Runner-up - "True, True Friend" - By Comet Burst
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The Diamond Refinery: Contest Theme No.1 "Growing Up"
Runner-up - "True, True Friend" - By Comet Burst
Imperfect Diamond
I'm not sure what you want me to say, so I will start at the beginning. My name is Silver Spoon. I'm a filly in Ms. Cheerilee's class, I wear glasses and I have only one best friend. Some ponies, well, actually a lot of ponies, don't like my friend. She's not the easiest pony to get along with. Granted, if I didn't meet her the way I did, I probably would not be her friend either.
However, that's not the case. She's my best friend and I am hers. I wouldn't trade a single day of being there with her for anything. We have done everything together, from being in the same class to getting out cutie marks at the same time. Diamond is so special to me and other ponies have noticed. Some who didn't know us have asked if we are sisters. I wish we were, I really do. She's been there for me, ever since we first met.
I was new to this town a while back. My family had just moved here to Ponyville from Canterlot to follow my daddy's business. I remember being sad that I had left all my friends and everypony I had ever known. My whole life was turned upside down and, even though my mommy and daddy had told me everything would get better, I didn't see or feel it improving. This new town I now called home was full of strange ponies. Some were obsessed with flowers, some with jelly and one with parties. I felt like such an outsider when I went into town with my mommy.
School wasn't any easier. I was always confident about myself back in Canterlot, but here, I could feel the looks I got from ponies all around me. I could hear them whispering about me behind my back. Still, I ignored it and tried to make friends like my daddy said I should. It was a long and difficult process, but some ponies were nice to me, allowing me to sit with them during lunch or inviting me into their group projects. I was always so happy when they did, because I didn't feel like an outsider anymore. I felt like I had finally begun to fit in.
But all of that soon changed when a pony started making fun of me. He was unusually mean to me, even though I hadn't ever spoken to him. He laughed at me when I got a question wrong, pushed me whenever he got the chance and even messed up my Arts and Crafts projects. I did what I thought was right by ignoring him, hoping he would stop eventually. As I did, I noticed the ponies who I thought were friends started to shy away from me. They didn't want to sit with me at lunch, since that mean colt would pick on them too, and I was slowly pushed out of their project groups.
The colt never stopped teasing and picking on me though, even after I had lost all my other friends. He always said I looked old with my silver mane and glasses or spread a rumor that I was color-blind since my coat is colored grey. I asked him to stop, but he wouldn't. He only seemed to get happier every time I nearly cried at his insults. I told teachers about him, but they never saw what he was doing, so they didn't stop him. I felt all alone again in school, wishing I was back in Canterlot where my real friends were.
Then, one day, I met a pony. She was in the same class as me and the same age. She was also new to the school as well, since her family had moved from Manehatten to here for her daddy's health. She had a pink coat, blue eyes and a purple and white striped mane and tail. She spoke in a confident way, even though she was new. I was immediately impressed by her and when she sat next to me, I asked her what her name was. She said it's Diamond Tiara.
I spent a couple of days with her in class after that, helping her catch up on what we had already learned. She was quite intelligent and easily understood things like subtracting large numbers. The more I was around her, the more I felt like I had found another friend. I eagerly told my parents about her, about how nice she was and how she had helped me understand something I was having trouble with, subtraction of large numbers. I was so happy that I had found a new friend.
But then the colt who was tormenting me decided to do the same to her. He picked on me as well as Diamond, often pushing us around or taking our stuff without asking. I tried to ignore it, but Diamond didn't. She yelled at the colt and argued with him, often getting the class's attention. The colt got more angry with her, but took it out on me. He would be mean to me when Diamond wasn't around, often shooting spitballs at me in class or taking my stuff. Diamond absolutely hated that I never stood up for myself, so she tried to teach me how to. I tried many of her techniques and found the colt started to leave me alone. We were so happy, we had a sleepover to celebrate.
Our joy didn't last long after that. Two days after out sleepover, the worst day in my life happened.
I was walking back to the classroom after lunch, humming happily to myself. The sun was out, the birds were chirping and everypony was happy. That is, all except one. I was about thirty feet from the schoolhouse when I got pushed from behind. I didn't expect it and tripped. I fell onto my chin and heard laughing behind me. I spun around and scowled at the pony, who turned out to be the colt who picked on me and Diamond.
"Hey! What was that for?!" I shouted to him.
He kept on laughing and said, "Because you look so funny when you trip!"
I stood up and glared at him before speaking.
"Just wait until I tell the teacher," I said confidently.
He stopped laughing and scowled at me.
"You won't, you big sissy," he replied.
"Watch me," I said before turning around and trotting off to the class.
I didn't get very far before the colt ran in front of me. He glared at me even more angrily and said, "I told you 'you won't', got it?"
I scrunched up my face back at him and said, "I will, and you'll be in big trouble."
"No, you won't."
"Yes, I will."
"No, you won't!"
"Yes, I will!"
"NO, YOU WON'T!"
Before I could say anything else, the colt shoved me. I wasn't expecting it and I fell over backwards. I hit the ground and rubbed my head as he started laughing again.
"See, I told you that you won't say anything," he said between laughs.
Angry, I got up and tried to run past him, but he managed to push me back again. I tried two more times and got pushed away twice. He was laughing even harder now, acting like this was a game for him. I yelled at him and tried to run around his reach, but I didn't get very far. He had missed pushing me back with his hooves, but I felt his teeth clamp down on my tail. He pulled me back and I rolled on the ground, scratching myself up and losing my glasses.
I tried to stand up, but the colt pushed me back a couple more times. I could feel tears forming around my eyes as I reached around for my glasses, but they weren't near me. The colt kept laughing and, when I finally decided to not get up, he talked to me.
"Aw, little baby looking for these?" he asked in a mock baby voice.
I looked up and, even though I couldn't see too well, I saw my blue rimmed glasses in his hoof.
"Hey, those are mine!" I tried to shout at him, but my voice was all squeaky.
"Well, come and get them!" he challenged.
I started to stand up when I saw them drop out of his hoof and onto the ground. As I started to move to him, I saw him do the most cruel thing he could. His hoof came down right on top of my glasses and I heard them break. I screamed at him to stop as he stomped on then repeatedly until I started crying. I was so upset at him, I couldn't stop myself. He was laughing at me, I couldn't see and my only set of glasses were now broken.
"Hey, leave her alone!" came another voice.
The colt stopped laughing and turned to see who it was. My vision was terrible at this point since I couldn't see without my glasses, but I was able to see a blob of pink stand in front of me. I sniffled as I heard Diamond's voice speak up.
"What's your problem?!" she yelled at him, "Why are you picking on her?!"
"It's none of your business, blank-flank!" he retorted.
"She never did anything to you!" Diamond shouted back.
"Shut up," he growled back to her.
"No!" Diamond kept on shouting.
"Shut up!" he said again with a little more force.
"NO!" Diamond shouted at the top of her lungs.
"I SAID, SHUT UP!"
I couldn't tell what happened, but I felt Diamond fall over on top of me. Before any of us could do anything, another shout stopped us.
"What the hay are you doing?!" came another voice. With my eyesight as terrible as it was, I didn't see who had said that, but the colt tried to run off. A large blur of color went by after the colt, leaving me and Diamond alone.
Diamond got off of me and stood up, even as I stayed on the ground, sniffling. She offered a hoof and I refused to take it, preferring to cry on the ground. Diamond stayed quiet and left me for a second before returning with something in her hoof. She gently placed it in front of me and sat down, looking at me. I took a quick glance at what she brought and gasped. It was my broken glasses.
