Crystal Feather has been living a good life all on her own, but when she finds out that her little job had to be moved to another part of Equestria and she gets a phone call from a friend, all she can think about was her friends back in the church.
Crystal Feather has been living a good life all on her own, but when she finds out that her little job had to be moved to another part of Equestria and she gets a phone call from a friend, all she can think about was her friends back in the church. She picks up a little slip a paper and begins writing about how much those ponies that took her in when she had nothing left in the world, she can't help it, but owe it all to them.
"Good morning Mrs. Feather!" Ruby Bow greeted as Crystal entered the tall crystalized building.
"Morning Mr. Ruby. What kind of writing assignment do you need me to do today? I'm all prepared yet again for it."
"Actually Crystal, I had to send a few of my employees to the office all the way to Baltimare. As much as I don't want to send you away, I have to. They wanted a mare with your writing abilities there, they heard all about you from me and wanted what I had. They personally asked for you. I'm sorry Crystal, I have to send you and your family down there to help them out."
"But-"
"I'm sorry, I wish there was a way that I could keep you here with me, but there was no other way. I don't want the heads of the company to get involved and possibly have me fired, Celestia help me." Ruby Bow looked at his hooves and then quickly looked back up at Crystal, "Oh and there is a call for you on line two in your office. She told me that it was important that she'd speak to you."
"Thank you..."
The circular office with the dark brown desk sitting in the middle of the room, half covered windows with dark blue curtains, Crystal's miniature TARDIS statue that her daughter Amber Sketch created sat on her desk, and the desktop still ran on and on with her lock screen glaring in her eyes. The phone blinked just above the words, Line Two, each blink drawing her farther and farther away from it.
"He-Hello?" Crystal answered.
"Crystal Feather? Is this you?" it was Metal Note, the mare who always had the great timing to call when something didn't seem right.
"Yeah it's me. What's going on Metal?"
"Well it's mainly for you. I haven't seen you at church when I would be there for the LONGEST time. Where have you been girl?"
"Busy, busy."
"Are you okay? You sound a little off of your normal track. What's going on?"
"Nothing, I'm fine."
But Crystal wasn't, being forced out of her own home in the Crystal Empire, the one place that she has been at for all her life... Usually Crystal would try and tell Metal Note anything that had happened in her life. Except for the fact that she had been raising three more fillies; Dusk Star, Summer Nights, and Amber Sketch.
"Alright... Anyways I was just coming to check in on you. Haven't seen you and I thought that something had happened to you, last time I saw you was when you married Marben Kolenko. Oh wait I'm sorry, Meow. Come back to the church when you get the chance. Every pony here misses you, as well as Crystal Skies. She misses getting to mess around with you. She still gets confused on who one pony is talking about which Crystal."
Crystal Feather chuckled, "I'll try to come this Sunday."
"You better! Bye Crystal."
Sitting down in the comfy chair behind the dark brown table, a small picture frame sat by her desktop. Crystal Feather's dark blue hooves grabbed a hold of the frame. Inside in the center was younger Crystal Feather, along with Metal Note, Starry Ballet, Glowing Frolic, Divine Oath, Violet Amber, Prophetic Wish, Star Mane, Crystal Skies, Night Beat, Ace Luck, Shinning Aurora, Bass Lace, Pencil Tune, Risky Chance, and Blue Star surrounding her.
Crystal smiled and chucked a little with the thought of them again, the youth group. What she would give to be with them again. But now it was too late. Crystal's whole family was moving to Baltimare ASAP. Each day there seemed to always brighten up her day for the following Monday and Thursday with something new.
Quickly grabbing up a slip of paper from the brown desk and snatching up her lucky crystal quill, dipping it in the ink and began writing.
Boxes stacked to the ceiling of the moving truck; lamps, chairs, toys, and various other objects there. Crystal's entire home shoved away in boxes on it's way to the new home.
"Are you ready?" Meow asked.
"Yeah, I'm ready." Crystal paused, "Could we stop at the church for a few minutes? I have to drop something off to them before we leave."
"Yeah we can stop there. Who are you going to leave the letter for? You never told me who."
"If it is possible, I'll leave it with the only mare who would understand."
