The Pippy Paddle

by Artie Smartie

Rating: teen
Tags: Human, Sad, Alternate Universe, Romance
Length: 3035

Two different teens bump into each other at a swimming pool. A kind of feeling emerges.

Diamond Tiara is a crown-wearing bully, hanging out alone at the pool.
Pipsqueak is a happy-go-lucky, yet socially awkward and bullied, foreign exchange student recently coming from Europe. He too is hanging out at the pool.
Suddenly, Diamond gets herself in a tizzy. Pip, in an act of bravery, saves her. Diamond soon reluctantly becomes friends with him in order to not look bad at her apparent hero. After a while, though, Diamond finds herself wanting to be with this boy more and more, relating to him more than she realizes, and having feelings she never had before.

This is for all you Diamond Tiara lovers out there (including you, FanficFanPony :)). Giving her a little respect, despite how she looks on the show.

Set in EQG universe. Diamond and Pip and the rest of the younger ponies from the show are 16 in this. Enjoy!

-Xtremo15

Published 1970-01-01 00:00:00 UTC
Last updated 2015-08-21 05:13:48 UTC

A Usual Day At The Pool

Diamond Tiara had started the trip to the pool like usual: showing her dominance over the cashier.

"Oh, hello, Diamond," said the cashier, unenthusiastically. He didn't show it, but inside, he rather wanted to sit on a bed of nails than deal with her.

"Oh, you sound soo unhappy," Diamond said sarcastically, enjoying every moment of it. Tormenting the cashier at the Ponyville Pool was always easy as pie, given she had plenty of verbal ammunition to use on him. "Guess I wouldn't, like, be happy being a loser, either."

The cashier grimaced in silent anger. He heard her insults so many times, yet they hurt every time.

"After all," Diamond said, sneering at him, "like, what kind of nonloser would have ugly zits"- she pointed to his face, where it was practically the set for Face Wars: Revenge of the Zit-"or hideous hair that, like, makes zombies look good"-she then pointed to his uncombed coconut hair, which made him cover his head-" or, like, huge, ugly beaver teeth like you?"

She laughed and pointed as the cashier covered his mouth, trying to keep his cool, despite his ears filling with steam from anger, and his eyes filling with tears of sadness.

"Awww, like, what's the matter, Beaver Boy? Gonna cry like a little beaver baby?" Diamond glared at him, waiting for him to crack.

The cashier took a deep breath, sucking in the water in his eyes, and said with gritted teeth, "Cash or pass, miss?"

Diamond took out her season-swimming pass from her sparkling black purse. "Pass." She looked at him straight in the eyes. "Stupid beaver boy." She enunciated each word, giving power to all of them.

That seemed to do it. The cashier, starting to turn red and teary, dashed to the back, another worker running after him.

"That's right, beavery baby! Like, go to your beaver mommy!" Diamond laughed as another worker shakily checked her pass in and gave it back, chuckling all the way to the changing room as if she was an evil witch, spreading curses to all she touched.

Diamond looked at herself in the mirror as she dropped her purse and swimming bag. Looking good, like usual. She chuckled at the thought of what she would look like if she was like Beaver Boy out there. Like, such a thought just couldn't happen! If I started to look like a loser like him, God, like, just end me right then.

Diamond went into a stall. She first took off her small, yellow jacket. If I looked like him, or, like, even associated myself with weirdos like him, I wouldn't be this powerful. She took off her white skirt, then lifted off her black shirt, revealing her light purple bikini with white polka dots. If that happened, I couldn't be popular, not to mention have all that fun I just had with that loser. She took off her yellow boots and black socks, and put on her stylish purple, glittery sandals.

Before going out, she stuffed all her actual clothes in her swimming bag and checked herself in the mirror again. She checked her ponytail to see if her ponytail tiara pin was still in place. Yep. There it was, keeping her ponytail in place. Like always.

Looking good...and powerful. Diamond posed in the mirror, an evil glare and smile on her face. Let's keep it that way.

Diamond strolled into the main pool area. Everywhere, there were swimmers, mostly teenagers, with parents at the tables nearby, probably chattering on about work and such things like that. Blue was the main color to come into Diamond's mind every time she entered, given almost everything, from the cement floor to the ceiling, were that color. Even the large ceiling high windows had a slight hint of ocean color. In the corner, Diamond saw kids and teenagers in line to swoosh down the large swirling slide that towered above all, making her feel like an ant.

