Twisted

"Blank flank, blank flank, never gonna get a date!" Diamond Tiara laughed, her namesake sparkling in her mane as she grinned cruelly at Sweetie Belle. Twist pawed at the ground nervously, staring at her admiringly. She couldn't help it, Diamond was just so pretty! She glanced down at her peppermint sticks and bit one gently. It crumbled and melted in her mouth the way her recipe said. She wished she could be Diamond's friend, and be pretty.

"Where you going blank flanks?", Silver Spoon called out. Twist sighed. She felt nothing but contempt for the grey filly, despite her adoration of Diamond. Silver wasn't pretty like Diamond was, nor was she as creative, or smart. She gave a soft sigh, looking at her cutie mark, then up at Sweetie, who was making her way across the schoolyard, heading for the secret clubhouse Scootaloo kept bragging about. She picked up her saddlebags, then headed for home, the late afternoon shining in her mane.

"Psssst!" Twist frowned. She'd been hearing the whispers all day, but no one had tried to tell her yet.

"Psssssst!" The whisper grew more insistent, and she could tell it was a different pony.

"Pssst, Twist!" She glanced behind her. The Cutie Mark Crusaders were waving at her to get her attention.

"What ith it?", she asked, cocking her head slightly.

"Did you hear what everypony is saying?", Scootaloo asked, grinning wickedly.

"No. Ith it thomething bad?"

"Not to us, but to Filthy Rich, maybe.", Sweetie replied.

"Snips and Snails caught Diamond Tiara with Silver Spoon yesterday.", Apple Bloom exclaimed, still in a whisper.

"I don't underthtand. Thilver Thpoon and Diamond Tiara are alwayth together."

"Yeah but it was different this time! Diamond Tiara is a filly-fooler!", Scootaloo laughed.

"What'th a filly-fooler?", Twist inquired. The trio of fillies behind her exchanged a look.

"Um... Never mind Twist.", Apple Bloom said, and they started whispering amongst themselves.

Twist was on her way home, the birds singing, doing what Fluttershy called 'independent practice', the sun shining, and a nice breeze blowing through her mane. She smiled, starting to hum. Suddenly, she heard an angry yell from somewhere to her left.

"You careless, stupid, worthless whorse!" She frowned. That was Diamond. But this was different than her normal teasing voice. This one had an undertone of panic, and more than a little fear.

"I'm sorry! I forgot that Snips and Snails asked me to help them learn more about yo- I mean-"

"Are you telling me that you were going to rat everything about me out to those little perverts?!"

"W-well- I-"

"Out of everyone here in Ponyville I thought I could trust you! But I guess I was wrong! I'm going to find friends better than you!" She heard hoofsteps approaching and began walking.

"Ner- Gee- Twist!" Twist stopped. Diamond was speaking to her? And using her real name? Her heart swelled happily. Maybe she'd want to be friends now!

"H-hi Diamond.",she said, her voice a strange mixture of nervousness and cheer.

"Twist, I'm throwing a sleepover, and Silver isn't invited, do you want to come instead?", Diamond asked, cutting right to the chase. Twist opened her mouth to reply, only for Diamond to cut her off. "Great, see you then." The pink filly immediately set off, leaving Twist kind of stumped.

"...Okay.", she replied slowly, as she began heading out for home again. She had a bag to pack.

"Miss Tiara, your friend is here." A butler nodded to Diamond, who lay on her bed reading a magazine.

"About time. Come in, Twist." Twist walked in, grinning from ear to ear.

"Hi Diamond! Thith plathe ith thuper!", she exclaimed, grinning.

"Okay, so you've never done this before-"

"Yes I have, I have sleep-"

"-so we'll need to go over a few rules. One, don't touch anything. Two, don't do anything I don't tell you to do." Twist bit her lip nervously.

"O-okay... What are we gonna do firtht?"

"Makeovers." An hour later, Twist was dressed in a golden gown, and her hair was still curly, but in a pretty way. Diamond laughed.

"There might just be hope for you yet, Twist."

"Ith it your turn now?" As accustomed to sleepovers as Twist was, makeovers were something she'd never done. Diamond laughed.

"Oh Twist, I don't need one, you did." Twist's stomach sank and she blinked back tears.

