A batpony colt sends anonymous love letters to his friend throughout the years in the hope it gives her the confidence she needs to find love on her own someday.
Hearts and Hooves Day is a fun holiday for most. Candy, heartfelt gifts, what's there for a pony not to love?
However, when a young filly named Cinnamon Bun doesn't get so much as a card from anypony in her class, it's up to Ebony Stars, her batpony friend, to cheer her up.
But, as the years go by for the two, what started off as an anonymous love letter he sent to her in the guise of a secret admirer may develop into something much deeper.
"Here, Sugar Plum, I got you some chocolate-dipped almonds."
"Aw really, Delight, thanks! Well here, I got you something too. Happy Hearts and Hooves Day!"
"Happy Hearts and Hooves Day!"
Ebony Star remained still atop his raised half of the seesaw, watching his two classmates as they exchanged sweets and friendly embraces. Despite being a bit drowsy--as he was a batpony who had recently made the move from Canterlot to Ponyville with his mother, forcing him to adjust to an inverted sleeping schedule in order to attend the local school--it was clear to him that the two foals were simply looking for an excuse to share candy on the schoolyard without their vigilant pre-school teacher Miss Nurture making so much as a fuss. It was the actual holiday, after all.
Still, Ebony didn't think the two even knew the real meaning behind Hearts and Hooves Day, let alone why chocolate was given.
"Ebony."
Not that he cared about the whole 'Love' thing or anything... The candy he'd gotten was nice though.
"Yoo-hoo, you there, Stars?"
Really, it was the cheap store-bought cards everypony would buy in bulk that he had more of an issue with. Being forced by your parents--or in his case, mother--to hastily scribble everyponies' name on them before handing them out felt more like a chore than--
"Ebony!" a filly shouted, yanking the young bat-colt back to the present.
"Hmm, huh, what?" Ebony quickly uttered with a quick shake of his head, his slit emerald eyes refocusing on his surrounding.
Regaining his senses, he ran a dark furred-hoof through his slicked back steel-gray mane with green streaks before turning to the opposite end of the seesaw. There, looking up at him with an annoyed look on her face, sat his friend of a few months, Sweet Tooth.
Sweet Tooth was an earth pony, one who had a bit more weight to her than others, was the same age as Ebony yet slightly taller than him, and had a coat that was a mauve pink while her long and straight mane was mint green with pin stripes of lavender in it that perfectly matched her eyes. Her most defining feature, however, was how, whenever she smiled, the thin metal bar of her retainer could be shown spanning over the front of her upper teeth.
"Eh, sorry," Ebony apologized before giving hearty a yawn. As he did so, his leathery wings slowly flared and his pointy fangs fully revealed themselves in his mouth. "Mmm, must have...must have zoned out or...or something."
In response, Sweet Tooth shot him a knowing brow.
"'Zoned out' huh? You know, I hope you didn't just fall asleep on me, because a teeter-totter needs BOTH ponies to teeter and totter for it to work."
"Yeah, yeah. But hey, to be fair," Ebony shot back, "I'm still getting used to this whole 'day' thing, so cut me a little slack. Don't know how you ponies out here do it so easily."
Sweet Tooth grinned.
"Heh, years of practice. Anyway, would you be so kind as to..." Using her hoof, she gestured back and forth from him to herself.
"Oh," Ebony said, understanding her meaning. He leaned back, shifting his weight on the seesaw, lowering his half while raising Sweet Tooth's.
Almost a minute into their teeter-tottering, Sweet Tooth spoke up, her voice carrying a bored yet curious tone in it.
"So...any other plans for Hearts and Hooves today?"
Kicking his half of the board up, Ebony shrugged.
"Eh, not really. Already gave everypony in the class a card...even if I didn't want to."
Sweet Tooth made an amused scoff at that, rolling her eyes while looking away.
"Ha, yeah... I think there are others here more deserving of my token candy than ponies like, ugh...Begonia," she sneered, shuddering in disgust at the mere mention of the name. Her expression then turning into a smirk, she turned back to Ebony and finished with, "Though, even if I did have some to give, it's a good thing I don't have a mom to make me."
Ebony shirked back a bit, gritting his teeth within his mouth in an effort to contain his grimace. With how happy-go-lucky and confident Sweet Tooth's demeanor normally was, it was pretty easy for Ebony to forget that she didn't have parents like most ponies. Still, despite her not showing any signs of being offended in the slightest by the mention of him having a mother, Ebony made a mental note to avoid bringing up such topics when around her.
"On the plus side," Sweet Tooth then said, "your mom's probably going to make a killing selling roses right about now."
Her bringing it up, on the other hoof, was a different matter entirely.
"Heh, eh...yeah, I guess. Long as she doesn't sell the one's I've been growing, though," Ebony awkwardly replied, averting his eyes while rubbing a hoof at the back of his neck.
"Pfft, I doubt she would," dismissed Sweet Tooth. "Weren't they still budding the last time you showed them to me and Cinnabon? I don't think a pony wants their special somepony to show up at their doorstep with a rose that hasn't even bloomed yet." Her then expression lighting up, Sweets smiled. "Hey, speaking of Cinnamon Bun, what about her parents?"
Ebony cocked his head to the side, saying, "What about them?"
"What, did your brain fall asleep too!? They run that candy shop--duh! Oh I bet they're just earning bits up the wazoo selling heart-shaped candies and chocolates! Maybe even some gum drops, or taffies, or maybe those--"
"Sweets," Ebony interrupted.
"Yeah?" she asked.
His expression calmed and collected, Ebony pointed to her mouth and said, "You're drooling there."
"Oh, so I am." After wiping her slobber onto her foreleg, Sweet Tooth began looking around. "Hey, I just realized something... Where is Cinnamon Bun?"
Realizing that himself, and with his half of the board raised again, Ebony began to look around as well.
"Huh, you're right. Where is she? Doesn't take that long to get back from the bathroom."
Ebony scanned the entire playground from his perch, unable to spot his friend amongst the other playing foals. Seconds later, there was a terrible inkling in his gut when he realized that there was somepony else he failed to see.
"Oh no..." he uttered.
Growing concerned, Sweet Tooth looked up to him.
"What? What is it?" she asked.
Ebony gave his surroundings another quick once-over, hopping to spot her the second time around. When that failed to bear any results, he looked forward with a pensive look on his face before speaking.
"Alright, um, shush for a bit. I'mma try something."
With Sweets complying with her silence, Ebony closed his eyes and fully perked his ears. Being a batpony, he was naturally imbued with better, more acute hearing than most. What he had wasn't exactly echo-location, per se, but in that moment, it was to be extremely useful.
Slowly turning his head to and fro as he swiveled his ears, Ebony concentrated on filtering out the happy sounds of the other foals from his mental map. It was difficult, and took him a moment before accomplishing that, but once he did, he managed to pick out one very specific sound that didn't belong in a schoolyard full of playful students.
Sharp, labored breaths followed by sniffling.
"This way!" Ebony exclaimed, hopping off the seesaw to glide to the ground, only to then run into a full gallop.
Sensing the urgency, Sweet Tooth quickly followed behind him as he headed for the other side of schoolhouse. Once they went around it, however, they stopped in their tracks, as they were met with a most unwelcome sight.
"Aww, is the little freak gonna cry? Look at her, she's crying!"
"I...I am not!" Cinnamon Bun protested, backed into the side of the schoolhouse by three other ponies, as well as Begonia, who was clearly the one instigating the whole ordeal.
Cinnamon Bun was the third member of Ebony's little trio, and was the youngest of the three by about a year. Her fur was a shade of brown that greatly resembled caramel, she had rose colored eyes, and her dirty blonde mane and tail were styled into swirls that looked like cinnamon buns, as was her namesake. Lastly, she was a unicorn with a healthy amount of added pudge to her; that, coupled with her slightly crooked horn (something she always tries to hide by swirling one of her mane curls around it) made her a target for bullies like Begonia.
Speaking of Begonia, she--if it wasn't obvious by now--was the class bully. She was a lemon-yellow earth pony with a red mane styled back into a ponytail; she was also happened to be the tallest in the class, as she stood at an apple or two more than the other students. She could easily intimidate a pony with her stature alone, and was prone to do that, just as she was doing with Cinnamon Bun right at that moment.
"Just leave me alone!" Cinnamon shouted to her tormentors. Despite what she said earlier, Cinnamon really was on the verge of crying, as she was biting onto her quivering bottom lip while her bloodshot, watery eyes showed that she was trying desperately to hold back her tears from escaping.
Sneering her toothy smile, Begonia shook her head in jest and took a step forward to Cinnamon Bun.
"Nah, I don't feel like it. Why don't you make us, Little Miss Roundy?"
"Yeah, make us," one of Begonia's little cronies added.
Cinnamon Bun's trembling body was visibly shrinking under their gazes, snot beginning to dribble down her nose.
"I...I..."
"Hey! Leave her alone!" Sweet Tooth shouted before running towards the group with Ebony in tow, forcing herself in the space between her friend and Begonia.
"You alright, Cinnabon?" Ebony then asked in concern, his hoof on her shoulder as he kneeled to his shaken friend.
She didn't answer. Instead, she immediately stood upright and, much to Ebony's surprise, threw herself at him into an embrace, clearly grateful for the rescue. The batpony was stunned at first by the sudden action, but seconds later, after allowing his tense muscles to relax, he returned the gesture in kind.
"There, there...it's alright," he said, patting her back.
Glad to see that Ebony was consoling Cinnamon Bun, Sweet Tooth swiftly turned back to Begonia. She was glaring daggers up at the bigger pony, standing as tall and as stoic as she could while she did so.
"What do you think you're doing to my friend, Buttmunch!?" Sweet Tooth spat.
The corner of Begonia's mouth curled into a smirk, her eyes glancing left and right to her cohorts before saying, "Well look who came to save Little Ms. Uggo Horn, guys. It's Bald-wings and Brace-face: The Unwanted Orphan Wonder! Tell me, how's that whole 'no parents' thing doing for you?"
Matching Begonia's smirk, Sweet Tooth craned her neck forward and narrowed her eyes.
"It's doing just fine for me, Begonia, thank you very much. A warm bed, three square meals a day, dental, what's not to love? But I guess some of that would go over your big fat head, huh? Mom still sleeping off her hangovers instead of helping you with your homework?"
All of the foals in Begonia's gang, save for Begonia herself, who's left eye was twitching as she reeled her head back, balked at Sweet Tooth. They'd never seen somepony stand up to Begonia, let alone talk to her in such a way. After giving each other a worried, knowing look, they slowly took a few steps back, knowing what was coming.
"Why you--"
"Children? What are you all doing here?" their teacher Miss Nurture asked as she suddenly turned up from around the corner of the schoolhouse, causing Begonia to freeze in place. "You know I don't want you playing where I can't see you. Please, children, come back to the playground with the others."
After maintaining her staring match with Sweet Tooth for a few seconds, Begonia relaxed her expression with a huff and turned to the teacher.
"Yes, Miss Nurture. Sorry, we must have forgot. C'mon, fellas, we're leaving."
"Mhmm."
"Oh yeah."
"Sorry, Miss Nurture."
As Begonia and her gang passed their teacher to rejoin the other students at the playground, Miss Nurture looked to Ebony and the two fillies.
"Well, aren't you three going to get a move on as well?" she asked.
Sweet Tooth nodded steadfastly.
"Mhmm, we just gotta--" Quickly moving to Cinnamon Bun's side, Sweet Tooth spoke to her in a hushed tone. "C'mon Cinnabon, we have to tell Miss Nurture what Begonia just did."
Her eyes shut tightly, Cinnamon shook her head still atop Ebony's shoulder.
"N-No! We do that and she's gonna tell my parents! They're already stressing themselves out over their big candy orders for Hearts and Hooves today, I don't want them worrying that I'm being bullied on top of that!"
"But," Ebony said through grit teeth, only to be cut off by Cinnamon Bun.
"Just...please!"
Giving a relenting sigh, Sweet Tooth turned to Miss Nurture, who was watching the three with a raised brow.
"Heh, eh...we gotta help Cinny to the playground is all."
If their teacher could raise her brow even higher, she would have.
"Why would you need to help her there?" she asked.
