A small gust of wind blew the curtains of the dimly lit mansion room where she lie dormant. A fashionable blue dress, long since exchanged for pale hospital robes, hung from a chair, a stagnant reminder of better days. The intermittent beeps from a nearby privately-owned life support machine could be heard, representative of the wealth of the bed's occupant. Aside from the hollow, mechanised beeps of the soul-preserving device, the atmosphere was silent, funereal even.
It had been this way for a while now, as even the most elite of the medical profession had told the stricken mare's family that there was nothing else that could be done. Death comes to us all, it doesn't discriminate by the size of the wallet or how lofty the reputation. All you can do is wait for the inevitable, and hope that when your time arrives, you've had ample chance to make peace with those you wronged or wronged you during the living years, and said goodbye to the ones you love and cherish the most.
Somepony was about to get that opportunity. Spoiled Rich may have been as weak as a newborn kitten, and barely even able to turn her head on the pillow, but even she couldn't fail to recognise the telltale clip-clops of her all grown-up now daughter, as the pink mare softly made her way over to her dying mother's side. Despite their often fractious relationship, it had been progressively difficult for Diamond Tiara to witness her female parent's gradual decline over the months that led up to this: her final moments on Equestria.
A once proud, independent lady, now reduced to having her soiled sheets changed and given bed-baths by the regular servants she'd always looked down on and despised when she was still a sprightly young thing. The fact that none of the attentive staff had ever held a grudge and carried out their thankless tasks with creditable professionalism, perhaps said a lot more about their strength of character than Spoiled's bitterness, but that was up to the individual to decide. They were still getting paid, after all.
Hearing her mother cough hoarsely on her approach, Diamond wordlessly reached for the ever present bottle of water on top of the nearby bedside table. Inserting it directly into the patient's mouth and squeezing the plastic so the fluid could gradually work it's way down her esophagus, the whole procedure was akin to feeding a little foal milk. Such indignity had long since ceased to trouble Spoiled though, as lately she'd even forgotten what day it was, and even her own name. Some equines of a nastier disposition might call it karma, but those among that number did not include her daughter, who'd moved past such petty feelings of vengeance a long time ago.
Maybe it was the bleak sight of Spoiled looking so weak and emaciated that did it, as first the patient began to refuse any solid food, then even feeding her via drip became an ordeal in itself. Maybe it was when Diamond became a virtual stranger to her own mother, as the terrified older mare shrieked like a banshee and even almost jumped out the window at her very presence, before being restrained with a sleep inducing injection.
Or perhaps, it was just simply that the younger pony was a better animal than her formerly hateful, twisted female parent could ever be, having been saved from her own self-destructive path by a trio of determined fillies when she was still just an elementary student, and with their invaluable assistance learned all about the hitherto unheard benefits of love, friendship and self-sacrifice. Rare commodities that she'd certainly never been taught at home by either her often absent father, or the almost comatose mare half-choking in front of her. She was so grateful to the now world-renowned Cutie Mark Crusaders for setting her straight, they'd all be maids of honour at her upcoming marriage to one Pipsqueak esq, with her longtime bestie Silver Spoon being the pony to lead the procession of bridesmaids, obviously.
Spoiled would, of course, never make to the special day, and would have probably turned down the invitation in any circumstances. Not only had she thought the very idea that the fruit of her loins could tarnish the family name by marrying a spotted commoner was 'disgraceful', she'd also been horrified by the notion that the ceremony itself would be carried out in an inconsequential local registry office, instead of in the grandest cathedral in Canterlot. "You'll never get in the society pages there..." she'd huffed when the announcement had first been made a year ago, as if the loving couple cared about anything more than their upcoming nuptials going off without a hitch, along with the subsequent honeymoon in Trottingham.
In other words, she'd been completely isolated in her heedless vitriol, with even father beginning to tire of her constant demands and negativity. Yet, even when things got so unbearable he was forced to lock himself in the office and bang his head repeatedly on the desk late at night, he still persevered. Out of some masochistic sense of loyalty, or some misguided zeal that he could change her ways, nopony would ever know. Still, the option to leave her now had been taken out of his hooves permanently, and whatever happened in his future would not involve his current wife. There were unsubstantiated rumours circulating in the press that he and Rarity have been caught on a few secret late night rendezvouses, but nothing had been confirmed yet. Perhaps something would be announced at a more opportune time, after a respectable grieving period had elapsed.