As I sniffed, I looked up at her smiling face. "W-W-Why are you-u still h-here?" I asked.
Why wouldn't I be?" she responded.
"C-cause all the other p-p-ponies, they l-left me when h-he picked on m-me," I choked out.
I wasn't sure what happened next, but the next thing I knew was Diamond was hugging me as tightly as she could.
"I'm your friend, Silver," she said to me, "I would never leave you."
I don't know why, but I started crying even more at that. I hugged her back and kept on crying, even after the teacher came back with the colt. I remember sitting with Diamond outside the classroom after that, waiting for our parents to come by and pick us up. She held my hoof as I explained what had happened, even through the colt's protests. I also listened as I heard what Diamond had done, how she noticed I wasn't in the classroom, saw me outside crying and ran out to confront the colt.
That night, Diamond came to my house with her daddy to see me. While out parents talked, Diamond came into my room to give me a gift, a new set of glasses. They were the same color, but their shape was slightly different. Instead of being big and round, they were pointed and much more cute. I thanked her a lot for them and asked where she got them.
"They were my mom's," she responded, "She doesn't wear them anymore and I thought they would look cute on you, so I brought them over. I hope they're the right lenses."
I hesitantly put them on, but I was shocked to find they were perfect. I blinked a couple of times as Diamond held up a mirror for me, allowing me to see what I looked like. I couldn't believe how nice they were, so I hugged Diamond and started crying again. She was the first true friend I had ever had in Ponyville.
I have been her best friend ever since then. We have been through everything together and I always was happy to be with her. She has changed a bit since that day, but she has never stopped being a friend to me. To other ponies, Diamond has gotten mean and nasty over the years, but they don't understand why she is. Ever since that day, she has been protective of me.
Some ponies don't understand and some never will. Diamond has changed, but for the better. Yes, she picks on Applebloom, Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo, as well as other ponies, but she doesn't do it out of spite or anger. Diamond wants nothing more than to ward off other bullies and acts like one to scare them off. She wants me to feel safe, as well as her other classmates, from the bullies that torment other schools.
Silver looked up from her paper to the crowd of ponies around her. Several of them looked away from her, as if embarrassed. One pony, though, looked at her with a hoof over her mouth and tears down her cheeks. The pink pony sniffled slightly as her purple and white streaked mane bounced lightly. Seeing that, Silver smiled to her and finished reading her paper.
"That is why Diamond Tiara is my best friend in the whole world. She is like a sister to me and I will forever cherish my friendship with her."
Silver had barely finished speaking when she felt herself get tackled. She fell to the ground as a mass of purple and white hair pushed itself into her face, sobbing like a hurt filly.
"You're my best friend too, Silver!" Diamond shouted to her between sobs.
Winning Entry: Entry #01 - "Accidentally On Purpose" - By ImJustAnotherBrony
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The Diamond Refinery: Contest Theme No.1 "Growing Up"
Winning Entry: Entry #01 - "Accidentally On Purpose" - By ImJustAnotherBrony
Accidentally On Purpose
A beautiful young pink filly stood in front of her large, oak-framed mirror. With her nose tilted up, she stroked her two-toned mane to wavy perfection. It gleamed in the morning sunlight that flooded her bedroom. She twirled around, her tail wrapping around her small body as she span. Satisfied with her own well-groomed, lustrous coat, she gripped the sparkling tiara that rested on her dresser.
She placed the valuable piece of jewelry atop her head and narrowed her eyes with a confident grin. "Perfect."
Tap Tap
The young mare jumped and glanced at her bedroom door with a scowl. She marched up to the door and yanked it open, huffing as she made way for her friend to pass. "Silver Spoon, what are you doing here so early?"
The young silvery-gray filly winced at her friend's harsh undertone, then forced a smile. "What? It's not that early, and I just wanted to let you know that my dad said we can travel in the same train car with you guys tomorrow."
"Hm," Diamond Tiara scoffed as she trotted back to her mirror and continued brushing. "Have you ever even been to Manehattan? I've been there three times already, and it's not a city for... lesser ponies."
Silver Spoon stood behind her haughty friend and smiled widely. "I haven't been there yet, but I'm really looking forward to it. I'm glad I have a friend like you to look out for me while we're there too, because it would be really lame if it was just me and my dad."
A grin slithered across Diamond's face as she sat her brush down. "You are lucky to have a friend like me, aren't you?"
The little gray filly rapidly nodded and followed her friend to her bed. Diamond Tiara climbed onto her luxurious, pillow-top mattress and sank into her plush, down feather comforter. Silver Spoon joined her, reveling in comfort of the only bed in Ponyville to outmatch hers.
"You're so lucky. My dad says down feathers are cruel..." Silver said as she relaxed in the overwhelming softness.
Diamond rolled her eyes beneath closed lids and sighed. "Do we have anything to do today?"
Silver shrugged and rolled onto her side. "No, no we don't. Ponyville summers can be so boring. I can't wait to spend this one with you in Manehattan."
"Hm, I can't wait to leave either." Diamond Tiara leaned up and hopped off her bed, trotting back to her mirror and adjusting the jewel-lined crown atop her head. "Let's go to the park."
Silver Spoon quickly nodded and rolled off the bed to her hooves. She stood behind her friend, meeting her eyes through the mirror and smiled. "You look great, Diamond."
The richer of two fillies smiled and closed her eyes. "I know. Now let's get going."
The two headed through the bedroom door, trotting down a regally carpeted stairway to the large double-door entrance to the manor. Diamond pressed through the front door, immediately greeted by the fresh, late-morning air. She closed her eyes, smiling as the sun peeked over the treetops to warm her cheeks.
The pretentious filly pointed her nose down the street and led the way. "Come on. I'm in the mood to be pushed on the swing."
Silver Spoon obediently nodded with a smile as she hurried to her friend's side. Diamond Tiara grinned as she thought about her impending trip, which she imagined would be a summer of luxury and high class.
"This is going to be, like, the best summer ever. I'm so excited." Diamond beamed and looked over at her swooning friend.
"The best part is that I'll get to spend it with my best friend. We're going to have so much fun. I can't wait!" Silver Spoon squeaked out in delight.
Diamond Tiara stifled a chuckle and nodded in agreement. The two continued down the short road to the park, where they immediately encountered an obstacle. Apple Bloom and Scootaloo sat on the only two swings, while Sweetie Belle merrily hopped in circles around them.
"What do you three losers think you're doing?" Diamond scowled as she marched straight up to them.
Scootaloo rolled her eyes while Apple Bloom nervously smiled, hoping to avoid a confrontation, as they both slowly came to a halt on their chain-suspended seats. "We're just playin'... What are you doin'?"
"I came here because I want to play on the swing, so move it." Diamond Tiara ordered.
Sweetie Belle trotted in between the haughty filly and her friend. "We were here first, and it's my turn to swing next, so get in line."
"Get in line?" Diamond Tiara scoffed and looked back at Silver Spoon. "How about you three blank flanks scram, before we make you scram!"
Diamond nudged Sweetie Belle out of her way, and Apple Bloom stood up on the swing, holding onto the chains with her front hooves. The angry little mare stared up into Apple Bloom's eyes and snarled.
"Get down!" Diamond Tiara shouted.
Apple Bloom raised an eyebrow and rocked herself back and forth on the swing. "Shoo. You can't boss us around."
Diamond grabbed onto the chains and pulled herself up, while Apple Bloom leaned down to face her with a smile. The condescending look on the little farm-filly's face set a blaze in Diamond's stomach. "Who do you think you are?! If I tell you to do something, you do it!"
