The Silver Standard

[mannulus]

The Bell of the Schoolhouse rang announcing it was 3:00. Fillies and Colts exploded out of the door in all directions. Over the hubbub Miss Cherilee could be vaguely heard to say "Have a good summer students, see you in the fall!" but it was doubtful anyone was listening.

A few feet from the schoolhouse, Applebloom, Sweetie Belle, and Scootaloo stopped and put their heads together.

"SUMMER BREAK" The hollered in unison "YIPPIEE!"

"Think of all the fun we can have," said Scootaloo

"Think of all the new potions I can work out" chimed in Sweetie

"Ahndm think of all the ponies us Cutie Mark Crusaders can help. Yee-Hah!"

The three of them continued on in the direction of Sweet Apple Acres, when suddenly they heard a faint sobbing coming from up ahead. Rounding the bend they came on a filly their own age. A very familiar filly, with a grey coat, white mane in a ponytail and wearing a string of pearls and pink wing rimmed glasses. 

'Silver Spoon, what are YOU doing here?"

Silver Spoon looked up, snuffled away her tears, and tried to look disdainful. "Oh it's YOU, ponies, the Blank Fl....well I guess I can't call you THAT anymore."

"What's wrong, Silver, we heard you crying?"

"Nothing that applies to YOU ponies." Silver Spoon retorted and made to trot away. However with her eyes still blurry with tears, she tripped and fell, her glasses going flying. Scootaloo and Sweetie went to help her up, while Applebloom went to fetch the errant spectacles. 

"Are you all right, Maybe we should help you to the clinic."

"I'M JUST FINE." She yelled and made to disengage herself from the two of them. At this point Applebloom returned with the glasses. Silver Spoon snatched them brusquely, and trotted off in a huff.

"Well, THAT, didn't go well." said Scootaloo.

"I think we better leave if to Diamond Tiara to work out what's wrong with her." answered Sweetie Belle  "Say where IS Diamond Tiara? Normally the two of them are as close as.... as...."

"As cinnamon and apples in a pah?" ventured Applebloom.

"Yeah you almost NEVER see one without the other."

"That ain't the only odd thing about this. Y'all ever taken a good look at Silver's glasses?"

"Can't say that I have. Seemed normal enough glasses to me, not really fashionable, but normal."

That's what I thought too, until I jest picked them up. Them thing is old."

'So like a favorite well worn pair?"

"Nah I mean, old old. Like older than any of us. I recognize the feel of the stuff those frames are made of from junk in Granny's attic. Them things is Buckelite, and they ain't made Buckelite for nigh on twenty years!" 

"So she wears glasses than are older than she is? but why?"
"Don't rightly know, but there is a mystery here what needs solving."

[lilliz323]

"First, we gotta make sure she gets these back," said Sweetie Belle, looking at the old glasses. "Even if they're old, I'm sure she can't see without them."

Apple Bloom was surprised by the quality of the spectales as she turned them over in her hooves. Not only were they old-fasioned, they were also extremely rusty and liable to fall apart. However, they were probably the only pair Silver Spoon had. "Hey!" said Apple Bloom, cautiously waving the pair of glasses in the air. "Ya forgot these!"

Silver Spoon froze in place and turned around, tears fogging her blue-grey eyes. To her, the fillies flagging her down looked like multicolored blobs, but she found her way over to them easily.

"Thanks," the grey filly muttered, taking the glasses and putting them on. "Blank flanks."

"Can we ask you a--" Scootaloo said, but Silver Spoon was already galloping down the path.

"That was odd," said Sweetie Belle. "She walked over to us like she could see us perfectly."

"And she was awfully rude," added Scootaloo snidely.

Apple Bloom made no reply, but her eyes grew wide as she watched Silver Spoon disappearing over the hill. She was trotting very lightly on her front left hoof, as if it was in pain. "We need to talk to Applejack," the yellow filly said huskily. "I have a feeling this is really bad."

[mannulus]

A few minutes later found them at Sweet Apple acres. To their relief, Applejack was there, doing some cleaning up.

"Hey, Sis, got a minute?"

"Sure, sugarcube" Jest let me finish up here.

The CMC sat in the Sweet Apple Acres kitchen, drinking lemonade, while Applebloom filled AJ in on the events that had let them there.

