Mark of Authority

by Sparkler774

Rating: teen
Tags: Cutie Mark Crusaders, Twilight Sparkle, Main 6, Diamond Tiara, My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic, Alternate Universe, Silver Spoon, Drama
Length: 2828

Diamond Tiara takes over Ponyville as the newest princess

When Twilight loses the right to her own free will in a poker game against Diamond Tiara, things begin to change in Ponyville.

BIG TIME.

***

Takes place after Season four finale

Published 2014-12-04 21:20:09 UTC
Last updated 2015-11-14 05:20:18 UTC

In which Twilight loses everything

Twilight was emitting beads of sweat that trickled down her forehead in a feverish manner. Why did I ever agree to this? She asked herself in her head. Hours before, when Filthy Rich had offered her a drink and challenged her to a game of poker, she wasn't worried. Probably I was just too drunk to care, she thought, hating herself. Now look where it's gotten me.

Diamond Tiara was sitting across from the Princess of Friendship, grinning wickedly. After Filthy Rich had claimed to be needed elsewhere, he had gotten Diamond to replace him in the game. And after what seemed like hours to Princess Twilight, Diamond was still in the lead.

Shaking from head to hoof, Twilight spread out her cards: a three of clubs, a nine of spades, and a five of hearts. Not a very good hoof, she thought, dreading what was to ultimately come next. Diamond Tiara yawned, and then revealed her hoof of cards: an ace, two kings, and the queen of diamonds.

No.

No, no, no!

Diamond Tiara sneered evilly, snatching away the contract which Twilight had signed whilst she was drunk hours before.

Contract

I, Princess Twilight Sparkle, being of sound mind and body, do solemnly swear that if I lose the poker game I will play against Diamond Tiara Rich, that I will be magically bound to obey her for the rest of my days as a living being. Any and every order she gives me will be obeyed without question or rebellion. I am magically bound to do her bidding no matter what the cost.

Signed,

x Princess Twilight Sparkle

The lavender alicorn's expression was that of desperate, pleading humility. "Please...." she begged, bending down at Diamond's feet. "I'll give you anything you want, just let me free of the contract!"

Diamond Tiara peered down at Twilight with disgust. Then a wicked smirk spread across her face. "Let's see if you'll go through with that, Princess."

Without warning, she cried, "I order you to do a backwards flip!!"

A jolt of electricity shot down Twilight's spine. She obeyed the order, almost against her will.

Diamond laughed haughtily. "So the contract has been activated after all. Come, slave mare. Let's go to my castle."

Aghast, Twilight stopped. "Your castle?!"

Diamond stopped to think. "Oh yes, I forgot. I order you give me the rights to your castle."

Another jolt of electricity lept down Twilight's spine. Before she knew what she was doing, Twilight blurted out- "I give you the full rights to my castle."

Diamond Tiara grinned. "Good, Good. Now, I believe that one of the rights that goes with that castle is the right to be a princess, isn't it?

Twilight turned pale.

Diamond cackled evilly. "Now, get over here, and let's go to my castle. NOW!!!"

Twilight was terrified. What have I done?

Author's Note

I don't know anything about contracts or poker, so don't get mad if I get it wrong.

In which Diamond Tiara has taken over Ponyville

It's good to be a monarch... thought Diamond Tiara, sitting atop her diamond-encrusted throne. Next to her sat Silver Spoon, in a silvery painted desk with a typewriter and telephone next to her neatly arranged pencils and paper stacks. It had been three days since the poker game, and Diamond was loving her new role as a princess. The day after she had settled into the castle, she appointed Silver Spoon as her royal secretary.

It had turned out that Silver was perfect for the job and that being a secretary was her special talent. All the better, thought Diamond, What if she totally sucked?

No matter, Diamond pondered. I have more important things to do.

"TWILIGHT!!!" bellowed Diamond. "GET YOUR FAT, UGLY FLANK OVER HERE, NOW!!!!!!"

Twilight scurried into the room, looking nervous. "Y-yes, your highness?"

Diamond sneered. " 'Your Highness'....I like that. But back t the point. Bring me the Cutie Mark Crusaders...NOW!!!"

Twilight flinched. "Y-yes y-your Highness.."

