Diamond Days

Chapters

One does not simply walk to school
Stupid self-fulfilling prophacy
Letter know
Late for class
Denial
Bargaining
Anger
Depression
Acceptance

One does not simply walk to school

As Twist ran off, Diamond Tiara and Silverspoon stood laughing. One much harder than the other. Diamond Tiara found it absolutely hilarious that she’d managed to make the little nerd cry so hard. She definitely got her daily self-confidence boost out of destroying another pony’s. While Silverspoon got just as much of a thrill out of it, she didn’t like how she got it as much.

“Could you imagine if either of us ever let our manes get THAT messy?" Diamond Tiara said as she flicked her expertly-styled mane back to illustrate the point to Silverspoon. “I’d rather be bald than have such a tangled red mess.”

“Hehe, yeah. It’s like she’s never even heard of a brush before. Or maybe she’s just too poor to even buy one.” Silverspoon replied with a slight laugh.

“No, she can’t be that poor. After all she can afford those big dorky glasses!” Diamond laughed just as hard as before at her own joke. However, Silverspoon didn’t laugh along with her this time.

“Hey! I wear glasses too, you know.” she said defensively. It wasn’t very common, but Diamond did still make fun of her friend every so often.

“Oh, I remember." Diamond replied snidely. “As if I could forget." she added, turning it from a slightly mean joke to the insult that she had intended it to be. Diamond emphasized the point by giving Silverspoon a glare, but not into her eyes, just around them. To the big blue frame of her glasses. Silverspoon could easily come back with a remark about them being stylish and high-end. But didn’t.

Instead she just brushed it off with a huff and began walking. She wasn’t hurt by the words or anything. She was annoyed, but she wasn’t hurt. Silverspoon was above being insulted by mere words. Besides, even though she didn’t expect to get an apology in words, she knew her friend well enough to expect a nice gift within a few days. She called these ‘Diamond Days’.

Silverspoon found it ironic though. She could take any insult her friend could throw at her and yet Diamond couldn’t take a single one. At least not from her. Sure she got insulted all the time by other ponies, mostly after insulting them, but she couldn’t take them from Silverspoon. In a weird way knowing that made Silverspoon happy. Her friend valued her opinion of her more than anypony else.

~ ~

The morning went as usual for Diamond Tiara as she got out of bed, had a shower and spent nearly the next hour making sure her mane was just perfect. She applied what little make-up her father would let her use. And then added a small bit more he didn’t know she owned that she thought she could get away with, without him noticing. And of course he never did. And her mother? She wasn’t with them. She wasn’t dead, just not with them.

Her father, Filthy Rich, was already up and had made breakfast for them both. It wasn’t much, just a bowl of oats each. Nothing that really took any work or surely he would’ve hired somepony to do it for him. He was already finished his own by the time Diamond Tiara came out of the bathroom and was gone for work before she’d even finished it, leaving her to get to school by herself. Of course Silverspoon would be by soon and they’d walk to school together as always.

Despite how it might look from the outside, things were alright between DT and her father. Sure, he may be busy a lot during the week, but he had almost every weekend off and they often spent time together. Weekdays he wouldn’t be home until well after dark; Diamond Tiara used to have a sitter for everyday after school until recently. Well, sitter/maid. He may be a somewhat absentee father but he was a good father all the same. Of course seems the maid didn’t start until after school, Diamond Tiara could skip school any day she liked. And did so every now and then.

Right now though, Diamond was ready for school and waiting for Silverspoon to arrive. She finished her breakfast, had a drink, did a once over on her mane and make-up once more before heading back into her room and grabbing her signature diamond tiara. She loved the thing, always wore it, always kept it pristine and shining flawlessly. She placed it on her head and lay back on her bed, just waiting for the doorbell to ring and then they’d be off to school together.

A bit more time than usual passed before Silverspoon arrived and this gave DT some time to think. Unfortunately this took her to some dark places. Namely: the origin of her Cutie Mark. While she was happy it was of something that was so her, she didn’t like what it represented; thought it something below her. It was for just what she took pride in. Keeping things pristine and flawlessly clean. She was a maid. That somepony born into such wealth was destined to be a servant…

Too much time passed just letting her think. Sadly though, as she kept hoping her friend would show up sooner or later to take her mind off things, she never came. DT thought it odd that Silverspoon wouldn't stop by her house on the way to school, she always did. Diamond Tiara wanted to go check on Silverspoon at her house, assuming she must be sick, but wouldn’t have time to head there and then make it to school on time as well. Instead, she departed for school.

As it was she was almost late anyway from waiting for so long. Diamond arrived just as the bell rang, walked into the classroom and took her seat. As she sat down, sitting next to her as always “Morning DT.” Silverspoon greeted her.

Author's Note

Because I want this to be read by as many people as possible [I mean isn't that the whole point of writing?] I know that this first chapter may not have hooked you right away.
All I ask is that you at least stick around until the second chapter, then decide from there.

Stupid self-fulfilling prophacy

Eventually lunch time rolled around and Diamond Tiara finally got her chance to speak with her friend, ask her why she hadn’t stopped by her place this morning. “You hurt my feelings yesterday, alright?” she begrudgingly admitted. Silverspoon never took any offence to anything Diamond usually said. That DT’s friend was suddenly insulted by any of it surprised her.

Truth be told, Silverspoon was really just feeling sorry for Twist. The filly hadn't even shown up for school today. “Oh come on. Your glasses look way better than hers anyway.” Diamond Tiara replied. It was true and she thought it was what Silverspoon really just wanted to hear. A compliment, like she herself always soaked up when given.

“That’s not what I’m talking about.” Silverspoon deflected. “You, you told Twist that she had no friends. And that the only reason Applebloom had been her friend was because she didn’t have Cutie Mark either. You went too far when you told her t...” she was cut off.

“So? It’s not like it isn’t true!” Diamond half-yelled back. Applebloom had been Twist’s only friend and once she got her Cutie Mark, Applebloom started hanging out more and more with the rest of her blank-flank new friends. Eventually, she stopped hanging out with Twist at all. “How does any of that relate to you at all anyway?”

“Because… I don’t know if I have any friends either.”

“Oh don’t get all mushy on me,” Diamond Tiara replied. She knew where this was going and had to put an end to it now. “I’m your friend, so stop being stupid.”

“Are you though?” Silverspoon asked. This was exactly where Diamond Tiara had thought it was heading. Only thing though was…

“Yes! Of course I am!” she thought she was! “What more do you want me to say?”

“I want you to say sorry.”

“Say sorry to Twist? Why should I? I just told you everything I said was true.”

“Say sorry to me!”

“I didn’t even say anything about you! What on Equestria should I say sorry to you for?”

“Because… because…” Silverspoon paused for a moment before following up with “Just because!" she added out of spite that she didn’t really have a reason in this exact argument. "You’re a bitch!” she could tell by the look on her friend’s… her former friend's face that she had struck a chord. “That’s right, you’re a self-absorbed bitch. Just ask anypony, they'll say it’s true.”

