Chapter I
I'm not as wealthy as others take me to be. Really, I'm just the average pony; my glasses were bought from the shop down the street and I don't own a mansion like my best friend, Diamond Tiara. The only remotely high class object I own is the silver beaded necklace I wear around my neck. Even that isn't something I have bought - not even my family had bought it. No, Diamond had purchased it for me out of her own pocket money - a gift to me on our 'friendship anniversary.'
Diamond's the most popular pony in our class. I'm clever; a lot cleverer than her, in fact, but intelligence doesn't get you any popularity points - at least not in my school. What counts is how fashionable, wealthy, well groomed and confident you are. It's not like I'm filthy or anything, but confidence isn't my strongest point, that's Diamond's. Pretty much every filly in the class adores her, including me, except the 'Cutie Mark Crusaders' who are decidedly the opposite of Diamond; unpopular.
I lean closer to the map of Equestria that's on my desk, pressing hard with my blue crayon as I colour in the 'Trottingham' section. I'm a clever pony and I of course am serious when it comes to studies. Cheerilee and all my past teachers say that I have a lot of intelligent and wide variety of vocabulary, so I don't let that go to waste.
Berry Pinch walks past me, chewing on some biscuits that she had brought with her to school, and 'accidentally' spills some of the crumbs onto my work. She looks at me and looks back at Aura, her best friend, and looks back at me. A giggle escapes her lips but she quickly covers it with a cough and slips away with Aura. All I do is frown; whenever I'm not near Diamond, I get treated like this. But I'm used to it. What do I expect? Them to get down on their knees and beg forgiveness? I sigh and hold out my map, shaking off all the dirty crumbs that Berry had spilt. All the same, sometimes I wish I was more like Diamond and less like...me.
'"Alright, everypony!" Cheerilee calls out, interrupting my train of thoughts with a happy smile, "It's break time!"
I look up and put my pencil down obediently, standing up and pushing my chair under my desk. I leave my work on my desk, ready for Cheerilee to collect in and mark. The bell rings on cue, and I trot out of the classroom with the rest of my classmates, filing out as orderly as we can.
None of my classmates attempt to speak to me as we head outside. I find a seat and wait, swishing my tail anxiously as I search for Diamond Tiara among the many ponies walking past me. I find the Cutie Mark Crusaders, Aura, Button Mash and a dozen other ponies until my eyes finally find Diamond. A smile flickers on my muzzle and I trot over to her, a noticeable bounce in my steps.
Being with Diamond is the highlight of my day. It might sound a little creepy, but she is my best friend after all. And it's not like there's anything to look forward to at home, what with the constant arguments my parents have daily and my messy, immature little brother. I'd give anything to have a sister, and it would be a bonus if that sister was Diamond Tiara. Seriously though, I would be more than happy to move in with Diamond Tiara, but my family don't want that to happen for some reason.
I slow down as I notice a large group of ponies surrounding my best friend. I trot over awkwardly, not sure what would happen if I approach them. No pony dares to tease me in front of Diamond's face, but I am wary anyway. Diamond glances at me as I tentatively walk over and her face brightens, immediately evaporating my worries into thin air. "Oh, Silver!" she exclaims, walking towards me. The cluster of ponies immediately follow her, but leave enough space for me to go over to Diamond Tiara. "I thought you'd never come!"
I open my mouth to reply, but as I walk over I accidentally step on Tootsie Flute's hoof. "Sorry," I apologize, but Tootsie doesn't say anything. As I turn around, a small giggle runs through the crowd and my cheeks flush. I bring a trembling hoof up to my nose to push my glasses up my sweaty muzzle. That one giggle had burst my self-esteem entirely. Was it just me, or had my classmates somewhat reluctantly made space for me to walk through? It...it can't have been. It was just my imagination, right?
...right?
"Heeeeeyyy, Silver!" I snap out of my trance to look at Diamond. The filly sighs at me in mock disappointment. "You're always daydreaming these days. Is something wrong...um, maybe at home?" When Diamond looks up, I see genuine concern in her eyes.
'No, it's just every pony teasing me whilst they're being sugar sweet to you. I'm definitely missing things when I daydream. So many ponies want to talk to me, why ignore reality?' I want to snap back, but I don't. She is my best friend, after all. Instead, I hear myself say, "Kind of. My brother was up all night screaming and I didn't catch up on much sleep." Not that what I said is necessarily untrue.