"Well, what are you waiting for?! Go, IMMEDIATELY!!!!!!!"

Twilight left the room as quickly as she had entered it.

After she was gone, Silver Spoon looked up from the document she was writing and asked, "Why do you need those losers? Are you going to do something to them?"

Diamond simpered nastily. "Silver Spoon, you don't know the half of it. By the time I'm done, those geeks will never know what hit 'em."

Silver stared for a moment, then laughed. "Diamond, you are one evil filly."

"Thanks, Silver. I do try."

***

Twilight Sparkle burst through the schoolroom door, much to Cheerilee and the student's surprise.

"I..(pant)...need the..(pant, wheeze)...Cutie Mark...Crusaders....(pant-pant).."

"Twilight!" Cheerilee exclaimed. "Are you alright?"

"Need...Crusaders...now..." she panted, laying on the floor in exhaustion.

"Well..alright, then... Sweetie Belle, Apple Bloom, Scootaloo? Go with Twilight to where ever she needs you to go."

"Why should we?" asked Scootaloo.

"Diamond..didn't say." said Twilight, finally catching her breath. "All she said..was 'Bring me the Crusaders."

"Diamond Tiara?" squeaked Sweetie Belle nervously. "Oh, this is positively horrendous!

"Save yer diction fer later, Sweetie Belle." said Apple Bloom. "Ya' knew it wus jist a matter of tahme before she wanted us."

"C'mon, girls." said Twilight, having now fully regained her breath. "Let's go."

"But-but-" sputtered Scootaloo, attempting to argue.

"NO." ordered Twilight. "Now. Let's go."

Hanging their heads, the Crusaders trailed out the door behind Twilight, terrified of their ultimate fate.

***

In which Diamond decides the Crusader's fates

"C'mon, " said Twilight. "This way, and hurry up! We don't want to keep the Queen waiting."

"Queen?" said Apple Bloom, confused. "I thought she was a princess!"

"Her Highness prefers the term 'Queen'. And if you know what's good for you, you'll call her 'Your Highness', or 'Your Grace' while in her presence." said Twilight coldly. "We're here."

They had, in fact, arrived. The Crusaders gaped in awe of the massive palace before them, until Twilight cleared her throat angrily, signaling to them that it was time to stop dawdling. The fillies scurried along behind her, trotting to keep up with Twilight's long strides.

"Twilight," asked Sweetie Belle. "What is Diamond Tiara going to do to us?"

"Probably lock us in the dungeon, no doubt." grumbled Scootaloo in reply.

"Right now, there is no dungeon available." said Twilight. "It has to be constructed."

"And that makes it sooo much better." said Apple Bloom.

"Are we there yet?" asked Sweetie Belle. "My legs are getting tired."

"Lucky for you, we are there." answered Twilight, gesturing towards a large door leading to a glittering crystal throne room, where Diamond Tiara sat on a gaudy platinum throne covered in diamonds. The windows were covered in beautiful stained glass portraits of her. The CMC could hardly help but stare.

"Well, Twilight?! What are you waiting for, retard!? Bring them to me, NOW!!!"

"Y-yes, Your Majesty."

Twilight herded the Crusaders over to Diamond's throne rather roughly. Diamond smiled at this. "Good slave. Now LEAVE!!!!"

"Y-yes, Your Majesty." Twilight scuttled away.

Now it was just Diamond, the Crusaders, and Silver Spoon. Diamond grinned horribly, focusing her vicious gaze towards the shaking fillies before her.

"Well, well, well. What do we have here?" said Diamond Tiara wickedly. The CMC didn't answer. They were too busy cowering in terror, even Scootaloo.

"Now that I'm the Queen of Ponyville, things are going to be very different around here. Understand?"

The fillies nodded, clearly afraid.

"And guess what the first changes will be, blank-flanks?"

Diamond didn't wait for them to answer. She stamped her hoofs, and bursting through the door was Aloe, Lotus, and Rarity.

"Rarity?!" squeaked Sweetie Belle, a smile spreading across her face. "Thank goodness you're here! Diamond Tiara is plotting something and- Rarity? Are you listening to me?"

"Don't bother, Squeaky Belle," smirked Diamond. "I've had Twilight enchant her and the rest of Elements to obey me as well. And right now her orders are to ignore you."

