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The day passing around Eventide felt near unbearable.

No one had to say anything for her to know what they were thinking. In fact, no matter the class, Eventide’s peers chose to say nothing to her altogether. However, this was different from every single pony simply minding their own business, or them not being in the loop of what had transpired. No. The passing glances she could see from the corner of her eyes, the soft murmurs and the way no one looked at her or met her gaze when she did try to read her surroundings.

She was being ignored.

Eventide sat through each class stiffly. No matter how much she tried to comfort herself, to tell herself that not every kid was judging her for her outburst or that this was temporary, it was like her mind was warning her that danger could be anywhere; that any one of these kids could be judging her, intent on shutting her out.

And she did try to let her guard down once a little earlier. Just a little, in an effort to just pretend nothing had happened a few class periods earlier. But upon leaving her desk to grab a textbook, she had returned to her seat only to find a single ripped note laying on her chair. Written on it was a single word:

Snitch.

Dread consumed her. She didn’t dare look around her then. She couldn’t handle the thought of seeing anyone look at her with a glare or a sneer. Since then, her body had made sure to stay painfully tense, her stomach churning over every paranoid thought.

The school day felt endless. It was a near miracle that she made it through without a single teacher addressing her or noticing anything. All she had wanted was to get to the end of the day, even if it filled her with apprehension.
Because now, it was time to face the one pony who had taken over her every thought since that morning.

Eventide knew where to find her. The young pegasus waited until the students around her had filed out of the building and the sound of a bell signified the beginning of after school clubs for the older grades. She then quietly traversed to one lone hallway at one of the furthest corners of the school. It was the hall for the kindergartners, understandably on the complete opposite side of the facility from where the club classrooms were. The door Eve knew from deep within her memory was one of the last doors in the hall, presently open compared to every closed door around it. She chose to bypass the door, as far away as possible to avoid detection. She forced herself to block out the noises of chairs and tables moving inside the classroom, as well as the two voices engaged in friendly conversation within.

Wooden cubbies lined the opposite wall and ended just before the hallway’s emergency exit. Moving towards the corner that was adjacent to her old kindergarten classroom, sitting there in wait, Eventide couldn’t help but stare at the empty cubbies. In an attempt to distract herself, she read the little alphabetical stickers on them.

Cubbies M and N.

Those had been her and Heather’s cubbies. Side by side, it was where the young fillies would cheerfully greet each other every single morning. They would happily chat and share giggles as they trotted into their classroom together.

The thought of her childhood friend sent a rush of anxiety through her, reinforcing why she was there in the first place. Answers. She needed to understand what had happened, and what was going through Heather’s head.
How could she-...why would she pretend to not know her?
A part of Eventide’s mind prodded at her, as if it knew the answer. But she refused to acknowledge it.

She needed to hear it from Heather herself.

Eventide waited in her corner, on edge from sheer anticipation. She wasn’t sure how much time had passed before she heard louder hoofsteps approach the door of the classroom from within. She felt her muscles clench, only to relax ever so slightly as her old teacher, Ms. Cheerilee, stepped out. Eventide had prepared something to say in the off chance she was spotted and questioned by the older mare. Luckily for her, the kind earth pony was preoccupied, turning immediately into the hallway with her saddlebag in tow. Taking one more right into the next hallway, she was soon out of sight.

And now, the seconds ticked on. Any moment and-

The lights flicked off, and Heather Tart finally stepped out of the classroom, turning around to close the door behind her. She appeared just as tired as Eventide had remembered seeing her the other day, but also bored. As the other filly turned into the hallway, ready to leave, Eventide jumped to her hooves.

For once, she didn’t hesitate.

“Heather!”

The filly stopped in her tracks, her head perking up. Yet she didn’t turn around right away, a detail that only unnerved Eventide. She was ready to repeat her friend’s name, only stopping when she barely caught the filly muttering to herself.

Reluctantly, Heather turned just enough to look at the pegasus, giving Eventide a cautious look. Even her voice was stoic as she spoke;

“You know….I had a feeling you’d try to talk to me. But I sure was hoping you wouldn’t.”