Diamond looked around. The usual customers were here. At the diving board, Bulk Biceps, the strong, dumb one of Ponyville High, flexed his muscles and grunted as he stepped onto the end.

"Yeah! Cannonball!" was all he shouted before bouncing real high off the board, and slamming the water in a monstrous belly flop. Lotus Blossom and Aloe, the twin daughters of the owner of the Ponyville spa, chuckled as Bulk climbed out of the pool, wincing in pain, his belly all red, but still grunting and trying to look tough, despite tears welling up in his eyes.

Too bad his dumbhead brain isn't as big as his brawn. Diamond chuckled to herself at her mental insult to Bulk.

A few feet away, another girl stood at the edge. She didn't wear a swimming outfit, just a blue shirt with a yellow tie and grey shorts. She held a muffin in her hand as she prepared to dive. Cross-eyed, she jumped and splashed into the water. She came up smiling, her hair wet and her clothes seethrough from dampness, revealing a white onesie underneath. She smiled at her muffin, but suddenly frowned when the muffin disintegrated from water, leaving the crumbs entering the pool from her hand.

"I just don't know what went wrong.." the grey-skinned girl said, her eyes crossed even more in confusion.

Wow. *Her** brains are as big as her brawn! How pathetic can you get?* Diamond could only laugh more at the loserdom that befell her.

Diamond then set her eyes off those two to put her focus on her main targets: the Crusaders.

The Crusaders sat to Diamond's left, at a table right next to the water slide. Apple Bloom was sitting on a blanket, her and her orange onesie sunbathing at the window, her hairbow lying next to her. Sweetie Belle was readying her stuff on the table in a dark-purple bikini and brown shorts. Her stuff consisted of several blow-up swim toys, several suntan lotions, and several sunhats to choose from.

Just like her fabulous sister, Diamond thought. Must be hard for Rarity to be related to a weirdo like her.

Scootaloo (the "tough girl," Diamond thought) was sitting in a chair alongside Apple Bloom, sunbathing in a tight black T-shirt and black bikini bottom. She wore black sunglasses, remniscient of her idol, Rainbow Dash (Too bad Rainbow would never hang out with a loser like *you*, trying to be cool).

Sneering, Diamond grabbed a bucket from the toy bin, and walked to where the Crusaders sat. Scooping up a full bucket of water from the pool, Diamond looked back at them. They glanced at her, and gaped in confusion.

Splash!

Instantly, all the Crusaders were soaked by Diamond's mean prank.

"Hey!" Scootaloo shouted, her hair and sunglasses all watery. "Not cool, Diamond!"

"Aww, what's the matter, Lose-aders?" Diamond said in a mocking tone, smiling, "I thought this was a pool. You're, like, supposed to get wet!"

"Uh yeah, when we want to!" Sweetie said, trying to dry off her spot at the table with one of her several towels.

"Yeah, like she said! We ain't in a mood for swimming!" Apple Bloom said, drying herself off with the towel she sat on.

"Oh, is that so, losers?" Diamond said, then pointing out, "like, isn't that the point of a pool? To get wet?"

"Well, yeah," Scootaloo took off her glasses, and stood up, her hands on her hips, "but it's also a place to just chill out in the sun!" She waved her hand to the direction of her two friends. "That's what we're doing: sunbathing!"

"Well, I guess that seems right," Diamond said, frowning.

She then stared at Sweetie, her smile returning. -"like, given one of you has the skin of a sickly ghost!"

Sweetie gasped. "Hey!!"

"There's nothing wrong with the way she looks!" Scootaloo shouted. She put her hands back on her hips. "None of us look bad or weird!"

Diamond copied Scootaloo, putting her own hands on her hips. She walked up to her, inches from her face. "Says the one covering herself with a shirt."

Scootaloo double-taked, crossing her arms, her face redder than an apple. "It's not like that! I-i just like how this shirt looks on me, that's all!" She looked down, her eyes manically darting back and forth in embarrassment.