Diamond pulls a face, "Colts. So ignorant and immature. I'm never going to find a decent colt friend at this rate."
I smile at Diamond, "Please. You'll be one of the prettiest mares in Equestria by the time you grow up. Stallions will be lining up to dance with you. I'm sure you'll be able to find...the one eventually."
"You mean I'm not one of the prettiest mares already?" she teases me, but her smile soon slips into a frown. "But Silver, if you ever need a place to stay when things are really...hectic at your home, you can always sleep at my house. You know my parents love you."
Oh, Diamond Tiara. She's so nice about it, but the truth is that her parents dislike me. At least her mum doesn't. I've never met her dad since he's always working, I've only seen him when he comes to speak to Cheerilee, but I'm pretty sure that he'll hate how common I am too. Diamond hasn't figured how her family feels about me yet, but I know that she will soon.
"Well," Berry Pinch interrupted, "I was actually wondering if I could come over to your house today, Diamond. See, my sister is having a party, so I'd definitely invite you to my house, but..."
Aura, who had apparently joined the crowd of ponies whilst we and Diamond were talking, stamped her hoof in indignation. "What?" she exclaimed, "But I was going to ask if I could go to Diamond's this morning!"
"Then why didn't you, then?" Berry challenged.
Aura glared at her, "Because I was late to class! The point is, I wanted to go first!"
"How was I supposed to know that, dummy?"
"Don't call me dummy!"
"Enough!" Diamond yelled, stepping in between the two arguing fillies. "I already invited Silver to my house tonight for dinner anyway, so your arguing is stupid and pointless." Berry and Aura glared daggers at me, their cheeks flushed. I shrink backwards. I can't help but think that Diamond made this whole situation a lot worse.
Before anyone can speak, the bell rings and Cherrilee sticks her head out of the classroom window to call or to me and my class, "Alright, everypony! Its time to get back to learning!" A collective groan rises from the playground but we all make our way to the classroom. I sit down at a desk with Diamond sitting behind me, since Sweetie Belle absent-mindedly sits down at the desk next to mine, seemingly not seeing me. Diamond holds a hoof to her muzzle and snickers at me. I pull a face at her and scrape my chair a little further towards the window. Why did she have to sit next to me?
"Okay, my little ponies," Cheerilee begins and I cringe. I hate it when she calls us that; I makes us seem so immature. "I finally got your spelling tests marked, so I'll be handing them out. I'm very pleased with most of your results; I know all of you certainly did your best, though!"
The magenta mare then started handing out the exam papers and I turned around to Diamond, "Don't you hate it when she calls us 'my little ponies?'"
Diamond snorts, "Doesn't everyone? Its so stupid. Um, hello, but we're not really that little anymore."
"Diamond Tiara, here's your paper," Cheerilee interrupts, and I swear that Diamond's face goes deathly pale when my teacher says this. "You got four out of twenty. I know you tried your best, but it you're ever interested, I'm always willing to help you in your studies." Cheerilee smiles and moves over to talk to Sweetie Belle.
I look sympathetically at Diamond, the poor thing. "I'll help you next time, okay?" Diamond nods rigidly, not saying a word.
"Oh, Silver Spoon!" I look over as Cheerilee walks over to me. "You did brilliantly on your test! Full marks, actually; twenty out of twenty!" My muzzle goes dry as I hear Berry's distinct giggle. "You should feel proud of yourself!" I nod and she moves on.
Behind me, more and more giggles are cropping up. A voice whispers "Geek!" and the other fillies soon start to repeat that, like echoes of your worst nightmare. And do you know what makes me more upset, more upset than I would have thought? That moment when I hear Diamond Tiara's giggle join the crowds of laughter. Tears well up behind my glasses, but I ignore the glances of sympathy that Sweetie Belle throws me. I don't want the sympathy of a blank flank; I don't need it.
Cheerilee clears her throat and the giggling stops at once. I take off my glasses and bring my hooves to my eyes, making out as if there's something in them, "Listen up, my little ponies!" she announced. I cringe once again, but this time I don't turn around to Diamond Tiara. "All the schools in major parts of Equestria are going to organize an art competition!" A murmur of surprise goes around the class, "It's going to be tough competition and many ponies will be taking part in it, so the judges have decided that the teachers of each class have to time their class to draw a quick sketch in five minutes." Our teacher smiled. "As you all know, drawing something good in under five minutes is really quite hard to do, so don't be ashamed of your entry doesn't look good!