Eventide’s confusion and fear returned to her with full force in that instant.

“What’s going on?” Somehow, she managed a step forward, gazing into her friend’s eyes desperately. “W-why...didyoulietoyourfriendsaboutknowingme?”

Silence. For a moment the two fillies simply stared at each other. That calculating look was back in Heather’s magenta eye.

Suddenly, she smiled. It was one of those plastered, pleasant smiles, the kind Eve would always see her wearing non-stop around most ponies.
It did nothing to ease her concern. Heather’s chipper tone, just an octave higher from her normal voice, only fed her unease.

“Sooo I’ve been thinking for a while now. You and me? We’ve obviously just grown to be way too different!”
It was like Heather was trying to smile apologetically, yet for Eventide it only looked strained. “I just think it’s time we split from each other. Lead our own lives! You understand, right Eve?”

Eventide had never felt so deeply unsettled.

“Of course I don’t!” she exclaimed in her distress. Heather’s eye twitched, yet Eventide pushed on, her ears flattening against her head. “If I m-made you mad, I’m sorry...b-butwe’resuppose’totalkaboutthesethings, right? I wanna make this right-”

“UGH, STOP!”

Eventide pulled her head back, shocked by Heather’s shout. The filly was scowling, hackles raised. But just as quickly Heather forced herself to close her eyes, deeply breathing in and exhaling through her mouth. Opening her eyes she gave Eventide a harsh stare, all friendliness gone, and...revealing something far more bitter.

“Do you think I was lying when I told them I wasn’t comfortable near you? Because I wasn’t.” she spat. Only now did she fully turn towards Eve. She lifted her head high, staring Eventide down. “You try way too hard, and you draw in all the wrong attention. But I have an image to establish. You get it, don't you? I can’t get to the top if I’m being held down.”

Heather grew silent again, eyeing Eventide in a way that sharpened the stinging pang in her. Eventide fought to find her words, only managing a weak stammer.

“B-but...we’re best friends.”

It was clear the filly didn’t like that answer. Heather’s eyes grew icy, narrowing.

“Do I seriously have to spell it out for you?”
Heather took a single, intimidating step forward, never breaking her cold, irritated stare.
“You’ll never be on my level. You’re below me. If you really need me to say it, I’m looking down on you.”

Eventide froze. Heather on the other hoof simply looked her up and down from where she stood.
“What more do I have to say for you to get that I’m done with you.”

Eventide breathed in shakily.
...deep down, she knew.
A part of her deep inside - one she had always convinced herself was only insecurity and paranoia - had suspicions that Heather didn’t see her as an equal. But she never wanted to believe it. Every moment they spent talking and laughing together, she wanted to believe the respect she felt for her friend was a feeling that was reciprocated.
She didn’t realize how deep of a fear this was until now, confirmed right before her. It felt like her stomach was giving out, and her chest clenched painfully like there was a vice forcing the breath out of her. She struggled to find her voice with her throat tightening. Yet she managed.

“How can you say that?!” Eventide croaked, her voice cracking as tears pricked her eyes. Heather appeared to flinch at the sound, momentarily taken aback.
And then something snapped.
Her expression contorted, twisting into an ugly snarl.

“BECAUSE YOU’RE ANNOYING! BECAUSE YOU’RE EMBARRASSING TO BE AROUND AND EVERYONE KNOWS IT!”

Even as Eventide recoiled, stumbling back a few steps, Heather jutted a hoof towards her, scowling fiercely. “You play this shy little girl and then you force everyone to keep up with you every time you open your mouth and no one wants that! It’s such a pain! But everyone’s just too nice to hurt your feelings.
I tried being patient all these years, but you never, ever change! You’re still such a kid! Now you’ve gone and opened your mouth over something stupid and guess what? Now you’re just a…a pest to everyone! And I can’t be associated with some pest.”
Heather heaved a breath, her steam slowly running out. She was back to lifting her head defiantly. “Unlike you, my image matters. If you’d just listened to me and kept your annoying mouth shut, we wouldn’t even be in this situation.”