Diamond turned away, her smile in full evil form. "Like, I bet that's not the only reason."

She laughed as she walked away, leaving the Crusaders watching her walk away with looks of anger and disgust. Scootaloo could only slump in her chair, still blushing and covering herself, while Apple Bloom went over and tried to comfort her.

Diamond smiled as she walked, boasting by walking with more swag. Serves her right.

Diamond sat down, still amused by her latest work with the Crusaders. Oh, how good it was to be better and richer than others!

Diamond closed her eyes, relaxing herself into the chair. "Such fun stuff with those losers!" Diamond sighed, "Right, Silver Spoon?"

She expected an answer from her best friend and best girlfriend, Silver Spoon, who regularly accompanied her everywhere, both enjoying the joy of putting others down.

Today, though, Diamond fell on no ears. Diamond opened her eyes, and looked next to her. There sat an empty chair. Silver usually occupied the chair.

"Right. I came alone," Diamond sighed, then perking up, "Oh well. Not like she was needed for me to have some fun."

Diamond closed her eyes, feeling better.

Like, she hasn't been around for a while, and it would be good to have someone to talk to.

Diamond then sighed, her smile faded. Yep, just a usual day. Alone.

The First Day for Another

At that exact moment, as Diamond lay alone, starting another usual day, another face was starting his first day at the pool.

Wow, wot a place for a swim! was Pipsqueak's first thought as he entered the Ponyville Pool building. He stood at the entrance, hit by the smell of chlorine and water in the air, smelling it as if it were fresh-baked biscuits like his mum made back at his old home. He gazed at the nice retro blue striped carpet that was placed over the floor and under his shoes, and the nice light-blue walls that contrasted his bright red sweater. His eyes wandered to the nice glass waiting tables and chairs near the cashier, who was having quite the trouble getting the cash register open for a customer. Pip thought she looked nice, her purple hair frazzled from stress. Though perhaps she needs some jolly good help.

Pip walked over to where the purple-skinned cashier struggled with the register. In front of her, a customer stood, sort of impatiently.

Pip could the girl grumble. "Nnnnnngh can solve complex math equations in two uuuggh seconds, yet gaaaah can't open a stinkin' cash register!!" The girl sounded like she had been at it for quite a while.

"Um, excuse me, madam?" Pip waved his hand to get her attention. "Do you need some assistance?"

The cashier looked up at him. Her face was almost sweating from struggle.

"Um," Pip spurted out, "C-can I, um, help you, good missus?"

The cashier only panted in response for a moment, then said, "Yes, pant pant please." She stopped pulling on the register. "Usually, pant someone else does the cashiering, pant while I count it afterwards. But he's pant busy in the back. pant With what, pant I don't know. pant"

Pip went behind the counter and looked at the register. On the front was a large lock, used to keep burglars out. Pip immediately knew what to do.

He took out his wallet from his khaki pants, and poked inside. Then, he pulled out a small silver key. Then, to the cashier's gaping surprise, Pip popped the key in the lock, opening the register instantly.

"What?!" The cashier stared at the register, then at Pip, who smiled back. "How..how did you do that? How do you have a key like that?"

"Oh, um, me dad owns a costume store back in Europe." Pip popped the key back into his pocket. "Wasn't good wit' money. So me mum usually had me handle the register."

"Oh...ok," the cashier said, "Thanks."

"You're quite welcome, um," Pip squinted at her nametag, "Miss Twilight."

Then, with that, Twilight the cashier helped the waiting customer and Pip, giving him a free season pass for the help, and Pip, a big smile on his face, walked to the men's dressing room. First time at the Ponyville Pool. How exciting.

Pipsqueak stepped out of the men's changing room, now wearing black swimshorts and brown swim goggles on his head. Smiling in anticipation, Pip stepped out into the main area, looking over all the pool. Such a breathtaking view! Like looking over the ocean on a clear day in Great Trotain! Pip once again breathed in the nice chemical smell of the pool, jittering in excitement at the thought of making a splash.

But what Pip didn't notice were the several people occupying the pool. This sudden observation kind of made Pip stop shaking with excitement, and more in discomfort.

He walked past a girl wearing clothes over her swimsuit, cuddling a wet muffin in the water.