Before Silverspoon could say anything else, before Diamond Tiara could think of anything else, her hoof came up and struck Silverspoon across the face. “Take it back!” she yelled, loud enough for half the school to hear her. They’d grabbed a small bit of attention before this but now had everypony’s eyes on them.

“I shouldn’t have to apologize for telling the truth!” Silverspoon mocked, using DT’s own flawed logic. It was clear she’d won. Diamond Tiara had no response to this. The only choice she had left was to say sorry, and Silverspoon would apologize too when she did. But as they stood there for a few moments, Diamond’s face changing expressions numerous times from anger, to confusion, to acceptance, back to anger. It became clear she wasn’t going to say it.

Eventually, Silverspoon just turned away and walked off, leaving Diamond Tiara still just standing there. Soon enough Diamond turned and walked away as well. She didn’t know where Silverspoon went and didn’t care. Why should she? It’s not like they were friends any more after all. And all because of Silverspoon’s stupid self-fulfilling prophecy.

Now to any outsider looking in on the fight, it was obviously just a little bicker between friends and they’d be over it in a few days. But DT didn’t know that. This was the first time anything like this had ever happened between Silverspoon and her.

Almost all the remaining lunch hour passed as she sat alone and sulked, off on the other side of the playground, somewhere she couldn’t see Silverspoon. There was probably only a few minutes or so left before the bell would ring and they’d all have to go back into class when Applebloom came up to her. “Are you alright Diamond Tiara?”

“What do you care?” she replied on instinct. She couldn’t see, or if she could she didn’t care, that Applebloom was trying to be nice to her, trying to cheer her up

“Ah saw you get inta a fight with Silverspoon. Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo are talkin’ to her right now. She’s real upset over whatever it is that happened between y’all.” she replied. Despite being teased by those two for who knows how long, she still didn’t like seeing other ponies so sad. Diamond Tiara wasn’t but Silverspoon had been crying quite hard. “So uh, what happened?”

“It’s none of your business, blank-flank!” Diamond retorted. The last thing she needed now was this one feeling sorry for her.

“Ah know it ain’t, but ah’m just trying ta help is all.”

“I don’t need help. Especially from some dumb country hick blank-flank like you! I don’t care if you wanna help or not. I hate you! I hate Twist! I hate Silverspoon!” she yelled. DT was absolutely furious that this filly was even trying to speak with her right now and offer her some sort of mock-support.

“Geez, ah was just tryin ta help is all. No need ta bite ma head off fer it.” Applebloom replied. Whatever compassion she had for Diamond Tiara was all but gone now.

“Go rut yourself.” Diamond replied flatly. If Applebloom was going to say anything in response, she was cut off by the school bell ringing. Instead she just frowned and turned to head back into the classroom, leaving Diamond Tiara out there alone. Just like she wanted to be. Alone.

As she walked off, Applebloom sighed softly to herself and muttered under her breath "I was just trying ta help..." but it was clear to her now, Diamond Tiara didn’t just dislike her and the rest of the Cutie Mark Crusaders. She didn’t just have a fight with her friend. She was just deep down a horrible pony and nothing would change that. Applebloom couldn’t imagine what it would be like to have no friends like DT now did. But if any pony deserved something like that is was definitely Diamond Tiara.

Author's Note

Not entirely sure I wrote Silverspoon that well. All I've ever read of he is being a side-kick and not really having much personality.
Which is weird seems I absolutely love her [those glasses are so cute!] that I haven't read much of her.
I guess I tried to make her seem sympathetic and sort of the good guy in this.

Letter know

Diamond Tiara never came back to class after lunch. She stayed out there for a while before finally just leaving the school altogether and heading home early. She hated them all so much right now. The reason she’d left the school: she’d finally started crying. But she had no reason to. She was right! She hadn’t said anything that wasn’t true and her friend… her… she didn’t even know what Silverspoon was to her anymore. But if Silverspoon didn’t have any friends like she’d claimed, then she'd brought it upon herself with this whole stupid argument.

But why did she have to bring it onto her as well? Silverspoon may no longer have any friends, but as a result neither did Diamond. She knew it wasn’t her fault… and that’s why it hurt so much. That somepony she used to call her friend had done this to her, that’s what had made her start crying. That’s why she’d left the school. If anypony saw her crying for no reason then… well, she’d suddenly have a reason to be. She’d be humiliated. She’d be called a cry baby by those babies who didn’t even have Cutie Marks!

DT just wanted to go home and lay in bed. What else could she really do? Normally after school she’d hang out with Silverspoon but that obviously wasn’t an option. Without her, nothing really seemed worth doing. So she just walked around Ponyville aimlessly for ages. Eventually, it must’ve been just about the time school would’ve finished anyway and she still hadn’t done anything but walk aimlessly.

And as luck would have it, Diamond Tiara ran into the one pony she hadn’t thought she’d even see today. The pony that had started all of this: Twist. “What do you want?” she said, more aggressively than usual. Twist hadn’t even seen her, let alone acknowledged her, and hated the ‘greeting’ she’d received. It wouldn’t matter for long though.

“N-noffing…” Twist squeaked out with her lisp as she dropped what she’d been carrying in her mouth. As much as Diamond Tiara hated Twist, Twist hated her just as much. But she also feared her that much too. “I waf, juft heading to fweet apple acref to leafe thif letter to let Applebloom... know fome fing.” Twist added, finishing in a tone so low and quiet, that one would usually only expect to hear from that yellow pegasus with the severe self-confidence issues.

“Pfft, can’t even talk to her in person? Yeah, I was totally right yesterday.” Diamond responded. She hadn’t wanted to see Twist, but this may be exactly what she needed to feel good about herself again. Somepony she was clearly superior to in every way.

“You’re right… I shthouldn’t…” Twist barely managed to say. Diamond Tiara had completely destroyed her yesterday. She and Silverspoon had tore into her for a full fifteen minutes before she’d finally just had enough and ran away crying. They ragged on everything about her. Her mane, her glasses, her lisp, her bent nose, her absolutely atrocious off-cream coat colour and how she was just so generally unattractive she’d never get a colt, not even Snips or Snails. And what she should just do...

Just remembering it tears started to well up in her eyes once more. Something that didn’t go unnoticed by Diamond Tiara. “Crying already? I haven’t even said anything yet. I guess I don’t even have to mention all the stuff wrong with you anymore. It’s good that you realise all of it yourself. Maybe you’ll fix it that way. But I won’t be holding my breath on that one. I doubt you even care enough to brush your messed up mane in the morning!”

“I brushth it every day… it’f juft… naturally…” Twists didn’t bother continuing. What was the point? Diamond Tiara was right. No matter how much she worked on how she looked, she was still ugly. She couldn’t fix her bent muzzle. And she couldn’t do anything about the way she spoke. Just… why bother? “I shthould… go.” she added, trying not to let this bully see her cry again. And failing at it.