'It's okay, this is what you wanted.', she thought, and she nodded as if in agreement. There was a knock on the door.

"Miss Tiara, dinner is ready."

"Thank you Silver Platter." Diamond walked down to the dining room, where two plates of roses lay in a tangy hibiscus sauce. She sat down and started eating, not bothering to wait for Twist.

That night, Twist glanced around Diamond's room in an unsure way.

"Hey Diamond, where do I thleep?"

"On my bed, Twist, don't be dumb." Twist shrugged and climbed up beside her. Diamond glanced at her.

"Hey Twist, wanna play a secret sleepover game that no one can know about?", she asked suddenly.

"Thure!", Twist exclaimed happily. Diamond wrapped her arms around Twist and suddenly pressed her lips against hers. Twist stiffened in her arms, then relaxed into it and kissed back, rather clumsily. After a few more seconds Diamond pulled away, took a breath, and started kissing her again, harder. Twist parted her lips and Diamond shoved her tongue into Twist's mouth. This went on for a minute or two and then Diamond pulled away again, and rolled over, falling asleep. Twist stared, confused. She'd just had her first kiss taken by Diamond Tiara... That wasn't normal, was it? In all the books she'd read it was a strong, handsome stallion who took the girl's first kiss... She frowned, and got up, picking up her saddlebag, and heading out the door. She paused by the door and took a glance back at the pink filly. She looked more beautiful than she did at school, with her soft mane splayed out about her face, like a halo. She looked innocent, peaceful. Twist's heart fluttered. It was nice to see her seem happy. She closed the door on her way out, carefully, so as not to wake her. Anything to keep her in that good place.

Twist hurried into town square, heading straight for the stall that sold the peppermint she used.

"Twist! Twist!" The three Cutie Mark Crusaders rushed over to her.

"Hi!", Twist exclaimed happily, waving. "What are you three up to?" She stared at their soaked manes and the contraptions on their heads.

"We just went scuba diving!", Sweetie explained, shaking her mane.

"Yeah and it was lame! There weren't even any fish!", Scootaloo rolled her eyes. Apple Bloom and Sweetie shot her a look.

"That's because y'all decided to use the town square fountain!", Apple Bloom exclaimed, rolling her eyes. Twist stared at the three and started giggling.

"You're thtill trying too hard.", she said, laughing. Suddenly, she felt someone wrap a foreleg around her shoulders.

"Hi Twist." She stiffened slightly, then smiled.

"Hi Diamond."

"It's a shame you left our super-special sleepover last night. What happened, did you get sick or something?"

"I-"

"Well you're here now. And why are you talking to these loser blank flanks?" Scootaloo glared, her whole body stiffening, her body naturally positioning itself in front of Sweetie Belle and Apple Bloom protectively.

"Um...", Twist began, about to stand up for the Cutie Mark Crusaders, when Diamond turned to look her in the eyes.

"Your hair still looks so pretty Twist!" Twist's heart melted and she broke into a huge smile.

"Really?"

"Really. Now, we should go get a spa treatment. I'm Aloe and Lotus's absolute favorite customer.", Diamond smirked gloatingly over at Diamond. Sweetie frowned.

"Actually, Rarity is-"

"I'm sorry, I couldn't hear you over how blank your flank is.", Diamond spat, then looked over at Twist.

"Come on." Twist shot an apologetic look at the other three fillies, and followed Diamond to the spa. Upon entry, she noticed Aloe and Lotus exchange a nervous look.

"Good morning Miss Tiara. Who's your new friend?"

"This is Twist, my best friend.", Diamond replied, impatiently.

"We see. And will this be-"

"Yes. The usual. Add it to my daddy's charge." The two spa ponies led Diamond and Twist to the back, where they were sat down and before Twist knew it, some yummy-smelling goop was smeared on her face, and her glasses were off. Her heartbeat sped up in a mild panic, until cucumber slices were placed on her eyes. She felt one of the spa ponies start to polish and shine her hooves, and her heart raced again, only in excitement this time. Maybe when she left she'd look even prettier than she already did today!

Time passed and at the very end, her coat was cleaned off, and the years of peppermint dust that had accumulated was gone, and she was a pristine white color. Her hair was soft, and her hooves shiny, and she was almost unrecognizable. She stared into the mirror, her heart light. She giggled happily and smiled at Diamond, who nodded coolly, approvingly. For the first time in her life, she felt pretty, actually pretty.

