New Glasses

Miss Hackney was teaching her class as usual. Nothing seemed amiss, but Bright Eyes seems to have a little more trouble with taking notes than normal. While the entire class could see the board well, Bright Eyes' vision seems to be a little weaker than what she is accustomed to. If her leaning toward the board wasn't noticeable enough, her notes, or what she could gather from the board, were a little sloppy. Since she was seated close to the front of the room, Miss Hackney managed to take note of Bright Eyes' unusual activity.

After the clock went off at 3:00, everyone was on his or her way out. Bright Eyes was following close behind, but was stopped by Miss Hackney.

"I noticed you were having a little trouble with your notes," Miss Hackney said with a bit of concern.

"How could you tell," she said knowing the answer.

"You were squinting at the board, leaning toward it, and your notes were rushed and barely legible.

"I figured that much."

Miss Hackney wrote a sentence on the board and had Bright Eyes sit at the front row. "Mary had a little lamb," Bright Eyes read with ease.

"That's right," Miss Hackney replied, "Now I want you to go to the row behind you and read the next sentence that I'm going to write."

"Yes Miss Hackney." Bright Eyes walked to the next row while Miss Hackney wrote "How many eggs did the chicken lay?" Bright Eyes read it again accurately, but had a little more difficulty. Bright Eyes moved one more row back and tried to read the next sentence. This time Bright Eyes was really struggling to read this sentence without error. "Jail nor up the hall?" Needless to say, she failed.

"Close, but not quite. I can come up here now."

Bright Eyes walked up to Miss Hackney and saw that the sentence that she was struggling to read said, "Jill ran up the hill." Bright Eyes blushed. "I guess I need glasses."

"I think you should see an optometrist to see if there is anything that needs to be done."

"That's what I was afraid of. He's probably going to say that I need glasses."

"What's wrong with that?"

"Some of the ponies will laugh at me."

"If they do, then they'll have to answer to me. Besides, I don't think you'll have to go through this alone." That was in fact true; her friends would be around to help her through it, even when Ace and Teddy act up. And then there's Lancer, the one boy who serves as the peacemaker between the two groups. Surely he'd understand what's going on, right?

"A what," Clover asked. Bright Eyes finished explaining her conversation with Miss Hackney to her friends at the Ice Cream Shoppe.

"An optometrist," Bright Eyes repeated, "It's basically a doctor that specializes in helping ponies with their eyes. In other words, I need glasses."

"So you have to wear what Miss Hackney's wearing all the time," Melody asked.

"Well, not the exact frame, but yes. Besides, I heard there were plenty of options."

"But won't it feel weird," Bon Bon asked.

"Yes, and I am a little nervous about that. I'm just more worried about how the boys would react."

As if on cue, Lancer, of all ponies, starts walking to them.

"Speaking of," Starlight said to Bright Eyes.

"Okay, Teddy and Ace in particular, but I'm still not sure Lancer will react."

"React to what," Lancer asked once he's within hearing range.

Bright Eyes practically jumped out of her skin. "L- Lancer," she said as she turned, "I- Um… I was talking with my friends about… Something that might change my look."

"But you already look good the way you are now. Why change it?"

It was Clover's turn, "Yes, but she could- Um… Look even better and even… uh… what's the word I'm looking for… Smarter?"

Bright Eyes snapped, "Hey!"

"Oh...sorry."

"Why would you want to look smarter? You already look smart the way you are," Lancer pointed out.

Bright Eyes felt her cheeks grow hot red. "Well… It's personal."

"O-oh, okay, I won't bug you about it. But...I still think your beautiful-err...looking nice..."

"Uh...thanks..."

Lancer smiled sheepishly, and left with Ace and Teddy.

Bright Eyes glared again at Clover. Clover looked back at Bright Eyes. "What?"

The following day, Bright Eyes just finished her eye exam. And now she was riding with Circuit, her dad, back home. "Do I have to go home," Bright Eyes moaned.

"Sorry Bright Eyes, but you can't do anything half blind."

Bright Eyes slumped in her seat. She was only nearsighted until her eyes were dilated. Now her eyes are sensitive to any light in the area, which explains why she's wearing paper shades.

"I know it's hard, but you're just going to have to be patient. It'll pay off."

"And what if I chose the wrong frame and the others laugh at me for it?"