“What happened to the letter you were going to deliver? Not even worth reading I guess. I doubt anything you’d write would be. That’s if you could even read your chicken-scratch writing." she teased. She'd have to try remember that line for Scootaloo too. This was EXACTLY what she needed. Some ugly mule who knew she was ugly to let bask in the glory, the perfection, the radiance that was Diamond Tiara. Sure she had used about half her weight in make up, hair care products and jewelry this morning alone to achieve it but she at least had the self-worth to even try to look good.

“It’f nothing… it doefn’t matter.” Twist admitted. It really didn’t. It would make no difference anyway. She just turned around on the spot and left the letter there on the ground. Diamond didn’t really notice it, just thinking of her own needs in the moment. But she had broken this filly. DT had shattered every shred of confidence the once cheery and happy-go-lucky young mare ever had. And honestly, if she had noticed, it probably would’ve just made the smirk on her face even bigger.

Once Twist had left, Diamond Tiara went over and picked up the letter. She looked at it for a moment and read what was written on the envelope. ‘To Applebloom’. Short and simple. She scrunched it up and threw it into a nearby bush. “Heh, what do you know… she can write afterall.”

~ ~

As Diamond Tiara lay in bed that night, a pillow tightly pulled into her chest with her hooves wrapped around it, she sobbed and quietly whimpered “Why did I say that?... Why didn’t I just say sorry? Why did she do that to me? I didn’t do anythi...” she couldn’t get any more words out coherently. She could barely even think coherently. Despite having given Twist a what-for, she still felt horrible, felt so depressed.

She didn't know it. But it was exactly how Twist felt. And had for quite a while now. Had...

Author's Note

I think I've used the word 'letter' as 'let her' in a chapter title before.

Finally we're getting to a bit of Twist's perspective. Both her and DT feel exactly the same and don't even know it.

Late for class

This morning was the same as yesterday. In every way. She waited, hoped, that Silverspoon would show up to walk to school together. But of course she never did. And by the time Diamond Tiara had finally accepted that, she was already going to be late for school even if she ran there. She thought about just skipping today but knew her father would find out about her leaving early yesterday sooner or later. Diamond thought better than doing it twice in a row. Being late was better than not going at all after all.

But with that being said, she still trudged to school at a snail’s pace. At one point even being passed by Snails who was also running late apparently. Once she finally arrived, DT quietly snuck up to her class room and peered inside. Silverspoon was there, the last tiny glimmer of hope that she simply hadn’t come to school today, that she’d been sick or something, and that’s why Silverspoon hadn't stopped by her place was shattered even though Diamond Tiara already knew why Silverspoon hadn’t came by.

As Diamond walked in, she expected to be questions as to why she was late by Cheerilee. Instead she noticed that her teacher wasn’t even in the room. DT took her seat by Silverspoon as usual. There wasn’t assigned seating or anything but everypony usually took the same chairs as always, and because she was so late, the only two seats she could take where next to her or between Snips and Snails. And one of those just wasn’t an option. She didn’t want to speak with Silverspoon and didn't plan to either. But to her shock “Did you see Cheerilee in the hall?”

It took Diamond Tiara by surprise. Sure she and Silverspoon had had a fight but at least she was being civil; speaking with her. “No, how long has she been gone?” Diamond replied, more concerned about whether or not she could pretend she'd been here much sooner than she really was. School had started nearly half an hour ago at this point.

“Since class began. She told us to take our seats and that she’d be back in a short while.” Silverspoon answered. It wasn’t uncommon for the teacher to let the class talk amongst themselves for a few minutes before she began a lesson but this seemed excessive. “I’m getting a bit worried, are you sure you didn’t see her in the hall?”

“What am I, blind?” DT said. Instantly regretting her choice of words.

“Fine, forget I asked…” Silverspoon grunted. She wasn’t really mad at her friend, and yes, they were still friends. Or she hadn’t been mad at least, even if she was a little so now. But she wanted to stay friends and added “If Cheerilee asks I’ll say you got here just after she left… ok?”

“Ye…” Diamond Tiara began but was cut short as the door opened and Cheerilee walked in. As if on queue, actually her walking in WAS there queue… the class as one called out “Good morning Cheerilee.” as they did every morning.

Usually she would respond with a ‘Good morning class’ of her own, but that never came today. Instead she walked over to her desk. Her eyes stuck towards the back of the class more, staring at Snips and Snails. Normally she looked happy and cheery, like her namesake. But that was nowhere in her expression right now. Whatever Snips and Snails had done must’ve been something really bad. They’d get in so much trouble… this was going to be good!

Mood lifted, Diamond Tiara awaited them to be called out. But that never happened as Cheerilee started to scan over the entire class, but still often looking back towards those two. Nearly a minute passed before somepony raised their hoof to ask a question. “Yes Applebloom?” she said solemnly.

“Are y’all alright Miss Cheerilee? Ya don’ look so good.” she spoke. And now that she she mentioned it, Diamond Tiara could see it too. She’d been more focused on what was going to happen than how Cheerilee herself was. The air of the classroom shifted to a more nervous feel as Diamond Tiara and most likely the rest of the class realise that this wasn’t going to be good after all… far from it.

“Yes Applebloom, I’m fine.” she managed to say with forced calmness. Cheerilee took a few steps past her desk and looked over the class once more before finally saying what she’d needed to. “I don’t know quite how to say this…” she really didn’t either, despite never having had trouble speaking in front of others. This was different though. “I… I regret to inform you…” that was too formal, or maybe just right. She had no idea. “A classmate has…”

The whole class was silent. None of them had seen their teacher like this before: crying. “Miss Cheerilee?” Applebloom said once more.

“One of our classmates has passed away.” this was greeted by silence for a few seconds before small whispers from nearly everypony could be heard. And it didn’t take long for them to figure out who. She was the only pony not here today. And Diamond Tiara was the first to say it out loud “Twist?”

And the first to know, without even needing to look.

Author's Note

What a Twist!

This is a little shorter than the others and even seems a bit rushed in places but I don't think I could lengthen it without taking away from it more than I would add.

Denial

“If… if any of you need to take today off…” Cheerilee stumbled over her words, trying to be strong for her students. She wasn’t closer to Twist herself than any other pony in her class. But had it been any other pony, she’d have been just as distraught. It was hard on her, but she needed to be strong for her students, and the parents of the deceased.”You may be excused.”

“Miss Cheerilee?” called Snips from the back row, sitting next to Twist’s old chair. His hooves raised high and fast, strained by the urgentness of his question. “It wasn’t Twist is it?” he asked. Caught up in her own pity Cheerilee had neglected to say who it actually was. “She’s not…?”

“I’m... afraid it was.” Cheerilee confirmed for the young colt. “Twist Drops is no longer with us, and has passed away. She was…” she cut herself off. Cheerilee may’ve been told more of the details but they didn’t need to know how and when the filly been found. Just the word ‘found’... Cheerilee thought she may need what she was about to offer for her student for herself. “If you need to speak with somepony, we have a councilor in this morning to help us through this time.”