Regardless, Filthy had already said his final farewells to his ailing wife, and had departed the cold, sterile room in tears. He can stare down the most fierce of competitors in a boardroom, but when it comes to seeing his life partner slipping away, he just couldn't handle it. Go figure... Diamond Tiara thought, as she gently mopped her mother's brow with a warm flannel. The older mare's eyelids were beginning to flicker, and the readings on the machine were beginning to fluctuate between mild and faint. It's now or never... she realised in a moment of epiphany.
Taking Spoiled Rich's flaccid hoof in her own, and drawing her muzzle closer to the stricken pony's ear, Diamond Tiara relayed what were surely to be the final words her female parent would ever hear in this world. "M-mother, I know we've had our differences, and you haven't exactly approved of many of the lifestyle choices I've made since I was a filly, but I want you to know two things. First of all, I forgive you. Putting up with your impossible expectations of me has turned me into the strong-minded, independent mare I am today. Even if that was entirely unintentional on your side, I thank you for that."
"The second, and I mean this from the very bottom of my heart, is that I still love you dearly. We were never close as a mother and daughter, and that is something I truly regret. But there were tiny moments, even when you were trying to be as aloof and difficult as possible, when I caught you looking at me. Sometimes, with a hint of pride, other times, with a joyful half-smile at what you'd helped create. Of course, you soon covered up your actions with a curt remark or a petulant humph, but I know what you were thinking, and I was truly moved. Those'll be the occasions I cherish the most. And of course, there is always this..."
She elevated a piece of jewelry tied securely around her neck, a silver tiara attached to a long golden chain. "Do you remember when you gave me this, the day I received my cutie mark? I was so happy, I ran around the entire mansion, knocking over all the servants in my jubilation, including Randolph, who I still dearly miss. Say hello to him for me if you see him up there for me, will you? Anyway, you might have lectured me at the time to stop 'rushing around like a blind pegasus' and told me a lady does not behave in such a 'rough manner', but even as a child I couldn't fail to spot the goofy grin you hid under your mudpack at me finally discovering my true talent. When you had this tiara especially made afterwards, it became my greatest gift ever, and I never took it off for years. Nope, not even while washing my mane. I can't tell you how hard that is, but I managed somehow. In fact, the only reason I removed it later is because alas, it was becoming way too small for my growing head, and cutting off the circulation to my brain. Which, when you're trying to work your way through business school, is a little inconvenient..."
Realising she was getting a bit off-track and rapidly running out of time, Diamond decided to get to the point. "Anyway, do you like what I've done with it? I had a little hole put through both sides of the crown to insert a golden cord, and now it's become a necklace! I shall be wearing it on my wedding day, in your honour. Even though you won't be there in pony, I know you'll be present in spirit, and this necklace shall be testament to that. I'll even leave a seat free at the main table with your name tag on it... won't that be nice, mother? Later, we'll tell our children only the best things about their late granny, and make sure we raise them in the right manner. Please look down on us from time to time and protect us mother, and in return I'll be sure to keep your memory alive. I-I l-love y-you M-Mum, I-I k-know I-I n-never s-said t-that e-enough, b-but..."
BBEEEEPP!!
That was it. Flatline. Spoiled Rich's final seconds on the planet, heralded by a non-stop cacophony of noise. Diamond sat deep in thought for a moment, before prising her hoof from her mother's own lifeless one, and slowly made her way outside, glancing around briefly for one last look, before closing the door behind her.
.................................................................................................................................
A clearly emotional Filthy Rich waited for her reappearance. "I-Is s-she...?"
Diamond Tiara only nodded gently in response. Her mind, for now, still seemed to be elsewhere.
"Listen, sweetheart..." Filthy attempted to comfort his daughter. "She's in a better place, believe me. She wouldn't want either of us to be sad, either... so if you ever need anypony to talk to, I'll be right here for you..."
"I-I spoke to her, before her spirit flew far away..." Diamond Tiara finally replied, a glazed apparent expression in her eyes.
Filthy looked at the pink mare wistfully upon hearing this, and lovingly stroked her mane. "Darling, so did I, but I wouldn't get my hopes up that she understood anything. The illness spread to her brain a while ago, so it's questionable how much she even heard..."
"I reached her..." At this point Diamond Tiara turned to face her father with a sombre smile on her face, and a single teardrop running down her cheek.
Filthy looked down at her puzzlingly, before asking in confusion. "Whatever do you mean, dear?"
"The last thing she did... was squeeze my hoof..."
Author's Note
In between non-stop plays of various Christmas related songs on the radio, I happened to hear 'One Sweet Day" by Mariah Carey and Boyz II Men, and that formed the main inspiration behind this fic.
Hope you enjoyed... and again, happy holidays.