"But remember, this is all about creativity. Use your imagination! I'll be choosing the five best entries and I'll ask the creators of these entries to start working on their final and new product, which I'll be sending off to the official judges. The submissions that will be shipped off have to be in my this time next week." Our teacher clopped her hooves together, "I'll give you give minutes now to decide what you'll draw and if you'll even enter. This is also the chance to ask me any questions. And the time starts...now!"
Several ponies scrape back their chairs and there's soon a steady stream of ponies lining up at Cheerilee's desk. Most ponies turn around to talk to their friends and I try to not look too awkward by myself.
"Hey, Silver!" I try not to flinch as Diamond calls my name. She grins at me, and my doubts slowly vanish. Her giggle at my expense was only a one time thing; she would never do anything like that again, right? Before I can ponder that question for any longer, Diamond starts talking again, "Oh, Silver, are you taking part in this competition? I wonder what the prize is! It should be something good...something rich and regal to match a pony like me, huh?"
I try not to think of how badly the prize would match me.
"Ah'm definitely not participating!" I hear Apple Bloom declare three chairs away from Diamond, who rolls her eyes in disgust, "Mah sister says that all these fancy pants art competitions are for snobby ponies!"
Diamond snorted in laughter, "Of course, your sister is completely correct! All these civilised art competitions just aren't for country hicks for you!"
"Besides, isn't participating a slightly long word for you?" I add on, eager to stand out for Diamond, "I'm not even sure you can spell that!"
I see a flicker of pain appear on Diamond's face. Then I realise - oh Celestia! Diamond was terrible at spelling; I'm pretty sure I hit a raw spot there. But my best friend is a born actress and is always ready to make a comeback. She tosses her mane and laughs, "Y-yeah, I'm surprised you can say it clearly with that dumb accent if yours."
Scootaloo stands up, chicken wings flared and ready to retort, when Cheerilee quickly clops her hooves together. "Alright everypony, time to return to your seats!"
As everyone sits down, I put my hoof on Diamond's desk to get her attention, "Hey, you think that was less than five minutes long? Would you count that as cheating?"
Diamond clucks her tongue, "Oh, Cheerilee..." She shakes her head in mock disappointment and we both laugh before, turning back around to listen to our teacher.
Cheerilee apparently didn't hear us, because she didn't even glance at either myself or Diamond. A pile of A4 papers were sitting on her desk - I think they're what we'll be drawing our entries on. "I trust that everypony's decided whether or not they'll be taking part in this competition?" Everyone murmurs with agreement, including myself, "Okay, then, please put your hoof up if you'll be participating."
Almost everypony's hoof shoots up in the air, apart from the blank flanks', whose stays obstinately down. Diamond sniggers behind her hoof whilst Cheerilee smiles. "It looks like it's going to be tough competition, then!" she says happily, picking up her pile of A4 paper and walking down the aisles, handing the papers out to the ponies with their hooves up. "Please start drawing when you get your paper and I'll collect them back in in five minutes. For those of you who aren't participating, I'm afraid you'll have to wait this out." The last sentence withdraws a groan from Scootaloo, which makes me roll my eyes.
I slide my piece of paper towards me, pencil in hoof. I've already decided what to draw - I love art and sketching is one of my favourites. My mother used to take me to art lessons, but now she's too busy for me what with my brother and his stupid behaviour. It's not necessarily my special talent, like, cutie mark talent, but I'm certainly very good at it, as is Diamond. Cooking is actually how I earned my cutie mark, but my parents like to think that it means that "I was born with a silver spoon in their mouth." Coincidences are weird.
My hooves get to work as I sketch out a rough shape of a cake, before rubbing the lines out lightly to make them fainter and go over it again but pressing harder. I add accessories like the cake being on a table with beautiful draped sheets, cherries, icing, candles, the whole lot. I start to add shading before I finally draw a silver spoon to match my cutie mark digging into the top of the cake.
Gosh, I'm going to turn into Pinkie Pie soon.
I look back at Diamond, who's drawing a regal looking pony in robes and a tiara sitting on her head. I hesitate. Even I have to say that my drawing is better than hers. Hers has no shading whatsoever and looks pretty bland, to be honest. But her parents like Diamond to succeed, I know that...when she comes home, they force her to practice her piano despite how much she hates it. They'll go bonkers if I get into the art competition but she doesn't.