Though Snips had been the first to ask, Snails was the first to cry. Everypony turned to look at him. None of them passed a single bead of judgement. Hell, a few of them were close to that themselves, and shortly after Snips was crying too. Cheerilee, for her part, managed to keep it inside as she walked to the back of the class, whispered something to them both, barely getting an intelligible answer of some sort before they stood and she walked them to the front of the room.

Before she left she called back to the rest of the classroom. “Does anypony else want to come see the counselor? I’m sure he’ll be able to help.” she was about to add more before Applebloom jumped right over her desk and galloped the short distance over other, a few tears falling out in the process. “It’s alright… you’re allowed to cry Applebloom.” Cheerilee added, putting a hoof over the filly.

Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo stood up too and walked over to their friend. A few more ponies shuffled in their seats but none stood up. A few had been thinking about just using this to get out of school but to their own credit, none of them did. Snails sobs got louder as he grabbed Snips and pulled him in close. “She can’t be dead!” he called out. And with that, Cheerilee thought it was time to leave.

“I’ll be back shortly. We’ll… today will be a light work day.” she said before walking the five children out of the room and towards the school’s staff room where the youth counsellor was waiting for them. Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo didn’t really know Twist that well, if at all, but wanted to be there for Applebloom. Snips and Snails never hung out with her outside of school, but had been sitting next to her since… forever. They considered her a close friend. But Applebloom, she barely even knew Twist anymore. But she used to… now she never would again.

The two colts continued to cry long after they’d been introduced to the councilor, Applebloom too shed a few tears every so often and even Sweetie Belle let a few out. Cheerilee, though wanting to speak as much as these five, had spent enough time away from the rest of her class already and quietly stepped out. When she got back to the classroom, just outside of the door was Diamond Tiara, looking around confused until she saw her teacher.

“Are you doing alright Diamond Tiara?” Cheerilee asked as DT walked over to her, trying to not look her in the eyes.

“Cheerilee?” she asked in response.

“It’s alright Diamond… it’s alright to feel sad. Do you want to speak with somepony about it too?” Cheerilee asked in her usual comforting voice. Of all the ponies to be broken up over this, Diamond Tiara was probably the last she expected. Diamond didn’t reply, she just looked up at her teacher. Her face looked as calm as normal, but Cheerilee could tell she’d cried a little. Silverspoon and Diamond Tiara where the only two ponies their age to wear make-up and DT’s was smeared around her eyes. “Alright, let’s take you to the staff room with the others.”

Despite what Cheerilee thought of Diamond Tiara and her bullying ways, she couldn’t help but take a small bit of pride in her for still caring this much about another of her students. It was bitter-sweet though and before Cheerilee could take a step towards the staff room “I know where it is.” Diamond Tiara said in her usual tone as she began off.

It may have sounded snide but it wasn’t. Not deep down at least. Diamond just didn’t want to show how much like crap she really felt right now. Cheerilee decided to let her go, she had a class to attend to and the office was barely twenty seconds away. But like she had this morning, DT trudged there slowly. She even stopped a few times and looked back towards the classroom before she made it there.

Unfortunately though, before she could go inside the door opened, and out stepped Applebloom. She was walking slowly too as she went to the nearby water fountain and took a drink. Once she finished, she turned and saw Diamond Tiara. Applebloom had splashed and washed her face at the fountain, wiping away most of her tears, along with getting a drink. Her mane was slightly wet as well. She stared, not really focusing, at Diamond Tiara for a few moments. Until her expressions changed.

“Why are you here?” she demanded.

“T-to…” Diamond stuttered. She didn’t want to show it to this blank-flank but she was in just as bad of a state as the pony she was talking to. Diamond Tiara may’ve been the last pony that Twist had spoken with… and what she’d said to her... but she wasn’t going to let this hick know that! “To speak with the counselor, what do you think I’m here for, a hooficure?”

“This isn’t a joke Tiara! An’ ah don’t appreciate you turnin’ it inta one.” Applebloom replied as she marched up to where DT stood by the door. “Go back ta class.” she stated.

“What?”

“Go back ta the class. This ain’t just some excuse fer ya ta get outta doing work,” Applebloom said as she marched right up against Diamond. “Dang it, she’s dead! Have some gosh darned respect fer once in your miserable life!” she added as more tears began to flow from her already reddened eyes.

“I-I am…” was all Diamond Tiara could get out before Applebloom continued.

“You don’ give a damn about her. You never liked her an’ you a’ways made funna her! Ah won’t let you crap all over her now that’s gone! Ah shouldn’ta let ya dun it before neither!” despite how quietly she was saying all this, so that the still crying Snips and Snails didn’t have to hear it, Applebloom was furious!

“But I want to…”

“Go rut yourself.” Applebloom repeated what Diamond Tiara had told her yesterday, then didn’t give her a chance to respond as she opened the door and slipped back inside. Closing it behind her, in Diamond Tiara’s face.

~ ~

Nearly three hours passed before anypony left the staff room again. It was lunchtime when they did. The five of them were leaving early that day and going to Twist’s house along with Twist's older sister Bon-Bon who’d showed up not long ago now. They took a moment to speak with Cheerilee and tell her they were leaving with the mare. Cheerilee grabbed six of the notes she’d been writing for her students to give to their parents.

The notes where to inform the parents of the death and give them some possible warning to look for signs of depression or give their children the death speech. As she went to pass out the six notes, she noticed something looking over the group but wasn’t the first to voice it. “Excuse me Cheerilee?” came Silverspoon. “Where’s Diamond Tiara? I thought she was with all of you?”

Author's Note

Twist's full name being 'Twist Drops' is meant to relate to Bon-bon's canon name actually being 'Sweetie Drops'. And my head canon is that Bon-bon is either Twist's sister or mother: closely related in some way.

Rejected chapter name idea: Bon-bonds

Bargaining

She stood out front of the room for nearly half an hour, wondering if she should go in anyway or just return to the classroom. Diamond Tiara could’ve sworn she’d heard her name at least once through the door. Eventually though, she decided to just return to the classroom. But instead of entering, she just kept walking on past. Nopony noticed as she left the school for the second day in a row.

This was easily the worst she’d ever felt. And she’d felt it for two days now. Diamond just wanted to go home, wait for Daddy to come home too and then go out shopping, buy something to take her mind away from all this. Maybe a few things, maybe a lot of things. Or maybe just go home and cry in her bed just like she had done last night.

As she walked home, DT couldn’t help but notice something about this particular spot as she passed by. It wasn’t anything special, it was just some spot on her way home that she passed everyday to and from school. Halfway between home and Sweet Apple Acr… this was where she’d spoken to Twist yesterday. Though ‘spoken’ wasn’t what it had really been.