Shrugging, Sweet Tooth replied with, "Because she fell down and scraped her knee."
Miss Nurture's eyes widened in concern.
"Oh no, really? Here Cinnamon Bun, let me get a look at--"
Right as Miss Nurture stepped forward, Sweet Tooth intercepted her, waving her hooves in front of her.
"Oh no no no! She's fine! Just peachy!"
"But you just said that she fell down?" their teacher questioned.
Sweet Tooth put a hoof to her chin.
"Did I? ...ok, well I guess I did--but there's hardly any blood."
"B-Blood!?"
"Yeah, blood. You know: red stuff that oozes when you get bad ouchies. Eh, she'll be fine though. Throw some dirt on it; builds character is what I say." Managing to turn her teacher around, Sweet Tooth put a hoof on her shoulder and guided her forward. "But you know what, Miss? You're a very busy mare, looking after all these kids like us, especially on Hearts and Hooves where you could be snuggling it up with your special somepony right about now, so we're gonna do you a solid. We'll--as in, Ebony and myself--will take Cinnabon to the others. Don't worry, it'll just take a minute or two."
"Oh, um...ok. Thank you, I guess?"
"That's a good girl, no thanks necessary," Sweet Tooth said as she patted Miss Nurture's side. "You run along now, you've got children to supervise."
"Right, yes...I-I do." As Miss Nurture walked back to the playground, she had this sneaking suspicion at the back of her mind that a small foal managed to pull the wool over her eyes.
Still, it was just a little suspicion, so she dismissed it.
"Alright, surprised I managed to pull the wool over her eyes, but I still say we should have told her," Sweet Tooth said as she sat in front of Cinnamon Bun.
Unhooking from Ebony, then giving and receiving an embarrassed smile for the support he gave, Cinnamon Bun looked down and shook her head.
"N-No... Begonia's a butt, but I'd rather wait until after my parents' orders die down before doing anything about her. With how some ponies like to surprise their someponies with late gifts, it might be until the end of the week."
Sweet Tooth crossed her forelegs over her chest.
"Hmm...then I guess Ebony and I 'll just have to keep a better eye on you 'til then. What'd she do to you, anyway?"
Her gaze still directed groundward, Cinnamon Bun's hoof reached up and began to absentmindedly fiddle with one her of hair curls.
"Just...the usual. Calling me round...saying that I was ugly because of my horn... Then she..."
"Then she, what?" Ebony asked, placing his hoof on her shoulder.
Cinnamon Bun sighed. "She noticed that nopony gave me any cards or candy, or anything really... So when she cornered me, she...she said that nopony like-likes me, and that I was never going to have a special somepony..."
"Pfft, what!? That's ridiculous!" Sweet Tooth said with a dismissive wave of her hoof. "We like you, Cinnabon! And we even gave you a card each earlier!"
Smiling meekly, Cinnamon began drawing circles in the grass with her hoof.
"I...I know...and thank you. It's just... You two are my friends, so I don't think that really counts."
Sweet Tooth lightly punched her in the shoulder.
"Hey, you're letting Begonia get to you. Who cares what that butt thinks? Besides, aren't we a little young to be thinking about special someponies? None of us even have our cutie marks yet."
"I...I guess... But still..."
"Uh-uh, no 'but still'," Sweet Tooth said with a shake of her head. "You're a special snowflake with plenty of time to grow into a beautiful swan...or however all that nice-sounding stuff goes! Now c'mon, Cinnabon, let's just go back and enjoy the rest of our recess."
"A-Alright," Cinnamon Bun answered with a sniff.
As the two fillies began to walk away, Ebony stayed put, watching them. Cinnamon Bun seemed fine for now, but he could tell that that was just a facade; what Begonia said seemed to have really gotten to her. Sweet Tooth wasn't much of a pep talker, and admittedly, neither was he, so what was there for him to do to cheer up his friend?
It wasn't like it was within his power to have somepony suddenly like-like her.
...
Wait, actually, maybe there was something he could do! Cinnamon Bun thinks that nopony would ever like her in that way, but who's to say that she won't catch some colt or young stallion's eye in the unforeseeable future? Until then, she just needed a little confidence boost is all, and Ebony thought of just the thing to give her that!
"Oh hey, honey, welcome home."
"Hey mom. Busy day?" Ebony asked, the bell above the door to his home and mother's flower shop chimed as he entered.
"Mhmm, the busiest," she replied with a nod, wiping her forehead of sweat. "Luckily, things seemed to have slowed down long enough for me to catch my breath for a sec."
Unhooking his book bag from himself, Ebony walked through the floral-scented showroom, passing his mother and the counter she was behind until he reached a door at the back. Opening it wide, then stepping through it, Ebony entered the house proper. After hurriedly tossing his bag by the side of the stairs, he began to climb them, only to then halt when he heard his mother call his name from the other room.
"Ebony... You know what I told you: you're never going to get used to day time if the first thing you do right after coming home from school is going straight to bed."
Ebony turned over his shoulder, then yelled towards the open doorway, "Not going to sleep just yet, mom! Just going up to my room to, uh, work on some stuff!"
"Work on some stuff, hmm?" his mother answered. "You did get that list filled with the names of every student in your class yesterday, right."
Rolling his eyes, Ebony thumped his forehead against the stair's wooden rail.
"Yes..." he groaned.
"And you wrote them on those flower-themed Hearts and Hooves cards I got you?"
"Yes..."
"And you taped sugar chews onto each and every one?"
"Yes..."
"And you gave them to everyone of your little friends today?"
"Yes..." he exasperated through his grit teeth.
Thanks to his mother, whether Ebony liked it or not, Begonia got a card as well. That was fine though; he just happened to have forgotten to include a sugar chew with hers.
"Alright honey, was just checking. It's always good to make new friends whenever you can. You go work on your stuff now," his mother said.
"Finally," he muttered, now allowed to continue up into his room unhindered. Once he reached his door, however, he looked back down the stairs. "Hey mom, kind of a weird question, buuut...think you can let me have a rose? The one's I've been growing myself aren't anywhere near blooming."
"A rose? Whatever for?" she asked.
"I, uh... I just need one, ok?"
His mother was silent for a spell before answering.
"Well, I can't let you have any red ones, seeing as they've all been sold already, but you can have a white one. We've got plenty of those. White isn't much of a passionate color, so they always end up on the bargain section for this time of the year anyway. Would that do just fine, sweetie?"
Ebony didn't really care. In his eyes, a rose was a rose, regardless of its color. It was the thought that really mattered.
"Sure mom, no problem at all."
With a parcel wrapped in cloth held by his mouth, Ebony crept through the darkened corners of the lamp-lit Ponyville streets. He had waited until long after the sun had gone down before sneaking out of his home, ensuring that visibility would be greatly reduced to anypony else save for a nocturnal pony like himself. A few ponies, some on their own, and some obviously couples enjoying a moonlit stroll on Heats and Hooves night had passed by, but thankfully didn't see him slinking past.
He had to be stealthy for his mission, as it would be easy to later identify one of the few batponies in town, especially one as young as him. Thankfully, his little excursion went without so much as a hitch, as he had made it to his destination unnoticed: Cinnamon Bun's house.
Said house was also the local candy shop, and seeing that it was still Hearts and Hooves day, Ebony pick up the sweet and mouthwatering aroma of candy brewing, even from outside.
After standing a few feet from the door, reinforcing his resolve the entire time, Ebony finally steeled himself and stepped forward. He set the wrapped bundle carefully onto the welcome mat, then began to unfurl it, revealing a wax sealed envelope addressed to Cinnamon Bun sitting next to a white rose within a small glass vase filled with water.
Licking his lips nervously, Ebony turned to the door, then reached his hooves towards it. Immediately after giving it three solid knocks, Ebony turned tail and bolted for the darkened alley across the street. Staying low in case the glow of his green eyes gave away his position, he then watched as the door opened, a voice already being heard on other side as it did.
"I swear Lyra, if that's somepony here to complain because you smushed their chocolates during boxing, I'm gonna--" Mrs. Bon Bon, one of Cinnamon Bun's mothers, had stepped out, her expression puzzled when she noticed no one by the door.
"Hello?" she then called, sticking her head out the doorway as she scanned both ends of the street. Right as she shrugged to herself, and was about to close the door, her eyes wandered lower enough to spot what was left on the doorstep.
Disregarding the rose in confusion, Mrs. Bon Bon curiously craned her neck down to read the name on the envelope. She must have put the two items together, because with seconds, her face lit up as she practically jogged excitedly in place, yelling,
"Oh my gosh! Bunny, Bunny! Come quick! You're not gonna believe this!"
"Yes," Ebony cheered silently to himself, pumping his hoof in a celebratory fashion.
Knowing that the two items were guaranteed to get to their target now, Ebony decided not to stick around any longer. He backtracked deeper into the alley before flaring his wings, then, with one silent flap of them, he took off into the air, heading for home.
"Jeez, Stars, what happened to you?" Sweet Tooth asked the next morning, walking beside Ebony down the street.
The filly was a bit concerned for her friend. After stopping by Ebony's place first to walk with him to school (as was the norm since her route had her go by his house before Cinnamon Bun's), she had noticed that the bat pony was tired, even more so than usual.
"I..." Ebony paused, then yawned out, "I just woke up a bit earlier than I'm used to."
"Heh, sounds like you should have gotten some more sleep."
"Yeah, should have," Ebony said, shifting his book bag on his shoulder.
"So," Sweet Tooth then uttered, "think Cinnabon's feeling any better?"
"Eh," Ebony said with an unsure shrug. He faced forward, ensuring she couldn't get a look at the smirk that was trying to manifest itself. "It's been a whole day, so...maybe? I mean, a lot could have happened between now and then, right?"
"I guess," she said as the two then came to a stop in front of Cinnabon's house.
Stepping onto the welcome mat, Sweet Tooth raised her hoof and knocked at the door. Seconds later, the door opened a crack, then opened fully when the pony on the other side saw who it was.
"Oh hi Sweet Tooth, Ebony," greeted Cinnamon Bun's mother.
"Hi Miss Bon-Bon," Sweet Tooth and Ebony both said in unison.
"Not here for a little free sampling I hope. Here for-- Ugh, hold on a second." The other mare looked over her shoulder before yelling, "Lyra, what did I say about packaging those chocolates!? Remember: smushed!"
"I'm trying my best, Bonnie, but there's just so many orders and so little time!" Cinnamon's other mother replied frantically.
Snorting, Bon-Bon's expression relaxed as she turned back to the two foals.
"Heh, eh, sorry. Like I was saying: here for Bunny?"
Right as Sweet Tooth opened her mouth, Cinnamon Bun herself bounded into the living room with book bag in tow.
"Bye mom, mom!" she exclaimed rather happily, giving both her mothers a peck on the cheek before making her way out the door.
Smiling warmly, Bon-Bon rubbed a hoof on her freshly kissed cheek.
"Well somepony's been excited since last night. Bye Bunny, have fun at school!"
"Uh-huh, I will!"
And at that, once her mother closed the door, Cinnamon Bun skipped down the street with a noticeably happy stride in her step. Ebony and Sweets looked to one another for confirmation, unsure if that was the same depressed filly from the day before.
Realizing that she was leaving them behind, the two hurried to catch up with her.
"W-Wait up!" Sweet Tooth shouted, prompting Cinnamon Bun to stop and turn back to the two. Once the two caught up, they took a moment to catch their breaths. "Ok...so...you're in a surprisingly great mood. Something happened that we should know about?"
Trying to suppress the giddiness from showing on her face, Cinnamon looked around the street, making sure nopony was within earshot before gesturing for them to get closer.
"Can you two keep a secret?" she asked in a hushed tone.
Ebony and Sweets looked to one another before nodding to her.
"Ok, so, last night, there was a knock at the door, but when mom answered it, there was nopony but these there." Using her magic, Cinnamon opened her book bag, then carefully pulled out an opened envelope and the head of a white rose from it. "The letter was just left on the doorstep with my name on it, and the rose here was in a little glass vase right next to it."
After taking a deep sniff from the rose, she placed it stylishly in her mane before sliding the letter out of its envelope, then floating it over to Sweets. Accepting it, the earth pony filly held a curious expression as she began to unfold it. Moving to her side, Ebony pretended to be surprised as he read the letter, the very same letter he had written and delivered himself.
