The Rough Of The Diamond

After a fitful night’s sleep, Diamond Tiara work up to a glorious morning and that’s not just because the storm had been replaced with a clear sky full of Celestia’s sun. It was Saturday, the best day of the week for all school foals, as it meant there was no school…and no school tomorrow as well!

But on top of this, Diamond Tiara had a plan and days where little fillies with plans always seemed to be brighter than other days. Diamond practically pranced down the stairs to breakfast, where she saw her father already at the breakfast table, reading over the financial pages of Equestria Daily.

“Good Morning Papa” diamond cheerfully called out as she took her seat and looked over the various fruits and pastries laid out for breakfast.

“Good Morning Diamond” her father replied, with a bit of a surprise seeing his daughter so happy. It was clear that his little girl had been in a bit of a foul mood over the past few days, and to see her suddenly in a good mood lifted his spirits somewhat.

He put down his newspaper, and picked up an apple “So how are you this morning sweetie?” he asked before taking a bite of Sweet Apple Acres finest.

Diamond had just taken a bite out of a breakfast muffin, and nearly choked Wait, fathers talking to me rather then reading the paper? She knew better to speak with her mouth full so she chewed and swallowed as quick as she could “I’m fine, thank you. How are you and mother?”

“I’m good - mother hasn't left her bedroom yet this morning but it is a little early for her” The both sort of smiled at each other and took a bite of their fruit or pastry as appropriate. The silence was heavy in the room.

Talking to my father should not be this hard! I mean, fillies and their fathers are supposed to get on like apples and pastry, or whatever that pie analogy is.

He is a very important pony round here, and the business does keep him very busy. But then he does seem to pay attention to me when I stray off path, like with the Zap Apple jam. The fact he made me join in, and okay it was kinda fun, means that perhaps he must care about me?

Perhaps I try too hard at being a grown up I’ve never really allowed myself to bond with him as a daughter. I guess I just feel that I am a disappointment to him…like mother

Talking to my daughter should not be this hard! I mean, diamond should be ‘daddy’s little filly’ but we just never seem to have connected.

I know that I’m not always the most attentive father in the world, thanks to my businesses, but I do try. I mean, when she seemed dismissive of the whole Zap Apple routine, which should be something fun for a filly her age, I made sure she joined in

Okay, part of that was of course keeping the sole supplier in the whole of Equestria of the magical fruit happy, but they wouldn't have really cared one way or another.

I know that my business keeps me very busy, but surely my daughter knows she means more to me than anything. I mean, why does she think I work so hard for this family?

Having finished the apple he was munching on, Filthy thought it was best to break the silence. “I’ve noticed you’ve been a bit depressed over the past few days - Was it because Silver Fork has been off school?”

Diamond looked at her father “It's Silver Spoon daddy - ” she laughed a little “ - but that’s not it really”

“Oh?” Filthy asked, shifting forwards a little in his chair and grabbing a croissant.

“You see, I just working out what I want to do with my life”

“But darling, you’re still years away from having to choose which courses you want to take at college!”

“Yeah, I know that” Diamond took a cherry and popped it in her mouth “But then most of my classmates won’t even go to college…they sort of know what will happen already.”

“Oh?” Filthy asked with a bit of surprise When did Diamond grow up this much?

“Well, most of the earth ponies will of course work the land someway. Of course that’s not the only option available to them, as you and Mayor Mare show, but in all probability they will. The Pegasi are mostly going to go to weather school, whilst the unicorns will have even more of a challenge to find their way. In fact, I’ll probably be the only pony from Ponyville to go to college…if I want to”

Filthy looked over to Diamond, who seemed to be showing genuine concern here. “Why would you not want to go to college?”

“Well, what if my true calling doesn't require a college education, but perhaps is more of an apprentice type of thing? Like, following in another townspony hoofsteps …or your fathers hoofsteps?” she finished and looked over to her father with a glint in her eye.

Filthy pondered this for a few moments, whilst eating his croissant. His daughter seemed to be genuinely interested in doing this, and whilst she was a little young he just couldn’t give up the opportunity to bond with his daughter.

“Sweetie, that sounds like an excellent idea. Obviously your schooling rules out being with me during the week…” Diamonds face fell as she heard this, but the father continued “…but tomorrow I’m meeting up with Applejack over the supplies for the Sisterhooves Social. Why don't you come along with me? In fact, I’ll let you help out with one of the deals!”