Diamond Tiara stopped in place, a few steps away from where she’d stood yesterday and stared at the empty air where Twist had been. She’d told Twist such horrible things. Things that may’ve been the last words the filly had ever heard before she was killed. But that wasn’t the reason Diamond remembered the spot.

What had jogged her memory was Sweet Apple Acres, and the letter that Twist had been going to give to Apple Bloom. DT quickly ran towards the bush she’d thrown the scrunched letter, hoping to find at. It wasn't, but she found it shortly after, not far from the bush she’d tossed it in. Unscrunching the envelope, she began to open it. If what she had said to Twist the day earlier had been the last thing she’d heard, then these may be the last words she’d have said.

Apple Bloom,
We were once friends. Thank you for putting up with somepony like me.
I must’ve annoyed you so much but you still hung around me.
I can’t blame you for stopping though, I guess I would’ve too if I had made better friends.
You’re more beautiful than I am. Smarter. And even with your accent you still speak better than I do.
Maybe Diamond Tiara’s right. I don’t have anything to live for. Maybe I should just kill myself like she said.
What do I mean maybe? If you’re reading this then I’m already dead.
I’m truly grateful you ever let me hang out with you and I’m happy that I was able to call you my friend. Even if only for a short time.
I hope you get your Cutie Mark soon, I know you will.
Goodbye.
Twist

Diamond Tiara stood there staring at the letter. She’d been focused on what she’d said to Twist yesterday that she’d forgotten about what she’d said the day before. ‘Ugly, stupid and can’t even speak properly. You’ve got nothing to live for. Why don’t you just kill yourself and get it over with?’ Before this Diamond had only thought that she’d insulted her, assumed she’d been killed or died in an accident. But now… “I… I killed her…”

~ ~

Silverspoon took off the moment she heard that Cheerilee thought Diamond Tiara was with the other five. Unlike DT, Silverspoon still had the day before last’s conversation in her head, though she too assumed Twist had died by accidental means, but there was still a thread of doubt in her mind over it. Before Diamond had left the classroom, she’d even said ‘I can’t believe she got killed.’

Silverspoon’s only guess as to where Diamond Tiara was, was at her house. She sprinted there as fast as she could, arriving there in ten minutes flat, completely out of breath. She was panting heavily as she knocked on the door. Silverspoon didn’t have time to catch her breath however as what little breath she could muster was used to call out “Diamond Tiara! It’s me, open up!” but got no response.

Silverspoon didn’t know for sure if Diamond was even there but she kept on knocking and calling for her friend. She was beyond worried. She’d never expected her to take anything this hard. The filly hadn’t seemed to even have taken their fight yesterday this hard. Silverspoon eventually stopped hollering and started to think. She knew there was an emergency key nearby somewhere.

After searching around for a short while, she eventually found it by the back door, hidden literally right under the door handle, and she only found it because she was shorter than the handle was high: seeing right underneath it. Silverspoon opened it up and walked in, calling out once more “Diamond Tiara! Mister Rich?! I’m coming in!” she announced, her voice clearly coming from inside now.

“Go away!” came Diamond’s voice from upstairs. Silverspoon went up them and found another obstacle, this one she couldn’t get past however. DT’s door was closed and locked. She approached the door and knocked. “I said go away!” Diamond Tiara yelled through the door once more. Now that she was closer to her friend’s room, she could easily tell that she was crying as she spoke.

“I’m not going anywhere!” Silverspoon called back. “We need to talk…” she added. For all Silverspoon knew, Diamond Tiara still thought they were fighting. Her friend didn’t need that right now on top of this. “I’m not mad at you anymore. I’m sorry I said all that stuff!” but it didn’t help anything. In fact it only made things worse.

The fight they’d gotten into was about Diamond not saying sorry. Because she hadn’t said anything that wasn’t true and didn’t have anything to be sorry for. And she hadn’t said anything about Twist that wasn't true... and yet this was all her fault. “I killed her Sil! She’s dead because I told her to kill herself! You know it too.”

“It’s not your fault! We don’t even know how she died. She could’ve been eaten for all we kn…” Silverspoon stopped abruptly as a ruffled piece of paper slipped under the door.

“She killed herself! She killed herself because I told her to!” and just like Diamond Tiara, Silver Spoon could only read the first half of the letter, stopping and staring at where it mentioned Diamond Tiara’s name. It was confirmation that Twist had taken her own life. But it was more as well. There was the outside chance that something else had driven her to it. But then there was being mentioned by name in a suicide note.

Neither said another word to each other through the door. There was no denying now that Diamond Tiara was responsible for Twist’s death.

Author's Note

I'm back! Sorry about that month absence. I had to go off and do this!
This chapter would've been out LAST week but my comp died while uploading th^is and thus resulted in this...

Ok, 'Bargaining' doesn't really fit this chapter to well but from here out the names will be the 5 stages of grief.

Anger

Of all the CMC, Applebloom was the only one who really knew Twist. The other two had only come along to support her. Otherwise they suspected that she would be just like Snips and Snails where right now. They’d mostly stopped crying, at least until they’d gotten here with Twist’s sister.

The six of them entered Twist’s room and Bon-Bon left them be. The room was gorgeous, plush even by Sweetie Belle’s standard and strewn throughout were recipe books, baking trays and bags of flour and sugar. Unfortunately, it smelled rather bad. The flour wasn’t the only ingredient Twist had left laying in her room for who knows how long. Scootaloo had some other ideas about what made the smell regarding how long it had been until Twist had been found, but didn’t voice the concerns.

They’d been told: how and when she’d been found. Late last night, with a bottle of her mother’s medication completely emptied out. They hadn’t been told how sad she’d been lately but they could guess. You don't just accidently take a whole bottle of pills and Applebloom knew Diamond Tiara and Silverspoon often made fun of her like they did herself. That that bitch had taken her death as an excuse to ditch school... Applebloom planned on beating the snot out of her next time they met.

The two had grown apart after Twist had gotten her Cutie Mark. But there were other factors as well. While both Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle were slightly older than Apple Bloom, neither of them had grown into themselves yet. And it wasn’t just their Cutie Marks either. Sweetie Belle couldn’t use magic and Scootaloo couldn’t fly. And Applebloom’s natural earth pony strength hadn’t quite developed yet, either.

All three of them still had those abilities, just in minor amounts. A pegasus’ wing-strength grows as they get older, a unicorn’s magic strengthens too and an earth pony naturally gets stronger with age. While Applebloom was easily the strongest of the three, the other two also had their own strength. All three’s abilities develop at roughly the same speed, however it’s more noticeable with unicorn and pegasus where you go from not flying to flying or no magic to magic, in a on or off type deal. Earth ponies however have more of a one through one-hundred scale of their fully developed natural gift.

Looking over the room, Applebloom got the urge to clean up a little. Bags of ingredients were spilled here and there and spoiled supplies were commonplace. And Twist’s ‘concoction’ table was covered in books and bowls and what was hopefully melted sugar. “Ya know, this room hasn’t changed at all since ah was last here…” Applebloom sighed, in equal parts nostalgia and grief.