Heather rolled her eyes, her voice rising and falling into something mocking as she tossed her head about. “But you’re miss sensitive! Here I am, exhausting myself and obviously stressed, and you only think about yourself and don’t even consider how I’d be affected if things went wrong. So thanks."

Never before had Eventide felt sick to her stomach, every muscle in her body strained. Whatever look of misery Eventide wore only drew out more of Heather’s distaste and discomfort. The filly scoffed, looking away.
“Don’t give me that look. You asked for my honesty. And there it is. It’s not my fault if you can’t handle it.”

Shaking her head, Heather turned away, though not before giving Eventide an unsympathetic look from the corner of her eye. “Just so you know, if you try to whine about me and try to ruin my name, it will come back to bite you. If you’ve learned anything, don’t talk to me.”

Eventide quivered in place. She feebly watched as Heather began to walk away. That is, before the other filly paused.
“...in fact...maybe just don’t talk at all.” Heather quietly snorted to herself. “Save yourself and everyone the embarrassment.”

With that, she was gone. With little effort, Heather strode away and turned into the next hallway out of sight.

At first Eventide was left dazed, staring blankly after her image. She blinked at the tears that blurred her vision and slipped down her cheeks. In the hallway’s silence, she only then realized her unsteady breathing.

‘Why…
Why...?”

Blinking rapidly back into reality, her eyes darted around. Desperate. Lost. It was then that the very last bell of the day rung alarmingly loud, signaling the end of the after school clubs. A jolt of panic ripped through Eventide’s body, her quick breaths audible as her head whipped around. She spotted the small cranny from before, the space between the end of the cubbies and the corner of the hall. As quickly as she could, she scrambled into the corner. As her back pressed against the outer wall of the smooth wooden shelves, she could feel her heart pounding against her rib cage, her head spinning at a rate that made her feel light-headed.

Immediately she heard sounds far down the hall. It was the sounds of doors opening, and distant chatter as kids roamed out of the classrooms to return home.

Sitting in her cramped corner, Eventide realized how weak her legs felt, any energy she had left slipping away. She leaned in close to the wall, her only comfort being its cold, cooling surface against her body.
And all at once, she realized just how alone she was.

As a sob rose to her throat, Eventide quickly lifted her hooves to her mouth, smothering the sound as it escaped. And it was then that the relentless ache in her chest became far too much for her.
Eve shut her eyes tight, soft cries releasing from her muzzle. She fought to muffle them all the same, pressing her hooves firmly against her mouth as she buckled over on herself.

She prayed for nothing more than to vanish right then and there.

_________________________________________________________________
To anyone who’s ever had a friend that you felt you had to walk on glass around; someone who made you feel belittled, or small. Someone who made you feel like you weren’t enough, or made you feel like you had to change or hide aspects of yourself to be. Or to anyone who's ever had someone thoughtlessly abuse your trust and their “honesty” to damage you.
You’re seen.
There’s that age old question of whether you should “always be honest”. Being upfront and truthful for your own well being or for someone else’s sake is of course ideal.
But I can tell you from experience that “honesty” doesn’t mean lashing out at someone you care about, spewing vile, hurtful things that don’t benefit them or your relationship just because “that’s how you feel”.
Words can cause tremendous damage when used carelessly.
….but when they’re not, they have a much greater potential.
And that’s what fuels Eventide’s arc. And what inspired it.

So now you know the full story behind what becomes Eventide’s selective mutism and anxiety disorder. This isn’t the end of the past arc, of course.
If there’s any comfort, one factor in this mess will receive justice in the next chapter.

And with that, I love you guys. Just thought I’d let you know.

Destinyverse Archives

Feat.
Eventide Twister Heather Tart Reed

Want to support me? Buy me a coffee! Any support is appreciated!

OR

Consider supporting me on Patreon , where you can view WIPs, exclusive sketches, and early images! Your support really helps me do what I do~! <3

Description
PREVIOUS:
______________________

The day passing around Eventide felt near unbearable.