***
The tall white and green church peak, with a small white cross on top casted a shadow across the parking lot of the church. Many mares and stallions walked in, some with fillies and/or colts by their sides. It reminded Crystal when she was younger, walking with her mom and dad through those same doors.
"Crystal you made it!" Crystal Skies said.
There she was, her bright purple fur kind of faded away over time, her brown and yellow mane turned to pastel yellow and a tan color, the two small colts that Pastor Night Beat and she had, Steel Bow and Prismatic Mint, both looked like they were almost middle school. Pastor Night Beat was starting to pale as well, but had a few white streaks in him black-ish grey mane.
"Hey Crystal... Why don't you come inside the youth building? Metal Note told us all that you were going to try and come here today."
"I can't come inside. I have an important date to attend to." Crystal paused with tears in her broken eyes, "Can you take this to some pony in the building and read it out to the previous youth group? The ones that I was in with."
Handing her the envelope, Crystal Skies took it and gave a mental nod, "What's going on? Something doesn't seem like you normally. Did something horrible happen to you?"
"No, I'm fine." Crystal responded rubbing her hoof across her eyes, "You'll find out when you hear the letter."
Wrapping her hooves around a confused Crystal, Crystal Feather soon trotted away with tears dripping off her face. As the coach drove away, Crystal Skies stared down at the envelope she was given.
***
"Where's Crystal Feather? Wasn't she coming today?" Starry Ballet question Metal Note.
"She should be here soon."
"That's the third time that you've said that Metal! I'll have to shank her if she comes late! Or doesn't even show up." Glowing Frolic demanded.
"NO PONY IS SHANKING ANY PONY!" Crystal Skies snapped.
Metal Note trotted up to Crystal with a questionable tone to her voice, "Did you happen to see Crystal Feather?"
Crystal Skies handed Metal the envelope, having a disappointed look on her face, "She did come to the church, but she gave me this saying for some pony to read it out and then left in tears."
Metal Note walked up to the front of the room, opened the envelope handed to her and began to read...
Wow, it's been a long time since I've seen you all, just to talk about life; only seems like yesterday my new life began with you guys. I wish that seeing each other could last forever; going on adventures, mission trips, movie nights, just hanging out, or just seeing each other at church praising the wonderful consular, God.
You all probably still believe that Meow and I are caring for our two young foals, Emerald Rose and Comet. They both have grown to be such amazing mares. But indeed, we are not caring for only two, five to be exact. A couple of years after our marriage I had my first little colt names Summer Nights. After him I had Dusk Star, then finally Amber Sketch.
Amber takes after her father, she never stops drawing everything that she can get her hooves on. Dusk Star takes after me in a way that she writes, but write songs. You all may have heard her music on the radio before. Summer Nights is in the Air Force like Meow once was, and has been promoted to captain in only three years of being there. Great foals with such amazing personalities.
Let me get to the less formal part of my letter, I knew that I could trust Crystal Skies to hand this letter off to you who is reading this letter now. You know, Crystal's have to stick together, look after one another. For all of you that are sitting in that room right now; Glowing Frolic, Violet Amber, Crystal Skies, Metal Note, and Divine Oath; thank you for sticking around and taking time out of your lives to be here for this.
My high school journey had to be the best four years of my life, the best journey I have ever taken so far, all thanks to you. It started off rough, filled with trials and tribulations. Yet each one I failed to do right. But after I took on that new road down a beaten path which seemed rough at first, soon became easy to travel on.
Since the end of Freshman year, till one by one we all graduated and went on our ways to college. It's been a long while since we've last seen each other. Oh geeze, I'm blabbering now, let's get on with the moment here.
A couple of years ago I started a job in the biggest company in all of Equestria, with the best income and a job that I enjoyed doing. I have just found out that my boss had to let go of some people to the branch in Baltimare and I was one of them. Meow, Amber and I have to move down there and I continue with my great experience to the branch here in Crystal Empire. Metal Note called me and said that you all missed me so much, and safe to say I miss you all too. When I picked up the last picture that we all took together as a family. With all the memories of you guys and how you all changed my life from the beginning of the second year at Crystal High School. That one picture took me back...
With all of this said, this is my letter of thank you. I still think about you all day in and day out as life has moved on.