The cleaning went rather fast. There was a lot of stuff but most of it was centred around her table, which apparently even had an oven and stove top built into it now. It was a new thing to Applebloom that hadn’t been there before. Snips and Snails didn’t help too much, they were over by Twist’s bed, looking at her plushies and overly soft blankets that covered it. Both with a guilty look of longing and missed opportunity with her. She may’ve been blind to it, but anypony could tell those two colts had had a crush on her as long as either could remember.

But most of all, was the journal sitting on her bedside draw that gave them pause the most. Even if she was gone, it would be an invasion of privacy. Eventually Snips picked it up. He didn’t open it but something beside it caught his eye. “H-hey Applebloom.” he choked out. “There’s a letter here for you.” he managed to say as he levitated it over to her.

“Fer me? You... you sure?” she questioned as she grabbed it out of the air. It was definitely for her, with ‘To Applebloom’ written on the front of it in what was clearly Twist’s hoof writing but less neat than she remembered it. Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle came up beside her as she opened up the envelope and began to read. Before she had gotten past the first sentence, Sweetie Belle, the fastest reader of the three, gasped.

And soon enough both Applebloom and Scootaloo saw what had made her do so. “She wouldn’t really… would she?” questioned Scootaloo. She knew Diamond Tiara was a jerk but to tell somepony to kill themselves? “I am going to kick her flank!” she yelled. But was stopped by Applebloom, putting her hoof up in front of her friend.

“No…” she said forcefully before adding “Ah am! An’ ah’m gonna do so much more than kick her flank.” her voice was deep and cold.

“Applebloom?...” Sweetie Belle said, slightly scared. As she should be. “Don’t do anything rash…”

Without waiting, she bolted out of the room. Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle stood there for a moment before chasing after her. Leaving Snips and Snails in there alone. The two went over to the letter Applebloom had dropped and picked it up as Bon-Bon walked back in to see what had happened. The three read together, and from what they saw; Snips and Snails couldn’t help but cry heavily once more.

~ ~

Applebloom sprinted at top speed toward Diamond Tiara’s house, making it there in record time. Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle shortly behind her saw Applebloom knock heavily on the door a few times. There was some muffled noise they couldn’t hear coming from inside. They caught up to her and stood alongside her. Applebloom turned, reared up and bucked the door, kicking it open.

“Applebloom!” Sweetie Belle called out and tried to grab her friend, as did Scootaloo, but she slipped past and into the house.

“Where the hell is she!?” yelled Applebloom towards Silverspoon, who had been sitting on a couch in the middle of the house, crying into a pillow before this. She knew why they were here. Moreover, she knew she had to stop them from making things any worse for her friend.

“Wha… the door…? You, you don’t…” of course she didn’t exactly have the words to do so. Applebloom ran past her. Silverspoon got up and yelled “Don’t! Don’t go in there!” not that Applebloom would listen to her. She wouldn’t have listened to anypony for that matter. To Applebloom, Silverspoon was just as bad as Diamond Tiara and surely had a part in those words too. “Leave her alone!” she added as she sprinted towards Applebloom, tackling her away from Diamond’s door.

But before she could do anything more, she was out cold. One hard hoof from Applebloom was all it took. “Diamond Tiara!” she called out, getting up from the short tussle. They could hear a muffled whimpering coming from the only closed door. Applebloom moved in front of it, and after what they’d just seen, neither Scootaloo nor Sweetie Belle dared stop her. “Ah’m ganna kill you!” she yelled as she bucked at the door, smashing it open.

As she stepped into the room, with full intention to kill this little filly, anger printed into her scowl like she had never had before, it all instantly vanished at what she saw. Standing there was Diamond Tiara; tears running down her face, her mane disheveled beyond belief and half of her tiara on her head, the other half in her hoof. But what cause Applebloom pause the most was was the noose around her neck.

Diamond Tiara then kicked the chair from under her.

Author's Note

Remember how I said a few chapters back Twist and diamond Tiara felt EXACTLY the same? Well... now you know.

And her tombstone read: Diamond Taira - an hero

Depression

She dove, catching Diamond Tiara before she could fall. But Applebloom could only hold her so high, and the noose was digging into Diamond’s neck tightly. Applebloom’s forehooves where wrapped around her hind legs just as tightly, holding DT up. Applebloom, standing on her own hind legs, barely had a grip on Diamond’s and she was slowly slipping downwards. “Girls help!” she cried back to Scootaloo and Sweetie Selle.

“Jusk… lek… me die!” Diamond Tiara literally choked out as her eyes looked downward at Applebloom, while her head remained pointed up, held in place by the rope. All she could see was the tip of the bow on Applebloom’s head and all she remembered of the filly was the look of sheer fury she’d worn when the door had been broken down.

Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle rushed in, lending their strength to help hold Diamond up. But it was a losing battle. Diamond Tiara’s face had already gone past already bright red and was slowly fading in colour now. They couldn’t lift her high enough to get the noose from off her neck. Not like this at least, and in their awkward angle, standing on her rear legs, Applebloom’s strength was quickly fading.

“Cut the rope!” Applebloom yelled, barely, more focused now on keeping the girl in her hooves alive.

“Don’k…” Diamond Tiara barely even whimper but went completely unheard by all three of the other fillies.

Scootaloo found a way to grab onto Diamond and started lifting her alongside Applebloom while Sweetie Belle dashed around the room looking for anything that could be used to sever the rope, flinging pencils and paper off of a small desk and ripping the draws completely out in panic. “I can’t find anything!”

Applebloom refused to let go of DT. Scootaloo, opposite Applebloom lifting Diamond too, her wings buzzed furiously trying to give her any extra lift. It helped slightly as the two managed to start to gain some height, allowing Applebloom to look up. She couldn’t see it until now but Diamond had already passed out and every second she stayed like this she got closer to death. “No…” she muttered staring up at the filly.

“Cut the damn rope already!” yelled Scootaloo before giving a strong shove upwards before she lost her grip on Diamond Tiara and let her just fall. It was over… Scootaloo looked down at Diamond Tiara, now laying on top of Applebloom on the floor. The rope had been cut. She turned to Sweetie Belle, seeing her stare wide-eyed back at her. “Did... did you cut that with magic?”

The light around her horn extinguished, though she hadn’t realised it had been glowing. “Y-yeah… I think.” Sweetie Belle said, looking down at DT and Applebloom below Scootaloo. Her gaze then turned to her friend above them. “You’re… flying!” she said with excitement and happiness for her friend that she’d finally been able to fly… then realising “I used magic!”

Scootaloo too only just noticed it herself once Sweetie Belle had pointed it out to her. And as a result quickly lost control, banking sideways and falling from the air. Her wings hurt from straining them so hard to lift Diamond, she had just kept that pace up once the weight was gone. That thought was interrupted though but a sharp gasp by Diamond Tiara.