As the snippy little filly shouted, Apple Bloom lost her balance. With a grin, Diamond Tiara casually bumped her flank against the swing's seat, causing her to topple over. The filly wagged her hooves in a failed attempt to regain her bearings. Knocked backwards, her bottom hoof slipped off the seat, knocking Diamond Tiara onto her flank as she fell. Apple Bloom shielded her face in a panic as she tucked in her legs and hit the ground.
"Dang it, you little-"
"Owwweeeheeeheee!" Apple Bloom shrieked out, her front hooves wrapped around her back left leg.
Diamond gulped and looked back at Silver Spoon as Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle rushed to their crying friend's side. Apple Bloom bit down on her tongue and squeezed her teary eyes shut, groaning.
"I think her leg is broken! I'm gonna go get help." Scootaloo cantered past Diamond, gritting her teeth as she hopped onto her scooter and zipped down the street.
With a furrowed brow the young pink filly slowly stepped towards Apple Bloom, who was clutching her leg and sobbing as Sweetie Belle wiped her tears. Silver Spoon stepped behind her friend, her eyes and ears lowered. Diamond Tiara grimaced and covered her mouth. "I... I didn't mean for..."
Sweetie Belle snapped her teeth with a harsh glare. "Swing's free. Happy?"
Diamond stepped backwards, tears welling up in her eyes. Before she could speak, Applejack and Nurse Redheart came galloping down the street, followed by several other ponies toting a medical cart. Sweetie stood up and backed out of the way as they lifted the injured little filly into the cart.
"What in the hay happened?" Applejack asked with a twisted frown.
"It was her fault. She pushed her off the swing!" Sweetie Belle accusingly pointed her hoof at Diamond Tiara, who quickly shook her head and backed away.
"No! It... it was an accident! Ask Silver Spoon!" The flustered filly fought back tears as she glanced around at all the angry, incriminating eyes around her, a deep sinking sensation flooding her lungs.
"Well did ya push her down?" Applejack asked as she stepped towards the filly with fearsome gaze.
"No! I mean... I bumped the swing because I... I..." Nearly hyperventilating, Diamond Tiara turned and ran towards home.
Applejack shook her head and sighed. "Heck, we'll deal with her later. Let's get you taken care of. You must in agony right now." She leaned down and kissed her sister's forehead.
"I'm not feelin' too too bad." Apple Bloom leaned up and looked down at her swollen leg, wiping the tears from her eyes as the nurse carefully ran her hoof across it.
"I'm afraid it's going to get a lot worse in a few minutes if you don't hurry you back to the hospital," Redheart said as she pulled out two pills and a small bottle of water. "Take these."
Applejack gulped with a worried frown as her sister swallowed the pills. "What do ya mean it's gonna get a lot worse? If that's the case then let's get a move on!"
Nurse Readheart smiled and placed a hoof on the troubled mare's shoulder. "Right now her body has released a burst of endorphins which are dulling her pain, but that won't last forever. I need to wait a minute for the pain medication to begin to take effect before we try and move her, otherwise the bumps on the road will be absolutely agonizing." She then turned and patted the startled little filly on the head. "But don't worry; you won't feel a thing sweetheart."
Apple Bloom grinned, slightly dizzy. "I feel... good."
As the injured filly began to giggle, Nurse Redheart nodded to the EMT's, who then began carefully toting her back to the hospital. Applejack couldn't help but smile at her dopy sister, and shook her head as she followed close behind. "These fillies are gonna drive me crazy. I swear..."
***
Later that evening, there was a knock at the door of The Rich Estate.
Tap Tap
Filthy himself stood off of his large, plush recliner, carefully folding his news paper and tapping his pipe before heading to the door. Adjusting his glossy, silken tie, he opened the door and raised an eyebrow. "Zap Apple Season already?"
"Uh... No, not yet." Applejack cleared her throat and took a deep breath. "I'm here to talk to you about somethin' your daughter took part in this mornin' at the playground."
"Oh?" Filthy Rich stepped aside and welcomed the mare in.
Diamond Tiara cringed and chewed at the tips of her hooves, spying from the top of the stairs. She quietly groaned as the two began to talk. Pressing her hooves over her eyes she let herself fall backwards, her tiara tumbling across the floor.
"Diamond Tiara! Get down here this instant!" Filthy Rich shouted.
The little filly winced beneath her father's harsh voice, then stood up to trot downstairs. As she headed down, two sets of angry eyes burned into her heart, chipping away at the little confidence she had left. "Y-yes, father?"
"Tell me what happened at the park this morning, and why I'm hearing about it only now!" Filthy placed a hoof to his chin, one eyebrow raising.
Taking a deep breath, Diamond Tiara bit her lip and looked down. "I didn't mean for her to get hurt... I just wanted to embarrass her."
"What did you do?" Filthy reiterated.
"I wanted to swing, but her and her friends were already there, so I... I just. She should have listened to me and just moved!" Diamond snarled and huffed, her front hooves shaky.
"So let me get this straight: you wanted to play on a swing set, but she was using it, and when she refused to move when you told her to, you pushed her off of it?" Filthy sighed and shook his head. "Haven't I taught you better than that?"
Diamond Tiara's lip quivered as she tried in vain to hold back her tears. "But dad... It was an accident."
"That's not entirely true, now is it? You didn't push her by mistake. Maybe the results weren't what you had anticipated, but you committed an act of violence against your fellow classmate nonetheless. You have crossed the line this time! Now go to your room!" Filthy Rich pointed upstairs with a commanding hoof.
Diamond obediently lowered her head and made her way to her bedroom.
"I'm so sorry about my daughter's behavior Applejack. Of course I'll cover the medical bills, and tell me: is little Apple Bloom feeling well?" The wealthy stallion asked.
"She's doin' good; just a buckle fracture in her left foreleg. Heck, she's probably a little happy about this whole thing. Since the doctor said she's gonna have to wear a cast all summer, she's getting outta doin' her chores. On the down side, she's gonna miss a whole summer of playtime with her friends." Appkejack sighed and shook her head.
"Hmm," Filthy hummed as he placed his hoof on his chin. "Diamond Tiara needs to learn her lesson. I have a proposition for you: I'm leaving for Manehattan tomorrow morning, and I was already planning to make Diamond stay behind as punishment. What do you say to having her stay with you at the farmhouse and picking up all of Apple Bloom's chores? That filly could use a mare like you to teach her a thing or two about a hard day's work. Maybe it'll do her some good."
Applejack tilted her head and thought for a moment. "Well, we are gonna be able to use an extra set of hooves 'round the farm 'til AB gets better... Shoot, why not? Maybe those two'll learn to get along while they're at it."
"Very well. And again, I apologize for my daughter's less-than-gracious behavior. I'll send her over to the farm first thing in the morning." With a mutual nod of respect, Filthy shut the door and went back to his seat. "Diamond, come downstairs sweetie. I have something to tell you."
***
Applejack inched the farmhouse door open and stepped inside. Apple Bloom sat on a large sofa, her casted leg propped up on a pillow as she colored. The orange mare smiled at her little sister and carefully took a seat next to her. "Guess what?"
"What?" Apple Bloom asked absentmindedly as she continued to color.
"We're gonna have a guest staying with us this summer. I expect you to be neighborly and treat her right. Ya hear?" Applejack nervously gulped, fearing her sister's next question.
"Mhm. Who is it?" she muttered, a crayon in her mouth.
The older mare ruefully chucked and took a deep breath. She then forced herself to take on a strong stance and steeled her nerves. "It's Diamond Tiara. She's gonna stay with us over the summer and help out with the chores you won't be able to do."