At first, the spa dates happened sporadically. Then once a week. Then twice a week. And from there they continued for a few years. The fillies and colts of Cheerilee's class all grew up, and were in their first year of high school. The Cutie Mark Crusaders had finally received their cutie marks. Silver Spoon had faded into the background, and Diamond neither knew nor cared about what she was up to. Twist tried to ignore this, but couldn't help but bring it up sometimes, like now.

"How about Thilver Thpoon?", Twist inquired innocently.

"No. It's my birthday and I'll decide who I invite.", Diamond snapped. Twist frowned, taken aback momentarily, then bounced back. She was used to it after all this time.

"Okay.", she said, looking around, then down at her polished hooves.

"Look, Twist, you need to just forget about that loser, okay?"

"Okay.", she said, finishing her lunch as the bell rang.

"See you after school.", Diamond said, leaving without so much as a second glance at Twist.

Twist stared in the mirror. The dress clung to her figure, the silver glowing in the light of her bedroom. The slit up the side teasingly hinted at her plot, without actually revealing anything. She blushed. It was hard to imagine that a few years prior, she wouldn't have been caught dead wearing something like this, especially to a birthday party. She adjusted the silver shoes she'd bought for the occasion, and went to go to the bathroom to do her make-up only to trip and crash into her nightstand. She sat up, rubbing her head.

"Buck...", she muttered softly, then cocked her head at the leather-bound book that lay on her floor. She picked it up and opened it about halfway through the book.

Dear Diary,

It's been a four months since I started hanging out with Diamond. This week is really bad though. I cried again today. I've cried every day this week. I think my eyes are gonna start permanently hurting soon. I don't understand why I'm so upset though. I wanted this. I wanted to be pretty and popular. I guess I wanted to still be me though. Today I yelled at Featherweight, and I laughed. I'm turning into a bully. I'm scared. Also, Diamond told me to get rid of my glasses, and she snapped them in half. That alone almost made me cry. But maybe she was right. Maybe they were holding me back. And

I'm sure that as soon as I get used to these contacts things will be better. Love, Twist

Twist resisted rubbing her eyes at the mention of her glasses and turned the page. It was dated to have been three whole weeks after the previous entry.

Diary, Diamond says it's weird for my to write in you. But I couldn't just give you up after so long. So I'm hiding you in my drawer where she'll never think to look. I'm even more scared now. My morals and ideals are vanishing and I don't know who I am anymore. I called Scootaloo a blank flank yesterday. I made Sweetie cry. I tripped Featherweight. It hurts. But at the same time, I can't lose Diamond. She's so special to me, and I can't even imagine us not having sleepovers. I'm so confused. I'd do anything for Diamond, but she hasn't done anything for me, except to make me pretty. But it's not worth it. I'm still hideous, and now it's just covered up by a glamour, like Celestia's rumored fairy-pony servants do... Diamond's my best friend, but I don't like me anymore. I just... I wish it could be different. This is my last entry in you diary, but I'll make sure to hug you before I leave you forever. Love, Twist

Twist sniffled, but shoved it back in the drawer, standing up. She fixed her hair and her clothes, and left for the party, refusing to look back.

"Twist, there you are. You look great.", Diamond grinned, then frowned. "Except... You need a sash. Come on." She led Twist into her room, neglecting the party in the next room. She sets Twist down and studied her. Then she selected a purple sash and tied it around her. "You know, Twist, it really is a bummer we had to go here first. It's my birthday after all."

"I'm sorry...", Twist mumbled, shuffling her hoof nervously.

"Oh, no matter, what are friends for, right?", Diamond smiled, then led Twist to the party, where various teenaged ponies were dancing, and quite possibly drinking, judging by a few... questionable activities.

"Twist, you go mingle, I'm gonna go dance with Featherweight, he got really hot over the summer and he's drunk." She winked at Twist and took off. Twist went to get herself a drink. A startling impact knocked her off course, however, and she turned to instinctively glare at the offender. Then her eyes widened and surprise lit her features.

"Thcootaloo?"

"Oh... Hey, Twist...", Scootaloo said, frowning.

"Hi! Where are Apple Bloom and Thweetie Belle?"

