I had just gotten back home from the Apple Family Reunion. It was enjoyable. I got to meet all the Apple relatives, courtesy of Applebloom. She dragged me around like a foal with her toy, introducing me to each relative. That itself took two hours. I liked Babs Seed the most. She was enjoyable to be around, and she was genuinely curious about my mechanical appendages. Since she insisted so, I told her everything. About the Rainbow Factory and the Terminator, and even about Pip. Babs was fascinated by the aspect of time travel, and wondered if it was really possible. I said that Pip made it sound like it was, as she seemed deadly serious about where she was from. Babs enjoyed the story, and she said I should tell everypony else, but I refused. I didn't need my story spreading as far as to think ponies thought I was insane. Babs thought that was reasonable, and she left with Applebloom to participate in an event. The reunion went by fast, and I left the farm along with the other relatives when it ended.
I reached my home around 8 that evening. Since I had eaten quite a lot at the reunion, I skipped dinner. I really wasn't hungry at all. I decided to fly to Ponyville and relax. I flew to one of the parks near the town and sat down on a bench. It felt good to sit in the cool night air. I was watching the moon when I heard hoofsteps. I didn't look.
“Is this seat taken?” a young mare's voice asked.
“No,” I responded. “Go ahead.” I heard the mare sit down beside me, and try to get comfortable on the wooded seat.
“How's life, Blank Flank?” the mare asked, not a hint of rudeness in her voice. I froze. Did I hear the mare correctly? I turned to see Diamond Tiara. My jaw slightly dropped and my eyes narrowed.
“Excuse me, what did you call me?” I asked, offended.
“You heard me,” Diamond Tiara said, looking back at me. She wasn't trying to be rude at all. “I said Blank Flank.”
“I'll have you know that I do have my cutie mark,” I retorted. “You saw it appear, I know you did. So don't call me that.”
“I'm not saying it to be rude,” Diamond Tiara reasoned. “You didn't have a name when you were in school, so I could only call you Blank Flank. Even when you did get your mark.” I turned away.
“Go to hell, Diamond Tiara,” I grumbled.
“I'm serious,” Diamond Tiara cried. “If you have a name now, by all means, tell me. I've changed. I'm a much better girl now. I had a talk with my Daddy and Miss Cheerilee, and they helped me improve. I'm done being such a bully, I swear it.” I looked back at Diamond Tiara. She was dead serious in what she was saying. I sighed.
“My name's Braveheart,” I told her.
“OK,” Diamond Tiara said. We went silent for a time, staring at the starry sky. Diamond Tiara finally broke the silence.
“Did you see what happened to Ponyville?” she asked. “Changelings were everywhere, destroying everything, then some hooded ponies killed them all.”
“Yeah,” I said. “I heard. I was in the battle.”
“Really?” Diamond Tiara asked. I nodded.
“I was one of the Assassins,” I explained. “Chrysalis attacked again, and I killed her. But not before she killed a friend.” Diamond Tiara went quiet.
“I'm so sorry,” she said. “Another thing. May I ask what happened to you're leg? And where you got those wings? I didn't see any wings during the school year.”
“I was born an alicorn, like the Princesses,” I explained. “But I got my wings cut off in a factory. The workers there had every intention to kill me. I barely escaped and lived. My leg was cut off as well, but by a serial killer. I had to get mechanical replacements for each one. But I stole the mechanical leg from a machine from the future. It was trying to kill me, but I managed to destroy it first. It also killed a friend.”
“That's terrible,” Diamond Tiara said, not questioning the fact that the Terminator came from the future. “So, how were the amputations made? Did the doctors use magic?”
“I did the amputations myself,” I said. “Using tools.”
“You did this yourself?” Diamond Tiara asked, amazed. I nodded. Diamond Tiara gave a low whistle. “That's...impressive,” she said.
“I guess,” I shrugged.
“Can I feel the mechanical leg?” Diamond Tiara asked.
“Sure,” I said. I held out my arm, and Diamond Tiara looked it over. She looked and felt the hydraulics, gears, and other parts of the machine. She was clearly in awe.
“Who made this?” she asked.
“A defense network,” I said. “According to Pip, it becomes self-aware in a few years, but I don't want to believe it. But I can't help but worry about it. Ah, never mind. I'm getting carried away.”
“Well, it was nice to see you again, Braveheart,” Diamond Tiara said. She stood up, and I did so as well. “Can we put everything that happened between us behind us?” she asked. “I don't need something like that ruining a friendship.”
“Of course,” I said. We shook hooves, and went our separate ways. As I flew back home, I wondered how Silver Spoon was doing. She and Diamond Tiara were probably still friends, and they were more than likely trying to make amends with the other ponies they went to school with. I hoped that was the case, because I felt that they needed that chance to remake who they were. I never thought I would think this, but I actually enjoyed Diamond Tiara's company. I liked her new attitude and personality. She seemed like a much more likable pony now. Maybe the other school ponies would give her a second chance like I did. I entered my home, laid down in my bed, and got some sleep, glad to have made amends with Diamond Tiara.