Apple Bloom's eye twitched as she snapped her crayon in half with her teeth. She spat the wax out in disgust, then reared her head up. "Ya mean the little hayseed responsible for my leg? That Diamond Tiara?!"
"Hush now, Sugarcube. Ya know she didn't mean to hurt you, and I think some time together could do you two some good," Applejack explained.
Apple Bloom groaned and forced her face against the cushions. Applejack crossed her hooves and shook her head. "I don't wanna hear it. This is what's happenin', and I expect you to be a good host. Uh... She's also gonna sleep in your room."
The injured filly sobbed harder into the cushions as she heard all her sister had said. She huffed and turned to face her sister. "Don'tcha think I've been through enough? Diamond hates me and she's just gonna make my life miserable!"
"Hush Apple Bloom! I done told ya I don't wanna hear it."
"But!"
***
"No buts about it missy. You're going to do as I say, and I don't want hear another word." Filthy Rich turned his back to his daughter and unfolded his news paper.
Diamond Tiara stomped her hooves and took several deep breaths in disbelief. "This... This isn't fair!"
"Do you think it's fair that Apple Bloom has to spend her summer in a cast? Go get your bags ready. You're going to the farmhouse first thing in the morning." Paying little attention to the flustered filly, he turned the page.
Diamond bit her lip and growled before turning around and storming upstairs. Filthy sighed and shook his head as she slammed her bedroom door shut. "What am I going to do with you..."
***
The sun inched over the treetops of Sweet Appe Acres on a crisp summer morning, sending its golden rays of warmth across the fields. Applejack stretched her legs and trotted around the house, tending to the barnyard critters. As she dumped a bag of cornmeal into a feeding bin, Filthy Rich and his daughter trotted up the hill towards her front door.
"Mornin'!" Applejack called out as she rushed to greet them. "Y'all set?"
Rich nodded and nudged his daughter, who sighed and rolled her eyes. "Hello Applejack. Thank you for having me. I'm sorry about Apple Bloom," Diamond Tiara said with a flat, dry voice after setting down her large, pink duffle-bag.
"Well shucks, don't sound so happy to be here." Applejack teased as she playfully ruffled her mane.
"Take care, Diamond. I love you." Filthy Rich said as he turned to leave.
Diamond Tiara winced and fought back her quickly rising tears. "Tell Silver Spoon that I'll miss her..."
Her father nodded with a soft smile as he continued down the road.
Applejack put on a bright smile and waved the stallion off. "Have a safe trip, Filthy!"
"I prefer Rich..." he said, brushing off his tie. "And thank you. Take good care of my little girl."
"Will do!" Applejack picked up the filly's bag, then placed a hoof on her shoulder and led her to the door.
As they entered, Diamond Tiara gazed around the simple farmhouse with an expression of absolute horror. She cringed at the rustic wood-paneling, and raised an eyebrow at the old green mare snoozing away and drooling in a rocking-chair. With a groan, she drooped her ears and lowered her eyes.
"Chin up l'il filly. It ain't so bad 'round here once ya get used to it." Applejack trotted upstairs and showed her to her room.
She opened Apple Bloom's bedroom door and welcomed Diamond in. The little redheaded filly snored loudly with her limbs stretched out and her mouth hanging wide open, and Diamond cringed yet again.
"Rise n' shine! Your guest is here!" Applejack shouted with a wide smile.
Apple Bloom's eyes popped open and she sat straight up, wiping a trail of drool from her chin. She matted her messy mane down and shook her head, still very groggy. "Wha..."
"Ew..." Diamond raised an eyebrow and recoiled.
"Well okay then. I'll let y'all get settled in. If ya need me, I'll be downstairs." Applejack wiped her brow and headed out of the tension-filled bedroom.
Diamond pushed her bag over and sat on it. "This already sucks..."
"You're tellin' me." Apple Bloom carefully leaned her broken leg over one side of the bed, then grabbed her crutches. "You can put your things here."
Diamond watched with a painful pit of guilt in her stomach as the filly slowly hobbled over to her dresser. She pulled open an empty drawer and gestured to the rest. "I cleared my stuff out of here for you."
"Thanks..." Diamond muttered as she dragged her luggage across the floor.
"Don't thank me. I only did it 'cause AJ told me to," Apple Bloom noted. "I'm gonna go try 'n take a shower..."
Diamond scratched her head and turned to unpack her bag. She pulled out a silky pink nightgown and refolded it, setting in the lower drawer. Next she lifted a golden brush and a jewel-lined mirror from the bag, setting them both atop the dresser. Lastly, she grabbed her gem-speckled ballroom dress and folded it into the middle drawer. With a deep sigh, she trotted up to the filly's bed and took a seat. It wasn't nearly as soft, big, well-decorated, or comfortable as her own, but she still managed to find some comfort as she forcefully fell onto her back, laying across the foot of the bed.
This isn't fair... she thought as she rested a foreleg across her eyes. Silver gets to have the best summer ever... without me.
Apple Bloom shoved past the door and clumsily made her way to the bed. "Well, at least I got to wash my mane," she said as she plopped down backwards onto her bed, flinging chilling droplets of water all over Diamond.
With a deep groan, the irritated filly jumped off the bed and began wiping herself off.
"Y'all ready for breakfast?" Applejack peeked her head through the door and nodded.
"I sure am!" Apple Bloom grabbed her crutches and made her way towards the stairs.
Diamond Tiara reluctantly followed, her bad attitude slipping away as she met the sweet aroma flooding the stairway. Applejack lifted her little sister in her front hooves and carefully carried her down the steps.
"Thanks Sis." The little filly kissed her sister's cheek and carried herself towards the dinner table.
Applejack nudged Diamond into the kitchen and followed. "Don't be shy now. There's plenty to go around."
Diamond looked around at the table, noting the unfamiliar faces watching her every move, certain they resented and blamed her entirely for Apple Bloom's injury. With a deep breath, she swallowed her discomfort as Applejack stood behind her placed her hooves on her shoulders. "Listen up. This here is Diamond Tiara. She's gonna spend a couple months here while her dad's away on business. Now I know what yer all thinkin', and Diamond here didn't mean to hurt Apple Bloom. Isn't that right?"
Diamond nodded and Apple Bloom rolled her eyes with a scoff.
"Say hello to my family. That there's my big brother, Big Macintosh. Next to him is Granny Smith, who I think y'already met. Then there's me and Apple Bloom." Applejack smiled and patted the angsty little mare on her head.
"Well ain'tcha just the cutest l'il filly I ever seen," Granny said from across the table, and Big Mac nodded in agreement.
"Hiya Diamond. How about you tell us all somethin' about yourself?" Apple Bloom asked with a devilish grin.
Applejack nodded. "That's a great idea. Best we all get to know ya better right away, since you're gonna be stayin' a whie."
Diamond Tiara gulped and shrugged. "What do you want to know?"
"What's it like bein' spoiled rotten?" Apple Bloom asked with a chuckle.
"Hey! You behave yourself little lady!" Applejack scolded her sister from across the room. "Ask your friend a real question while I serve up a nice hot breakfast."
Diamond snickered at the filly, who crossed her front hooves and stuck her tongue out. Applejack trotted back into the dining room with a large tray holding five tall plates of steaming hot pancakes.
"Here y'all go. Whipped em up lickity split." The mare then sat a plate in front of each pony before trotting back into the kitchen. "Well Sis? I didn't hear you ask nothin' yet."
"Come on Apple Bloom, I'm an open book. Don't you want your family to get to know me better?" Diamond Tiara sharply stared into the filly's eyes, while Granny Smith and Big Mac glanced back at forth at one another.