No one had to say anything for her to know what they were thinking. In fact, no matter the class, Eventide’s peers chose to say nothing to her altogether. However, this was different from every single pony simply minding their own business, or them not being in the loop of what had transpired. No. The passing glances she could see from the corner of her eyes, the soft murmurs and the way no one looked at her or met her gaze when she did try to read her surroundings.

She was being ignored.

Eventide sat through each class stiffly. No matter how much she tried to comfort herself, to tell herself that not every kid was judging her for her outburst or that this was temporary, it was like her mind was warning her that danger could be anywhere; that any one of these kids could be judging her, intent on shutting her out.

And she did try to let her guard down once a little earlier. Just a little, in an effort to just pretend nothing had happened a few class periods earlier. But upon leaving her desk to grab a textbook, she had returned to her seat only to find a single ripped note laying on her chair. Written on it was a single word:

Snitch.

Dread consumed her. She didn’t dare look around her then. She couldn’t handle the thought of seeing anyone look at her with a glare or a sneer. Since then, her body had made sure to stay painfully tense, her stomach churning over every paranoid thought.

The school day felt endless. It was a near miracle that she made it through without a single teacher addressing her or noticing anything. All she had wanted was to get to the end of the day, even if it filled her with apprehension.
Because now, it was time to face the one pony who had taken over her every thought since that morning.

Eventide knew where to find her. The young pegasus waited until the students around her had filed out of the building and the sound of a bell signified the beginning of after school clubs for the older grades. She then quietly traversed to one lone hallway at one of the furthest corners of the school. It was the hall for the kindergartners, understandably on the complete opposite side of the facility from where the club classrooms were. The door Eve knew from deep within her memory was one of the last doors in the hall, presently open compared to every closed door around it. She chose to bypass the door, as far away as possible to avoid detection. She forced herself to block out the noises of chairs and tables moving inside the classroom, as well as the two voices engaged in friendly conversation within.

Wooden cubbies lined the opposite wall and ended just before the hallway’s emergency exit. Moving towards the corner that was adjacent to her old kindergarten classroom, sitting there in wait, Eventide couldn’t help but stare at the empty cubbies. In an attempt to distract herself, she read the little alphabetical stickers on them.

Cubbies M and N.

Those had been her and Heather’s cubbies. Side by side, it was where the young fillies would cheerfully greet each other every single morning. They would happily chat and share giggles as they trotted into their classroom together.

The thought of her childhood friend sent a rush of anxiety through her, reinforcing why she was there in the first place. Answers. She needed to understand what had happened, and what was going through Heather’s head.
How could she-...why would she pretend to not know her?
A part of Eventide’s mind prodded at her, as if it knew the answer. But she refused to acknowledge it.

She needed to hear it from Heather herself.

Eventide waited in her corner, on edge from sheer anticipation. She wasn’t sure how much time had passed before she heard louder hoofsteps approach the door of the classroom from within. She felt her muscles clench, only to relax ever so slightly as her old teacher, Ms. Cheerilee, stepped out. Eventide had prepared something to say in the off chance she was spotted and questioned by the older mare. Luckily for her, the kind earth pony was preoccupied, turning immediately into the hallway with her saddlebag in tow. Taking one more right into the next hallway, she was soon out of sight.

And now, the seconds ticked on. Any moment and-

The lights flicked off, and Heather Tart finally stepped out of the classroom, turning around to close the door behind her. She appeared just as tired as Eventide had remembered seeing her the other day, but also bored. As the other filly turned into the hallway, ready to leave, Eventide jumped to her hooves.

For once, she didn’t hesitate.

“Heather!”

The filly stopped in her tracks, her head perking up. Yet she didn’t turn around right away, a detail that only unnerved Eventide. She was ready to repeat her friend’s name, only stopping when she barely caught the filly muttering to herself.

Reluctantly, Heather turned just enough to look at the pegasus, giving Eventide a cautious look. Even her voice was stoic as she spoke;

“You know….I had a feeling you’d try to talk to me. But I sure was hoping you wouldn’t.”

