“Blank Flank, Blank flank!” Silver Spoon sneered to the Cutie Mark Crusaders, Apple Bloom, Scootaloo, Sweetie Belle, and even Babs Seed, who was visiting from Manehattan. Apple Bloom was on the verge of crying, and Sweetie Belle already was. “Why do you have to be so mean to us?!” Scootaloo protested, her voice cracking. “Because you don’t have any special talents. You probably will end up on a rock farm!” Silver spoon laughed. Diamond Tiara laughed and turned to Silver Spoon. “Bump, bump, sugar lump rump!” They chanted, leaving the cutie mark crusaders behind.
“What crybabies! We sure got them that time!” Silver Spoon laughed. Diamond Tiara didn’t really pay attention. She was worrying really. Worried that she’d be impoverished if her dad just quit and left. Worried that her dad didn’t love her anymore. But, most of all, she was worried what ponies thought of her. She was already ‘loved’ but she felt it wasn’t enough. She felt just… hanging on a thread. All of those thoughts sent shivers down her spine. “Look, Silver Spoon!” Diamond Tiara snapped. “I don’t CARE! I need to go home. Dinner is soon.”
“But Diamy! Its only three O’ clock! You eat dinner at seven!” Silver Spoon protested. Diamond Tiara just turned her back on her gray friend and muttered, “Well I need to help out with making it.” And then proceeded to gallop away. Silver Spoon just watched silently, fuming with anger. She huffed and stomped away from her pink friend.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Diamond Tiara let out an audible sigh. Her father, Filthy Rich hadn’t come home that night. He was probably out at some fancy Schmancy hotel right now. Or at work. He was a boss of a big car company. Upscale Rich, Diamond Tiara’s mom was inside, laying down. “Hi mom. I’m home.” Diamond Tiara sighed. “Hi honey.” Upscale said, leaving out the question ‘how was your day?’ Diamond Tiara bit her lip. "What did you do today?" Diamond asked, her voice flat.
Diamond Tiara went out to the swing in her front yard. She sat on it but she wasn't really swinging. She was only swaying about three inches. She didn't like swinging. Her dad used to push her on the swing whenever she asked. But the car business had forced him to hold meetings elsewhere like in Manehattan. The pink pony sighed, and started to go higher on the swing.
Diamond Tiara’s ears perked. She heard voices. She strained to hear. “Sure this is a good idea?” a deep voice growled. “Positive. They’ll think he’s still in Manehattan.” Said another. Chuckles were heard. Fear beat curiosity and Diamond Tiara jumped in a bush and peeked out.
There were three ponies, two stallions and one mare. The stallions had black manes, and brown coats. They were dressed in a suit. The mare was a gray mare with a blue mane. They all were wearing shades.
Diamond Tiara knew she was afraid, but any other emotions she was unsure of. The three ponies trotted up to the front door and knocked.
KNOCK
KNOCK
KNOCK
Upscale opened the door. They handed Diamond Tiara’s mother a letter. Upscale opened it and read it, sighing. “Thank you for imforming me. I will tell my daughter the news at dinner tonight.” Her ears flat, Diamond Tiara waited until the Ponies were gone, and then jumped out of the bush. She righted her tiara and brushed most of the dirt and leaves off her.
~~~~~~~~~~
Diamond Tiara forked up a meatball, noodles hanging off of the sphere. She put it in her mouth and savored the taste. “Diamond, honey. I have some bad news.” Upscale said. Diamond Tiara’s head went up. “Yeah, what is it?” “Your father… he has to stay in Manehattan for a few more months. I-I’m afraid that he will miss your birthday.” Upscale said dejectedly.
Diamond Tiara started crying. “He’s gonna miss my birthday?” Diamond Tiara unbelievably echoed. “Yes hon-“ Diamond Tiara started screaming. “HE HAS TO COME! HE CAN’T MISS MY BIRTHDAY!” she stomped her foot, tears streaming from her eyes. “Honey I’m sorry-“ “NO! HE HAS TO COME! THIS MY MOST IMPORTANT BIRTHDAY! WE WERE GOING TO GO TO THE PARK! T-t-together!”
Diamond Tiara’s birthday parties always were at Sugarcube Corner. Her parents never attended, because they were always tired or busy. This time was going to be different. They were going to enjoy an ice cream together, the whole family. But if her dad couldn’t come it wouldn’t be…good!