“Oh Papa, that sounds wonderful!” Diamond practically shouted with glee

Filthy smiled at the joy on his daughters face “Well, I prepare some information for you to read tonight and let’s just see how it goes, okay?”

The pair finished up their breakfast chatting idly, and Diamond excused herself to go and brush her teeth. Filthy watched with a smile as she skipped out of the room. Okay, it may cost me a few bits of profit to have Diamond involved in the Social, but what the hay, if it makes her happy and gives us time together it’s worth it

As Diamond left through one door, her mother walked in the other already made up like she was going to the Grand Galloping Gala, rather than breakfast with family “Good morning husband! Why such a big smile?”

“Good morning darling! Oh, no reason. Croissant?”

--/----/----/----/----/--

Diamond Tiara made herself presentable, put on her trademark jewellery, left her home and started making her way through the town. It was still early in the morning, but the market was alive of ponies setting up stalls for the day. Pegasi were flying overhead clearing away the heavier clouds, whilst moving fluffy wispy ones around to make a pleasant vista.

Sugarcube corner was already open, and ponies were coming and going with various baked goods. Inside you could hear Pinkie Pie singing as she served the customers – Diamond was too far away to hear the exact words, but smiled a little as the intoxicating ditty washed over her.

Days like this are so much better than the stormy ones like yesterday! When the town is as busy as this, it seems anything is possible!

Diamond made her way past the market, and into the more business area of town. She trotted past Carousel Boutique where she could hear Sweetie Belle arguing with Rarity I must speak to Rarity at some point, but probably best to wait until a day Sweetie isn’t there…otherwise all that will happen is me and that blank flank will end up arguing!

As she made her way through the district, whilst some of the shops had signs of life most of the offices and businesses were shut for the weekend. However, the unmistakable sound of her destination started making itself heard over the background sound of birds tweeting.

On the edge of town stood Ponyville’s sole blacksmith. The town didn’t have much of a manufacturing industry, as it was prime farming country, and so Ponyville (or more significantly her father) shipped in most of the supplies it needed. However, the blacksmith kept up a decent enough trade mending things and providing spare parts, as well as providing assistance for the more complex jobs.

He was working away at repairing one of Sweet Apple Acres broken ploughs when he noticed Diamond Tiara approaching him. Great, here comes that annoying whinny little rich filly that picks on my adopted daughter. If she wasn’t the foal of the one of my key clients I would have given her what’s for a long time ago. And probably most of the ponies in town would have done the same!

“Good morning Ms Rich” The blacksmith greeted the filly with a little too much enthusiasm to seem real.

“Good morning Mr Farrar” the filly beamed back, ignoring the obvious fakeness being displayed “What a lovely day it is!”

This took the stallion by surprise, as whenever this filly had approached him in the past it was to just to order him to do something and then walk off “Yeah…yeah it sure is…can I help you?”

“Mr Farrar...” the filly started, and the blacksmith noted that she seemed nervous and was rubbing one of her front hoofs behind the other “…Is it okay if I watch you work?”

This took the blacksmith completely by surprise “Well Ms Rich, I’m not so sure about that. This isn’t a school trip you know, I’m really busy. And it’s not the safest place just to hang out!” he ended making air quotations with his hooves.

“I’ll keep well back, and I won’t get in the way or anything!” the filly pleaded

The blacksmith wasn’t sure what angle Diamond had on this, but he couldn’t think of a good excuse not to, except the fact he didn’t like her. However, Filthy was a too important pony to risk upsetting by refusing his daughter for that reason, and he probably would have allowed other fillies or colts to watch. He quickly decided on the path of least resistance.

“Okay Ms Rich…keep well back for you safety and if you don’t get in the way I guess it’ll do no harm”

--/----/----/----/----/--

Diamond had been quietly watching the stallion all morning, taking mental notes on how he worked. He hadn’t been doing any fine work today, but fixed a number of large items – he repaired one of Sweet Apple Acres ploughs, refitted a number hoop-rims of various wheels and started fixing an oven door. However, it was still fascinating to the filly to watch him repair such items without magic, which she presumed would make the task so much easier.

As Celestia’s sun reached the peak of it’s daily trajectory, the blacksmith put down his tools and washed his face in a nearby bucket. He looked over at the filly, and true to her word she had kept well out of the way and had not distracted him at all.

