Diamond Song's Diary

August 14th year 4LT

It's been two whole days and Nanny still hasn't returned and nopony will tell me why. I've been asking Mother every chance I get but she always ignores it and starts drilling me with questions. The training has been tougher than it ever was before.

I thought we would be sticking to the stone egg but the next day it was replaced with a brand new one made of crystal. Crystals absorb manna much the same way dragon eggs do though not nearly as fast.

Training always gets a little.. frantic before the test but this is the first time it's gotten this bad. I've barely had enough time for meals let alone time for writing in my diary.

Today we finally began packing our luggage for the train. A few outfits, my spell books, the new crystal egg, and some snacks for the train ride found their way into my trunk with the help of Good Briar. He's such a laid-back fellow, even Nanny would have found dealing with Mother during this ordeal frustrating. But then again she's been with us long enough that she doesn't seem worried about telling mother off when she becomes too overbearing.

I hope she comes back before we leave for Canterlot.

The other foals haven't been back to visit me since that time in the orchard. I hoped that I might see Lazuli again when she comes to walk her brother home from the orchard but I've barely even looked outside of the library except to receive meals and go to bed.

I haven't even been able to take a bath it's been so hectic! Mother must have only just realised that this afternoon after dinner. She was about to kiss me goodnight instead she stepped back and yelled for Good Briar to draw me a bath! I've never been so embarrassed.

Speaking of embarrassment... I've been thinking about Hollow Row. Why did he go and do such a thing? There's no way he could like me, we barely know each other! What do I know about him?

I know his father runs a carpentry business. It was him and his team who helped do the repairs on the barn last summer. I know his Mother works in orchards. I know he doesn't get very good grades in school and that he doesn't seem to care all that much about it. Somehow, I don't feel like that's enough.

Wait. I've read about this sort of thing before. It's just a crush, it has to be. I mean we've only every played together when Lazuli calls us out. He's there because of her, I'm there because of her. We talk sometimes but it's never really gone past idle chit chat. So the only thing he has to really like about me must be my appearance..? NO, NO, NO, that's too embarrassing to even write down!

What was that talk of him going to Canterlot anyways? He couldn't have been serious. He'll definitely get over his crush and things will go back to normal once I've been in Caterlot for a few days.

A great poet once said that the love of youth floats to and fro like a butterfly on unsteady wings. Or was that from one of Mother's romance novels..? In any case, I've got bigger turnips to fry right now.

I'm so tired... I've been using my magic all day. I'm getting to the point where even holding this quill is becoming annoying.

We'll be leaving for Canterlot the day after tomorrow and arrive sometime later in the day. I'm going to keep my hooves crossed and hope Nanny pops up before then. I've been wondering about that a lot as you already know, I'm starting to feel like I know the truth about what's going on. I feel like dirt, trampled dirt.

The only thing about it though is that Good Briar he was just filling in for her while she's away right? So I couldn't be right about what happened. A family emergency popped up and she had to rush to get to them. She'll definitely come back.

Anyways, I'll try to write more tomorrow night.