Applebloom rolled Diamond off of her and quickly removed the noose. She didn’t know what she had expected from DT but it wasn’t this. “Wh-what are you going to do to me?” she asked with more terror in her voice than Applebloom had ever heard from anypony before. “If you’re go-going to kill me then, then why not just let me do it!?” Diamond demanded. She had it in her mind that they’d saved her just so they could torture her first.

As Applebloom put a hoof over her neck to look at the injury DT flinched just from her movement. “Ah don’t want you to die…” Applebloom said, trying to calm the filly. Naturally it had no effect. She would’ve said more but before she could came a shout…

“Get away from her!” yelled Silverspoon as she shakily stood at the broken-in door frame, leaning against it before flopping down onto the ground. Her head ached and she easily had a concussion. But despite that, despite having fallen over, she tried to get to her hooves and half crawled over towards them. Managing to get to her hooves, she took a few more steps before seeing the noose.“No!” she shouted and lunged at Applebloom.

Missing her completely. But the noose was underneath her, she wouldn’t let them have it to use on her friend. “Just… let them…” Diamond Tiara told Silverspoon. “Let them kill me. I… I don’t want to…”

Silverspoon lunged at Applebloom, this time actually aiming for her and tackling her down. It hadn’t worked out for her so well last time but it’s all she could think of to do, “Don’t hurt her!” she screamed as she slammed her hoof into Applebloom’s jaw. “Don’t hurt my friend!”

Applebloom threw Silverspoon off of her and got to her hooves. She then walked over to Silverspoon and put her hoof down against her. “Ah ain’t ganna hurt her,” she said as she helped Silverspoon up onto her own hooves. She turned back towards Diamond Tiara to see Scootaloo as Sweetie Belle both sitting next to her, both looking at herself and Silverspoon.

But most of all, she saw Diamond Tiara staring at the two of them. Not crying, not quite sad but not quite happy either. “Am… am I your friend? Really?...” she practically begged of Silverspoon.

Silverspoon didn’t answer at first. DT’s heart sank until finally Silverspoon’s head processed what she'd heard. “Y-yes.” she whimpered, and ran over to her. Tripping in her dazed state halfway there but luckily landing on Diamond in a tight hug. “Of course I am!” she said quietly but with more passion than any words she’d ever used before.

Diamond Tiara was in tears once again. She couldn’t say they were tears of joy, not entirely, but they partially where. She still hurt so much inside. And even with a friend, she still wanted to die. And most of all, despite what Applebloom had said, she still thought she was going to. Now, maybe Silverspoon too. “Please don’t hurt her too…” she pleaded with all around her.

“We’re not going to hurt you.” Sweetie Belle said, trying not to cry herself.

“We just saved you for pony’s sake!” added Scootaloo, a lot more calm about all this than either of her two friends.

“Saved her?” Silverspoon asked, pulling her head away from Diamond Tiara to look at Scootaloo, but not releasing her grip on her friend.

Applebloom plopped down beside them, opposite Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo, the noose in mouth. She spat it out and said “We weren't the one who put that ‘round her neck.” Silverspoon didn’t quite seem to understand. “She put it on herself. Ah don’t think she’d be here no more if we hadn’t shown up…” she said with just as much pride as she did guilt.

“Why would you?...”

“Because I deserve it!” DT cried. “I killed her! Twist is dead because of me and I should be too! I killed her, I ki-i-i-i-i-illled h-er-er-er-er-er…” she lost it once more. Diamond just started bawling. It kept up for a good amount of time before she finally calmed enough to say “Why do you even care? Why do any of you care?!” she asked facing Silverspoon.

“Because I’m your friend.”

“Why do they care? They hate me! I hate them…” Diamond Tiara rebutted.

“I don’t hate you.” Sweetie Belle answered. “I may not be your friend, but I don’t hate you. I even just used magic for the first time to save you! I’ve never been able to before… I mean, that means something, right?”

“Yeah it does!” added Scootaloo “And I flapped my wings so hard trying to keep you up I ended up flying for the first time too!”

“And ah…” Apple Bloom began. “And ah… uh…?” she paused. “Dang it… but I still helped ya. Ah wouldn’t wanna see ya dead over this too. It… it ain’t your fault.”

“Shut up!” Diamond shouted. “You don’t care, stop pretending! You’re not my friends so stop acting like you are!” and with that Silverspoon hugged her tighter, and Diamond Taira could feel tears that weren't her own. “I mean… you are Silverspoon. Y-you’re my friend.”

And before Silverspoon could reply, Diamond felt a hoof on her shoulder. “She's not your only friend.” Applebloom said before being joined by two other pony’s hooves alongside her own.

“But I…”

“It’s not you’re fault Diamond Tiara…” Applebloom said, a few tears falling from her eyes too. Sweetie Belle was crying deeply at this point, and despite doing her best to hide it and hold it back, a few escaped from Scootaloo as well. Applebloom could see the next words from DT before she even formed them “It ain’t yer fault. Ah don’t blame you for it… and even if it where, ah forgive you… because…

That’s what friends do.”

Author's Note

That 'I used magic', 'I flew', 'I uh... dang it' bit is based on a small comic based on the opening of the Babs Seed ep at the train station. If someone knows where I can find that comic, please link it to me!

Oh and yeah... emotiony stuff in the story too.

Acceptance

Silverspoon hadn’t left her side. Not once. Literally not once. The bathrooms got awkward. But she absolutely refused to leave Diamond Tiara’s side for the last three days. You could say Silverspoon was as much to blame for what happened to Twist has DT was, and you would be right. But Diamond took it so much harder. Though if you asked anypony else...

Applebloom, Sweetie Belle, Scootaloo and even Snips and Snails had said they didn’t blame her. Twist’s sister Bon-Bon however… they were sure if they hadn’t stopped her that she had intended on killing Diamond Tiara just like Applebloom had. And while really that was only beat the living hay out of her and not actually kill her, it was still a very heavy situation they’d had to deal with.

Naturally she hadn’t been to school since then, not that much of her class had either. Today was Friday, and every student and Cheerilee was here today. It was Twist’s funeral. Bon-Bon wasn’t thrilled about Diamond Tiara being there. DT wasn’t too thrilled about it either. It was a ‘celebration of Twist’s life’ and for all the things she’d said about the filly, Diamond didn’t know Twist at all.

Still, every part of it hurt her. Every word from the parent’s eulogy, every little fact she learnt about Twist after it was too late, it all just dug into her. But what hit her the hardest was when asked if anypony would like to speak, Applebloom stepped forward. She, along with Silverspoon, had been there constantly for her. And as thankful as Diamond was, that fact her hurt too. Diamond Tiara knew that Applebloom wanted to… no, needed to grieve. But because of her, she was never given the chance.

Once she took the stage, Applebloom didn’t start speaking right away. Instead she just looked out over the crowd, looking towards Twist’s family, towards her own family in attendance and then to her friends. And while Applebloom called Diamond Tiara her friend, Diamond still didn’t believe it was anything more than not wanting the guilt that hung over her head about Twist over Applebloom’s head about herself.