Hi, you don't know me, but I've been watching you from afar for a while now.
I think you're great, Cinnamon Bun. You're smart, funny, and so cute.
I wish I was brave enough to tell you this earlier during school, but I'm afraid that I'm just too shy.
Maybe one day I'd have the courage to do that, but for now I think this letter will let you know how I feel.
Don't let butts like Begonia tell you you're not good enough.
~Your Sekret Admirer.
"So, what do you guys think?" Cinnamon Bun asked in wide-eyed excitement. She could barely keep herself contained, as she was making little bunny hops in place while awaiting her friends' reply.
Tilting both her head and the letter, Sweet Tooth was the first to speak up.
"I think he misspelled 'Secret'... I'm like, ninety percent sure it doesn't have a K in it."
"Eh...maybe it's just a typo?" Ebony suggested, smiling a nervous, toothy smile.
Sweets shook her head.
"Nope! Typos are for typing; this pony's just bad at spelling. Penmanship could use some work too."
Ebony almost blew his cover when he raised his hoof and opened his mouth to defend himself. Thankfully, however, Cinnamon Bun spoke up before he could.
"Who cares if he's bad at spelling--somepony out there actually likes me! Me! The filly with the ugly horn! I can barely believe it myself, and I'm yelling it! C'mon guys, I feel great! I feel like I can take on anything--even Begonia! I'll...I'll race you to school!"
"H-Hey, don't just ru--aaand she's running off again..." Sighing in defeat, Sweet Tooth passed the letter to Ebony. "Here, tuck it away while I see if I can get her to slow down. Cinnabon, wait up!"
Holding the letter atop the flat of his hoof, Ebony's mouth curled into a tired smile as he watched his two friends run further down the street. So what if he misspelled a word? The letter still succeeded in serving its purpose. Cinnamon Bun had her confidence boost, and that was all that really mattered in the end.
As long as it made his friend happy, he didn't really mind being her sekret admirer.
"And that, class, concludes how the three tribes established the Document of Rights shortly after their unification. Now, if we turn to page seventy three of our history books, we'll see how and when the princesses became Equestria's de facto rulers shortly after."
At Ms. Nurture's queue, the whole classroom cascaded with the sound of twenty or so students turning their books to the aforementioned page. Right when the older mare at the front of the class continued on with the lesson, pointing, underlining, and circling events and dates on the chalkboard, that's when she unknowingly lost the attention of the sole batpony in the room.
Aside from certain interesting tidbits, Ebony Star wasn't very much into history, especially when it revolved around political topics like today's lesson. He was more interested in the more romanticized aspects. Regardless, he was certain he'd pass the upcoming test at the end of the week, so he instead chose to spend his time discreetly jotting down ideas on how exactly he'd change up his Hearts and Hooves secret admirer-thing for Cinnamon Bun tomorrow.
He didn't mean to, he really didn't, but he continued to be her secret admirer for the past three years, leaving her a white rose to be found at her doorstep every Hearts and Hooves day morning. Cinnamon Bun was just so happy the first time, and Ebony couldn't bear to see her down if her secret admirer were to suddenly disappear or seemingly lose interest. The rose evidently became the admirer's calling card, and Ebony began cultivating his own white roses specifically for her, growing them just outside his room's window sill so they'd be out of sight whenever Cinnamon and Sweet Tooth would be over.
Speaking of the two fillies, they were sitting right next to Ebony (Cinnamon on his left and Sweets sitting directly behind him), and had grown much over the years.
Sweet Tooth had gotten a bit taller, still taller than Ebony, which irked him just a bit, and her pink fur had become noticeably fluffier. She had also long outgrew her retainer, leaving a set of eye-catchingly straight teeth in its place. Lastly, displayed proudly on her flanks, and acquired after she ate the entire class's candy on a dare, rested her recently-earned cutie mark: a lollipop with a hearty bite taken out of it.
The killer stomachache she got afterwards made her groan for days, but she still says it was worth it in the end.
Cinnamon Bun also grew. She still retained a bit of her younger years' pudge, which was a given since she lived in a candy shop with her parents, though her fur had become glossy smooth as if to make up for it. Just like Sweet Tooth, she had also earned her cutie mark, which was a cinnamon roll with a pink bow behind it. Either very proud of her cutie mark, or simply wishing to draw further attention away from her slightly crooked horn, Cinnamon Bun started wearing a pin resembling it in her mane.
Ebony thought it looked nice on her; really helps to bring out her eyes.
Minutes into Ms. Nurture's lecture, Ebony became aware that Sweet Tooth was sneakily trying to pass him something. He didn't have to turn back and she didn't have to utter a sound for him to know that, as the teacher's consistent voice was reverberating around the room enough for him to form a mental picture of her outstretched hoof.
Giving a fake yawn and outstretching his wings to disguise his actions, Ebony snaked his foreleg behind himself. There, while concealed behind his wing, Sweets carefully placed a folded piece of paper onto the flat of his hoof, then returned to her natural demeanor. Finishing up his yawn, Ebony then scratched his chin with his wing's thumb, allowing him the perfect opportunity to shift the note forward and onto his lap.
With that done, Ebony waited a minute, pretending to be listening in on the lesson before eventually subtlety directing his eyes downward to get to the note. After carefully unfolding it with a hoof, Ebony discovered the paper to be a crumpled leaflet that Sweet Tooth had scribbled onto the back of.
Hey, think you're gonna get another of those roses from your sekret admirer tomorrow?
-Ebony, pass this to Cinabon
Of course. Seeing as Ebony was closer to Cinnamon Bun than Sweet Tooth was, it'd make sense that he'd be the middle-pony for them, as always.
Producing a sigh, Ebony picked up his pencil with his mouth and placed its tip onto the paper.
Jeez, Sweets. Somepony misspells 'secret' once a few years back and you still refuse to let it down. Cut the colt some slack, why don't ya?
With that done, Ebony folded the paper, then flicked it onto Cinnamon Bun's desk when Ms. Nurture had her back turned to write something new on the chalkboard.
Shaken from her own bored stupor, Cinnamon Bun eyed the note, then turned to Ebony before opening it. Sneaking her a few sideways glances, Ebony watched Cinnamon skim its words. After seeming to ponder her response for a bit, Cinnamon wrote her reply beneath the previous one, then levitated the note back onto Ebony's desk.
How do we know it's a colt? Could be a filly.
Repeating his earlier motion in reverse, Ebony stretched his wings and passed the note back to Sweets. Almost a minute later, she passed it back to him.
Nope, no slack cutting. A dab speller is a bad speller. And yeah, I guess it could be a filly. I mean, your parents are both mares, so...
What happened afterwards was a correspondence between the three.
Hah, funny how you forgot that. What, do you just eat their candy and not even look them in the face?
I didn't forget that. How could I?
Also, you misspelled 'bad'. Seems that you're the bad speller here.
Wow Cinny! Cut me some slack! My brain flopped for just a second when I wrote that, alright!? And of course I look them in the face! You and them are like my second family. Eh, first, actually.
What? What are you talking about? I'm confused.
Wait... Ebony, are you writing stuff down on this note too? I thought I told you to pass it, not to write in it.
Yeah I'm writing stuff. If you're gonna have me passing this back and forth between you two, I might as well be included in the conversation.
Fine. But just to be clear, which one of you said that 'not looking them in the face' thing?
I did.
Not me.
Who's 'I'!?
Me.
Me Ebony, or me Cinnabun!? You know what, let's just end out messages with our initials. Make things easier on ourselves. Here, I'll even start. -S
There, now you two try.
-E
-C
I meant continue the conversation using the... Whatever. Anyway, as I was saying earlier, do you think you're getting another rose from your sekret admirer, Cinny? -S
Maybe. They've been coming for the last few years, so why would he or she stop now? -C
I guess. But still, I'd be a little worried if I were you. -S
Why? -C
Well, you said yourself that you've been getting the roses--and only the roses, right? No letter to go with them like the first time? -S
Yeah, and? -C
Well don't you think that's a little strange? You're getting the roses, but not so much as a howdy-do from this mystery pony? -S
What are you saying? -C
Cinnabun, I like you--love you even; you're like the sister I never had! (And Ebony, I guess you're like the pet canary I never had.) But I don't want to see you get hurt, so I'm gonna be straight with you. This whole secret admirer thing feels iffy to me. We don't know who this pony is, and for all we know, it could be Begonia playing some trick just to mess with you. I mean look at her! She's been turning back just to give us the stink eye every now and then. I definitely wouldn't put something like that past her. -S
Having read Sweet's reply, Ebony looked to Cinnamon Bun with worry. She already believed that nopony would like her because of her horn, so it'd hurt her greatly if she thought the one pony who did was only doing it all for a joke. He had to intervene somehow, steer the conversation away from that, at least for a bit, lest Cinnamon would begin to harbor doubts on her admirer.
Picking up his pencil again, he made such an attempt.
You could be right, Sweets, but there's also the possibility that the pony is just still too shy to do anything else at the moment. Might take all of this pony's courage to get to her door, for all we know. I know I'd be that nervous if I liked a pony that much. (Also, a canary? Really Sweets?) -E
After passing it to Cinnamon, he waited with baited breath for her reply. Almost a minute later, time Cinnamon Bun spent with a pensive expression, he got just that.
Thank you Sweet Tooth. I'll be careful from now on. -C
Hey, I'm not saying for you to give up on this pony or anything, just for you to be mindful. Distance yourself in case it's not legit, and unless he or she proves otherwise, I'll continue to say the same. I'm only looking out for you. (Well I can upgrade you to parakeet, but I don't think you've earned that title just yet.) -S
Hey, I am at least parrot material! -E
And again Sweets, thank you. -C
Hey, you know what? Instead of waiting around for this scared-y pony to grow some nerve, why don't we look for them instead!? -S
Wait, what? -E
I don't know, Sweets... -C
Hey, if you don't want to ruin the whole mystique of the secret admirer thing, then that's fine. Ebony and I will find them just to make sure they're the real deal. Nopony's messing with our Cinnabun if we can help it. -S
Sweets...no... This pony, at least for right now, wants to obviously remain anonymous. -E
Oh come on, Ebony, it'll be fun. Maybe you'll get your cutie mark in investigation if we manage to track them down! -S
Laying the note flat on his desk, Ebony sighed quietly. Yes, Ebony was the only one in his class who has yet to get his cutie mark, but he didn't really care. He figured that he'll get it when he gets it, so there was no real rush for it. The last thing he needed was for Sweets to drag him and Cinnabun on some crusade to get it.
Sweets, we're not doing this again. The last time you tried to force a cutie mark out of me, we all ended up getting kicked off the Apple property for trespassing. -E
Hey, I still say an apple-bucking mark would have looked great on your keister! -S
It is a cute keister... -C
Can we not talk about my butt!? Listen, when my cutie mark comes in, then we'll do all that song and dance. And as for the secret admirer, we will not be doing any investigations whatsoever! This is Cinnamon Bun's love life, not ours; looking too deeply into this would be prying. Besides, it's obvious that Cinnabun is uncomfortable with the thought of us doing so, so we'll leave it be for now, alright? -E
"Ms. Nurture."
"Yes, Begonia? Do you have a question?"
"No. But Ebony's sharing notes."
"...Oh, is he now?"
His eyes going wide and unblinking, Ebony met Ms. Nurture's gaze and froze.
"Is this true, Ebony?" Ms. Nurture asked in a contained, chiding tone. "Are you sharing notes during class?"
Ebony couldn't help but swallow dryly when every eye in the room focused on him. He knew that was a rhetorical question, as she no doubt saw Ebony accept the note when Sweets passed it back to him with her new response. He remained silent, and the only sound that could be briefly heard in the classroom was that of the hanging clock's ticking and Begonia's jovial snickering.
Eventually, the silence was broken when Ms. Nurture gave a downward sigh before speaking.
"Alright Ebony, you know the rules: if a student is caught passing notes during class time, then that student must read it in front of the class. Now up, Ebony, up."
Ebony felt his body suddenly rise to a sweltering degree, enough to draw a few beads of sweat from his brow. He wanted to look desperately to Sweets and Cinnamon Bun for help, but refrained himself from doing so, not wanting to expose them as well. After a few seconds, Ebony made a long, cleansing breath, then hesitantly rose from his seat with the note in tow.