"There's only one minute left!" Cheerilee calls out as she shuffles through some exam pieces, taking a glance at her clock that sits above her on the wall.
That decides it. I pick up my rubber and start erasing all the extra accessories, except the silver spoon which I figure I should keep since it's my cutie mark.
"Okay, everypony!" Cheerilee announces, standing up, "It's time to collect your entries in!" She walks down the rows and piles up all the artwork, leaving a few compliments here and there. As she picks up Diamond's, the teacher smiles, "Very nice, Diamond. I'm sure you'll definitely be submitting some art to the official judges!" The pink earth pony glows with the praise and I smile at her. I'll eat my own entry if she doesn't get picked.
As Cheerilee takes mine, her face slacks slightly. I look at my art - you can still see the faint outlines of the cherry and the candles. How had I not rubbed them off properly? "Didn't you want those extra accessories on your cake, Silver? I think they'd make the entry a lot more colourful, although I can't say it isn't great as it is now."
I can already feel my muzzle getting sweaty. "N-no, miss. It would make the cake more...crowded." I bluff, but I don't think she's fooled.
"I see," my teacher nods. I can tell that she sees, but not in the way I want her to. Why doesn't anything go right for me? Cheerilee walks back to her desk and I let out a sigh of relief. I don't care what she thinks now, but I know for a fact that Diamond will get into the competition.
* * *
"Why did you do that?"
I look up and see Sweetie Belle staring at me. We were the only ones still in class; Diamond told me that she had to go to the loo and Cheerilee was outside speaking to a classmate's mother. She must have deliberately waited until I was alone, I realise. "I don't know what you mean," I reply coldly, "Blank flank." I add on for good measure.
But Sweetie Belle refuses to leave me alone. Dear Celestia, she's stubborn. "You know what I'm talking about," she accuses, "Why did you rub out half of your drawing?"
She was watching me? Stalker. "It was too crowded," I reply defensively. Why won't she just buzz off? But Sweetie Belle just looks at me pitifully and walks out of the classroom. I let her walk off, relieved. It's none of her business. Besides, I'm trying to be a good friend; what's wrong with that?
* * *
I sit on the bench outside of the school, my tail swishing as I wait for Diamond Tiara to finish class. Aura and Berry Pinch pass, completely ignoring me but I pretend not to mind. Out of the corner of my eye, I see a pink filly with a distinctive tiara on my head trotting over. I smile and stand up as she joins me, out of breath. "Are we going to your house?" I ask as she tries to regain her breath.
Diamond straightens and tosses her head. "Of course! I have piano lessons but I'll tell Mum that you'll only be staying for a little bit."
I nod and we start walking along with the other ponies in our class. "Your Mum will want you to win the art competition, won't she?" I ask tentatively.
Diamond rolls her eyes, "Yeah, she'll expect me to come first and nothing else." she paused, "If my entry is picked, I'll have to do my project at home, won't I? Mum will probably help me with that too. And Cheerilee practically confirmed my name as being picked."
I smile, "You'll come first, anyway. You're one of the best in the class at art."
"That's what Mum seems to believe, too," Diamond tells me, pushing open her house door. I never realised that we had arrived, which surprised me; I'm used to being able to observe everything. "Mum, I'm home!"
"Five times seven?" I hear her mother call from the kitchen door. Every so often, Diamond is greeted by her Mum with maths sums. I of course have to answer these questions for her, since Diamond is terrible at maths; which her parents still haven't realised. "Diamond?" Her Mum calls again, "Five times seven?"
Diamond looks at me desperately as I shut the house door. I sigh, silently working out the maths sum before I whisper to my friend the answer. "Thirty five!" Diamond calls back to her mum. The two tun through a few more maths questions with me replying to all of them when her mother finally gives Diamond a break.
"Mum!" Diamond walks through the kitchen door, but I linger outside of it, not wanting to see her mum. "Miss Cheerilee and some other teachers have organised an art competition! You'll attend the ceremony when they announce the results, won't you?"
"Naturally," her mum replies, "Have you packed up for your piano lesson?"
"Of course," I hear Diamond reply indignantly, "Oh, can Silver stay over for a little?"