"How should I know?", Scootaloo asked shortly.

"I...I jutht thought that... You three are friendth..."

"Were friends.", she corrected.

"You aren't friendth anymore?"

"No. Once we got our cutie marks we got caught up in our special talents and now we never see each other."

"That'th awful.", Twist frowned.

"A lot of things have changed since you decided to, quote unquote, upgrade. Sweetie was just signed under a record label, the same one that signed DJ Pon-3 and the Philharmonics. Apple Bloom is busy building and fixing things at Sweet Apple Acres, and is the youngest mare ever to be chosen for the Manehattan Architect Project. Silver Spoon is caring for her dying father and will probably have to take over the company."

"Tho... Everypony'th been doing thomething for the future...", Twist mumbled, biting her lip.

"Yeah. Looks like being left alone by Diamond Tiara is something that was good for all of us."

"But... Diamond ith wonderful...", Twist protested.

"Oh yeah, Twist?! When was the last time you made a peppermint stick? Or a taffy, or anything?"

"I..."

"Exactly! We've seen the way you've been trailing her around like a lost puppy! You've given up everything for her and what has she EVER done for you? Nothing!"

"Well... At leatht I didn't give up on my friendth!"

"I didn't either, Twist! We tried! But things just didn't work out! And you would know a lot about giving up your friends, wouldn't you? You ditched Apple Bloom when she needed you the most at Diamond's cutecineara!" Scootaloo was almost yelling now, her orange body trembling. Twist was shaking as well, only she really didn't know why, only that a lot of pressure must have built up, over the few years.

"You don't understand!", Twist yelled, so mad that her lisp disappeared.

"What don't I understand? The fact that you're Diamond's new puppet instead of Silver Spoon?"

"Shut up!" Something white-hot exploded in Twist, and in one moment, all her anger at herself, her fears, her doubts, all her negative emotions came up in one huge blow and when she came to her senses, Scootaloo was on the ground at her feet. Tears filled her eyes and she looked around. Everypony was staring at her, with the exceptions of mysteriously-absent Featherweight and Diamond Tiara. She ran into the closest bathroom, tears streaming out of her eyes.

"Twist? Twist, where are you?" Twist looked up from where she sat on the floor of the bathroom. She heard Diamond's hoofsteps go past the bathroom.

"In here...", she said, unlocking the door and letting the mare in. Diamond closed the door and sat real close to her.

"Twist, do you hate me?", Diamond asked softly, looking up at Twist pitifully. Twist's heart broke, and she reached over for Diamond.

"Of courthe I don't hate you, why would I?" Diamond's pitiful expression turned dark.

"Because you got in a hoof fight on my birthday and ruined my chance of fucking Featherweight!", Diamond glared, pushing Twist away. "Pull another stunt like that and I might have to replace you." She stormed her way out of the bathroom, slamming the door. Twist stood up, rubbing her eyes, then fixed her makeup, using some of the stuff Diamond used. She put on a smile, then left the room, mingling and dancing with the crowd, until late in the night.

"Twist...", Diamond mumbled, sleepily, now drunk. Twist rolled over and looked into pink mare's eyes.

"Yeth Diamond?"

"W... Wanna play a game?", she asked. Twist nodded and Diamond leaned forward and pressed her lips against Twist's. This was a normal occurrence for them, and Twist had gotten used to it, and she knew what it was now. She kissed back, better now than when she was a filly. It went on for a while, then Diamond pulled away, studying Twist, tears welling up in her eyes and spilling over. Twist opened her forelegs, and Diamond scooted into them, burying her muzzle into Twist's chest, sobbing quietly. Twist stroked Diamond's mane. This was a first.

"Diamond...", she whispered. Diamond shook her head fiercely, kissing Twist again, but this time it was brash, and rough, not the slow, exploring kisses they'd shared before. Twist shivered as she felt a hoof run down her back, and tightened her grip around Diamond, who's body was shaking with her tears. Her body was pressed against the bed, and she felt Diamond climb on top of her, still locked in a kiss. She pulled away from Diamond.

"D... Diamond...", she protested weakly, then froze. Diamond was straddling her, mane tumbling down her back, eyes glowing in the moonlight., tears spilling down her muzzle.