He didn't want to read it out loud, especially in front of everypony. It wasn't bad enough that the sheet was nearly filled to capacity with their scribbles, which would make reading it a real chore, but he'd also unwillingly reveal the fact to the class that Cinnamon Bun had a secret admirer. Never mind the fact that it was actually him, she'd be teased for weeks, and it'd be all Ebony's fault.
When he made it to the front of the class and turned to the students, Ebony could see that his friends were just as fearful as he was.
"Well?" Ms. Nurture urged patiently, her hoof tapping the floor.
This was it, Ebony was in for it now. As he began to unfurl the note, he prayed for some higher power to intervene.
"H-Hey, think you're gonna--"
*BRRRIIINNNGGG*
Thankfully, and much to Ebony's relief, that divine interference came in the form of the school bell ringing, signifying that class was over for the day.
"Huh," Ms. Nurture uttered, looking to the clock on the wall. "Guess my lecture must have gone longer than I thought. Alright Ebony, seeing as we're out of time, I suppose I'll allow this instance to pass just this once."
"Oh thank Celestia..." he muttered under his breath to himself.
Clearing her throat, Ms. Nurture faced her students, who were all already busily packing their belongings.
"Alright children, class is dismissed. Homework is at the end of chapter 12 of your history books. Lastly, I'm sure you've all already seen the flyers around school, but I'd just like to remind you that Princess Cadance is hosting the first ever Hearts and Hooves--"
Ebony didn't hear what she had to say, as he had tuned her out. He was at his desk, shoveling everything of his into his book bag, note that nearly landed him in so much trouble included. He just wanted to leave as soon as possible, to forget the close call he nearly had.
"You alright, Ebony?" Cinnamon Bun asked worriedly.
Ebony nodded shakily.
"Y-Yeah... Just...phew..."
"Thank goodness for the school bell, huh?" said Sweet Tooth. She then turned to Begonia a few desks away, who was chortling in their direction. "What's your deal, you butt!? Why'd you out us like that!?"
Grin hidden behind her hoof, Begonia rolled her eyes and shrugged amusingly before answering.
"What, I was just trying to help Bald-wings there. Maybe he could have gotten a cutie mark in public speaking." All three of them just glared at her, unamused.
After rolling their eyes almost simultaneously, they ignored her and turned back to each other.
"You wanna go to Sugarcube Corner, Ebony? Get what almost happened out of your mind?" Sweet Tooth asked. "Ms. Pinkie should be working today, so she can probably set us up with those special floats you like. My treat."
As tempting as that was, Ebony had other plans in mind. For instance, coming up with a new thing to do for Cinnamon Bun tomorrow. Sweets was right: her admirer would have to show more effort if they were to seem more convincing to Cinnamon Bun...now to Sweets as well, apparently.
Zipping up his book bag, Ebony softly shook his head.
"Eh, sorry girls. Mom asked me to help her out in the store today since tomorrow's gonna be pretty hectic. Maybe some other time."
"Oh, well...alright then," Sweets said. Tossing her own bags onto her back, she then made for the door. "C'mon, Cinny; more floats for us."
"Alright," Cinnamon Bun answered with a nod. Once she had her bags secured to her person, she, and much to Ebony's shock, turned to him and lunged forward in an unexpected and tight hug.
"I'm sorry for what Begonia did," she said over his shoulder. "But I guess, heh, butts will be butts."
His body gone rigid in her embrace, Ebony stared wide-eyedly forward. Once again, he felt his body go warm, only more so around his face, particularly in his cheeks. He had never noticed it before, but Cinnamon Bun gave off a sweet fragrance that reminded him so much of her namesake. He supposed that was only natural, seeing as her special talent was baking the pastries, after all.
After forcing a lump down his throat, Ebony opened his mouth and croaked before being able to speak properly.
"Eh, y--ahem...y-yeah..."
Realizing that he had yet to hug her back, Ebony sent the signal for his forearms to wrap around her. However, it was too late, as once he made an attempt, Cinnamon separated.
"Well, good luck at your mother's shop, and thanks for getting Sweets to lay off my secret admirer. I know she's just looking out for me, but somehow...somehow I just know that his or her feelings are real. You know what I mean?"
Ebony just sat there, staring at her, almost as if for the first time. The sun was shining in on her from the window at that moment, making her rose eyes and caramel coat seem to glisten in its rays. This had never happened to him before, but Ebony found himself lacking words when speaking with Cinnamon Bun.
Noticing that he had failed to reply, he muttered the first words his mind was able to get a grasp on.
"Uh...yeah... Yeah, I do. Eh...know what you mean, that is."
"Well alright, I'll see you tomorrow, Ebbey. Bye."
"Bye..."
And like that, she had left the classroom in pursuit of Sweets, leaving the young bat colt curious as to what the brimming feeling in his chest was.
It didn't use to be this difficult. Ebony would just de-thorn and prepare one of his white roses, then set it on Cinnamon Bun's doorstep the next morning at the crack of dawn. This time around, however, he found himself inexplicably compelled to do so much more.
Ebony didn't understand the reasoning behind this new feeling of his, but he decided to see if he could tap into it. So far, he wasn't very successful. He'd been sitting in his room's desk, staring down at a blank sheet of paper, almost as if trying to will heartfelt words onto it for Cinnamon Bun.
Minutes went by, and all he happened to do was tap his hooves atop his desk...
"Ugh," he then groaned in frustration, messing up his mane with his hooves. He was drawing a blank, and was exasperated by that fact.
Realizing that he needed to take a short break, Ebony leaned to his side for his book bag and decided to do what most colts his age wouldn't do when looking to unwind: Get started on his homework.
Grasping his textbook with both hooves, Ebony worked to withdraw it from his bag. One of its corners snagged against the interior fabric, however, irritating him as it became more of a hassle for him to pull it out. As he began to struggle with it, he brought the bag over his desk, shaking it almost violently in his effort to get the book free from it. After a few good shakes, though, he ceased when something other than the book, as well as a few pencils, fell out of it.
It was the note he had shared with his friends earlier. The very same, crumbled one he was caught with and nearly forced to read in front of the whole class. Curious, Ebony set his bag aside and began to unfold the note. He wondered what was so important that Sweets sent a reply when he was positive he'd settled the matter. What he read caused him to produce a half sigh, half groan.
K -S
That was it. Ebony was done. He'd just forget what could have happened and return to his task at hoof with his admirer business. He was sure that something would come to him at any second now.
He balled the note, ready to toss it into his wastebasket. However, right as he was about to do so, Ebony paused.
He uncrumpled it, then placed it flat on his desk and tried to smooth it with a hoof. With that done, he then flipped the paper onto its other side, the side him and his friends have been ignoring the entire time.
It was a flyer, the same kind that have been put up around the school for about a week now. It depicted the minimalist image of Princess Candace, hanging over a just as featureless couple with hearts strewn about near their heads. Bellow it all was text that read:
Princess Cadance would like to invite you to the first ever annual romantic poetry contest. Show your special somepony how much you really feel this Hearts and Hooves day.
"Poetry, huh?" Ebony said silently to himself.
While he had no actual interest in competing in the contest, the flyer did give him an idea on something to try with Cinnamon Bun, so he figured that he might as well try his hoof at it.
After all, now that he had an inkling on what to go with, how much harder could it be?
*Thump! Thump! Thump!*
"Whoa, what's going on in here?" Ebony's mother asked, walking into his room and catching her son seemingly trying to bludgeon himself to death against his desk.
Ceasing his head pounding, Ebony laid flat against his desk and sighed.
"Nothing, Mom. Just...working through a lot of stuff right now."
"I can see that," she answered, noticing a mound of crumpled papers surrounding his desk and chair. Picking one of them up, she unfurled it and began to look through it. "Is this some sort of homework you probably want me to help you with? Wait... 'Roses are red, violets of blue. Hey, I...like you'? Is this poetry? Are you trying to write poetry?"
With the cat out of the bag, Ebony turned to her.
"Yeah...yeah, it is. See, there's this romantic poetry thing I'm kind of interested in competing in," he lied. Honestly, he didn't want to explain the whole secret admirer thing to his mother. He also happened to have the flyer with him, despite it being completely scribbled on one side and crumpled, so he thought he might as well roll with it.
"Heard the prize is a spree at Sugarcube's, and, well...you know me. So, any pointers?"
"I don't know, son," she said, the corner of her mouth creasing upwards as she skimmed what he had written. "This is...pfft, pretty bad. I swear, even your father wasn't this terrible."
Wanting to hide his embaressed blush, Ebony turned away from her.
"H-Hey, don't laugh! ...I just started."
"Sorry, sorry," she said, trying to force her chortles at bay. Almost a minute later, she regained her composure and coughed into her hoof. "Ahem. Sorry about that, got to be supportive. Anyway, um, what do you need help with?"
"Oh I don't know...how about making it good?"
"Hmm," she hummed, sitting down on his bed and looking through his other papers. "You know, Sweetie, a poem doesn't always have to rhyme. You can drop the whole 'roses are red' thing; just write from the heart. Simple."
Suddenly, their ears perks, as a growing whistle could be heard downstairs.
"Uph, got to go. Left the kettle on." Right as she got up, she said one last thing before leaving his room. "Just...take it slow and think of how you want this pony to know how you feel. The rest should come naturally to you."
With her closing the door on her way out, Ebony turned back to his new sheet of paper.
"How I want her to feel, huh?"
Once again on Hearts and Hooves day morning, Ebony woke up at an ungodly hour. He flew low over the empty streets of Ponyville on his silent wings, carrying with him his book bag containing the white rose and finished poem. He had to make it to Cinnamon Bun's place before sunrise, lest somepony spot him.
Landing before her house minutes later, Ebony took out the rose and folded poem, then placed them on her doorstep. Rather than flying away, however, he took the added time to make sure the two items were arranged just right. Everything had to be perfect for Cinnamon Bun.
Seconds later, though, Ebony's ears perked and his heart jumped in his chest. He could hear approaching movement from the other side of the door, and it was coming quick!
Ebony panicked. He couldn't be caught--not now! Thinking quickly, he turned for the still-darkened alley and dashed into it.
There, within the safety of its shadows, he observed as the home's front door opened.
"Hello?" Cinnamon Bun--much to Ebony's surprise--called as she stepped out.
Ebony didn't understand what was she doing up so early. This had never happened before on the other Hearts and Hooves days. Biting his bottom lip nervously, Ebony watched as Cinnamon Bun hurriedly looked down one side of the street, then the other.
"Hello?" she repeated, her voice slightly echoing off the empty streets. "I...I heard you at the front. I know it's you. I know you're there...somewhere."
She knew it was him?
"Idiot!" Ebony silently berated himself, lightly bonking himself upside the head for being so careless. He'd now have to explain that he didn't want to hurt her. That his intentions were purely good.
Those thoughts were put at ease, however, when Cinnamon Bun continued.
"My friends were talking about looking for you yesterday...well, one of them was."
So wait, then she didn't know it was actually him? Ebony couldn't describe how relieved he was to hear that.
"My friend says that you're probably just playing a trick, but...but I know better," she said. "Somehow, I just feel that we have a connection. Well...that's all I wanted to say to you, really. And...and if you're still shy, then...then that's ok. I'll wait."
Looking down to her doorstep, Cinnamon Bun finally decided to pay attention to her gift from her sekret admirer.
"Thank you for the roses. I love them. ...Oh, what's this?"
Using her magic, she picked up the folded sheet of paper, then brought it closer to herself so she could read it. Hoping she'd like it, Ebony closed his eyes and pictured what he had written.
Even from a distance I could tell you were beautiful. The way the sun shined on your mane, so musical. Like a bouquet of butterfly wings. It’s sight made me want to sing. As it danced like silvery strings. Then flew away. Not even a view of the stars could have made it a greater day.
Reopening his eyes, Ebony couldn't help but smile at the sight of Cinnamon Bun holding the piece of paper so near and dear to her chest.
"Thank you," she whispered, a single joyful tear tuning down her cheek.
Seeing her smile, Ebony felt his chest resurge with that same strange feeling from before.