“Me and Twist… we were friends. Ah don’t know if she knew that. Ah hope she did, ah really do. Ah don’t know how she musta felt… ta think ya’self so alone. That nopony’d care if yer gone.” she paused for a moment. “Ponies‘ll always care. Even if you don’t think they will! And, and ah’m asking all’a ya. Ah’m BEGGIN’ y’all... please. Ah know so many of ya think it. But it ain’t Diamond Tiara’s fault.”

Diamond up until now had been looking down at the ground, at Silverspoon’s hoof over her own. She instantly looked up at Applebloom when she heard it. She knew it, knew half the class blamed her. Knew Twist’s sister and likely her parents blamed her too. She wouldn’t even be surprised if Silverspoon secretly blamed her. But she was surprised that maybe... perhaps, Applebloom didn’t.

“She’s been hurtin’ just as much as any’a us. Some’a you need somepony ta blame… ah get that. Ah did too. But don’t go blamin’ her! Blame… me, if ya have ta blame somepony. Like ah said, me and Twist, we were friends… ‘were’. Ah think ah may’ve been her only friend ta ever hang out wit’ her outside’a school. Than ah stopped. Ah don’t blame Diamond Tiara. It ain’t her fault. Ah, ah blame maself!”

Applebloom finished and walked away. She had planned to say more. She just didn’t think she’d be able to though. She’d planned out exactly what she would say over and over earlier that morning. In the moment though, it had all gone out the window. Aside from the first few words, nothing she’d said had been part of that plan. A few steps away from her place in the crowd she was met by a hug from her older sister not a metre away from Diamond Tiara who could easily see the tears rolling down her friend’s face… her friend.

A few more ponies spoke on Twist’s behalf. Some brighter, some darker, some understandable and one who barely got out a single comprehensible word out. Once that finished, it was time for the final farewells. It was a closed casket, with a simple picture of Twist smiling happily on top of it. Family went first, followed by Applebloom, Snips and Snails, then Cheerilee, before ponies DT didn’t really know followed. Then lastly a few ponies from her class and others from town went and paid their respects.

Applebloom returned from the front, Snips and Snails not far behind. “D’you wanna say anything Diamond?” she said, indicating towards the casket.

“What can I even say?” she replied. It was true, she had no idea what to say. In fact, those had even been her first words she’d said aloud since arriving at the wake.

“It don’ matter what you say, ya don’t have ta say anything even… just… just go up and show her that you’ll miss her.” Applebloom said with a smile as she put a hoof onto her friend’s shoulder. “Ya will miss her, won’t ya?”

Diamond Tiara took a moment to answer, but she did. “Yes…” and she began forwards. Halfway there, she looked to her left, then to her right and noticed something. For the first time in three day now, Silverspoon wasn’t by her side. And naturally, despite having wanted her gone so many times since then, she felt she needed her there more than ever.

DT began to turn around, her courage and will to see Twist suddenly all but gone. And yet, as she did Diamond saw her. No, she saw them. All of them. Silverspoon, Applebloom, Sweetie Belle, Scootaloo, Snips and Snails. They were all staring at her. But it wasn’t the stare she’d been getting from other ponies. There was no blame, no hate, no anything other than compassion and possibly even admiration from a few.

And she may have imagined it, and probably had seem this was a funeral, but Diamond Tiara swore she had seen Applebloom giving her an approving smile. And that’s all she needed. Silverspoon may not be by her side, but instead she had six friends at her back. She’d once thought she knew the pain of having nopony that Twist had been feeling. But she knew from this day on, she never would again.

All that aside however, as she closed the last few steps up to the coffin, she felt that stare she’d been feeling earlier once again. Such blame and hatred… Bon-Bon was standing next to her as she came to a halt. Diamond had killed her sister, she couldn’t blame the mare for hating her. The two locked eyes for a moment before Diamond broke away. Bon-bon though kept her gaze locked on the filly even after they had broken eye contact.

But… she hadn’t killed Twist. What DT had done was horrible yes, but it wasn’t her fault Twist had died. Applebloom and all the others assured her of that. And Diamond Tiara knew it too. It wasn’t her fault. And she truly believed it wasn’t her fault. She had nothing to be guilty over, nothing at all… and yet. “I’m sorry…” she whispered, putting a hoof onto the coffin and looking at the smiling picture of Twist atop of it. “I’m sorry!” she cried much louder than the last.

Diamond Tiara slumped onto the casket and cried. It was all she could do. She had nothing to say sorry for and yet it’s all she could think to say. She was there for nearly a minute before she felt a hoof on her shoulder. Diamond just kept her face up against the wooden box for a short while longer. Eventually she lifted herself away and turned to thank her friend for their support. But it wasn't any of them, it was Bon-Bon’s hoof on her shoulder. And she had just as many tears running down her face as DT did.

Diamond Tiara lunged at the mare, wrapping her hooves around Bon-Bon as she in turned wrapped her hooves around Diamond. “I know… I know my sister. She, she…” Bon-bon trailed off. She couldn’t bring herself to say it. As much as she hated this filly in her hooves, she knew what she was going to say was true, and honestly, she felt it herself. “I knew my little sister…”

“She forgives you.”

Cloding credits music

Author's Note

An overview of the ideas that created this fic:

This is a spiritual prequel to my story Happy Anniversary Sug in that it’s inspired by a small bit of backstory I mention in it but not completely in it's fanon. If it was then Scootaloo would be gone, living in Cloudsdale and Applebloom would already have gotten her Cutie Mark as a result of events leading from her beating the shit out of Diamond. It seemed a bit much to put into this seems it wasn’t really relevant.

Original idea was that DT already had some depression issues and teasing others made herself feel better. When she got really down on herself she called those ‘Diamond Days’.
However some of those elements stayed in place. Like how DT got her 'self-esteem boost' for the day in chapter one. Also for the first two chapters I was writing this with the already being depressed idea in mind and as such the scene where she's lying in bed crying was at the end of chapter 3 was originally at the end of chapter 1.

[There was some really creepy stuff here involving Filthy Rich that I deleted]

That's about all there is to say and yet I still feel I should say more.
Oh and if you haven't figured it how by how many times I plugged it already, I want you to go read Happy Anniversary Sug.
All 40 chapter, 600 pages, 300000 words. Because seems this a prequel then that is the sequel.
It's basically a soap opera with ponies.
And while you're at it, thumbs up, favourite, comment, follow and yada yada yada... all that self promotey stuff!
I have about 50 views per new chapter and only 13 thumbs up at this point in time and if you've read this far you clearly like the story. Click it! Or better yet, comment. comments mean so much more to me than favs or likes!

The song at the end was Geeky McGeekstein: Closer English Fandub - Naruto Shippudden and if you didn't listen to it, I highly recommend it.

Any way, thanks for reading, much love.
Bysen.