"Okay," Apple Bloom brushed the damp mane out of her face and thought for a moment. "What's your favorite thing to do? Besides bein' a big bully—I'm just sayin' 'cause I never see you do anythin' else."
Applejack stepped back into the dining room with a checkered apron and a crooked frown. She then brought out a series of toppings for the breakfast and placed them across the table while glaring at Apple Bloom.
Diamond Tiara looked down and adjusted her sparkling jewelry. "I, uhm..." She looked around the table at all the ponies who were preparing to eat, hardly paying attention to her. "I guess my favorite thing to do is to dress up and attend my father's dinner parties and charity balls. You know, the things I can't do this summer because I'm stuck here."
"And whose fault is that?" Apple Bloom added.
"Yours!" Diamond smacked the table and shouted.
Applejack swallowed a mouthful of pancakes and waved the two fillies down. "Easy now. You two need to get along, startin' right now."
"How the hay is it my fault that you pushed me off the swing?!" Apple Bloom smacked the table harder and hoisted herself upright.
"Girls..." Applejack nervously chuckled.
"You should have just moved when I gave you the chance! It's not my fault that you're clumsy and fall over at the slightest nudge!"
"Heh, alright now. That's about enough." Applejack tilted her hat and lowered her ears.
"Slight nudge? Are you kidding me?!" Apple Bloom slumped back into her chair and glared across the table. "You're crazy... There's really somethin' wrong with you, ain't there?"
"That's enough!" Big Macintosh shouted. "You two be quiet and eat yer breakfast. Y'all got chores to tend to."
Diamond Tiara and Apple Bloom each froze, then silently agreed with a shared look to argue another time. In awkward silence, the five ponies ate their breakfast, the only sound being the occasional pinging of metal against porcelain. Diamond Tiara had saturated her pancakes with maple syrup before digging in, and as usual, Applejack was the first to finish her meal.
"Whoo-ee. That's good eatin'. Now who's ready to get some chores done?" Applejack asked, rubbing her stomach.
Diamond silently groaned as she finished her last sticky, sugary bite. The farm mare then stacked up the empty plates, and Big Mac headed outside without a second glance. Granny Smith yawned and rubbed her full stomach before removing her false teeth and dropping them into a glass of water.
The prim little filly turned away in disgust. "Let's go Apple Bloom. Show me what I have to do so we can just get it over with already."
Mutually repulsed by her grandmare's antics, Apple Bloom slid off of her chair and onto her crutches. "Right this way."
Diamond Tiara reluctantly followed the little filly towards the front door, nervousness overtaking her. "So, what am I supposed to do anyway?"
"Just do what I tell ya so you don't hurt yourself..." Apple Bloom continued outside, slowly making her way towards the barn. "Ya see, Applejack said I was ready for responsibilities 'round the farm, so now I'm in charge of takin' care o' this pig on top of my regular chores."
"Pig?" Diamond Tiara swallowed hard. "How do you... take care of it?"
"Easy! Ya just scrub the mud out from between her hooves and wipe 'er down. Then ya fill her bucket up with yesterday's mushy old apples," Apple Bloom explained as she hobbled to the wooden pen.
Diamond hesitated, repugnance growing in her churning stomach. "I'm not touching that thing..."
"Aw come on. Don't be such a baby. Look, I think she likes you!" Apple Bloom waved at the muddy animal from the outside of the pen.
"Oink."
"Hehe," Apple Bloom giggled. "Look Diamond, I'd do it myself, but..." The filly put on a frown and nodded towards her leg.
The wealthy young mare sighed and closed her eyes. "Fine..."
Apple Bloom chuckled and pushed the gate open. "The sponge and bucket are right over there by the barn."
Diamond fetched the items and headed into the dirty pen, then was immediately greeted by the large hog, who insisted on rubbing her wet nose against the filly's cheek. "Get off of me! This thing is repulsive!"
Apple Bloom covered her mouth as she forced herself to contain her laughter. "Her name's Big Bertha. I just call her BiBi. Now be nice and hurry it up. The sooner you get it done, the sooner you can get outta there."
Diamond forcefully wiped her cheek off and gritted her teeth. "Fine!"
She soaked the sponge and reached out to BiBi, who stood thoughtlessly sniffing at the ground. She carefully began wiping the hog's sides down, then reached down to lift her front hoof. It was filled with dried mud and bits of hay, and Diamond gagged.
"Ya gotta clean it out. She can't do it herself."
"I know! I know..." Diamond Tiara calmed herself and rubbed the soapy sponge between the animal's split hoof.
The clutter fell away in chunks, then she repeated the process with the other three hooves. As the last leg was was thoroughly wiped down, Diamond Tiara wiped her sweaty brow. "Phew, that wasn't so bad. I guess..."
Apple Bloom placed her front hoof to her mouth and produced a loud, echoing whistle, then tapped the empty tin bucket tied to the pen. "You ready to eat, BiBi?"
The large pig quickly turned to face the bucket and pranced through the mud, drenching Diamond Tiara. The filly wiped the dripping glob of wet earth from her face, an eye twitching as she glared at the hysterical little farm-filly.
"Bah-haha! You should see your face!" Apple Bloom leaned over the wooden fence, smacking the side as the desperately tried to catch her breath.
Diamond quickly trudged through the mud and exited the pen. "Shut up!"
Still laughing, Apple Bloom slipped off the fence and fell onto her back. Diamond quickly rushed to her side and helped her back up.
"Are you okay?" Diamond asked.
Apple Bloom coughed, the wind knocked from her lungs. "Yeah... That kinda hurt though."
Diamond Tiara rolled her eyes and returned the clumsy filly's crutch with her teeth, then trotted back towards the barn, where she began hosing herself off.
Apple Bloom chuckled, now covered in mud herself. "Thanks, Diamond. I guess you aren't pure evil after all."
The filly scoffed and shook herself off. "The last thing I need is for you to hurt yourself and blame me again."
Apple Bloom smiled knowingly. "Uh huh. Now come help me dump some apples into her bucket."
"Alright. But I'm not going back in there," Diamond grumbled as she trotted into the barn behind Apple Bloom.
The little yellow earth pony chuckled and nodded towards a barrel of old, over-ripe apples. "Use that bucket to scoop a big pile of mush up and carry it over to BiBi's bucket on the fence."
Diamond squirmed at the sight and grabbed the handle with her teeth. She used her front hooves to cover her nose as she scooped up a large helping of squishy, saucy apples. She felt her stomach bubbling as she carefully carried the teetering bucket outside and to the pen.
"Atta girl. Yer doin' good, Diamond." Apple Bloom laughed as the filly dumped the slush into the feeding bucket, and BiBi began to chow down.
"Now what..." Diamond dropped the bucket and sighed.
"Hose that bucket out and put it back where it goes." Apple Bloom gestured back towards the barn, and Diamond obeyed.
The injured little filly took a deep breath and smiled. She then carefully lifted herself into a large wooden bathing bushel basket. She let her cast rest over the edge as she relaxed. As soon as Diamond Tiara returned from her task, she pointed back at the hose. "Fill this up with water for me, will ya?"
The pink filly nodded and grabbed the hose before turning the faucet on. She grinned and headed back to the calm, relaxed filly, then sprayed the cold water onto her face. Apple Bloom gasped and shielded her eyes. "Hey! Cut it out!"
"Oops." Diamond giggled and dropped the hose into the basket.
Apple Bloom glared at the bully, cracking a smile as the cool water engulfed her muddy body.
"So... How's your leg?" Diamond asked, averting her gaze.
"Broken," Apple Bloom answered with a cocky grin.
"Does it hurt?"