...
Actually, wait a second. That wasn't the only thing he was feeling. There was something else coupled with the previous feeling, it felt strange, it felt--
Suddenly, Ebony's body began to glow, as well as rise several inches off the ground without him using his wings. Ebony was scared and confused, as he didn't know what was going on. He wasn't in control of his extremities, and it felt like lightning was coursing throughout his body, only it wasn't painful, just an overwhelming tingling sensation.
Right when he thought it couldn't get any stranger, his body suddenly gave off a burst of blinding light, illuminating the darkened alley for just a split second.
Watching the scene unfold, Cinnamon Bun used her hoof to shield her eyes from the unexplained light. She first thought it to be the sun, but knew that wasn't the case when the light then went out just as quickly as it came. Confused by what just happened, she then ran into the alley, as she was sure she saw a the silhouette of a figure in the center of it all.
"Hello!?" she called out. The filly's only response came in the form of her own voice bouncing off the enclosed space.
Feeling brave, she opposed the alley's darkness and walked in. After delving a few feet in, she, much to her confusion, was surprised find it completely empty.
"Huh?" she uttered, blindly feeling around and touching only brick.
Nothing. There was nopony in the alley. Just her, and only her.
Shaking her head, Cinnamon Bun figured it was time to return to bed. However, before returning to her home, she said one last thing in case her sekret admirer was listening.
"Happy Hearts and Hooves day...whoever you are."
And at that, the door soon closed as she reentered.
"Phew," sounded Ebony, laying on his back atop one of the buildings. He was thankful that she didn't look up, as she might have spotted his tail hanging off the edge.
Getting onto his hooves, Ebony inspected himself.
"What was that?" he asked no one in particular. "Some kind of magic?" After looking back to his raised wing, Ebony folded it, then noticed something that wasn't there before on his flank.
Ebony sat down and faced forward in shock, as he couldn't believe what just happened.
His cutie mark. He had just gotten his cutie mark...
He kept mentally repeating that to himself, as it was difficult for it to sink in.
It was that of a red rose, surrounded by seven stars. As to what it was supposed to represent, he hadn't the faintest idea. Still, as he extended his wings for the flight home, there was two things he was thankful for.
One: It's a good thing he lived in a flower shop.
And two: At least the rose wasn't white, as that would have been a dead giveaway...
"Now, if you've followed my instructions thus far, students, then now would be the optimal time to pour in the contents of beaker C into the mixture. Carefully, mind you, that compound has slight acidic properties; it is harmless, but it will eat away at your fur and mane, leaving you with a bald spot for a few weeks if you somehow manage to spill some onto yourselves."
Ebony fixed the safety goggles firmly over his eyes, taking the teacher Mr. Anode's heeding to heart. It was Ebony's last class for the day, Chemistry, and it just so happened to be the day for the class to participate in a group experiment. All he had to do was spend the hour completing said experiment, wait for the ending school bell to ring, then there'd be nothing stopping him and his two friends from taking the train from Canterlot High back to Ponyville.
With cautious motions, Ebony licked his lips nervously as he reached forward, securing beaker C with his hooves before slowly raising it off the table. He didn't know what a bat pony looked like beneath all its fur, and for his own sake, he wasn't hoping to find out anytime soon. Gingerly, he neared the fur-eating chemical to a larger glass filled with a concoction that was set above a lit Bunsen burner, his assignment partner spurring him on the entire time.
"Alright...you got it. Niiice and easy," said Sweets, standing a good distance from Ebony and the flask. From the way it appeared like she was trying to hold back a smirk, Ebony began to suspect if their earlier coin toss was rigged...
With the beaker's lip near the container's, Ebony took a calming breath, then began the motions of carefully pouring the liquid in. However, right was he was about to do so, Ebony's ears perked to the sound of a familiar little giggle coming from the opposite end of the classroom. Immediately turning to the source of the noise, the young bat stallion saw Cinnamon Bun, her hoof over her mouth in mid-chortle as she stood next to her own assignment partner, Swain Paramour, who was also struggling to keep his laughing fit down.
Swain was a unicorn stallion, about the same age as Ebony, yet he had a more athletic figure than the bat pony. He had a dirty white coat, a blue mane styled in a crew cut, and had a bit of blue stubble on his chin for a beard. His cutie mark was that of a frisbee, which was fitting since he happened to be captain of the school's frisbee golf team.
Watching the two continue to suppress their laughter, Ebony couldn't help but scowl slightly at the sight of Swain. Ebony didn't know why, but, in that particular moment, he wasn't very fond of the stallion. He couldn't see a reason as to why that was, as it wasn't like there was animosity between himself and Swain. Honestly, the most interaction they had would be when they'd pass each other in the locker room after P.E., and even then that was saying something.
If Swain left any lasting impressions in Ebony's mind, then it'd be how strange Swain was the only one he knew who actually used the showers there; quite regularly, in fact. He even took the time to lather his mane with some fancy shampoo he'd bring, though Ebony wasn't one to comment on such things.
Still, there was no solid reason for Ebony to dislike the guy, so he merely chalked it up to simple, innate jealousy stemming from the fact that he was paired with Cinnamon and not him.
"Yeah, I don't like it either," Sweets said suddenly, shaking Ebony from his stupor.
"Hmm, what?" Ebony blinked, then turned to Sweets. There, he noticed that, just like he was, she was looking at Cinnamon and Swain, her head cocked to the side and fore hooves crossed over her chest in a disapproving manner. "Uh, what don't you like?" he asked for clarification.
"Cinny being paired up with Swain," she answered simply with a shrug. "Of all the ponies it could have been in this class, it just had to be him."
Ebony had his own reasons to agree with that sentiment, sure, but he had no idea why Sweets would think so.
"Why?" he asked. "What's wrong with Swain? He seems like an ok-ish guy...I guess."
With a roll of her eyes, Sweets huffed in amusement. Moments later, she looked to Ebony, back to Cinnamon and Swain, then lightly shook her head before instantly double-taking to Ebony.
"Wait, you honestly don't know? You're not playing around right now?" she asked, almost gawking at him in disbelief.
Ebony would have scratched his head in confusion, but seeing as he was still holding onto the beaker, he opted to just shrug his shoulders.
"Huh," Sweets uttered, pulling her head back in amazement. "Must have been some rock you were living under. Bit slow on the upkeep, aren't cha?"
Rolling his eyes, Ebony countered snidely with, "Yeah, well it's a pretty nice rock; lots of hoof room. Now, about Swain?"
Sweets nodded. "Right, right... So, remember Beg--"
"Ms. Tooth... Mr. Star... I hope you two aren't talking during class time, especially while in the middle of an experiment involving some highly volatile chemicals," their teacher warned.
With the entire class going quiet, Ebony and Sweets froze, then turned to the front of the class. There, they saw Mr. Anode, looking over the rim of his glasses at the both of them, a stoic yet patient expression plastered on his face.
"Well?" Mr. Anode drawled, awaiting a response from either of them.
"Ugh, I'll tell you after school," she whispered through her teeth at Ebony before putting up a smile and answering their teacher. "Sorry, Teach. Ebony here was trying to distract from the lesson with pointless jibber-jabber."
"Hey..." said Ebony, voicing his apparent displeasure of being thrown under the bus. Regardless, and without missing a beat, Sweets continued.
"But I was like, 'Nuh-uh, Ebony; when our handsome and very smart teacher gives us an assignment, we shut up and do it.' Ain't no slackers in Mr. Anode's class. No distractions here. No siree--no siree, Potpourri." Sweets held a poker face with Mr. Anode for a few seconds, then finished with, "Eh, suffice to say, though, Mr. Anode, you kind of interrupted me when I was in the middle of telling him all that...and now you're kind of the one distracting us from the assignment." She tsked. "Bad show for an educator, Teach, really bad show."
His eyes locked on Sweets, Anode maintained his impassive expression for a moment or two before finally sighing.
"Just...just keep the chatter to a minimum and return to your assignment. That goes for you as well, everypony."
And with that, the students redirected their attention back to their own assignments, with only a few hushed whispers inquiring on what just transpired.
"Right," Sweets said to Ebony as she clopped her hooves together. "Let's get back to the thing, I guess. Ebony," in one flair motion, she gestured to her assignment partner, "do the thing."
"Doin' the thing," Ebony replied before carefully pouring the substance from beaker C into the larger, stewing glass.
Nearly instantaneous, there was chemical reaction within the beaker. The mixture within fizzed, then bubbled intensely before finally ebbing. With the very last drop of beaker C's compound added, Ebony let out a relieved sigh as he set the glass aside on the table.
"Right," he started as he turned to Sweets, wiping his brow of sweat that had gathered there. "What's next?"
The mare leaned over the table, a gleeful glint in her eyes as she examined the remaining chemicals.
"Now we just mix in the stuff from beaker F, H, and X. Good ol' chemical X."
Ebony pulled his head back, his brow arching. He looked to the other tables, noticing that everypony else was only adding one chemical into their mixtures and not three.
"You sure?" he asked, feeling a bit disoriented. "I could have sworn earlier that Mr. Anode told us to--" With Sweets still looking over the various beakers, her hoof suddenly jutted out towards Ebony, silencing him when the flat of it pressed gently against his lips.
"Stars, Stars, Stars," Sweets said in an a low, assured tone. "Did you read ahead in the chemistry book?"
Ebony swiped her hoof away from his face, then shook his head.
"Well...no. Mr. Anode told us not to."
Sweet's mouth firmed into a subtle smirk.
"Heh, that's because Mr. Anode just wants to feel smart when all he's doing is reading what's already been written for us. Mm, 'nother question for you, my fine, leather-winged friend: Do you want to complete this assignment?"
In response to such an absurd question, Ebony directed her a steely gaze.
"Uh, duh," he answered plainly. "Would have pretended to be sick or something, otherwise."
Flashing a large, toothy smile, Sweets then secured one of the beakers in her hooves.
"Perfect! Take the other two chemicals I mentioned and follow my lead. Trust me, I know a shortcut to finish this thing faster!"
"I don't think that's how chemistry works...and it's not a race," mumbled Ebony. Nevertheless, he did as was asked. Regardless, he couldn't shake off the gut feeling that Sweets had intentions other than completing the assignment. The option to follow that instinct was there, but, seeing as she was (surprisingly) one of the top students within the class, he choose to ignore it.
"Right." Sweets positioned her beaker over the main mix. "On the count of three, nice and steadily, we pour all three at the same time. Got it?"
Readying his chemicals as well, Ebony gave a single, affirmative nod. "Got it."
"One... Two... Three!"
At three, they poured into the larger beaker. Just like before, the resulting chemical reaction was immediate. The mixture bubbled, this time more violently; the liquid started changing into a multitude of colors (red and white being more prominent) before giving off what appeared to be some sort of thick, cloudy white vapor.
"Uh..." uttered Ebony worryingly, still pouring alongside Sweets. "Is it supposed to be misting like that?"
Appearing unconcerned, Sweets shrugged.
"I don't know...probably. Hey, uh...in about three seconds, we should stop pouring and hit the deck."
Balking, Ebony blinked once, then twice before looking to her.
"Wha--"
"Hit the deck!"
Suddenly, before he even realized what happened, the mixture exploded in Ebony's face with a boom, momentarily disorienting him. His eyes shut, Ebony carefully set his beaker aside with his shaky hooves, then sat down onto the floor. He took hold of his unsteady head, trying to piece together what just happened.
Save for the painful, deafening ringing in his ears, he was completely fine, though his front half did feel a little warmer than usual. Later on, others in the class would tell him that they saw his face engulfed in a miniature mushroom cloud when they turned to him at the sound of the noise. It took him several moments, but he soon realized that he was coughing. As to why that was, he wasn't quite sure just yet.
When he finally gathered enough of his scrambled senses to open his eyes, Ebony saw that his vision past the safety goggles was shrouded in a heavy, unnatural fog. Stranger still, the smokey veil had a slight minty scent to it, and was so dense that Ebony couldn't make heads or tails of what was past a few feet ahead. All he could make out were vague silhouettes of what he assumed to be the tables and other students.
Slowly, though, the ringing in Ebony's ears lessened and, in turn, his hearing gradually returned. Eventually, the noise subsided to the point where he could identify the distinct coughs of his classmates.