"Now," said Diamond Tiara. "Aloe! Lotus! Rarity! Take 'em away. You know what to do."

The mares dragged the CMC away and out of the throne room. Diamond smiled.

I love this job...

In which Diamond Tiara has the time of her life

"Good morning, everypony!" chirped Miss Cheerilee on a sunshiny morning.

"Good Morning, Miss Cheerilee!" they replied.

"As most of you know, your former classmate, Diamond Tiara, has been handed the keys to Ponyville from Princess Twilight herself, and is now the official Queen of Ponyville!" said Cheerilee, still smiling broadly. Almost too broadly. "Diamond Tiara is coming to visit us this morning, and coming with her are the NEW and much IMPROVED Cutie Mark Crusaders! Isn't that exciting???"

Silence.

"What do you mean, improved???" asked a student in the back.

"Well, according to our much beloved new ruler, the former Cutie Mark Crusaders were terribly flawed, so much that they could quite possibly infect you with their weirdness! So, Diamond Tiara has found a way to cure them, making them better than they ever could have been without her compassionate help!"

The class exchanged puzzled glances. Cheerilee was usually perky, but not this perky.

"Speaking of which..." said Cheerilee, gesturing towards the classroom door. It burst open suddenly, Twilight marching in regally. Her mane was done up in a high bun. She wore a light pink blazer with a white collar and a arctic-blue tie, with a silver tiara adorning the back. Her eyes looked dead and empty; the look of somepony who had given up.

"Presenting her Highness... Queen Diamond Tiara!" she bellowed.

Six royal guards with platinum and purple armor carried a silver palanquin glittering with jewels. Diamond sat inside with a smug smile, a blue-and-platinum crown sitting atop her head, and a fuschia, fur lined cape on her back. A platinum necklace with a pink pearl in the middle adorned her neck. She held a platinum, jewel-encrusted scepter with a sparkling, finely cut diamond in the middle surrounded by small sapphires. Something inside the diamond seemed to glow, radiating power.

She nodded to her guards, who set down the palanquin with a deep bow. A fuchsia carpet rolled into the class, stopping right in front of Cheerilee's hooves. Diamond stepped onto the carpet and flashed a glowing smile.

"Hello, my loyal citizens!" she said. "As you already know, the Cutie Mark Crusaders, as they are called, have been mortally afflicted with the terrible disease of weirdness. I have graciously taken it upon myself to cure these poor souls. After much hard work on my part, they have finally been remedied enough to come back out to the public. Twilight, bring 'em out!"

Twilight nodded curtly. Her horn lit up, and a rusty metal cage drifted into the room, the Crusaders inside. With a flick of her horn, the cage opened, the crusaders tumbling out on top of each other.

They were all dressed alike, in pink and blue cheerleader uniforms with the letters 'DT' printed on the front in purple lettering. They had purple and blue pom-poms, and each had their mane and tail cut in a choppy style, except for Apple Bloom, whose mane bounced in springy curls, tied with pink and blue ribbons; multicolored glitter was sprinkled in. All of them had the same look of obvious discomfort.

"Okay girls, you know what to do!" said Diamond, grinning evilly. Twilight lit up her horn and peppy music began to play; the Crusaders all suddenly sprung into action, big cheesy grins on their faces.

"2, 4, 6, 8! Who do we appreciate? DIAMOND! DIAMOND! YAAAY!" they cheered simultaneously. Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle lifted Apple Bloom up into the air, where she did a perfect flip and landed flawlessly on her hoofs in front of the other two. They did a rather complicated pattern of cartwheels, ending in Scootaloo landing in front.

"Who rocks the house?
I said the Diamond rocks the house!
And when the Diamond rocks the house,
She rocks it all the way down!"

"DIAMOND! DIAMOND! YAAAAY!" cheered the other two once Scootaloo was done. Scoots and Bloom threw Sweetie Belle up in the air, where she did a double flip and landed on the ground.

"There's nopony like Diamond!
And her leadership is proof!
From the top of her head,
To the bottoms of her hoofs!
Diamond is the greatest!
She can't be beat!
She's the Queen of Ponyville,
Which is super sweet!"

