Episode 6

Poetry

Feather is startled as Cupie knocks on her door, and enters her room.

"You know it's like, three in the morning, right?"

Feather looks up at her clock. "No way… I totally lost track of time."

"What have you been working on anyway?" Cupie asks. "You've been locked up in here all day. Don't tell me you've started another new play."

"Not a play. A poem." Feather corrects.

"You've spent the last twelve hours on a poem?" Cupie clarifies.

"Some of the lines aren't what they're supposed to be. I can't seem to find them… you know?"

"Not really." Cupie admits.

"Well, doesn't matter. I can't think if I'm tired. …or hungry."

"Melody saved you a bowl of spaghetti from dinner. It's still out if you want it." Cupie informs her.

"Oh- good! I need something substantial to help the creative process." Feather claims, and gets up from her chair.

Once Feather's gone, Cupie takes advantage of her absence to take a look at what she's written.

She gasps.

"Oh my gosh… this… is a love poem!" Cupie excites.

"Did you say something?" Feather calls from the kitchen.

Cupie covers her mouth with her hoof. "Um, nope. Just that I'm going to bed soon. Night."

Before she leaves, Cupie snaps a picture of the poem.

The next morning she got herself up early, and assembled her friends. Feather was still asleep- Cupie assumed she would be for a while considering how late they were both up last night.

"You're lookin a bit wobbly there." Techi comments. "Are you sure you're not tired?"

"I am. But this is important." Cupie explains.

"Is it about eating?" Kandi questions.

Cupie glares at her. "Kandi, no. This is about Feather."

"Don't tell me that crazy girl has taken up drugs." Thiala smites. "Who does she think she is? Keeping it all to herself and not sharing."

Cupie drops her head. "Will you all just listen? This isn't about food, or weed, or getting enough sleep. I think Feather's in love."

"What?!"

"Shh! She's still asleep." Cupie whispers.

"Oh." Kandi sighs. "I mean; oh." She whispers this time.

"I'm sorry- this is Feather we're talking about?" Thiala notes. "There's no possible way. The girl's completely void of emotions. It's not possible."

"What do you make of this, then?"

Cupie pulls up the photograph and shows it to Kandi, Thiala, and Techi. They read it over.

Like two sides of a magnet

The opposites attract

But in regards to us

This notion isn't fact

I'm drawn to you like gravity

Your pull too strong to fight

Forced to keep my sanity

Holding on, and holding tight

The thought is rather silly

And I'm to shy to say

Is there a possibility

We can be together anyway?

"Oh my gosh!" Kandi excites, to which both Cupie and Thiala hush her again. "I mean- oh my gosh."

"Really now… this doesn't prove anything." Thiala notes. "This could just be an excerpt for her new play."

"When I went in last night though I asked her, and she said she wasn't working on a new play. She specifically told me she'd been locked up in her room working on just this."

"This? This is what she was doing for the entire- what, eight hours she spent locked away in her room last evening?"

"Twelve." Cupie corrects. And yes, that is what she told me."

"I don't believe it." Thiala smites.

"Me either." Kandi replies. "Feather's in love!"

"I'm telling you, there's not way!" Thiala argues.

"'I'm drawn to you like gravity' I mean, come on. It's so lyrical! What else could it be?"

Thiala rolls her eyes. "So let's say Feather has fallen for somepony… what does it matter?"

"That's why I've called you three here." Cupie explains. "I was hoping to figure out who it is that Feather's crushing on, so we can find him and set them up."

"Scavenger hunt!" Kandi exclaims.

"Scavenger hunt? For what?" Feather asks, popping out of her room.

"Uh- scavenger hunt… for… breakfast." Cupie says hastily.

"For… breakfast?" Feather tilts her head.

"Yeah- well, you know how crazy Kandi is. We ask her to find something, she instantly makes a game out of it. Heh heh!"

"What Cupie said!" Kandi chimes. "I'm craaaaaazyyyy!"

"Uh huh." Feather shrugs. "Well try to keep your scavenger hunt to a low roar, alright Kandi?"

"Gotcha! I mean- gotcha." She whispers.

Feather closes her door.

"Let's take the conversation into my room, hmm?" Cupie offers.

"Forget it, I'm out." Thiala announces.

"But we need your help! You don't even have to help look, I just want to see if you know of anypony Feather may have been around recently."

"Nopony." Thiala says. "No pony at all. She's been locked in her room, like you said."

"There has to be somepony you've seen her hanging around during your rehearsals maybe?" Cupie tests.

Thiala's about to say something, but pauses. "Actually-"

"Ah." Cupie interrupts. "In my room."