"What just happened?"
"What's going on?"
"Is everypony alright?"
That last voice was Mr. Anode, who hurriedly opened the windows before attempting to fan the smoke outside with a sheet of paper. With the help of some students who came to his assistance, a majority of the smoke had been aired out in a matter of minutes, allowing the occupants within the room to see each other once more.
Coughing into his hoof, Mr. Anode then strode through the classroom, making his way towards the one beaker in the room that was giving off a lingering waft of the white smoke: Ebony's. Stopping right across the table from Ebony, he cleared his throat, then stood in a tall, imposing manner before staring down at the younger stallion.
"Mr. Star," Mr. Anode uttered in a surprisingly calm, collected tone. Despite his teacher's apparent composure, Ebony was paralyzed with fear; he could practically sense the concentrated ire loaded behind his name being addressed.
"Yes...Mr. Anode?" said Ebony, unable to break eye contact with his teacher, visibly shrinking all the while under his gaze.
A contemplative expression gracing his features, Anode then fanned his hoof over the beaker, hoping to disperse the last of its smoke.
"You know, Mr. Star...somehow, I just get this sneaking suspicion that you're not responsible." He leaned over the beaker, then blew into it, dispelling the very last of the smoke that had gathered within. His eyes peered into the glass, then scanned left to right. "Yup, seems like her M.O. Now the real question is, where is--"
"Oh cool, it worked!" exclaimed Sweets, springing from under the table where she had taken cover earlier.
"There she is," Mr. Anode finished with a slow nod, his lips pursing to the side.
Her hooves rapping over the table in clear excitement, Sweets leaned forward and stared into the beaker. What she saw had eyes widen and grin double in size. Curious, Ebony peaked into the glass as well, only for his jaw to drop at what he found.
There, piled at the very bottom of the beaker, where tiny, crystalline rocks, each about half the size of a bit. The stones were red and white, forming stripes that swirled in every which way. Upon closer examination, and inadvertently catching that same minty scent from before permeating from the stones, Ebony realized what exactly Sweet Tooth had done.
Somehow--and he couldn't stress that 'somehow' anymore than he already did--using chemicals from a classroom...Sweets made candy. Peppermint candies, to be exact.
"Oooh yeah, come to mama," Sweets uttered, wasting no time to plop one of the candies into her mouth. "Mm," she moaned in delight, her eyes closing as her lips occasionally smacked. "Nice and cool. Refreshing, too."
Moments later, when she then reopened her eyes, she noticed that she was directly under Mr. Anode's apathetic, watchful gaze. She blinked, and what followed shortly afterwards was an audible crunch as she bit down on her peppermint.
"Oh hey, Teach!" Sweets then said enthusiastically before extending the candy-filled beaker to him. "Want one? They're a bit jagged but should melt into a more rounder shape if you're careful."
Completely ignoring the beaker, Mr. Anode narrowed his eyes sternly. Seconds after Sweets gave the container a shake, he then spoke.
"Ms. Tooth," he started, his tone even and collected, much to Ebony and other observing student's surprise and worry. "As much as I would like to admit how impressed I am with your...confectionery prowess, not only have you disrupted the class with such an excessive manner, you've also blatantly ignored several lab safety measures. Do you have anything to say in your defense?"
Sweets pulled the beaker to her chest, her free hoof rummaging through its contest.
"Mm. So...what I'm getting is that you don't want one, right?" She smirked. "Heh, sweet. More for me."
Mr. Anode's eye twitched. He faced the ceiling, his hoof rubbing at his forehead. Either he developed a sudden headache, or he just couldn't comprehend the young mare; both were a viable possibility.
He took a deep breath, sighed, then turned and walked back to the front of the class. On his way there, he muttered out loud, "One hour here after school...for the entire week starting today--that's what you've earned yourself, Missy." Just then, the bell rang, signalling the end of school for the day. "Ah, scratch that--starting now. Everypony else, you're excused; tomorrow we'll pick up where we were interrupted. Ms. Tooth, pull out a pencil and a sheet of paper, for I expect a full page essay on what you did and how you'll learn from it."
"Ah, so you're wantin' me to give you a few chemistry pointers, eh?" Sweets jabbed. "I don't know, Teach, aren't you supposed to be the teacher here, not me? I mean, I'm flattered, really, but--"
That, naturally, earned her a swift response from Mr. Anode.
"Two pages, front and back." He rested his elbow on his desk, his head on his hoof, then smiled coyly to her. "Want to go for a third?"
As the rest of the students rushed to funnel out the two doors, Ebony tapped Sweet's side.
"What are you doing?!" he whispered through his grit teeth. "You're making it worse for yourself!"
"Pfft," Sweets sounded, blowing one of her bangs from her face. "Mm. Yeeeah, you're probably right. But hey," she gave the beaker a light shake, causing the peppermints within to clink against the glass, "at least it's not a total waste, eh? Ain't science grand?"
Ebony's face fell flat.
"Sweets...they're just candy...peppermints... Actually, do peppermints even count as candy? They don't feel like they do to me. But, uh, whatever--they're nothing special; certainly not worth getting in trouble over."
Her eyes widened as she gasped in disbelief. Sweets then turned away from Ebony, hugging the beaker close to her chest as if it were her very own child.
"Blasphemy!" she yelled. "All things sugary and sweet are special!"
The right side corner of Ebony's lips curled southward.
"Peppermints aren't sweet, though," he muttered, shaking his head softly.
"Semantics!" Sweets tossed two peppermints into her mouth, then angrily chewed them. After a few loud crunches, she looked over her shoulder to him. "Oh, uh, by the way; seeing as I'll be staying here for an hour longer, don't wait up for me."
"What about that thing you were going to tell me earlier?" Ebony asked. "You know, about Swain."
"Oh, right. Well about that--"
"Ms. Tooth," chimed Mr. Anode. "I'm seeing a disturbing lack of writing from you... Mr. Star...you're still here, chatting with the accused. Am I to assume that you wish to join her?"
"Hey," Sweets whispered to Ebony. She gestured towards the open door, and through the open doorway, Cinnamon Bun could be seen waiting patiently out in the hallway. "Just go. You know how Cinny doesn't like taking the train home by herself. Meet me later at Sugarcube Corner later so I can tell you that thing I heard."
Ebony looked to Cinnamon Bun, then to Sweet Tooth.
"Alright. Later, I guess," he said, unfastening the goggles from himself and leaving them on the table. After bumping hooves with her, he then exited the classroom. There, out in the hallway, he stood face to face with Cinnamon Bun.
"So," she started, her brow raised knowingly as she look over Ebony's shoulder to Sweets still at the table. "Sweets' staying over after school?"
"Sweets' staying over after school," he promptly answered with a nod.
"Hmm."
With that concluded, the two then walked down the bustling hallways together.
"I don't know... I mean, they look like them, and they're even wrapped like them, so I guess peppermints can be considered candy? I'm, like, not gonna have to choose friendships between you and Sweets now, am I?"
Inputting the combination to open his locker, Ebony grinned.
"Yes, Cinny. Sweets and I are going to war over this, and if you're not with me, then you're against me."
Levitating her books out into her bag, Cinnamon closed her own locker, then returned Ebony's playful smile.
"Huh...well in that case, I guess I'd go with Sweets. No offense to you, of course; I'm just more afraid of her than you."
"Ha. None taken. Celestia knows that Sweets isn't the kind of mare you can just trifle with without her retaliating in some way," Ebony said, opening his locker before rummaging through it with a wing. Once he hooked his wing's thumb through the strap of his book bag, something taped to the inside of his looker door caught his eye.
It was a pink flyer, the kind that was simple and cheaply photocopied for distribution around the school. Two ornate masks were depicted in its center, overlapping a heart. Typed beneath that was an announcement encouraging students to take part in the school's upcoming annual Hearts And Hooves Day masquerade ball. The event was in the night after tomorrow, and Ebony was clearly interested, seeing as he had fixed the flyer somewhere where he'd obviously see. He had hoped that it were serve as a later reminder, which it did.
Slinging the book bag over his shoulder, Ebony swung his locker door closed, then turned to Cinnamon Bun.
"Uh...h-hey," he started, nervously rubbing at the back of his head.
"Hm?" Cinnamon hummed, her head tilted cutely to the side.
Already, Ebony's eyes began to look in every possible direction but her. "So, um...y-you hear about that ball thing the school's having?"
Ears perking, Cinnamon raised an inquisitive brow as she tilted her head in the other direction. She seemed confused until her face lit up seconds later.
"Oh! Right, that," she said. "Yeah, I heard of it. Seems kind of interesting."
"Y-yeah, it does," Ebony replied with a nod, his mouth forming a timid smile. He could feel an uncomfortable warmth gathering in his cheeks, and he had to force himself to continue speaking. "So uh...I'm thinking of going. You know...see what it's like and all. Eh, you?"
She gave another tilt of her head, coupled with an ear flick.
"Me?"
Wanting to hide what was definitely a blush creeping onto his face from her, Ebony coughed dryly to the side.
"Yeah, you," he said, looking at her from his peripheral. "Uh...are you going, or...interested in going?"
Eyes widening and ears splaying back, Cinnamon's mouth formed into a timid, contained smile as she lowered her gaze.
"Mm...maybe," she uttered, her hoof pawing at the floor. Ebony turned back to her, a hopeful expression on his face.
"Really? Well I was thinking that--" Ebony clamped his teeth down, silencing himself.
Finally, after years of secretly pining over his friend Cinnamon Bun, an opportunity for him to admit his true feelings for her presented itself to him in the form of the school's masquerade ball. The festive scenery, the romantic atmosphere, the dancing--oh he couldn't forget the dancing! If anypony his age were to confess their love for another, then the ball would be the most ideal scenario.
Ever since he first learned of the ball, Ebony replayed the would-be events over and over in his head. The things he had planned for Cinnamon were perfect, simply perfect! The night would start with them meeting just outside the ball, her in her loveliest of dresses and him in his tasteful, debonair, suave suit. Due to the nature of the party, they'd have their masks on, so hopefully the two would decide on a way to recognize each other by then. Being one of the few batponies at the school, he could just flare his leathery wings to make it easier.
Next, once they enter the ball itself, they'd find a table together, where he would pull her seat out for her like a proper gentlestallion would. Once that was done, they'd then wine and dine (not with actual wine, of course, seeing as they're still underage) for a short while, having yet another of their joyous talks. He'd particularly wow her with some choice jokes he's been saving for just the occasion.
Naturally, the night would then guide their hooves towards the dance floor, where he would impress her with his moves. Ebony was embarrassed practicing ballroom with his mother, but for Cinnamon Bun, it'd be worth it. He hoped a slow song would play. Several, in fact.
Ebony could already envision it. The ball is near its end, and they'd be surrounded by dancing ponies, yet their eyes would remain fixed solely on one another. The last song would play, a slow one, and a spotlight would turning on, shining its light on them. They'd raise onto their hindlegs, taking the other's forehooves as they waltzed in tune with the music.
Then, right as the song begins to fade away and the crowd disperses, Ebony would lean in close to Cinnamon's ear, whispering how he's felt for her for such a long time.
"I love you..."
"Eh...what was that?"
Ebony's eyes snapped wide open, utter horror etching itself into his face as he saw Cinnamon staring back at him. Her head was tilted to the side, her brows furrowed in confusion.
Trying to avoid full panic mode, Ebony sucked in his lips, his eyes scanning the floor and sides as he scratched nervously at his neck. Soon realizing that he was acting suspiciously, Ebony swallowed dryly before looking back to Cinnamon.
"Uh...what was what?" he asked, his fangs showing as he smiled a little too readily.
"You muttered something... Something about loving...well, something," Cinnamon Bun said. "You alright, Ebony? You kinda looked like you were out of it there for a second." When he instead chose to bite his lip and glance away rather than answering, the corner of Cinnamon's mouth lowered worryingly.
She narrowed her eyes, then leaned forward, prompting Ebony to pull his head back. She didn't stop until their muzzles were mere inches away from each other. She then spoke after sizing him up.
"Say...you haven't slipped back into your night cycle again, have you? Spent one-too-many nights reading those cheesy old romance novels of your mom's like before?"