He walked over to her “Well, it’s time for Lunch break. I need to pop into town to pick something up, so I guess I’ll see you back here later?”

“I’ll get you lunch, what do you want?” the filly jumped to her hooves.

“Ms Rich…”

“Call me Diamond, please”

“Okay…Diamond, I can’t ask you to buy me lunch!”

“You didn’t ask…I offered. Besides, it is the least I can do given you’re letting me be here today.”

“You’re only watching…” the stallion stammered, completely confused by the filly generosity “...it’s not like I’m explaining or anything”

“It doesn’t matter, I want to get you lunch to say thank you.” the filly pleaded with her eyes.

“Okay…if you insist…this one time!”

“Thank you, what do you want?”

“I usually just grab a takeaway daisy sandwich and maybe a packet of crisps if I fancy them”

“Sure thing Mr Farrar, coming right up”

“Call me Moe” the stallion called out as filly rushed out of the workshop and towards town, leaving Moe scratching his head What is up with that filly today? If I didn’t know any better I would think she was a changeling in disguise, but with the completely wrong personality! Of course she can’t *actually be a changeling with the spell Princess Sparkle put over the town, but she is acting strange!*

Diamond galloped into town and picked up three daisy sandwiches and a packet of hay crisps from one of the market stalls in the food section. Everypony looked at the usually prim and proper filly in surprise, wondering why on earth she looked so dirty. She didn't notice the strange looks she was getting, but grabbed the bags in her mouth and rushed back to the workshop.

Diamond passed two of the sandwhiches and a packet of crisps to the Stallion, who was surprised at the large amount of food offered to him by the filly. She explained that seeing how hard he worked he must have worked up an appetite more than a single sandwich would be able to fill.

Of course he was, as usual, as hungry as Diamond had presumed but couldn’t afford too many luxuries like takeaways with a wife and filly to raise, so one sandwich was usually all he had. He graciously accepted the two sandwiches and they split the packet of crisps. They ate in silence, neither quite sure what to talk about.

--/----/----/----/----/--

It was midafternoon by the time the blacksmith decided he had worked enough and called it a day. Diamond thanked him for allowing her to watch, and asked if she could come back the next day she was free.

Despite not actually really speaking to each other all day, he had to admit to himself that he sort of enjoyed the company. Besides, he was worried that if he said no the filly would moan to her father, although given how generous she was at lunchtime he wondered if she wasn't really as bad as she sometimes seemed to act.

Diamond skipped off and as soon as she reached home, she quickly rushed and took a shower before her parents saw her. Within moments of stepping into the shower, the soot and dirty she had been covered in washed away, turning the grey filly back into the pink one everypony would recognise, and unfortunately for the cleaning mare turning the pristine white bathroom a tone of grey.

Despite not doing any of the actual work today, she was surprised on how dirty she had managed to get – in fact she can’t remember ever being that dirty even when she ended up in the pig sty that one time. However, she also found it oddly satisfying when all the dirt was washed off unlike that time, for a reason she couldn’t work out.

A ring echoed around the house to indicate dinner was about to be served, and the filly was just about to put on her tiara when she noticed it was filthy as well. Without enough time to clean it properly, she decided just to head downstairs without it.

As soon as she entered the dinning room, her mother spoke to her “Darling, where is your Tiara?”

The filly stood in the doorway “I guess I forget to put it on after my shower” the filly lied That’s what mother noticed? She never seemed to notice me but one time I’m without the stupid piece of junk...

The filly then looked at her father, and a pang of guilt washed over the filly I shouldn't think that way about the Tiara – my father had to work really hard to earn the bits to pay for it.

Dinner was the usual sombre affair with basically no conversation around the table except a few bland comments about the delightful meal they were eating. As they finished up, Filthy asked his daughter to follow him into the study.

As soon as they entered, Filthy passed over a small binder filled with various papers, and explained she should familiarise herself with the previous orders, as well as some of the general price lists and accounts relating to such events. He offered his daughter a chair to sit in, but she decided to leave her father to the peace of his own sanctuary and said she would read it in her room.

Diamond went up to her bedroom, settled herself on her bed and started reading through the information, preparing herself for the meeting the next day. She had had an interesting day just watching the blacksmith, and tomorrow she was going to be involved in a business meeting with her father!