Once there, the four sit around Cupie's room. Once they're situated, Thiala begins her story.

"Like I was saying, there is somepony I've seen her eyeing since she's been around rehearsal." Thiala explains. "There's another playwright there by the name of Quill… he wrote the script for the film I'm in, and the director tells us he's worked with him before on several occasions. When Feather was talking with him about his previous scripts, I thought it was just because they had a common interest. But now that I think about it, she might be attracted to the fellow."

"And his name is Quill, you said?" Cupie clarifies.

"Yes." Thiala nods. "She's really been acting interested in his life, now that you mention it."

"Maybe it's because she is." Kandi ponders. "Oh my gosh- that's it! Feather likes Quill! Feather likes Quill!"

"Kandi, hush!" Cupie warns. "We don't know for sure if this is the guy. We'll have to do some more research. Thiala, when is your next rehearsal?"

"Rehearsals ended last week. We've started filming already." She explains. "But Feather's still coming with me."

"Do you think she's just coming with you to rehearsals so she can see this Quill guy?" Kandi asks.

"I'm not entirely sure." Thiala admits. "But if you guys want to come with-"

"Discreetly." Cupie adds. "I don't want Feather to know we'll be watching her. I don't want it to affect the way she acts around him."

"Okay!" Kandi gleams.

"Maybe you should hang back, kiddo." Thiala suggests.

"Aw, but why?" Kandi moans.

"Sorry hun, but don't get too down, we still have a very important mission for you here." Cupie tells her. "In case this Quill isn't the guy we're looking for, I'm going to need you to do some snooping around Feather's room while she's out. You know, get the details."

"Can I just say something?" Techi prompts. "Is it really the right thing to do to be prying into Feather's personal life like this? Is it really our place?"

"It is mine!" Cupie argues. "It's my duty to bring love into the hearts of ponies. You read her poem- she's too shy to admit her true feelings to her love! We must help her, Techi. Why, it would be wrong if we just left it alone."

"Our final day of shooting starts in a little less than an hour." Thiala comments. "If you want to head down early and see if you can find somewhere to hide and wait for us…"

"I'm on it." Cupie nods.

"I'll start the snooping!" Kandi declares, but Cupie holds her back.

"Maybe you should start when she actually leaves, don't you think?"

"Oh, uh… heh heh!"

After grabbing something to eat, Thiala and Feather head off to the final day of shooting. Thiala gets caught up in her roll; as her character is put through a terrible tragedy at the end. Cupie takes watch at that point; when Feather approaches a male with Feather-pen Cutie Mark.

"This is quite the ending." Feather comments. "Really, you've done a stunning job."

"Well thank you, Feather." The boy smiles.

"It's a shame you won't be around more often. I guess I'll be the only playwright in Clantopia again." Feather mentions. "Your company will be missed."

"'You're company will be missed'." Cupie repeats to herself. "Aww! That's so- so… Feather." She frowns. "That girl really needs my help."

"Doesn't mean we can't still talk." Quill shrugs.

"How do you suppose we do that, exactly?"

"I could give you my number." Quill suggests.

Feather nods. "We'll exchange contact information before we leave, deal?"

"Sounds good!"

As the shooting's wrapping up, Cupie notes that it's about time for Feather to meet up with Quill again. She takes action, and calls Feather over.

"Cupie?" Feather notes. "What are you doing here?"

"I'll explain that later. Get over here."

Feather look around, then walks towards the signaling unicorn. "What is it?"

"Here."

Cupie hands her a slip of paper. Written on it was Feather's number, with the words 'call me' underneath, followed by a heart.

"…my phone number?" Feather muses. "Cupie, I'm fifteen. I think I can remember my own number."

"Not for you- for Quill!" Cupie says. "It's for you to give to him when he gives you his."

"What do you mean when he-" Feather pauses, and glares at her. "Were you spying on me? Just how long have you been camping out here Cupie?"

"Long enough to know Quill is the secret somepony in your poem." Cupie tells her.

"Excuse me?" Feather questions.

"Feather! There you are!"

Feather turns around. "Oh, Quill!"

"Hey, here's my number and e-mail address." He says, and hands her the slip of paper. "Oh, is that for me?" He asks, and reaches for the paper.

"N-no! This is… this is a playing card." She attempts.

"Hah, very funny!" Quill chuckles. "Come on, hand it over."

He takes the paper from her, and looks at it.

"Oh." He says, looking at it wide eyes. "Feather, can I talk to you about this?" He pulls her to the side.

Cupie watches closely.