Ebony rolled his eyes with a huff, then placed his hoof on the tip of her nose.
"Hey, if you have any better recommendations," he said as he gently guided her face away from his, "I'd love to hear them. Anyway, I'm fine; I only zoned out like that because I was thinking about..." His brain immediately worked into overdrive, looking for anything that closely rhymed with 'I love you'. Unfortunately, all he could come up with was, "...about how much I love juice."
Cinnamon responded by pulling her head back, perplexed.
"You...love juice?" she questioned.
"Yeah, who doesn't? Anyway." Ebony ran his hoof through his mane, making himself more presentable as he looked into her rose-colored eyes. "So, since you're sort of interested in the ball, I was thinking that maybe...we could go. I mean, I've got nothing better going on that night, and last I heard, neither do you, so...yeah."
Suddenly feeling more bashful than seconds before, Ebony lowered his gaze from her and coughed into his hoof, awaiting her answer. Moments later, much to his elation, he got it.
"You know what, sure, sounds fun!"
Ebony looked back to Cinnamon Bun, his lips quivering as he tried to suppress the giddy smile that was trying to form. Right as he opened his mouth to express his excitement, however, Cinnamon cut him off with,
"So you'll go with Sweet Tooth as your date and, hopefully, I'll be able to go with my secret admirer as mine."
Like a balloon that was quickly losing all its air, Ebony's smile deflated.
"Wh-what?"
"My secret admirer, remember?" said Cinnamon, rolling her eyes mirthfully. "You know, he...she leaves a well-thought-out poem with a white rose for me to find every year on Hearts and Hooves day?" She reached over and punched his side, scoffing lightheartedly. "Gosh, have you not been paying attention for the last few years?"
"Oh...right, that," he said blandly, rubbing where she hit him while putting up a forced smile.
Cinnamon nodded excitedly.
"Mhm! Like, I know my admirer's been wanting to stay secret this entire time, but, I just get this feeling, you know, that this time, they're finally going to reveal themselves to me!"
"O-oh?" Ebony uttered. He tilted his head, saying, "And you're sure this'll be because...?"
"I don't know," she said with a shrug. "Like I said: it's just a feeling. I haven't gotten another poem from them just yet, but if I'm right, then they're going to give me the next one in person, then ask me to the ball! I mean, it's the Hearts and Hooves day ball; if anypony were to pick a more romantic setting, it'd be that, right?"
"My thoughts...exactly," he forced through his toothy smile.
Much to his surprise, Cinnamon began tapping all four of her hooves atop the floor, practically dancing in place. "Ooh, this'll be so exciting! I'll finally meet my secret admirer after all these years and go to the ball with them--and you and Sweets, my bestest of friends in the entire world, will be there!"
In that moment, Ebony, watching Cinnamon as she pumped her hoof into the air, found maintaining his false smile strenuous. Internally, he gave a long sigh.
Of course... Cinnamon Bun only saw Ebony as a friend, and was completely enamored with her secret admirer, even though she never met them...despite the hidden fact that she actually did. Funny that the pony who'd get between him and Cinnamon Bun having any chance of getting together was himself.
Still, her gut feeling was right: he was going to give her the next poem in person. In fact, its latest draft was in the very same book bag he was holding, deemed worthy enough to give to her once she accepted his invitation to the ball. The idea was that it'd be sort of a last hurrah to his anonymity. However, with these new turn of events, he'd have to hold off on that until some edits were made to the note.
Without the ball, Cinnamon would think that him being her secret admirer for so long was just a ploy from one friend to lighten another's spirits during Hearts and Hooves day. Or, perhaps even worse, depending on how she took it, she'd think that it was all one long-running joke. At least, that's what Ebony thought, anyway.
No, Ebony would just have to make alterations to his plans, starting with the poem. It'd have to express how the admirer would never be worthy of her and that she should look towards somepony she already has more of a connection with, or...or perhaps he'd strongly hint that it was him all along before asking her to the ball once more. Yes, perhaps he would do that. He'll lock himself in his room and work on that all night if need--
Ebony's planning was interrupted, however, when somepony suddenly slid in the space between himself and Cinnamon Bun. It was a stallion, leaning against the lockers as he faced Cinnamon. He was wearing a frisbee golf letter jacket, and reading the name embroidered on the back, Ebony realized it was Paramour.
"Phew. Pretty hectic test at the last minute there, wasn't it?" said Swain.
Leaning to the side, Ebony locked eyes with Cinnamon; he could tell by the subtle look in her expression that she didn't like the abrupt interruption either. Nevertheless, she looked to Paramour and flashed him a patient, cordial smile.
"Hey Swain," she said simply. "And yeah, pretty crazy stuff with all that smoke. Think we'll be able to pass it when we redo it tomorrow?"
Smiling confidently, the unicorn nodded. "Oh yeah, definitely. I mean, yeah, grade's were sort of slipping in chemistry before we were assigned together, meaning that I would have ended up kicked out of the frisbee golf team, but thanks to your lessons, I've gotten more of an idea of what I'm doing. Thanks for that, by the way."
Smirking, Cinnamon Bun scratched the side of her face. "Well I kind of had to--we are lab partners. No sense in me doing all the work."
Swain lowered his head, chuckling towards the floor. After raising his gaze back to Cinnamon Bun, he took a quick breath and opened his mouth. Right as he was about to say something, however, he noticed Ebony in the corner of his eye.
Realizing that he had been spotted, Ebony whistled an inconspicuous tune to himself as he unslung his book bag and reopened his locker. Once its door was ajar, Ebony partially hid behind it, placed his bag within the locker, then made himself look busy by pretending to be organizing his things. Unbeknownst to the unicorn, Ebony's ears were perked readily.
After a brief pause, Swain turned back to Cinnamon Bun.
"Anyway..." Swain ran his hoof through his mane, then planted a foreleg against the lockers. He beamed a toothy smirk, leaning forward towards Cinnamon Bun. "So uh," he started. "You're a smart mare; no doubt about that." He quickly eyed her up. "Pretty easy on the eyes, too."
Flattered, yet perplexed, Cinnamon backpedaled a bit. Ebony, on the other hoof, raised a brow curiously.
"Oh, really?" she said, her eyes cast downward as her face took on a slightly reddish shade. "That's uh...nice of you to say? But uh... Er, wh-what brought this on? Kind of...kind of a sudden jump from 'Hey, you're smart' to 'Hey, you're sort of nice-looking,' if you ask me."
"Heh. Just something I've been thinking about ever since we became lab partners," Swain replied. He then tilted his head to the side, his smile growing cocky. "Mm, you know what else I've been thinking?"
"Um...what?"
Cinnamon Bun was getting uncomfortable--that, Ebony could pick up on; he would have been a terrible long-time friend if he didn't. Still, as much as the young bat pony wanted to intervene, Swain was chosen as her lab partner, not him. As such, Ebony chose to merely stand by and wait for Swain to get on with whatever assignment-related thing he was surely leading towards. The faster that was done and over with, the faster he and Cinnamon Bun could go to the station and await the train back to Ponyville.
What Ebony then heard from Swain, however, was not associated with any course.
"I was thinking that you and I would make a cute couple."
"Wha-wha-what!?" both Ebony and Cinnamon exclaimed, surprisingly in unison.
"Yeah," said Swain, sporting a lopsided grin while giving Cinnamon a few inviting eyebrow wiggles. "You're a cute mare. I'm a, let's face it, handsome stallion. During our time as lab partners, I'm sure you've felt a bit of, heh, chemistry between us." His smile doubling twofold, Swain gestured to the space between them with a twirling motion. "Ha. You uh, you see what I did there? Thought of that just now!"
Cinnamon's response was that of an immediate, wide smile, one which clearly pained her to maintain. "Oh, uh. Yes, yes!" she answered, nodding quickly a few times. "Clever. Pretty clever, uh, joke you got there." Rubbing one foreleg with the other, she look away and finished with a quiet, "Yeah..."
"Joke?" Swain replied, followed by a shake of his head and a low chuckle. "Nope, no joke here. I'd like you to be my mare, Cinnamon Bun. Oh, also, would you like to go to that Hearts and Hooves thing the school's planning with me?"
"The school ball?" she said.
Promptly nodding, Swain pointed a hoof to her. "Yeah, that thing. So what'ya say? It's a yes, right?"
After breathing in through her clenched teeth, Cinnamon's ears folded as she hissed out, "Yeeeah, no..."
"Perfect! We'll make a--" It took Swain half a second for Cinnamon's response to get through to him. At the moment it did, his once cheerful expression faltered. "Wait, what?"
Her head hanging low, Cinnamon visibly winced when she looked up and forced eye contact with him. "Sorry, I'm sure you're a great guy, but we hardly know each other. Besides, I'm sort of waiting for somepony else to ask me."
"Whoa, hold up. Is it that--"
"Again, I'm really sorry," Cinnamon interrupted, bowing her head apologetically to him before turning tail and all but running down the hall. Once she reached a certain distance, without even stopping, she turned back and shouted, "Ebony, could you hurry up there!? Train, remember? Oh, and the usual spot!"
"Usual spot! Gotcha!" Ebony shouted back, leaning from behind the locker door. He had to suppress his giddy smile that just wanted to make itself known, lest Swain realize how ecstatic Cinnamon's rejection made him.
Ebony slung the book bag back over his side, closed his locker, then turned to head in Cinnamon Bun's direction. Once he took a few steps, however, Ebony was stopped by Swain, who stood directly before him, blocking his path.
Naturally, Ebony tried to walk around him, but was intercepted by the unicorn when he moved in front of him again. Ebony tried once more around the opposite side, only for the same result to occur.
Initially, Ebony believed it to merely be one of those scenarios where ponies had difficulty getting around each other, but, with how purposeful Swains actions seemed, Ebony realized there was more going on.
"Uh..." uttered Ebony, staring Swain in the eyes. "Can I help you?"
Swain stared back with a straight face, but soon adopted his cocky demeanor before answering.
"Yeah, actually," he said. "You're uh, Cinnamon Bun's friend, right? Eh, Ivory, was it?"
"Ebony..."
"Yeah, that." Swain then placed his hooves over Ebony's shoulders, much to the bat pony's surprise and displeasure. "Listen bro, I need your help getting with Cinnamon. I was thinking that, since you're tight with her and all, maybe you'd know something that can make that happen. Whaddya say?"
"What do I say?" asked Ebony, seconds before calmly swatting the unicorn's hooves from his person. "How about no? She's clearly not into you, man. Oh, and don't 'bro' me if you don't know me."
"Jeez, sorry; was just trying to be friendly," said Swain, rolling his eyes dismissively. Straightening his posture, he then beamed with pride as he placed a hoof to his chest, continuing with, "And of course she is. Probably just doesn't know it yet."
"Yeah, I'm sure it's that," quipped Ebony, maneuvering around Swain. However, moments later, Swain once again blocked his path.
"Whoa, whoa, whoa. Ya gotta have something I can use!"
"Sorry, buddy. Nothing's coming to mind," Ebony quickly dismissed. He attempted to step around Swain, but the unicorn proved his persistence once again.
"Well, what about this one rumor I heard about her?"
Rubbing his temple to alleviate the headache that was starting to develop, Ebony said under his breath, "Well from what I hear, there's rumors about you too, apparently..."
"What was that?" asked Swain.
Ebony shook his head. "N-nothing."
Realizing that simply going around the stallion was out of the question, Ebony sighed before turning around. If Swain was going to prevent him from using the front exit, then Ebony would just have to go further down the halls and use one of the school's other exits. The detour would have him reach the train station a few minutes later than usual, what with the hordes of other students he'd have to ford through, but that was more favorable than helping Swain get with Cinnamon.
His mind made up, Ebony began to walk away from Swain. Once he took a a few steps, though, Ebony jolted to a sudden halt when his book bag's strap suddenly tugged at his neck.
"What the--?" said Ebony.
He looked over his shoulder, seeing Swain with his horn alight, holding on to the book bag with his magical grip.
"Hey, let go!" Ebony shouted, fighting to free his bag from the stallion's magic.
His face showing strain, and his teeth grit, Swain pulled his head to the side, which in turn dragged Ebony along on his hooves as well.
"Come on, man!" begged Swain. "Anything, anything can help! Her favorite food, favorite book--something!"