"Then they might need to take a good look at themselves, believe me, I've gone through the same thing when I got braces."

"Braces? You never told me that."

"That's because I wanted to wait until we have this moment before I tell you."

"Ah. So did any of your friends laugh?"

"Well, some ponies did, but my friends… They didn't even snicker."

This made Bright Eyes Think, maybe, just maybe, it wouldn't be so bad. But what Lancer had said earlier did leave her concerned, what if he didn't find her pretty anymore? And she knew she couldn't tell her dad, who knows how he'd react to her little crush.

Bright Eyes took off the paper shades, but immediately put them back on. Her eyes were almost back to normal, but not quite. She laid down in her bed. Almost immediately, the phone rang. "I got it," Circuit said as he walked over and picked up the phone. "Hello? Oh hi Bon Bon! Oh, I'm sorry but Bright Eyes isn't doing so well, so she can't make it to the Ice Cream shop today. No, she's not sick, but I can't let her out of here until her glasses are ready. Yes, you may talk with her." Circuit brought over the wireless phone and gave it to Bright Eyes. "Bon Bon wants to speak with you."

"Thanks Dad." Bright Eyes took the phone. "Hello."

"Hey Bright Eyes," Bon Bon said through the phone. "What did the doctor say?"

"Well, I'm nearsighted in one eye, but farsighted in the other."

"Oh, that stinks. When will you get to come out among the living?"

"As soon as my glasses are finished."

"And when will that be?"

"The day after tomorrow."

"Whew! I'm not sure we'll make it that long."

"You'll manage."

"Well, maybe, but Lancer won't."

"Ha ha."

"I'm serious, he's really worried."

"Oh. Well, I guess I should call him once I hang up with you."

"Good idea. I have to go, but I'll try to stop by tomorrow."

"Thanks, that means a lot."

"Anything for a friend. See ya later."

"Bye." Bright Eyes hung up the phone and dialed another number. She returned the phone to its position on her ear. After about a few seconds…

"Hello," a familiar voice said.

"Hey Lancer. I heard you were a little worried."

"Well, you didn't show up for class."

"Yeah. I had a doctor's appointment."

"Are you okay?"

"Yeah, I just needed to have something looked at."

"Oh. Is that what you were talking about yesterday?"

"Yes…"

"Hm… Change your look… A visit with the doctor… You need glasses, don't you?"

"How do you know I don't need braces? Or a cast?"

"Clover said that this one thing would 'make you look smarter'."

"And what do you mean by that?"

"Her words; not mine. But I… Geez, I'm walking into dangerous territory here."

"You bet you are."

"But at least you'll stop squinting at the board."

"Am I really that obvious?"

"Pretty much."

"Gee, that's nice to hear."

"Maybe we should change the subject before we dig a deeper hole."

"Yeah…"

"Have you found a pair you like?"

"I did actually, but I don't know what you or the others will think."

"Come on, how bad could they be?"

"You'd be surprised."

"Okay… When will we see you again?"

"Unless you come over here, you'd have to wait until after tomorrow. That's when I get my glasses."

"Well, I guess I'll have to come over."

"Oh. Um… Okay..." Bright Eyes blushed furiously.

"Okay then. I guess I'll see you later."

"Okay, see you then."

Bright Eyes hung up the phone and started to return it to its holster before it rings again. She rolled her eyes. 'This is going to be a long day.'

"Okay, I'll see you tomorrow, bye Melody." Bright Eyes hung up the phone for the umpteenth time today and collapsed on the bed. "Please tell me that's everyone?"

There was a knock at the door.

Bright Eyes groaned, "Come in."

The door opened. "Oh hey there Lancer," Circuit said.

"Uh...hi, hope you don't mind I came over..."

"It's perfectly fine."

"Hey, Lancer, how's it going?" Bright Eyes asked.

"Good actually. And yourself?"

"Tired. Just got done with answering some calls, or at least I think I'm done."

"You think? How many calls did you get?"

"About eight."

"Wow...sorry I called."

"It's fine, and I really appreciate your coming over, it means a lot."

"Oh...yeah..."

Circuit finally spoke up. "Why don't you take a seat. Make yourself comfortable."

"Um...thank you sir."

"Don't mention it. So, I assume you've heard."

"About her glasses? Yes sir."

"Who told you?"