"I think there may be a misunderstanding here… I was looking for a professional relationship with you, not… hearts."

"Ah- I was too!" Feather blurts.

"That's not what it seems like here." Quill notes. "Look, I gotta start packing up. See ya."

Feather stands motionless as Quill leaves the paper, taking his own back with him. The lights go up on set, and the director calls 'that's a wrap.'

Cupie approaches Feather.

"Um, hey… Sorry about that."

Feather doesn't respond; just glares at her.

"But- I was just trying to do you a favor! There's no way you would have told him how you felt about him on your own… and at least now you know he doesn't feel the same way." Cupie explains. "I know it's hard, but now you can begin to heal."

A tear falls from Feather's face. "Cupie… you don't understand."

She puts a hoof around her back. "I do, Feather. I know about love, and I-"

"No!" Feather stammers. "Quill is a screenwriter from Los Stallious! He's a huge name known across all of Equestria- and he was going to take some of MY plays back to his publishers!"

Cupie's speechless.

"This was a huge opportunity for me to finally get somewhere with my work. This was my one chance, and you totally ruined everything for me!" She continues on.

"B-but… Your poem-"

"Was part of a play I'd never finished." Feather finishes. "I was up so late working on it because it had to be perfect for Quill's publishers to look over."

Cupie sighs, and hangs her head. "Feather… I… I'm so, so sorry."

"Aaaand- that's a wrap!" Thiala calls over, approaching the two. "Was I fabulous, or what?" She gleams. "Oh hey Feather, how'd things go with Quill?"

"Un-fucking-believable." Feather snorts, and leaves without them.

Thiala watches her run ahead. "What I miss?"

Cupie and Thiala returned home to find Feather had locked herself in her room- which Kandi had made into a complete disaster since she'd left that morning, and wouldn't come out.

"I know you're mad, but I swear I was just trying to help!" Cupie calls. "Feather, come out!"

"What happened?" Techi perks up.

Cupie sighs, and walks into the kitchen where Techi and Kandi were sitting. "Turns out Feather didn't have a crush on somepony after all."

"And Thiala butts in. "She completely screwed over Feathers chances of making it as a playwright in Los Stallious."

"Do you have to remind me? I feel just awful enough as it is."

"Don't worry about it. She won't talk to me either." Thiala tells her.

"Or me!" Kandi adds. "She's mad that I messed up her room."

"That's not it, though." Cupie explains. "I get why she's mad at me- I'm mad at me too. I just can't seem to get past the fact that I just… jumped to conclusions. I should have just stayed out of her personal life to begin with."

"Uh, hello?" Techi scrutinizes.

"Could you have maybe figured that out sooner then?"

"Feather!" Cupie notes.

Feather steps into the kitchen now, and remains on the other side. "Look, I get you were just trying to help, but it's true… If I wanted your help then I would have asked for it."

"I… I know."

Feather looks down. "I'm disappointed that the opportunity passed me up… but I think I was a little harsh on you back there. It's not the end of the world, alright? So don't go beating yourself up for it."

Cupie looks to her. "Feather…"

"There just aren't any shortcuts in life, you know? I'll have to get my work recognized the hard way; by it actually being good enough to get recognized. Maybe one day it'll come back around to a company like Quill's, but until then, I'll just have to keep working at it." Feather explains. "But by no means should you take responsibility for 'ruining my career' or anything like that."

"I still feel bad." Cupie tells her.

"And I'm still not happy about you going through my things." Feather says, then looks at Kandi. "That goes for you too, missy."

"Eep!"

"I figure what's done is done, though, so, like Thiala said, don't worry about it."

With that, Feather retreats back in her room.

"Wait; she was going to get her plays looked at by the same publishers as the ones who published the play Thiala was in?" Techi checks.

Cupie nods.

"The fuck- I would be furious!" Techi notes. "You're lucky she isn't biting your heads off right now!"

"Did I not mention she's completely emotionally void?" Thiala reminds. "Seriously, I don't know why you even bothered."

"Now wait a minute; she just said she was never interested in Quill. Who's to say that Feather doesn't have somepony that she secretly likes?" Kandi suggests. "Scavenger hunt back on!"

"NO." Feather calls from her room, and Kandi cringes.

"Or we can just not butt into her personal life from now on?" Kandi tries again.

Techi sighs. "Sometimes I wonder if anypony even hears me."

A/N:

What's up, everypony? I have to leave this here; the poem belongs to me, so please don't steal it without my permission. Now that that's out of the way, I'm off to clean my room. Kandi made quite a mess of it. Review! See you next week!

-Feather