Eventide’s confusion and fear returned to her with full force in that instant.

“What’s going on?” Somehow, she managed a step forward, gazing into her friend’s eyes desperately. “W-why...didyoulietoyourfriendsaboutknowingme?”

Silence. For a moment the two fillies simply stared at each other. That calculating look was back in Heather’s magenta eye.

Suddenly, she smiled. It was one of those plastered, pleasant smiles, the kind Eve would always see her wearing non-stop around most ponies.
It did nothing to ease her concern. Heather’s chipper tone, just an octave higher from her normal voice, only fed her unease.

“Sooo I’ve been thinking for a while now. You and me? We’ve obviously just grown to be way too different!”
It was like Heather was trying to smile apologetically, yet for Eventide it only looked strained. “I just think it’s time we split from each other. Lead our own lives! You understand, right Eve?”

Eventide had never felt so deeply unsettled.

“Of course I don’t!” she exclaimed in her distress. Heather’s eye twitched, yet Eventide pushed on, her ears flattening against her head. “If I m-made you mad, I’m sorry...b-butwe’resuppose’totalkaboutthesethings, right? I wanna make this right-”

“UGH, STOP!”

Eventide pulled her head back, shocked by Heather’s shout. The filly was scowling, hackles raised. But just as quickly Heather forced herself to close her eyes, deeply breathing in and exhaling through her mouth. Opening her eyes she gave Eventide a harsh stare, all friendliness gone, and...revealing something far more bitter.

“Do you think I was lying when I told them I wasn’t comfortable near you? Because I wasn’t.” she spat. Only now did she fully turn towards Eve. She lifted her head high, staring Eventide down. “You try way too hard, and you draw in all the wrong attention. But I have an image to establish. You get it, don't you? I can’t get to the top if I’m being held down.”

Heather grew silent again, eyeing Eventide in a way that sharpened the stinging pang in her. Eventide fought to find her words, only managing a weak stammer.

“B-but...we’re best friends.”

It was clear the filly didn’t like that answer. Heather’s eyes grew icy, narrowing.

“Do I seriously have to spell it out for you?”
Heather took a single, intimidating step forward, never breaking her cold, irritated stare.
“You’ll never be on my level. You’re below me. If you really need me to say it, I’m looking down on you.”

Eventide froze. Heather on the other hoof simply looked her up and down from where she stood.
“What more do I have to say for you to get that I’m done with you.”

Eventide breathed in shakily.
...deep down, she knew.
A part of her deep inside - one she had always convinced herself was only insecurity and paranoia - had suspicions that Heather didn’t see her as an equal. But she never wanted to believe it. Every moment they spent talking and laughing together, she wanted to believe the respect she felt for her friend was a feeling that was reciprocated.
She didn’t realize how deep of a fear this was until now, confirmed right before her. It felt like her stomach was giving out, and her chest clenched painfully like there was a vice forcing the breath out of her. She struggled to find her voice with her throat tightening. Yet she managed.

“How can you say that?!” Eventide croaked, her voice cracking as tears pricked her eyes. Heather appeared to flinch at the sound, momentarily taken aback.
And then something snapped.
Her expression contorted, twisting into an ugly snarl.

“BECAUSE YOU’RE ANNOYING! BECAUSE YOU’RE EMBARRASSING TO BE AROUND AND EVERYONE KNOWS IT!”

Even as Eventide recoiled, stumbling back a few steps, Heather jutted a hoof towards her, scowling fiercely. “You play this shy little girl and then you force everyone to keep up with you every time you open your mouth and no one wants that! It’s such a pain! But everyone’s just too nice to hurt your feelings.
I tried being patient all these years, but you never, ever change! You’re still such a kid! Now you’ve gone and opened your mouth over something stupid and guess what? Now you’re just a…a pest to everyone! And I can’t be associated with some pest.”
Heather heaved a breath, her steam slowly running out. She was back to lifting her head defiantly. “Unlike you, my image matters. If you’d just listened to me and kept your annoying mouth shut, we wouldn’t even be in this situation.”