She left her plate and ran upstairs, tears streaming from her eyes. How could he?! How could he stay in Manehattan? Why couldn’t he ever come to one of her parties? Why couldn’t she have a normal family? Why, why, why?!
Diamond tiara kicked her wall. She heard a knock on the door. It was her mom. “Go away! I Hate you! Why did you open that letter?! WHY!!” she shrieked. Upscale hated these words and held back a scolding. “Honey, if it makes you feel better, we can call Rich.” “Ok mom” Diamond Tiara sniffled.
Upscale Dialed the numbers. BUZZ. BUZZ. BUZZ. BUZZ. There was no answer. They dialed again. BUZZ. BUZZ. BUZZ.BUZZ. No answer. “NO, NO, NO!!! He has to answer!” Diamond tiara screamed. “One more time, Diamond. Don’t give up hope.” She punched in the numbers. BUZZ BU- “This is a threat. Warn the police and he will die. Read your PonEmail for information.
Upscale dropped the phone and Diamond Tiara was pale. “Well, lets look at the PonEmail than…Shall…we?” Upscale said, frozen with fear. She got on her PonEmail.
Dear Upscale Rich and family,
If you want your father and husband, Filthy Rich, back, read the following message. [Filthy Rich] Is currently in a cell. [He] is being treated fairly well. If you want to have [him] back, pay the fees listed below, and he will return to you at a place you call Sugarcube Corner. Fees: [7,000,000]$ Pay at the link below.
Whitelilygang.pony
Many tears fell from both Diamond Tiara’s and Upscale's eyes that night.
Diamond Tiara’s world had shattered that night. She didn’t know what to do. Her mom wanted to pay the fees, but she couldn’t bring herself to do it. She wanted to see what happened. If it would all turn out. Filthy Rich would’ve taken action! He would’ve called the police! But in this instance the ponEmail said that they would kill Filthy if they told anyone… Oh why did this happen to Diamond?!
"Honey, Even with the circumstances I think you still should go to school today." Upscale said, drying her eyes. "O-Ok mom... I will... for dad..." Diamond Tiara responded. Diamond Tiara went to her room and started packing her stuff. A pencil, notebooks… Diamond Tiara’s eyes wandered over to a picture of her dad. She gulped back a sob and stroked the picture. She then proceeded to put it in her saddlebags.
She ate her breakfast absentmindedly; each spoon of her cereal was a shaky mouthful. She brushed her teeth, and brushed her mane. Then she walked outside and headed to Silver Spoon’s house.
On the way, a group of fillies were walking along. One of them, Cloudy Cake, accidentally bumped into Diamond Tiara. “HEY! WATCH WHERE YOU’RE GOING NEXT TIME, DWEEBS!” Diamond Tiara shouted at the aghast ponies. The filly froze for a split second, and then motioned to her group and they ran away, terrified. She sighed and walked on.
“Oh Di, I thought you’d never come.” Silver Spoon complained. “Why didn’t you just walk over to my house? It’s only about a block away.” Diamond Tiara said, a bit annoyed. “Oh that’s like, forever away. And my house is closer to the school anyway so I thought I’d just wait.” Silver Spoon said, oblivious to Diamond’s exasperation.
“Ugh- let’s just go to school now OK?” Diamond said a bit irritated. “Okay, Di. You are being so rude!” she paused as she stepped over a puddle. ”It’s like you don’t wanna be with me!” Diamond Tiara was mad, but she didn’t show it. Instead, she sighed and walked on.
As they reached the school, The gray filly accompanying Diamond tiara giggle. “Lets go get the cutie mark crybabies!” Silver Spoon whispered to Diamond tiara, snorting with giggles afterward. Diamond Tiara, frankly annoyed by Silver Spoon today, couldn’t figure out why she was laughing so much. “Not in the mood today, Sil. Go ahead if you so wish though.” Diamond Tiara said, walking into class.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
“ I’m bored.” Scootaloo said, rolling the mud into a perfect (sort of) circle. “Yeah, ah’m bored too.” Apple bloom said as she put the petals on the pile of mud. “Yeah, I’m not sure having mud on your flank is a good cutie mark. I mean, don’tcha think a mud pie as a cutie mark could make you look like a little filly when you grow up?” Scootaloo commented. Sweetie Belle pondered. “A cutie mark is a cutie mark no matter how dumb.” The others quickly shot that idea down.