Diamond's mum hesitates. "Didn't you tell her that you have your piano lesson?"
"I did, but..."
"Listen, Diamond. Don't you think you can find a friend who is more..." I stop breathing for a moment. I know that she didn't approve of my friendship with her daughter, but I didn't know that she wanted to replace me altogether.
"What?" Diamond sounds like I feel; worried, confused, scared. "What do you mean?"
I hear her mum sigh. "Never mind. Tell Silver Spoon that she can stay for an hour, but no more."
I notice that she doesn't add on 'or no less.'
* * *
The next day at school was the day almost everybody had been looking forward to. Me? I'm kind of in between.
Cheerilee sat at her desk, shuffling through a pile of papers with a smile on her face. She waits for everypony to sit down at their desks; I managed to snag a seat next to Diamond today. Not next to Sweetie Belle, thank Celestia. Anyway, Cheerilee waits until all the chair scraping and chatter dies down before she starts talking, "Good morning, my little ponies! I promised that I'd choose my favourite five entries that were drawn yesterday. It was close competition, but I finally made up my mind this morning.
"Archer, Coronet, Tornado Bolt, Silver Spoon and Diamond Tiara's entries were the ones that personally took a shine to me," Cheerilee announces. Diamond shoots me a smirk, and we high hoof each other as the classroom erupts into noise. Cheerilee holds up a hoof to signal silence. "Okay, everypony, calm down. You can discuss this at break. As for the ponies who have been chosen for the contest, I've sent a letter to your houses with all the details in there. Also, Silver Spoon, I'd like to see you before you go to break."
I exchange a curious glance with Diamond, but nod, a little wary of what my teacher might have to say for me.
Cheerilee glanced at the clock, "There's an hour left before break time, so can everyone get their maths books out and turn to Page 93..."
* * *
I leave my exercise book on Cheerilee's desk, where other ponies had left their ones in a messy pile. "I'll see you at break," I tell Diamond, and she nods, heading off to join her usual gaggle of ponies. I can't help but feel a little jealous when everyone starts to crowd around her, but I turn back to Cheerilee who looks up at me from her desk.
"Oh, Silver Spoon," she says, "I nearly forgot that I had to talk to you!"
Even Miss Cheerilee forgets that I exist from time to time.
The last of my classmates trickle out of the room and as the door shuts, my teacher begins to speak, "Silver, I hope you aren't thinking of doing purposefully badly on your proper entry for the art competion."
Dear Celestia, she knew about it. My heart quickens and sweat builds up on the bridge of my muzzle. "I...I really don't know what you're talking about, Miss. Why would I do that?"
Cheerilee waves her hoof and sighs, "Don't be silly. You know exactly what I'm talking about." And I do."
"I hope you realise that by losing the contest just for the sake of Diamond winning would be incredibly silly and selfish." Cheerilee says, looking at me directly and I have to lower my eyes so as to not meet her gaze.
"B-but..." My muzzle feels dry. I pray to Celestia that my teacher won't say any of this to Diamond. "What if she doesn't want to be my friend anymore if I win?"
Cheerilee looks at me as if I said something that was supposed to be a joke but came out wrong. "You really think that?" she asks, "If Diamond does that, I wouldn't see the point of being her friend at all."
At that, I just feel that nobody understands me at all anymore. That really wasn't the advice I was seeking for, but for once Cheerilee doesn't realise that. I study my hooves. Should I really try to win the competition? But what if Diamond really does get angry at me? Our friendship would be unmendable.
The bell rings and I jump up in surprise. I hadn't thought that break would be over so quickly; the time flew by surprisingly fast. Ponies start clattering into the classroom and I manage to snag a seat for myself and another for Diamond at the back of the room. Privileges of being talked to through break by a teacher.
Diamond stalks in and sits at the desk I saved for her. She grins at me, "Where were you through break?" she asks questioningly, "Everyone was wondering where you were."
Yeah, right.
"Oh, Cheerilee was just being paranoid as usual," I bluff. Diamond obviously believes me since she says nothing else. "About my, uh, studies and stuff."
Diamond nods and starts talking about some holiday her father's taking her on. Normally, I'd find it interesting and be very jealous, but other thoughts run through my head today. I wonder if Diamond not being my friend would be a bad thing after all. I lie all the time to her; maybe she'd be better off without me after all. Right?
* * *