Ebony flapped his wings, his hooves scrapping against the tiles as he fought against Swain's pull. Their little game of tug of war made quite the show for any and all passing students. Some gave them a quick, albeit puzzled glance before continuing on their merry way, while others chose to stick around and see how things unfolded.
"Dude!" Ebony exclaimed. "Even if I wanted to help, I really don't know what to tell you!"
That was a lie. He knew Cinnamon Bun since they were foals, which meant that he knew just about everything about her. Not that he was going to share any of that with Swain, though.
"Well...th-there is one thing you might be able to help with!" replied Swain.
Ebony shut his eyes and produced a short, manic chortle before responding with, "Oh for the love of--what is it!?"
"Well, there's this rumor floating around..."
As Swain talked, Ebony, who felt as if he were pulling a plow by that point, reached a hoof towards his bag.
"What I heard, Cinnamon Bun seems to..."
He was hoping to snag it from from Swain's magical grip, which would finally allow for his escape. He was starting to get a bit worried for his bag, though, as it's elastic strap had never been stretched that far before.
"...have eyes only for..."
Ebony chided himself. His hoof didn't reach fully around his bag, and as a result of his fumbling, he accidentally opened its flap.
"...some secret admi--"
Right as Ebony worked to close the flap, the strap finally gave way with a deafening 'snap!' Ebony's eyes widened as he fell forward, and time seemed to slow to a crawl for him while he watched his book bag with the now-ruined strap follow suit. It toppled onto the floor before he did, and he witnessed his school work and other contents spill out from the open flap, scattering onto the floor in every which way.
"Oh! Uh...I'm really sorry man!"
Ebony ignored him. Instead, he instantly shot back up onto his four legs, quickly stuffing all his books and papers back into his book bag. With everything seemingly accounted for, and not wanting to give Swain another chance to stop him, Ebony clenched his ruined bag with his teeth, then speedily walked down the hall towards one of the school's other exits.
Soon enough, though, Swain called for him.
"Hey, bro, you forgot... Wait, what's this?"
Refusing to acknowledged him, Ebony kept walking, pretending not to have heard him. Whatever it was that Swain found, Ebony was confident it wasn't his, as he was sure he had gathered everything.
Minutes later, Ebony finally arrived at the train station; the crowds of students funneling out the school's back entrance had given him a bit of a delay. Fortunately though, he made it minutes before the train to Ponyville was scheduled to arrive.
With his book bag held in his mouth, Ebony bounded towards the usual spot on the platform's waiting station; the platform's center bench. Once he got there, however, Ebony found it odd that Cinnamon Bun wasn't there waiting for him. She clearly stated that she'd be at the usual spot, yet there the bench was, completely devoid of anypony.
A tad concerned, Ebony turned to both sides of the station. He spotted a few students chatting amongst themselves, as well as some adults who were clearly in the middle of their commute either to or from work, but no Cinnamon Bun. Failing to find her after sparing a second look, Ebony began to worry. Perhaps he had taken too long on his way to the station, and Cinnamon, probably wondering what was keeping him, returned to the school to look for him?
If that was the case, he hoped she'd hurry back, as his ears could hear the train's far off wheels clattering down the track. Right as he considered going back for her, he heard her voice approaching from the left side of the platform, and with it, a sense of relief washed over him. By the sound of it, she seemed to just be climbing the steps and was...talking with someone?
He couldn't hear her exact words, due to the other nearby ponies' chatter and the approaching train making it impossible for him to focus on them, yet he could pick up her tone. She sounded cheerful, exuberant even. Ebony found that to be a bit strange, as the only ponies she ever talked to like that were Sweets and himself. Slowly, as her voice got closer and the very top of her head was coming into sights from the stairs, one question came to Ebony's mind.
If Sweets was staying after school, and he was at the usual spot...who was she talking to?
Moments later, the answer came. Cinnamon Bun playfully hopped up the stairs, reaching the platform proper. Soon enough, the second pony joined her, revealing himself to be Swain as he stood by her side.
Unsure of what he was seeing in the distance, Ebony stood stock still and cocked his head to the side. Just a few minutes ago, Cinnamon practically ran from Swain after rejecting him. Now...now he's speaking to her while Cinnamon listened with what seemed like rapt attention, a large smile on her face, and her body shaking with excitement as she occasionally nodded.
As bizarre as that all was, Ebony was unprepared for what happened next.
Cinnamon rose onto her hind legs, hugged him tightly around the neck, then kissed him on the cheek before swiftly departing. Ebony's bag dropped along with his jaw, Swain rubbed at his face with a grin, and Cinnamon smiled brightly as she approached her friend at the usual spot.
"Hey! Wake up, train's here!" said Cinnamon, jabbing at his side playfully before hopping through the train's open passenger doors. Ebony was so stunned by what had occurred, he didn't even realize that it arrived.
"Huh...uh, wha?" Ebony uttered, scrunching his face in confusion at her. He tried to move, but found that his hooves were refusing his will. To make matters worse, he also felt unsteady, as if he were reeling from somepony's devastating left hook.
Rolling her eyes in jest, Cinnamon lit up her horn. She took hold of Ebony's hoof with her magic, then guided him towards her into the train cart.
"Oh, you forgot this," she then said, retrieving his book back from where he dropped it. Right as she was about to hand it to Ebony, Cinnamon gave it's broken strap a curious look. "Huh, what happened to this?"
Ebony blinked once, then twice as he tried to focus on her.
"Eh. S...S-Swain," he answered.
Cinnamon's face lit up in excitement. "Oh, you saw that, huh?"
That wasn't exactly what he meant, but...
"Um. Yeah--yes," Ebony answered with a shaky nod. "What...what was that?"
Suddenly, a blush came to Cinnamon's face as she began playing with one of her mane buns.
She averted her eyes, her mouth cracking into a smile as she said, "Weeell... I was hoping to keep this secret until the ball, but I just can't keep this to myself! Here!"
Using her magic, Cinnamon unzipped her own book bag, quickly withdrew a folded piece of paper from it. She unfolded it, then presented it to him. It was a hoof written note, and at first, Ebony didn't realize what exactly it was until after he read the first few words.
His blood turning cold, he quickly swiped his bag from Cinnamon Bun's magic, then immediately began to search through it.
"Uh, Ebony?" Cinnamon asked. "Worried you forgot your homework or something?"
Ebony didn't respond. Instead, he continued to look though his bag, uttering "Where is it, where is it!?"
It had to be in his bag, it just had to. He refused to believe what was happening. Try as he might however, even after turning the bag upside down to fully empty its contents, he failed to find it.
"No," he silently uttered wistfully to himself, stooping to scan through the spilled papers once more in vain hope.
Within moments, Ebony realized there was no sense in denying it anymore. What happened, happened. He felt used, and more importantly, cheated.
The train's passenger doors closed as he rose back onto his fours. He looked out the window, and as the train began to move, Ebony locked eyes indignantly with Swain as it passed by him. The unicorn mouthed something to him before the train picked up speed, and Ebony didn't need his enhanced hearing to know what he said.
Thanks for the help, bro.
Biting onto his bottom lip painfully, Ebony then turned back to the note still suspended in Cinnamon's magic. There, he read the words carefully written on it. His words.
The red rose whispers of passion, And the white rose breathes of love; Oh, the red rose is a falcon, And the white rose is a dove. But I send you a cream white rose, Flushed red at its tips; For a love that is purest and sweetest Has a kiss of desire on its lips.
"Pretty clever, huh?" said Cinnamon Bun. "When I asked him where's the white rose he said he got me in the poem, he paused dramatically before saying that he was the rose! Ebony, do you know what this means?"
Ebony swallowed dryly before answering with, "Wh-what?"
"It means that I've found my secret admirer!" she exclaimed, causing the other passengers to give her strange looks. "It was Swain all along! Who knew? Ebony," she said as she then wrapped him in an expectant hug, "we're...we're going to the ball together!"
If it weren't for his fur, everypony would have seen the color drain from Ebony's face.
Returning the gesture with the barest semblance of a hug, Ebony wore a faint smile as he said, "That's...that's great, Cinny..."
Hours later, Ebony sat by himself in one of Sugarcube Corner's booths, staring forlornly at the root beer float lying before him on the table. He hadn't touched his treat since ordering it, and truthfully, he didn't know why he even did in the first place. Maybe he thought it'd make him feel better; something sugary and sweet to drown his sorrows, even if temporarily.
Minutes felt like hours to Ebony, as he wasn't sure how long he sat there. Not that he cared, anyway. It was long enough for the ice cream within the soda to nearly melt, that was for sure.
After pushing the beverage further away from himself, Ebony crossed his hooves on the table, then burred his face in them. Moments later, as he produced his umpteenth sigh, he heard the sound of somepony sliding in the seat across from him, coupled with a voice he was all too familiar with.
"Heyyo! You gonna finish that float?" asked Sweets. When Ebony didn't respond, she automatically took that as consent. "Heh heh, gimme!" she said, rubbing her hooves together before pulling the drink towards herself.
Right as she began sipping loudly through the straw, Ebony, with his voice muffled by his forelegs, spoke.
"Anode let you out early?" he said, completely devoid of emotion.
Licking her lips after pulling away from the straw, Sweets gave him an odd look.
"Early? Dude, it's six. We said that we'd meet up here, remember?"
"Right..."
"Eh, you alright there?" Sweets then asked, now noticing Ebony's gloomy appearance. "You seem a little down."
Face still burred in his forelegs, Ebony answered.
"Eh, well I feel down."
"Hmm," hummed Sweets, stirring the float with her straw. "Wanna share? You got until I finish this off."
Feeling like he was in need of an outlet, Ebony did just that. He rose his head from between his hooves listlessly, then filled Sweets in on what happened after he left Mr. Anode's class earlier. Of course, he omitted who the real writer of the poem was. Sweets laid sideways into the booth, making herself comfortable with the float as she listened.
Minutes lather, though, once Ebony had reached the end of his tale...
"Wait, what!?" Sweets exclaimed, the emptied glass clinking as she slammed her hooves atop the table. "Cinny's going with Swain to the ball!?"
Ebony stared at her cautiously. He was leaning back in his seat, surprised by Sweet's sudden outburst.
"Eh, yeah," he admitted. "I'm taking that you...don't approve?"
"'Course I don't approve!" Sweets promptly answered, throwing a hoof up in annoyance while rolling her eyes. "Cinny is precious and must be protected! I'd rather that she go with you than him!"
Ebony blinked. "Uh...thank you?" he said. With the way she said it, Ebony didn't know how to take that comment...
"You're welcome," replied Sweets, seconds before leaning over the table. "Oh, and by the way, I'm pretty sure Swain isn't Cinny's secret admirer!"
Intrigued, Ebony rose a brow. "Go on..."
"Well, for one, the notes from the admirer started back when we were foals. Do you remember Swain attending the school here, 'cause I sure don't."
Rubbing his chin, Ebony nodded, prompting her to continue.
"Also, I've shared a few words with the guy before--almost all of which were about him. I asked for a pencil, not his life story and achievements, yeesh. Dude doesn't seem like the kind to write squishy, heartfelt junk that Cinny likes, you know? Self-centered is what he is, if you ask me. My guess for why Cinny believes him: she's so desperate to finally meet her secret admirer that she's willing to believe just about anypony at this point."
Ebony averted his eyes shamefully. If he knew it would all come to this, he would never have become her secret admirer in the first place all those years ago.
Sweets then reclined in her seat, rubbing her own chin in thought. "You know, now that I think about it, I might have a good idea why Swain would suddenly want to date Cinny. And funny enough, it actually relates to that rumor about him that I was gonna tell you earlier in class..."
Ebony straightened at that, his ears perking to attention.
"Really?" he asked, hope swelling within his chest. "Well, what were those rumors, then? If Cinny's with this guy, and he's no good, then we've got to do something!"
"My sentiments exactly!" Sweets said with a smirk, seconds before giving the table a quick tap.
She then leaned further over the table, and despite no other customers in the store, Sweets looked side to side for anypony who might be listening.
"So, remember Begonia? Remember that incident with her in the cafeteria last year that had her moving away just a week later? Now, if what I heard is true, this is why she got worked into a frenzy..."