The injured filly looked down at her cast and shrugged. "It's been achin' ever since I fell earlier, but it was fine before that. Have you ever broken a bone?"
Diamond Tiara shook her head and stared at the ground. "You know I didn't mean... Look, I'm sorry, Apple Bloom."
"Ah, it's nothin'. Accidents happen, right?" The kindhearted filly smiled.
Diamond turned away and looked over the orchard, Apple Bloom's forgiveness weighing in heavily on her heart. She bit her lip and closed her eyes, taking a deep breath. Suddenly, her attention was caught by the sensation of cold water rushing around her hooves. She giggled and shook her head, trotting back to the faucet.
Apple Bloom stretched her front hooves and arched her back, thoroughly refreshed. She then looked over at her crutches and raised an eyebrow. With a nervous chuckle, she attempted to lift herself upwards with only her front hooves, careful to avoid getting her cast wet.
Diamond Tiara watched the struggling filly with a smug grin. "Problem?"
"Heh... I could use a little help here..." Apple Bloom admitted with a hot blush covering her cheeks.
Diamond rolled her eyes and trotted around the barrel. "How do we drain it?"
"Well... Ya gotta tip it."
The little pink filly continued rolling her eyes as she reached into the basket, wrapping her front hooves around Apple Bloom's back, who wrapped her forelegs around Diamond's neck. She then pulled her forward and sat her up on the edge on the basket, her front hoof holding it steady.
Apple Bloom grabbed her crutches and slid to the ground. "Thanks."
"Are we even yet?" Diamond joked, pushing the basket over and letting the water spill down the side of the hill.
"Ya know, I really didn't expect ya to be so..." Apple Bloom scratched her head and shrugged. "I guess, nice."
"I just helped you up... What else could I do? Point and laugh?" Diamond scoffed and shook her head. "Stop being weird. What's next?"
The farm-filly adjusted her big pink bow and pointed towards the orchard. "Now we just go see what AJ needs help with."
"Fine. Let's get on with it then." Diamond led the way towards the orchard where she had seen Applejack working before.
Apple Bloom followed, curious as to what her sister might have planned. As they neared the trail through the trees, Applejack trotted out towards the barn dragging a full wheel barrel of apples.
"Oh, howdy." She tipped her hat and carried on past the two fillies. "Y'all done takin' care of Big Bertha?"
"Mhm." Apple Bloom nodded. "So, what should Diamond do next? Clean my room?"
The farm mare chuckled and shook her head. "How 'bout you two go play for a while."
Apple Bloom forcefully cleared her throat and looked down at her cast.
Applejack blushed and smiled. "You know what I mean. I'm sure y'all figure somethin' out. Just have fun and learn to get along, or you're both gonna be in for a long, unpleasant summer."
Diamond Tiara skeptically glanced at the filly next to her and narrowed her eyes. Apple Bloom returned the other filly's doubt.
"Now, go on. Skedaddle," Applejack ordered, turning back towards the barn.
Apple Bloom and Diamond Tiara each stared the other down in mistrust, a thick tension growing between them.
"Stop staring at me!" Diamond shouted and stomped her hoof.
Apple Bloom gritted her teeth and huffed. "You're the one starin'! Now come on. AJ said we gotta play nice, so can't we just do somethin' to pass the time?"
"Pfft," Diamond scoffed. "And what do you suggest we do? Hang out in your little clubhouse?"
"Sounds good to me, except..." Apple Bloom glanced down at her leg and shrugged. "I don't know how Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle will react with you there."
"Great... Those losers are coming over?" Diamond groaned and kicked the ground. "And I was being sarcastic about that lame clubhouse anyway, smart one."
Apple Bloom narrowed her eyebrows and turned down the trail towards the old tree fort. "Don't make fun of my friends. And you can either come with to the club, or go tell my sister that me and friends are too lame for you."
As the short tempered filly carried on down the orchard trail, Diamond groaned and stomped after her. She caught up to Apple Bloom's side and took a deep breath, pitying the slow-paced mare beside herself.
Apple Bloom stopped and rested up against a tree, dropping her crutches and catching her breath. "Phew. These things take a lot outta me. Hurt my legs too."
Diamond felt a familiar jab of guilt pierce her heart, and she huffed in annoyance. "What, are you trying to make me feel worse?!"
Apple Bloom recoiled and furrowed her brow. "Sorry. I was just tellin' ya why I stopped..."
Diamond Tiara covered her face and stumbled backwards, her mixed emotions overwhelming her. "This isn't fair! Why did it have to happen?"
Apple Bloom looked up in time to see the self-centered filly wiping a tear. "Only you could play the victim in this scenario, Diamond. You're really somethin'..."
"Shut up, will you?" Diamond Tiara took a deep breath and placed her forehead against a tree. "I'm not playing the victim. I just... I don't know what I'm supposed to say to you. Or how to act. I just feel so bad, and I wish I didn't care, because I don't like you!"
Apple Bloom smirked at the flustered filly and wiped a bead of sweat from her brow. "Wow. You done? 'Cause I could use some help walkin' the rest of the way to the clubhouse without these crutches."
Diamond rolled her eyes and stepped over to the filly. She leaned down and Apple Bloom wrapped her front leg around her shoulder, then leaned up and walked with her two right legs, lifting her back left hoof just above the ground.
"This is better. You're more comfortable than those dang crutches. I need a wheel chair or somethin'." Apple Bloom chuckled.
"Of course you realize that I'm not going to carry you everywhere. Right?" Diamond glared at the filly with a raised eyebrow.
"Well... Hey look, we're here." Apple Bloom smiled and pointed at the little fort.
Relieved, Diamond pulled the filly towards the ramp. Apple Bloom stumbled along and tried to keep her balance. As the two reached the ramp, they started moving forward more carefully. The injured filly carefully stepped in time with her supporter, making sure not to fall.
As they reached the top, Apple Bloom stopped holding her breath. "See? That wasn't so bad. I probably woulda broken my other legs if I tried to climb that with those dumb crutches."
"You probably would have blamed me too," Diamond added.
"Who else could I blame?" She coyly asked with wide grin.
Diamond Tiara smacked her forehead and sat on a beanbag chair against the wall. She looked around and recalled all the damage she had caused to the small building in the past, and she also noticed how the placed looked nicer than ever. "How did you three build this place?"
Apple Bloom carefully hobbled on three legs to another seat, then glanced around at her own handy work. "Well, this was actually my sister's clubhouse back when she was my age, but she let it get all rundown and rickety. I rebuilt it and made it look nice, then when you and Babs messed it all up, I rebuilt it again."
"You built it on your own?" Diamond skeptically asked.
"Yup. I mean, between you and me, Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo don't even know the difference between primer and paint thinner, but they still try to help, and I love 'em." Apple Bloom inspected the wall behind her and nodded. "Why, just because I haven't found my special talent doesn't mean I ain't good at nothin'."
"How is this not your cutie mark? I mean... Seriously? What else could you be this good at?" Diamond laughed and scratched her head.
"I dunno. All I know is that I can't wait to find out." Apple Bloom smiled and tilted her head at Diamond Tiara. "Say, how'd you get your cutie mark? Maybe you could help me get mine."
Diamond looked down at her flank and rubbed her mark. "You think I could help? I doubt it, because there's no way whatever your cutie mark is going to be will have anything to do with mine."
"What else is there to do? What does your cutie mark even mean? Are you, like, good at bein' spoiled or somethin'?" Apple Bloom teased.