"I...", Diamond began, her voice breaking as she started sobbing again. Twist sat up slightly, pulling Diamond in again. The two kissed again, Twist parting her lips for Diamond's tongue. The mares pressed against each other, and Twist shivered as Diamond moved down her neck, leaving small kisses. Diamond focused on Twist, only Twist for once, licking the mare's lower lip before biting at it gently. Twist moaned, grinding against Diamond, and Diamond moved lower, and lower, until Twist was in oblivion, the only feelings being pleasure and lust.

Twist's breathing was heavy as she slid out from underneath Diamond. She latched onto the pink mare and hugged her close. Said mare nuzzled back and finally stopped crying.

"Twist...", she mumbled. Twist pushed her mane out of her face gently.

"Yeah?"

"I'm sorry...", she breathed.

"It'th okay...", Twist whispered, kissing Diamond's forehead. I love you... she thought, her heartbeat thudding in her chest.

"No... It's not... Twist... I loved Silver Spoon... And even now, she owns my heart...", Diamond started crying again, but not as much as before. She cried the cry of the hopeless, and the broken, and Twist recognized them from the nights she cried after realizing she was in love with Diamond Tiara. She wiped them away, despite the splintering pain in her chest, her heart breaking again, for the final time.

"It'th okay...", she soothed, willing herself not to cry, willing herself to stay strong for her love.

"Twist...", Diamond mumbled a final time, before falling asleep. Twist stared at her, then held her even closer, closing her eyes to stop the tears from falling.

Dear Twist, I left a hangover potion on the bedside table in case you need it. I'm sorry it has to be this way, but I need some space. It's not you, it's me. I need some time to think about last night. I don't want you to come by, at least not for a while. Again, I'm sorry. Diamond

Twist stared at the letter, reading it again and again and again. She started sniffling and stood up, making her way into Diamond's bathroom, taking a quick shower. She used some of the soap she'd left last time, cleaning away the grime of the party, and the previous night's activities, before gathering her clothes and leaving the room. Her sash fell off her dress and fluttered to the ground with an air of finality.

The night was dark and quiet, the moon glowing, and illuminating the white mare who walked the empty streets of Ponyville. She likened to the streets, feeling empty herself. Her red curls seemed to be drooping, and her head hung down sadly. She'd been doing this the last couple of nights, walking away her pain. She stopped at the river, looking at the bridge. The moon seemed suspended in air over it, and it was beautiful. Beautiful and perfect. She laid down on the shore, watching the moon's reflection in the water. Suddenly, ripples moved their way through the image. She sat up, and almost as if in slow motion, she saw the bridge crumble, and a familiar sparkle in the air as a mare toppled over and into the deep, black depths of the river. Wasting no time she dived in, feeling the cool, autumn water cover her coat and mane. She gasped, taking a deep breath before going down.

The night obscured her underwater vision, and she could feel the currents pulling her away from her mark. She grunted, calling forth all her unpracticed Earth pony strength. Popping her head above the water she took another breath, then started swimming with all her might. Almost right away all her muscles started to hurt, but she pushed forward, feeling with her arms to find the body she'd cradled just a few nights before. She let out a grunt, bubbles coming up out of her mouth and floating to the surface as she fought through the water. Her arms latched onto something and she forced herself to see. The sight of white and purple mane swirling in the water gave her just enough strength to get Diamond out of the water and pushed up on shore. Twist's body convulsed as soon as it was relieved of the extra weight and she slid back into the river straight down into the bottom. She felt a blinding pain and started struggling, exhausting herself, then felt her head clear the water. She takes a deep breath, only to realize that it's water. Her eyes widen a final time and she starts choking, then sinking, deeper and deeper into the cool water. I hope Diamond's okay... she thinks, right as her mind becomes as black as the water and her light is snuffed out.

Diamond choked up the water she'd inhaled, then stopped. Twist lay faceup in the water. She screamed, pulling the white mare onto shore, only to freeze in terror. Twist wasn't breathing. Something snapped inside her and she was screaming.

"TWIST!", she shrieked, trying to use the mouth to mouth technique they'd learned in Cheerilee's class. It didn't work and she dropped onto Twist's body, sobbing. Twist was gone. And she would never come back to Diamond again. "I'm sorry...", she whispered, planting the last kiss she ever would give Twist on her forehead.