Applejack, leaned back in her chair"

"Well, I don't know a lot about any of this. but there are a few things I have heard tell and a few others I can guess. First as for why Y'all didn't see Diamond Tiara, she ain't in Ponyville right now. Ah overheared from Filthy Rich when we dropped off this months Zap Apple Jam that he was taking his family for a summer cruise. He probably picked her up as soon as school let out.

"Oh, so that's why Silver Spoon might have been crying, she isn't going with them. It's probably the first summer she's going to be by herself!

"That sounds sensible" said AJ. As for the glasses thing, all I know is, they must like them in the family. Silver Spoon's Ma wore the same kind. Heck if they really are as old and beat up as you say, maybe she wore the same PAIR. Ah got no way of knowin'. Maybe they remind Silver Spoon of her."

"That's kinda dumb," said Scootaloo, wearing old beat up........" But then she saw Applejack touch her hat, Applebloom touch her bow and BOTH of them look at her VERY hard, so she didn't finish what she said.

"As for the rest", I reckon the only was to know is to ask her yourself.

[mannulus]

"Uh, where does Silver Spoon actually LIVE?", Said Sweetie Belle. "I don't think I've ever been to her house."
"Me neither," Said Scootaloo. "Actually, apart from possibly Diamond Tiara, I'm not sure she has ever invited ANYBODY over there."
"Yeah, the Silvers mostly keep to themselves" said Applejack But I've been once or twice Hang on I'll draw y'all a map"

A little later, the three CMC's were trotting down a long lane, which, according to the map Applejack had drawn them, led to Silver Spoon's house
As they approached, they could hear music coming from an open window.


"A Don't you, a step on my blue horseshoes...."


"Boy", said Sweetie Belle. On top of the old glasses, now we have old music.





Creeping up softly, so as not to be heard, they peeked in.

The room they looked in on was presumably a living room. On the wall was a large photo of two ponies enjoying an ice cream soda with two straws. The filly, who had a pink coat, was wearing a black poodle skirt, a pink V-neck sweater and a yellow neckerchief, with a string of pearls that looked an awful lot like Spoon's. Her mane was done up in a loose ponytail. Oh her face there was an identical pair of glasses to Spoon's as well, so based on what Applejack had said, this was presumably Silver Spoon's mother.

The stallion next to her was the same shade of grey as Silver Spoon, so it was likely this was her father. He was wearing a button down shirt and had a slicked down black mane.

In the middle of the room Silver Spoon was dancing her heart out.

"What kind dance is that?" whispered Scootaloo

"Ah, seen some old pics of Ma and Pa doing moves like that in the Photo album, it's called the Jitterbug." Evidently Applebloom had said this a little too loud cause Silver Spoon jerked up her head.

"Who's there?"

[mannulus]

Sheepishly, the CMC poked their heads over the window lintel.

"You." Said Silver Spoon with a obvious hint of contempt. "What are you doing here?"

"Well" stammered Sweetie Belle, "We wanted to make sure you were okay and..." but Scootaloo cut her off. 

"We have some questions for you, Silver Spoon."

"Humph, and why should I answer anything you might ask." Silver Spoon made as if to shoo them off, but her front left hoof bucked, and she stumbled. The tremor caused the record player (which they realized was where the music was coming from.) to skip, and part of another song started playing

"I left my filly and I feel so bad
I guess my race is run....."

Suddenly, Silver Spoons face lit up with fear "Not that one, NOT THAT ONE." and she ducked down and covered here ears with her hooves. 

[mannulus]

The CMC wanted to say more, but they could see that Silver Spoon was actually writhing on the floor, as if she was in pain. Without waiting a second, Applebloom vaulted through the open window, followed by the other two. She dashed over to the record player grabbed the needle and pulled it up, stopping the music. With that, Silver Spoons tremors stopped and she managed to uncover her ears and stand up, shakily. 

" I know some ponies don't like "I Fought The Guards.", but I have NEVER seen one react to one THAT badly." said Scootaloo.

"Well, said Silver Spoon (who was either too shaken or too grateful to have her usual nasty personality) "I don't like to listen to Dad's songs.......anymore."

"Dad's song?" said Sweetie Belle, inquiringly, but but before she could get a response, Applebloom (who had been staring at the picture open mouthed) spoke.

