do, if you don't become the best at music, or drama or art or anything else, I will still love you. Because you are my daughter, and you are special -- and that is all that matters to me."
Silver Spoon remained in the hug for a few moments. "I love you, Daddy."
Silver Spoon found herself mixing into the crowd. She tracked down Sweetie Belle and managed some complimentary words ('Pretty good for a blank flank' among them) which seemed to cheer her. I'll beat you soon, Silver Spoon vowed. Even if beating you right this minute isn't as important as I thought, I'll still be the best someday. But for now... for now I'll just acknowledge your music. Silvers can have rivals, after all.
Diamond Tiara seemed to have left the party, and Silver Spoon expected that her father was displeased at her antics. That left Silver Spoon without her usual friend, though, and she'd been so preoccupied during the past two days that she had utterly forgotten to make any other plans for things to do during the party. As such, as the party began to wind down, she found herself sitting at a table in the back and sipping a cup of punch. Snips and Snails were at the table too, but they weren't paying attention to her.
"...Snails! That was horrible advice! Putting a slug in her mane didn't make her like me!"
"Well, I'd like somepony who did that to me! How was I supposed to know Apple Bloom doesn't like slugs?"
"Fillies are weird like that! But I thought you knew what you were talking about! Now Apple Bloom told her sister, and I've gotta hide from Applejack -- oh no!"
The two ran off as Applejack stepped to the back to deposit another small present in the big pile, leaving Silver Spoon alone. The gray-coated foal sighed to herself. What now?
She supposed she could just get back to her regular life, but something was tugging at her. It wasn't just the way the ponies in the audience had reacted to Sweetie Belle's performance -- that wasn't enough to explain this. But Silver Spoon couldn't deny her own enjoyment of the music, and maybe a small wish that she too could do something like that.
Maybe... maybe if I worked at it like I work at school or my other hobbies, I could do something like that someday. Not just surpass Sweetie Belle. What if I could make really good music? Wouldn't that be something? Something worthy of the Silver family? If I could play music like that better than all others, make them swoon like Sweetie Belle did... that would be really fun.
"Hey!" Tootsie Flute hurried over to the seat next to Silver Spoon. "Enjoying the party?"
"Yes," said Silver Spoon, surprised to admit it.
"Good! I'm glad you came!"
"Why?" Silver Spoon asked the question before she realized it. "I mean, uh... why me? We don't really talk."
Tootsie Flute shrugged. "I dunno... luck, I guess." She giggled and pointed at her flank. "I just have a feeling that it's a really good thing for us to be friends... that we're going to have a lot of great adventures and do a ton of awesome things! Isn't that a good enough reason?"
Before Silver Spoon could answer, Bebop took another seat at the table. "Awesome party!" she said. "Totally neat!"
"I'm glad you liked it!" Tootsie Flute paused. "Er... sorry about your music not being used, though. I wish they'd let it play longer."
Bebop shrugged. "I'll keep trying. I finally convinced Vinyl to give me lessons. I'm gonna be a great rock star someday." She laughed. "My drums will sound ALL OVER THE WORLD!"
You already sound all over the world, thought Silver Spoon. Ponies in Prance can hear you.
Tootsie Flute smiled. "Yeah, Lyra's going to be teaching me too! I'll be a great bard!" She laughed. "I'll be great too!"
"Sounds perfect!"
Tootsie Flute turned to Silver Spoon. "Hey, aren't you taking lessons too?"
Nopony will teach me. Except Bluenote, I'd guess, but she's not... dedicated enough to being the best right away... Silver Spoon realized that her father had indicated that wasn't as important as she had thought. ...no. I'll learn what I can from her. I'll learn to produce those kind of emotions... being the best will come naturally, when I'm great enough. But I can learn from her.
"Well?" asked Bebop.
"I will be taking lessons with Bluenote," said Silver Spoon at last.
"In what?"
Silver Spoon thought. There was one instrument that stuck out in her mind, one that she had loved, one that had given her so much enjoyment even when she had just been playing with a toy underneath it. "The piano."
"Can earth ponies play the piano?" wondered Tootsie Flute.
"This one can," said Silver Spoon. Yes. I will play the piano. I will work hard, and surpass my rivals, and someday, I will play amazing music that can bring crowds to tears -- or I am not a Silver, she vowed.
"We should make a band!" said Bebop. "Drums, flute, and piano -- that's perfect!"
"Yeah!" said Tootsie Flute.
"Uh." Silver Spoon looked at the flaky, happy-go-lucky unicorn, and the loud, crass pegasus. "Um."
"That'd be so much FUN!" continued Bebop. "We could do gigs, and compose, and become real famous! And then we could all become the best at once!"
Silver Spoon had an image of herself putting a hoof to her head in the middle of a practice session. She could just imagine the sheer number of stupid things the other foals would say, and so she opened her mouth to say 'no.' But something stopped her. I had so much fun today. And I do want to learn music now, music for real. And...
"Alright," she said at last. And she felt wonderful.
***
The first practice session of Untitled (they couldn't agree on a name yet) took place one week later.
Silver Spoon bit her lip as she worked on the scales. Her hooves were covered in the stupid tapered gloves that would allow her to press one of the thin keys at a time. A.. A sharp... B... B sharp... wait, no, stupid piano. They forgot the B sharp on this one...
"Silver Spoon!" called Betty. "Your friends are here!"
"Send them in, please!"
Bebop came in with her drums, and Tootsie a few moments later with her flute. "Ready for some awesome action?" asked Bebop. "Ready to ROCK?"
"...I don't think you can rock with scales," said Silver Spoon.
"We can try!" chirped Tootsie Flute. "Let's go!"
It was more noise than music, but it was fun. And -- as Silver Spoon worked to hit the right notes -- she couldn't keep a smile from her face.
I am Silver Spoon. I am the best foal in Ponyville -- or I soon will be.