Heather rolled her eyes, her voice rising and falling into something mocking as she tossed her head about. “But you’re miss sensitive! Here I am, exhausting myself and obviously stressed, and you only think about yourself and don’t even consider how I’d be affected if things went wrong. So thanks."

Never before had Eventide felt sick to her stomach, every muscle in her body strained. Whatever look of misery Eventide wore only drew out more of Heather’s distaste and discomfort. The filly scoffed, looking away.
“Don’t give me that look. You asked for my honesty. And there it is. It’s not my fault if you can’t handle it.”

Shaking her head, Heather turned away, though not before giving Eventide an unsympathetic look from the corner of her eye. “Just so you know, if you try to whine about me and try to ruin my name, it will come back to bite you. If you’ve learned anything, don’t talk to me.”

Eventide quivered in place. She feebly watched as Heather began to walk away. That is, before the other filly paused.
“...in fact...maybe just don’t talk at all.” Heather quietly snorted to herself. “Save yourself and everyone the embarrassment.”

With that, she was gone. With little effort, Heather strode away and turned into the next hallway out of sight.

At first Eventide was left dazed, staring blankly after her image. She blinked at the tears that blurred her vision and slipped down her cheeks. In the hallway’s silence, she only then realized her unsteady breathing.

‘Why…
Why...?”

Blinking rapidly back into reality, her eyes darted around. Desperate. Lost. It was then that the very last bell of the day rung alarmingly loud, signaling the end of the after school clubs. A jolt of panic ripped through Eventide’s body, her quick breaths audible as her head whipped around. She spotted the small cranny from before, the space between the end of the cubbies and the corner of the hall. As quickly as she could, she scrambled into the corner. As her back pressed against the outer wall of the smooth wooden shelves, she could feel her heart pounding against her rib cage, her head spinning at a rate that made her feel light-headed.

Immediately she heard sounds far down the hall. It was the sounds of doors opening, and distant chatter as kids roamed out of the classrooms to return home.

Sitting in her cramped corner, Eventide realized how weak her legs felt, any energy she had left slipping away. She leaned in close to the wall, her only comfort being its cold, cooling surface against her body.
And all at once, she realized just how alone she was.

As a sob rose to her throat, Eventide quickly lifted her hooves to her mouth, smothering the sound as it escaped. And it was then that the relentless ache in her chest became far too much for her.
Eve shut her eyes tight, soft cries releasing from her muzzle. She fought to muffle them all the same, pressing her hooves firmly against her mouth as she buckled over on herself.

She prayed for nothing more than to vanish right then and there.

_________________________________________________________________
To anyone who’s ever had a friend that you felt you had to walk on glass around; someone who made you feel belittled, or small. Someone who made you feel like you weren’t enough, or made you feel like you had to change or hide aspects of yourself to be. Or to anyone who's ever had someone thoughtlessly abuse your trust and their “honesty” to damage you.
You’re seen.
There’s that age old question of whether you should “always be honest”. Being upfront and truthful for your own well being or for someone else’s sake is of course ideal.
But I can tell you from experience that “honesty” doesn’t mean lashing out at someone you care about, spewing vile, hurtful things that don’t benefit them or your relationship just because “that’s how you feel”.
Words can cause tremendous damage when used carelessly.
….but when they’re not, they have a much greater potential.
And that’s what fuels Eventide’s arc. And what inspired it.

So now you know the full story behind what becomes Eventide’s selective mutism and anxiety disorder. This isn’t the end of the past arc, of course.
If there’s any comfort, one factor in this mess will receive justice in the next chapter.

And with that, I love you guys. Just thought I’d let you know.

Destinyverse Archives

Feat.
Eventide Twister Heather Tart Reed

Want to support me? Buy me a coffee! Any support is appreciated!

OR

Consider supporting me on Patreon , where you can view WIPs, exclusive sketches, and early images! Your support really helps me do what I do~! <3