"No..." Diamond glared across the room and crossed her hooves. "It represents my ability to lead. Like my father, I'm a natural leader. Put me in charge of a group of ponies and I'll take them in the right direction. I earned my cutie mark in Manehattan when a bunch overpaid, under-educated caterers were messing up an important charity auction by being worthless slackers. My dad went to fetch their boss after they made a mess of everything, but by the time he had gotten back, I whipped them all into shape and got them working at top productivity."
"You sure did take The Foal Free Press in the right direction." Apple Bloom stuck her tongue out and laughed.
"Didn't I, though... It's not my fault everypony in town is too sensitive for their own good." Diamond Tiara sighed. "I'll have plenty more opportunities to prove myself. I have to admit that you make for a decent subordinate."
"Uh, thanks?" Apple Bloom scratched her head and frowned. "Can I ask you somethin'?"
Diamond Tiara nodded and leaned back.
"Why are you so mean to me and my friends all the time? Especially me..." Apple Bloom looked down and sighed. "I never did anything to you."
"I'm sorry. I'll be less mean from now on," Diamond muttered halfheartedly.
Unsatisfied, Apple Bloom pressed on. "I mean, why though. Why aren't we friends? The only reason I don't like you is 'cause you bully me and pick on me all the time. You know I'm sensitive about my cutie mark, and that's what you pick on me the most about! Now that you're stuck with me, ya may as well come clean."
Diamond Tiara shook her head and stared up at the ceiling. "I don't know, Apple Bloom. I only pick on you for being a blank flank because I know you hate it so much. If you hated your yellow coat, I'd make fun of that too. You're just an easy target, and it feels good to make you feel bad... I mean..."
"It feels good to make me feel bad? Ya know... it feels really bad for me when you're makin' me feel bad." Apple Bloom flattened her ears and took a deep breath, Diamond's words kicking at her heart.
"I don't mean that..." Diamond sighed and looked over the sulking filly. "It used to feel good, but now I just do it because... well, because I want Silver Spoon to look up to me."
Apple Bloom swallowed the lump in her throat and glanced up at the rich little mare. "You don't think there's another way to get her to look up to you? I think she already does anyway... I also think she's just followin' your lead when she teases us, 'cause she never starts it, and she's always glued to your tail."
Diamond Tiara frowned and furrowed her brow, looking away before changing the subject. "So when are your irritating little friends getting here? I'm sure they'll be overjoyed when they see me."
"Eh, not for a couple more hours, if they come at all. We didn't have any plans today, and I usually help AJ until after lunch time," Apple Bloom explained. "And they're not so bad if you don't make fun of 'em all the time."
"It's hard not to..." Diamond Tiara scoffed yet again.
"Why? 'Cause they're losers like me? Sorry that we can't all be born into rich families like you, but they're the best friends a pony could ask for. I know I'd give up everything I had to make sure they didn't have to feel alone, or hurt. Could you say the same for you and Silver Spoon?"
Diamond shook her head and crossed her hooves. "It's not the same; I have so much more to lose."
Apple Bloom rolled her eyes. "Fine... Your tiara then. Would you give it to Silver Spoon if she really wanted it?"
"No! Are you dense? This is mine and she doesn't deserve it!" The defensive filly clutched onto her jewelry and scowled across the room.
Apple Bloom lost her cocky grin and felt a painful pit growing in her stomach. "That's sad, Diamond. And I really feel bad for Silver, 'cause I think she'd do anything for you." The filly looked up, a smile returning to her face. "Hay, I'd give my rear left leg for any of my friends."
Diamond held her tiara out in front of her eyes, its gleaming gems and lustrous precious metal sparkling in the sunlight. "My mom gave this to me on my birthday the year... the year before..."
Apple Bloom quivered, a sharp chill creeping up her spine. "I never knew my parents."
Diamond looked into the filly's eyes, her face devoid of emotion. Apple Bloom stared back, offering a friendly, comforting face. "Did you wanna talk about it?"
"No. I've talked about it with Silver Spoon enough. If not for her..."
Apple Bloom nodded. "Sounds like she was a good friend when you needed her most. Well, you can have my sympathy if it helps. Wanna hug?"
Diamond shook her head and returned the tiara back atop her silky mane. "Of course not. Do you really think sympathy would do anypony any good anyway?"
"Never know 'til ya try, right?" Apple Bloom opened her front legs and gestured towards herself.
Diamond laughed and covered her mouth. "Seriously? As if I'd ever hug you..."
"Hey! You're supposed to be my slave for the summer since you snapped my leg in half," Apple Bloom stated matter-of-factly.
"Okay, first of all I didn't do anything to your leg, secondly it isn't snapped in half, and most importantly, I'm not your slave, nor am I supposed to be," Diamond countered. "Now, if you want a hug because you're sad and pathetic, I might give you one."
Apple Bloom nodded sagely and kept her hooves open. Diamond lazily trudged across the room and limply rested her hooves on the filly's shoulders.
"That's weak, Diamond." Apple Bloom reached forward and yanked the stubborn filly closer, tightly wrapping her forelegs around her back. "It's okay."
"What's okay?" Diamond Tiara asked, loosening her grip.
"Shh. I get why you're so bitter. But I'll be your friend if you promise to be nicer to me and my friends." Apple Bloom ran her hoof up and down the snippy filly's back.
Diamond closed her eyes and gently lifted her hooves around the friendly country-girl's back. She breathed against her neck and shuddered, her heart pounding in her chest. "I don't get it..."
"What?"
"Why would you offer to be my friend?" Diamond Tiara asked.
"Easy, 'cause you got a good sense of humor, and you're actually fun to talk to once I get past the constant insults," Apple Bloom explained.
Diamond began to squeeze more tightly, and she laughed. "You know, you aren't so bad yourself."
"I know. I just wish you had broken my leg a couple years ago so we could have been friends sooner," Apple Bloom teased, her eyes twinkling as Diamond backed away.
"We're friends then?" Diamond Tiara began to think about everything that had been going on. She pressed her hooves over her eyes and smiled widely. "How in Equestria did I just become friends with my least favorite pony in Ponyville?"
"You tell me. I just offered because I'm super nice like my big sis. You're the one who accepted it," Apple Bloom noted in a cheeky tone.
Diamond ducked down and adjusted her tiara. "I guess you're right. So? Maybe I like you... a little."
"Ouch!" Apple Bloom cringed and grabbed onto her leg.
Diamond rushed to her side and gently placed her hooves on the cast. "Are you okay?"
"Hehe. You love me. Admit it." Apple Bloom giggled.
Diamond Tiara thumped the cast and backed away. "Don't push your luck..."
"Sorry." Apple Bloom blushed. "So I dunno about you, but I'm gettin' a bit hungry. Wanna head back and grab some lunch?"
"Sure. Still need help?" Diamond held her hoof out to the filly.
Apple Bloom nodded and used it to pull herself up. She then wrapped a hoof around her friend's back, carefully making her way down the ramp and down the trail home.
As the two fillies made it back to the farmhouse, Applejack spotted them while washing mud off her front hooves with a garden hose. "Hey you two. Just in time to have a look at my new addition to the garden." She raised an eyebrow as she realized Apple Bloom was supporting her weight on Diamond Tiara. "Where are your crutches l'il missy?"
"I lost 'em in the orchard somewhere. We tried to find 'em, but... they're just gone," Apple Bloom confessed.
Diamond nodded in agreement. "I don't mind helping her out though. Those crutches were hurting her anyway."
"Well you two seem... friendlier towards each other." Applejack nodded in approval. "Have fun together?"
"Mhm," Apple Bloom hummed, brushing her muzzle against Diamond's cheek. "We're friends now."