"Uh, you not goin' to eat that?" Pip said.

The girl responded by cuddling her muffin tighter and hissing at him. Pip only backed away slowly.

He walked further and found three girls sitting together. One purple-haired white-skinned one was trying to dry off several swimming supplies. Another, a red-haired girl in orange, looked like she was trying to comfort another. This last one, a dark-orange girl, was cuddled in a ball in a chair, looking rather sad.

Pip wanted to say something as he walked by. The moment they set eyes on him, though, seeing anger and depression, especially in the orange one's, he immediately silenced himself and walked away.

Pip wandered to an empty table, wishing he could help. It seemed, though, that wouldn't be possible today. He was still pretty new to this place, not to mention this country, and Pip still felt awkward trying to talk to anyone.

So Pip sat there, only staring at the trio, helplessly watching the orange-clothed girl manage to cheer the saddest one up, as evidenced by her small smile. Pip saw as the orange girl sat herself back up, wiping her eyes of tears, then after a moment, covered her eyes with sunglasses and faced towards the window, resting her arms behind her head.

Pip sighed. At least they cheered up without me. I guess it doesn't really matter if I did try to talk to them.

Maybe now i'll just rest and enjoy this-

That was all Pip could think to himself, before his thoughts were interrupted by a laugh.

Pip looked around for the source of the laugh. His eyes soon found their target.

This girl, who apparently found something about Pip very humorous, was laying at a table about 10 or 15 feet away, her light pink-skinned arms holding her sides in amusement. Her white-striped purple hair bounced a bit, held in a ponytail by a silver crown hairpin, bounced a little as she chuckled.

Pip raised an eyebrow. "Um, excuse me, miss, but wot's so funny?"

The girl sat up, adjusting the strap on her purple polka dot bikini top as she rose. "Oh, nothing." She sneered at him, somehow giving his back chills all over. "I just find your pathetic girl-watching just humorous, that's all.'

"..Pathetic?!"

"Uh-duh," the girl continued, "how you're just sitting there, staring, knowing that you'll never be good enough for any girl." She chuckled a little bit more. "Like, how is it not pathetic?"

Pip's frown came into form, along with his scrunching eyebrows. However, he responded friendly, "Well, wot, Miss, uh...whoever you are, you've never done that with guys you wanted to talk to?"

"Of course not." Diamond struck a pose. "I'm too popular. They stare at me."

Pip rolled his eyes. "Well, even so, that's not what I was doing. It's just, I saw them, and they looked kinda in a muddle, so I, well..." Pip twiddled his thumbs in somewhat embarrassment, "...wanted to help, but....couldn't." Pip then stopped for a moment, and then whipped back into the conversation. "But I saw it got fixed, so, uh, yeah, I just, uh...watched their happiness."

The girl stared, her face as if she just met a serial killer. "Wow. Not only are you a loser and a weirdo, but, like, you're also a creep, too!"

The girl then guffawed more, her evil laugh raising Pip's angry-meter a couple notches more, his focus on keeping a straight face weakening.

"Well, then, it's, like, no wonder you couldn't talk to them: cause you know they would never talk to a loser creep like you, Creeper." The girl sneered and chuckled even more. Pip then felt his eyes tear up.

"For your information, miss," Pip said in a gruffer tone, "the name is Pipsqueak. I would appreciate it if you called me by that, please."

The pink-skinned girl looked back, frowning, then uttered a sigh. "Sure thing,-" Her sneer then returned. "-Creepsqueak!"

Pip then gasped, then his face scrunched up. He quickly looked away, for one to try and keep his barely-kept happy composure, and for two, to hide the sudden tears starting to race down his face.

The girl then got up, still chuckled her evil chuckle. "Oh," she turned back to Pip, who turned back as well, his face red, "It's Diamond Tiara." Her smile grew. "Welcome to Ponyville, you European loser"

Then, without another thought, she walked away, leaving Pip alone with his inner struggle .

Pip stared into the pool water, his tears dropping into it, muddling his reflection. If only she wasn't right. He dropped his head into his lap. If only I had a friend here.

Unfortunately, they re' thousands of miles away, along with all the bullies I thought I left behind.

Sigh. Some day this turned out to be so far.