Glowing Frolic, geeze... Here, sometime, immenseness to my sarcasm. I remember the time when she and her parents were taking me home after choir practice and Glowing was telling her father that I lived pass a neighborhood that was on the opposite side of where I lived. I kept telling her that she was wrong. Once we got up past the main road and Glowing's father realized that it was true on what she was saying. In a split second I told her that I told her so.
Quickly turning around Glowing looked at me and began fussing me out beginning with, "You know what?!" As she fussed me out, I kept on laughing and let it get off her chest. It was amazeballs!
I remember a long time ago when we were little fillies, (the same one I am going to now,) both Glowing and I never talked. I just knew her as a face in the crowd and a little on who she was. The only memory that I have of her was when she took on the new light and was baptized. Then on my first day back, I didn't think that she would remember who I was, talk to me, let alone even care.
But to my surprise, both her and Divine Oath took me in that first day when I was so afraid and resistant. After that day, when I returned the day at the end of Hearths Warming Eve break I was still a part of their group. I continued to come and worship with them, with you all, I didn't have to be forced out of bed every morning.
As the days continued I made my first friend there, Starry Ballet. I guess I was still half asleep on my first day, I barely even remember if she was there or not. But the second time that I was there, I remember meeting her smiling face. Starry was up at the game room door just standing all by herself.
I stood on the opposite side of her as she just kept looking around the room. After a couple of minutes of silence, Starry greeted with a hello. Soon started our conversation about school and all the things that both of us enjoyed. I told her that I loved to sing out in the choir at school and she told me that she loves to dance and will dance till the day that she couldn't do it anymore. Such a dedication, and a beautiful dancer.
I remember the first, most, widespread story I have created called Save Me where I put her, Metal Note, Prophetic Wish, Star Note, Black Ninja, and Super Junior in the story. I told Starry that it and she really wanted to read it. Because she gave me the determination to make a friend without one of my own friends around, I faced another one of my deep nerve thoughts and gave her my story.
Starry Ballet with her kind personality, she helps me believe that I am more than a complete nervous reck. I was a strong mare with only my nerves holding me back.
When she graduated from high school, only makes me wish I came to the church earlier than I had, could've done more with her than I had. Although I was super proud of her going to such an amazing college, I knew that I was going to miss seeing her face very often. Sorry that I was in complete tears but Starry, such an impact as well.
Divine Oath, one of God's angels sent from heaven , one angel for me. A quiet angel. I had rarely ever met another mare with such dedication with her antics. With the same day that I met her on my fist day back there, both her and Glowing taking me in on that fist day. She introduced herself and I followed with my name, we didn't have a huge conversation but I guess that it was the start of a friendship that can't be broken.
I remember at summer camp when my life took a turn around and I was in tears. I remember Divine telling me that her and Risky Chance didn't have to hear it from me per say, they both already knew that something inside of me had changed in that split second. Once family group was over, I love this part, both Divine and Risky asked if I'd like to go for a walk around before lights out. All three of us walked around the campground a little bit and they both asked question about my previous life before this decision was made.
I can't say enough to her when Divine has always been the one mare that was always next to me when there was a great lesson in church. Like the time when Pastor Night Beat gave his lesson called Ready, Aim, Fire. When he asked us to pray and ask where we going down the right path. With tears in my eyes, when we were asked to stand up and sing, Divine handed me a slip of paper that told me they all cared and she would be praying for me, and for whatever was going on in my life.
With Divine at my side, I gave her a big hug, I knew then it was true that this path I was taking, I wasn't alone. Metal Note even showed me the same thing, only by putting her hoof around me with all her comfort filling me as I cried letting all the pain go away. Divine has been there to be like a counselor for my spiritual problems and a friend I could talk to, for just to talk.
Violet Amber, such a silly filly. Not much of a filly anymore since I had graduated, a mare. I never got to actually meet her until the mission trip at our adopted school, Crystal Empire Elementary School. We got to be inside to help them out; Violet, Starry Legend, Ace Luck, and I pulled out folders and put them together for their school orientation.
I still can't believe that she kept saying sorry about not talking to me earlier, I kept telling her that a new pony that I would meet wouldn't start talking to me until I was well into three or four months into my visits. But she insisted that she felt sorry and wished that they had talked to me earlier. All of them were telling me that.