"I'm proud of you two. Puttin' yer differences behind each other and makin' peace is something not a lot o' ponies can do. You're both very mature for your age." Applejack trotted up to her sister and carefully lifted her onto her back. "Now I'll bet y'all are a mite hungry. Let's go grab some lunch."
Diamond Tiara trotted by Applejack's side, a warm glow of contentment shrouding her. She smiled as she entered the charming country home and made her way to the dining room. "So, what are we having?" she asked as Applejack trotted into the kitchen.
"Apple fritters!" A voice sounded from the kitchen, and a yellow mare with a vivid, two-toned green mane trotted out.
"Cuz!" Apple Bloom jumped up to go hug her cousin, and immediately felt an agonizing pain course through her entire body.
Diamond Tiara rapidly stumbled to her side and placed a hoof on her thigh. "You little idiot! What were you thinking?!"
Apple Bloom squeezed her eyes shut and gritted her teeth as Applejack trotted up next to her. "Y'alright Sis?"
Diamond Tiara cracked a soft smile as Apple Bloom blushed and bit her lip. "Sorry. My bad... I guess I ain't used to this thing yet."
"What happened to your leg?" Apple Fritter asked.
Apple Bloom caught her breath, her leg still aching as she glanced at Diamond Tiara. "It was just a silly accident at the playground yesterday."
Diamond Tiara felt a wave of humility wash over herself as her new friend covered for her. "It was my fault; I pushed her, and that's why I'm here."
"Huh?" Applejack and Apple Fritter glanced to each other.
"Nah, she didn't mean it though. It was all just a big, freak accident," Apple Bloom explained.
"Shut up." Diamond carefully helped Apple Bloom to her seat and scooted her own chair up next to her. "I was bullying her and caused her to get hurt. I regret it, and Apple Bloom has amazed me with her freaky friendliness. I didn't think she'd ever want to be friends with me, but here we are. I don't want to sugarcoat what happened—what I did to her. It was an accident, but that's no excuse."
Apple Bloom placed a hoof over Diamond's and smiled. "I didn't know you had it in ya. You know I forgive you, right? No hard feelings."
Applejack smiled warmly as she looked over the two fillies. "So, anyway, Apple Fritter is in town for a while, and she stopped by to whip us up some of her world famous apple fritters."
"Sure did!" The friendly Appaloosian trotted into the dining room with a tray of hot baked goods. "Ready to chow down, you two?"
Diamond Tiara and Apple Bloom looked to the other with mutual grins before being served a deliciously aromatic lunch.
Later that evening, the two new friends headed up to the bedroom to turn in for the night. Apple Bloom eased her front hoof off of Diamond's back and carefully made her way to her bed. She climbed in and fell onto her back, exhausted after a long day of dealing with her cast. Meanwhile Diamond pulled a large plush pillow from her bag.
"So where do I sleep?" Diamond asked, glancing down at a circular rug.
"Right here by me." Apple Bloom patted a spot on the bed next to herself.
Diamond Tiara hesitantly climbed in and covered herself up, dragging the pillow onto the bed with her. Apple Bloom pressed her hoof into the pillow, noting its softness.
"Wow, that thing's nice."
"We can share it if you want. You can use that pillow to prop your leg up." Diamond Tiara smiled and fluffed her luxurious cushion.
"Sounds good!" Apple Bloom immediately buried her face into the pillow. "This thing is amazing!
Diamond reached over her friend and grabbed the lesser of two pillows, then went beneath the blanket where she lifted her friend's cast and placed the pillow beneath it. Apple Bloom blushed and took a deep breath.
"Feel okay?" Diamond Tiara asked.
"Yup, thanks. You?"
The filly nodded and removed her tiara, setting it on the nightstand beside her half of the bed. "I'm fine. You know what I was just thinking about?"
"What?" Apple Bloom asked, turning to face her friend.
"I'm glad I broke your leg," Diamond admitted.
"Me too." Apple Bloom chuckled. "I mean, it did hurt, but I'm glad that it wasn't all bad, since I made a new friend."
"I thought I was going to hate this place, but it isn't too bad." Diamond let out a deep yawn and closed her eyes.
"I think I'm gonna really like havin' you around. I never had so much fun doin' my chores before, and with you here to help, I bet it'll be fun every day." Apple Bloom reached over and hugged her friend.
Diamond returned the friendly hug and smiled. "I bet it will be too," she said as she began to drift off to sleep.
Apple Bloom yawned deeply and rolled onto her back, slowly blinking her eyes closed and dozing off.
***
The sun sent warm delightful rays over the hills of Sweet Apple Acres as Diamond Tiara and Apple Bloom playfully laughed. The little redheaded earth pony limply trotted around the mud, wearing a much smaller cast ending at her knee. Her and Diamond carefully scrubbed the mud from BiBi's hooves, then trotted to the barn to fill her food bucket.
"Diamond!" A stallion called out from the front gate.
Diamond's ears perked up and her heart skipped a beat. "Dad?"
The wealthy little filly galloped to the front gate, where she saw Applejack standing next to her father. Apple Bloom did her best to keep up, following close behind.
Silver Spoon beamed as she spotted her friend. "Diamond!"
The two rushed to meet one another, and immediately collided in a warm embrace, twirling around. "Silver Spoon, I missed you so much!"
"I missed you too... I... I hated Manehattan, because I just missed you the whole time... I wish I'd stayed..." The silver-coated mare stifled her tears of joy as she squeezed her friend as tightly as she could.
Diamond Tiara slowly backed away and smiled at her friend. Silver Spoon blushed and started wiping the mud from her sides and legs.
"Oops... Sorry." Diamond Tiara looked herself over and blushed. She then thought about how she would have reacted if it were the other way around. "Hey, Silver Spoon, thank you for being there for me when I needed you... I love you, and you're my best friend."
"Wow... Whatever got into, I like it. I love you too Diamond. You know that by now." Silver Spoon blinked a tear from her eye and adjusted her glasses.
"Well you look happy." Filthy Rich patted his daughter's mane and smiled. "Applejack tells me you were a huge help around the farm. She also said you made friends with Apple Bloom and the others, is that true?"
"Yes daddy." Diamond nodded with a confident grin.
"You're a good kid. I Knew you'd benefit from some time here. Now go say goodbye and let's get home." Filthy nudged his daughter towards Applejack and nodded.
"Thanks for having me, Applejack." She leaned up and hugged the mare.
"Aw, it was a pleasure. You're welcome to come on back anytime ya'd like," Applejack said with a smile.
Diamond Tiara then turned to Apple Bloom, who wore a twisted frown. "Hey, don't look so sad. I'll come back tomorrow, and maybe you can sleep over at my house."
"That would be great!" Apple Bloom smiled and hugged her friend. "I'll miss not havin' ya around all the time though."
Diamond ruefully smiled and glanced over her shoulder to her father, then looked Apple Bloom in the eye. "I want you to have something..."
Apple Bloom looked up in time to see her friend remove her tiara with glistening eyes.
"Take this. Thank you for what you did." Diamond looked down and hoofed the jewelry over.
Apple Bloom reached up and took it. "What did I do?"
"You taught me how to be a better friend." Diamond Tiara then turned to follow Silver Spoon and her father down the hill.
"See y'all later!" Applejack waved them off.
Apple Bloom stared at the piece of gleaming jewelry in awe. She then looked up to see Diamond playfully trotting along side of Silver Spoon, each laughing and talking about what they had done throughout the past couple of weeks. She sighed and smiled forlornly, her lip quivering.
"Wait, so you're actually friends with those three?" Silver asked her friend as she walked out of Apple Bloom's sight.
"Yes, and... It's a long story."