“Ah have some advice.” Babs said shyly, as she made a three layer mud cake. Babs already had her cutie mark, so she knew some things about getting it. The threesome turned their heads to Babs. “What is it?” they said in unison. Babs blushed and then turned her flank to show her cutie mark; a pair of scissors. “Well, I got mah cutie mark after doing something ah liked. So maybe if you do something you liked you could get your cutie mark!” Babs finished. The girls nodded and thought about what had been said.
“Ah Like makin’ mud pies I just wouldn’t like them on my flank.” Apple Bloom said, and the others nodded in agreement. “Yeah I mean having mud on your flank would make you look like a filly and ponies would tell you to wash your flank off.” Scootaloo said, beginning the argument again. Babs sighed and kept decorating her cake.
“Uh girls, we have a problem. Silver Spoon is coming our way.” Scootaloo said nervously. “And Diamond Tiara?” Sweetie Belle said, not looking up from her pie. “No she’s not with Silver.” Scootaloo replied. “Ah don’t want to deal with that pony today! Its not fair!” Apple Bloom whined.
“Hey blank-flanks!” Silver Spoon jeered as she approached the cmc. Babs jumped in front of her friends. “Hey, I ain’t a blank flank anymore. They’ll have their cutie marks soon so they won’t be blank flanks anymore. So leave them alone and consider them cutie MARKED crusadahs.” Silver Spoon glanced at Babs cutie mark. “Scissors? What are you, some snowflake maker?” Silver Spoon said disdainfully. “Spoons? Are you some fatty that eats whenever she’s sad?” Babs countered. Silver Spoon gasped and huffed away. The girls cheered for Babs. “Yay Babs! You rock!” They said joyously.
The bell rang. Class was about to start. “Girls?” Miss Cheerilee called out. The cutie mark crusaders were still playing out in the mud. They all looked up. “What?” Scootaloo said oblivious to the ponies behind her in their seats. “The bell rang.” Miss Cheerilee said happily. The cmc all galloped inside. They were seated when Miss Cheerilee started taking attendance.
“Featherweight.” “Here!” “Blank flank.” Silver Spoon hissed to Sweetie Belle. The white pony with the multicolored mane wanted to throw back a comeback, but she couldn’t think of one. “Sunny Daze!” “Here Cheerilee!”
Scootaloo was drawing on her notebook, not listening to anything but the song stuck inside her head. “Scootaloo!” Add an ear to the squirrel. “Miss Scootaloo?” Now a bushy tail. “Scootaloo!” Now some leaves and a tree. Her head jerked up. Miss Cheerilee was tapping her shoulder. “Oh, uh, here!” Miss Cheerilee looked annoyed but kept going.
Apple Bloom was thinking about what Babs was talking about earlier. “Ah have some advice” “Peachy Pie” “Here, ma’am!” “I got mah cutie mark after doing something ah liked. So maybe if you do something you liked you could get your cutie mark” Apple Bloom thought about what she liked. She liked apples. And flowers. But she also liked other things, like potion making!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
As Cheerilee finished her role call Diamond Tiara laid her head on her desk. She was also thinking, about how mean she’d been to the CMC. Maybe they’d been though hard times like she was now. She was regretting everything she’d done. She remember the ponies she’d yelled at earlier. She was feeling ashamed.
“Hey girls.” Diamond Tiara said, trying to warm up to the CMC at recess. They all looked nervous. “I just wanted to say-“ Diamond Tiara was cut off by Scootaloo. “Leave us alone for once, Diamond Tiara!” “Yeah we hate you! Can’t you leave us alone? Scram!” Sweetie Belle shouted angrily. Apple Bloom pushed Diamond Tiara. “Get outta here, bully!” She shouted at the pink pony.
Diamond Tiara started to run away from the cheering ponies. She started to cry. Is this what she did to them? Why was she so cruel? She sat down on a bench. “I want to change…” She sobbed. “I just wanted to say I was sorry!” She choked. “Oh, Celestia, what have I done?” She sobbed and sobbed. Tears fell through her hooves covering her face.
She felt a hoof on her back. The hoof went up and down, rubbing her back. “I know how you feel.” The pony said. Diamond Tiara looked at the pony. It was Babs Seed.