"Silver Note.......That's Silver Note in the picture. I recognize him from some of Ma and Pa's old rock albums, but he looks a lot younger here. She turned to Silver Spoon. Are you saying that your dad is Silver Note? Your dad is a rock star? 

"Well, said Silver Spoon, my Dad was a rock star. And your right, this picture was taken before he made it big". She looked up at the portrait with obvious nostalgia. The had this taken on their first date, after he got back from Ponea. Happiest night of their lives, he said. He proposed to my mom that night"

"Boy, married to a rock legend. That must have been fun. 

"For a lot of time, it was, they had money, they had fame, and as dad put it "We had the music" and then I came along, and they thought thier life was complete. But them Mom got sick and....." Silver Spoon began to tear up again 

Applebloom guessed where the story was going from here, and put her hoof on Silver Spoon's shoulder. "Y'all don't need to say no more."

Anyway, Dad left the business to take care of me. Got a 9-5 job. We do pretty well in fact, I I know he misses the music a lot, and mom even more.  That's why I was practicing. There's a jitterbug contest over at Hoofie's diner this weekend, and I thought, if I won it, it might make him feel better. Silver Spoon started tearing up again. But there is NO WAY I can win in with my fetlock in this shape. 

The three CMC's looked somber. but then Sweetie Belle looked up.

"I can help. Zecora taught me a poultice that cures sprains. If you can point the way to the kitchen, I can whip one up!"






    

[mannulus]

That weekend saw the CMC at Hoofies, (which they had never been to before up until then) The place was a monument to the rock and roll era, with guitars records and other bric-a-brac all over the walls.

Over to one side stood Silver Spoon dressed in more or less the way her mother was dressed in the photo looking nervous.

"Worried about the competition?" said Sweetie Belle, trying to cheer her up.

"No, I wondering where my PARTNER is, This is a COUPLES competition." However she then looked toward the door and her face became a little more relieved as Light Fantastic came trotting in, dressed in a similar style to Silver Note.

"Light, THERE you are, you're almost late"

Light looked sheepish "Uh, sorry, I had a hard time finding the place."

"Whatever, get ready, the contest is about to begin"

Before she could say any more, a pony in an apron (presumably Hoofie himself) announce "Dancers, on your mark" and Light and Spoon took their places among the half dozen other couples on the dance floor. Someone signaled the band on the podium, the opening notes of "Gallop 'Round Sue" were played and the dancers began.

The CMC took seats at a booth, where the ice cream sodas they had ordered were already waiting, and watched the competition avidly. There was no question, Silver was facing some stiff competition in this contents, most of the couples were really good. But as the songs changed, the CMC began to notice that Silver had made a good partner choice in Light; his dancing skills allowed them both to modify their moves to the songs, allowing them to, for example go from slow to fast when the band decided to do "You're a Changeling in Disguise", which knocked a lot of the competition out. Finally it was down to just two couples and Silver and Light were one of them.

[mannulus]

Then during the middle of "Trotaway" one of the other dances slipped, knocking her partner over. At the same time, Light did a complicated final more; throwing Silver Spoon under his front hooves, her sliding and catching her on the reverse. Silver and Light had won! The crowd erupted into cheers.

Breathless, Silver walked over to the CMC. "That was INCREDIBLE, Silver Spoon" Said Scootaloo

"I just wish Dad had been here to see that."

"Who says I wasn't", said a voice from the door. The CMC turned and saw a much older Silver Star standing there "Great job, my little teaspoon, Your mom would have been so proud.

Silver Star looked like he wanted to say more, but suddenly a pony in a three piece suit who had been watching from the corner came over.

"Are you Silver Star? I've been looking for you! I'm Sure Hit, and I run Sure Hit pictures. I came here trying to find you. We're re making Hoofloose, and I wanted to offer you a job as music consultant. I think you find our offer quite generous.

"Hoofloose?, Well, I'm sort of out of the music biz now..."

"Silver Spoon piped up " Do it Daddy, It's what mom would have wanted."
"Well, then, I guess I'll be at your office in the morning to sign the papers."

At this point they all noticed the crowd was chanting "Play the Song, Play the Song"

Silver Star turned to Spoon and gave her an unsure look, Spoon nodded again "Mom would want that, too."

Silver Star went up to the band podium, took up the mike and the Band began to play.

"A breaking rocks in the hot sun,
I fought the guards and the guards won..."