"DIAMOND! DIAMOND! YAAAAAY!"

Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo both performed double backflips, facing each other in a kneeling position, front legs outstretched. Apple Bloom sprung up, did a corkscrew in midair, and touched down on Sweetie's and Scootaloo's hooves.

"Cheer on for Diamond!
The very best Queen!
Simply the greatest that you have ever seen!
Bows on high!
Spirit on gleam!
Tiara, oh yes!
She'll always reign supreme!"

"DIAMOND!" they shouted, Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo flinging Apple Bloom up in the air.

"DIAMOND!" they screamed, this time even louder; Bloom was still in the air.

"YAAAAAY!" they screeched, catching Apple Bloom impeccably and grinning wider than ever.

The music stopped, and so did the crusaders. Apple Bloom lost her balance, collapsing on top of Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo.

"W-what just happened?" she asked, rubbing her head.

Diamond narrowed her eyes at them and smiled. "At that, my fair foals, is the new and improved Cutie Mark Crusaders! Give them a hoof, everypony!"

As if on cue, the whole class gave a smattering of applause. The crusaders smiled weakly, obviously embarrassed.

"And now I must go." said Diamond putting on a mock pouty face. "But perhaps if you're lucky, I'll make a few surprise visits every now and then! Ta-ta!"

She climbed back onto the palanquin, and the carpet rolled back up. The crusaders were crammed back into the cage by the Royal Guards. Twilight carried them away with her magic, and the guards hauled Diamond out. The classroom door slammed shut, and all was quiet.

There was silence for a bit, and then Cheerilee spoke.

"Well, wasn't that simply DIVINE, class??? Now then, let's move on to literature. I'd like you to write a 2,000 word essay on why you think Diamond Tiara is going to be the best thing that ever happened to Ponyville..."

Author's Note

I'm really not very into this story anymore. It'll probably wrap up really fast.

I'm really only continuing this for those who have been asking me about it for months. You know who you are.

In which the Crusaders get makeovers they never wanted in the first place

It had been four days since the CMC had been called to Diamond Tiara's castle, and nopony had seen them since they had been abducted from the schoolhouse. Their parents were getting very worried, as they were fully aware of Diamond's long-standing hatred towards them.

As usual, Diamond Tiara was lounging in the throne room, chatting with Silver Spoon about the CMC.

"What exactly did you want those mares to do, Diamond?" asked Silver Spoon. "Give them a spa treatment?"

"Don't be dumb, Silver." said Diamond in a rather agitated way. "You know I hate those blank-flank losers. Anyways, you'll find out real soon. The girls are supposed to finish today."

"Finish what?!"

"Nothing, nothing..."

Just then, a loud knock sounded at the throne room door. "Come in.." said Diamond, bored. In walked Aloe and Lotus, who simply nodded and mouthed, It's ready. Diamond Tiara jumped up off her throne and gestured for Silver Spoon to follow her out of the room. Puzzled, the grayish earth pony trailed behind her friend as they galloped down the hall towards Aloe and Lotus.

The twin spa ponies pointed towards a door with a brass plate on it that read: Makeup Room- Private Property of the Queen in bronze lettering. Aloe (or Lotus, whichever one they were) opened the door to reveal their handiwork.

Diamond Tiara laughed at the sight of them. "They look absolutely PERFECT, spa slaves! Now run along to whatever rock you live under."

The spa twins gave a low bow, then scurried away out the door.

"Alright, Silver Spoon. You can look now." said Diamond, pushing Silver into the room. Silver Spoon took one look at the fillies in front of her and fell over laughing. "BWAHAHAHAHA!!! D-Diamond! Y-you've (ha, ha) really outdone yourself!"

"Then on to step two." said Diamond, satisfied with her plan. "That will start tomorrow, then. But for now, let's get some sleep; it's getting late."

"(yawn) G'night, Diamond Tiara." said Silver Spoon, walking to her bedroom. "See ya' in the morning."

"Same to you, Silver Spoon." said Diamond. "G'night."

Diamond closed the door behind her into the lavish, extravagant royal bedroom. All she could think about was how much fun she was to have come morning.

Tomorrow is going to be he best day ever, she thought, sneering nastily. For me at least. Those Crusader geeks will probably hate me forever.

Good.