"I actually figured it out on my own, but Bright Eyes did confirm that."

"Oh, how'd you figure it out?"

"Well, she was squinting at the board, she and her friends mentioned something about changing her look, and there was her doctor's appointment. Add those clues together, and that's what comes to my mind."

"I see...you're a smart kid."

"Now you sound like my mom. And in an odd sense, my butler."

"Uh...okay..."

"Sorry if that creeped you out."

"Uh...it's fine..."

"Okay…"

"Well...I need to run some errands, so I guess I'll see you later."

"Um… Uh… Okay…"

Circuit grinned and left the little ponies alone.

"Did he plan for this to happen?"

"I...hope not."

"Yeah… But that grin didn't reassure me… So, should we do something?"

"Um...I guess…"

Lancer walked over and took the remote off the television. He brought it back and flipped the TV on. "Can you see anything?"

"I can, but just barely."

"Oh...Hmm…"

"It's okay, I can just listen to it."

"Are you sure?"

"Positive."

"Alright…"

They both sat there and watched the television in awkward silence. Bright Eyes felt her face grow hot again, she had never been this close to Lancer before, and she was alone with him.

Lancer was beginning to feel that same way. And the way Bright Eyes' dad made him feel…

What seemed like hours went by before Lancer's foreleg slowly went up and wrapped around the back of Bright Eyes's neck. Bright Eye didn't react, and Lancer was unaware of what he was doing. Also unaware, Bright Eyes scooted towards Lancer.

Bright Eyes began to wonder, if maybe she should confess how she felt about Lancer. But what if he said no? What if he never talked to her again? What if-

"Bright Eyes? I'm home!" Circuit announced.

"Still in the same place, Dad." Bright Eyes called out.

"Okay." Circuit rounded the corner when he suddenly saw the two in the position they were in. His eyes were almost as wide as chihuahua heads and his jaw almost hit the ground. "Wha- What in the world…"

"What is it?" They both turned to look at him, only to find out what he was talking about. Bright Eyes immediately scooted away from Lancer while Lancer removed his foreleg. "What just happened?"

"I don't know, you tell me," Lancer replied. Both of them stood there in shock.

About two days later, Bright Eyes was finally putting her glasses on for the first time.

"How does it feel?" the optometrist asked.

"It feels...good, I can see everything."

"That's good."

She looked at the mirror. She could see those orange, rounded, square frames resting over her eyes. "Wow, these do make me look smarter."

"What gave you that idea," Circuit asked.

"Clover after a slip of the tongue."

Circuit "Hmm"-ed. "Well, are you ready to go?"

"Oh yeah."

Circuit and Bright Eyes walked out of the office. "So are you feeling better?"

"Much now that I can return to school."

Circuit chuckled, "You don't like hanging out with me?"

"I do, I'm just starving for information. If I go one more school day without hearing Miss Hackney..."

Circuit chuckled, "So I guess I can't convince you to stay at home for a little bit longer?"

"No way."

Circuit sighed, "Can't blame me for trying."

"I know, but I'll come back eventually."

"Are you sure you don't want to be homeschooled?"

"No."

"Well!" Circuit faked a huff.

"It's nothing personal Dad, I…"

"I'm joking, sweetie, I'm not sure I'd be a good teacher, anyway."

"Plus you've got your job with the paper."

"Again, true."

"Are you sure you don't want someone else around?"

"I suppose I get a little lonely, but I always love coming home and seeing your beautiful face."

"Aw… And now you have glasses to add to that face."

"Well, I just get to see your beautiful eyes magnified."

"Yeah."

"Hey Bright Eyes!"

Bright Eyes looked over to see her friends waiting for her. "Hi guys."

The all walked up to her. The first thing they notice was her glasses. "Wow, they look amazing, Bright Eyes," Bon Bon exclaimed.

"Y-you really think so?"

"Yeah! You look great!" Patch concurred.

"I really truly thinks so, too." Sweetheart agreed.

"Thank you," Bright Eyes blushed.

"So are they comfy?" Melody asked.

"Yeah, and I can see everything much better."

"That's good," Clover smiled.

"I know. How do you think the boys will take it?"

"Well...why don't we find out," Starlight suggested.

"Um...I guess we can...Is that okay, Dad?"

"Sure, but remember what we talked about."

"I will, dad."