On our first full day at the fall retreat, Violet took me back into the obstacle course and we did some of the things there. I remember doing the tight rope with her and thinking I was going to be the one all over the place, falling, tripping, or loosing me footing. As her and I walked back towards the main platform, both her and I fell off. I remember her falling maybe three times and I did once.
Learned how to play a new game and then sat on the tire swing with her, the other middle school girls, and Crystal Skies. We just sat and chatted for a little bit; chatted about school, life, drama, and the stallions from church that we liked. The picture that her mom had posed on a social site where Violet didn't even get to finish unpacking her bag from the fall retreat before she passed out on the floor, with her stuffed pig wrapped around in her hooves. Such a cute little picture, memories were made.
Crystal Skies, the mare that acts like my mind although, less weird. But still very funny with all she would say. The "run" of the high school group, with her criticism or compliments.
I remember the first time that I met her. Doing the normal name game with the group; she introduced herself, then told me the "grade" she was in, then told me her favorite Hearth's Warming Eve movie for the life of me I can't really remember what it was. When I announced my name, she didn't miss a beat, telling me that it was her name too. Which began the NEVER ENDING attempts to find out how to tell one another apart. Which still can't be found out to this day.
I remember the day after I told the entire room I was in, when I took the big turn around, it was late that night, as we were walking down to the bus after we repelled down the mountain. She caught up with me, asked the questions that she had and told me her story. She and I both came closer together at that point.
Added with her encouragement, telling me that if I didn't go repel, I would soon regret it. Using her own experience to push me on and to try something new. Even during the experience, when I tripped and fell, almost giving up as I flipped multiple times at that one trip. Ready from some pony to just pull me up or drag me down, Crystal grabbed onto the rope and helped me stop. She calmed me down enough to just come all the way down. Crystal may seem all goofy and crazy, but when it comes down to when some pony needs her or help, she's willing to lend a hoof.
On the last full day of summer camp, I remember when all the sins that I had done came to mind and I just wanted to pray those away, I chose her to talk to her and get help from. She wanted to know what those sins were but I didn't want her to think other things about me. But mainly for the fact that it was sins that I really disliked and no longer wanted to remember anymore. Wish I had the guts to tell her, but it was best not to remember.
Metal Note, quite a unique mare. I don't remember much from the past, but I remember my mom always hearing about a filly with the same name as her that was very crazy. At first she was confused on if they were talking about her or was there really another Metal around at the church. Once my mom finally met Metal Note, she understood what every pony was saying.
Back on Mundy, I remember like it had just happened, I was with Harmonic Wind and my family, all of us were talking about where we should stop to eat. Metal came up to the group and joined in the conversation. I didn't even recognize her at first, to me, Metal was a weird mare standing next to me who seemed to be the boss of things.
When there was a silence in the group, she introduced herself and Harmonic Wind introduced me. Metal's eyes widened and her hoof went up to her knees. She shook her head in disbelief, like it was all a lie. In that moment when she said her name, I finally realized who she was.
At camp, it seemed like a lot of the time, I was trying to make a good impression, make her proud. I don't know if I had or not, or if I was trying too hard. But when I was baptized and she didn't make it, she was with Prophetic Wish and Star Mane, she shared the video one of the youth leaders took and gave a comment that brought me to tears.
I even remember the time when I said that I was going to come to the next choir meet at the church with her and Crystal, being the added Soprano. Although she wasn't there, I had a great time. After my third time being there, I rode home with her and I didn't really talk with her much, she did all the talking. After that day, it became easier and easier, soon I became so comfortable being around her, each time though I had the best.
I even remember the first friend drama I had, that I was completely involved with, and how upset I was with this one friend. When it happened, she was the first to know, well, because the both of us were texting back and forth. After a month of the whole issue, that's when it really started to bug me then. Metal gave me some advice on how I could slowly change it all. It ha worked, but it still bugged me.
When I heard from her about an issue she had back when she was in youth group and how she had handled it. She tried to ignore it and move on. I found it out and the drama was all over with. I was done with it.
I have to leave work soon with all of my stuff so let me end my letter here. I thank every single one of you sitting in that room now for all that you have done. Each one of you have a special place in my heart and I'll never forget who you are. I hope that you won't either and continue to always be there for me when I need you. And I hope you all know that I'll always be there for you too.
Thank you for your time, love, and compassion for a messed up mare like me.
