A Burden

Diamond Tiara sat at the edge of the cliff. It was nearly midnight; she should be asleep by now. Instead, here she was, outside without her father’s knowledge, cautiously looking over the edge as if something might try to grab her. She’d always been afraid of heights, she wasn’t even sure why she was here in the first place. She tried to make herself go back, but couldn’t, so she just sat there, her diamond necklace swaying in the breeze.

Her mind started to wander involuntarily. Tears sprang up in her eyes as she remembered the events from that afternoon.

***

That day, Diamond had been avoiding some certain ponies. Or at least trying to. They always seemed to find her, wherever she hid.

The Cutie Mark Cuties. The most popular group of fillies on campus. She heard it was because they were the first three to get their cutie marks in their entire grade.

Sweetie Belle was their leader. She was an incredible singer, and and her magical abilities rivaled any unicorn who dared to challenge her. Unfortunately, that also meant she could play dirty tricks on others, like making their homework disappear or transforming their lunch into centipedes. Still, all of the boys drooled over her like she was the best thing since double-hay-cheeseburgers. She was also incredibly rich, probably emphasized by the silver crown adorned with emeralds on her head, and the pearl earrings hanging from her ears.

Apple Bloom. The slut of the school. Rumor has it she’s stolen the virginity of every single boy, maybe even a few girls. Nopony ever knew who she was dating at the moment; she always seemed to be everywhere at once. She also had a bow obsession; she had at least four pink bows in in her mane and tail. Like Sweetie, a small round earring hung in each of her ears, the same amber color as her eyes.

Scootaloo was a mystery. Nopony knew where she lived. Nopony knew who her parents were. They didn’t even know her exact age. All they knew was that she was a daredevil, and a beast in the sky and on a scooter. She was very antisocial, and had never dated, as far as anypony was concerned. Nopony knew how she became a Cutie Mark Cutie. She was just… part of the group from the very beginning.

That afternoon, the three had found Diamond hiding under one of the picnic tables. They liked to constantly torment her, maybe because she still hadn’t gotten her cutie mark.

“Well, well, well, if it isn’t Tiara,” Sweetie said, smirking. The three sauntered over, showing off their gleaming painted eyelids and hooves, and their cutie marks, for obvious reasons. “Hiding like the little varmint that you are, huh?” She dragged her out from under the table, enveloping Diamond’s purple and white tail with a green aura of magic. Diamond tried to grab onto the leg of the table, but she was yanked up into the air, dangling upside down. She started to panic.

“P- put me down!” Diamond whimpered. Other ponies had started to gather in the halls, watching the CMC torture their newest victim.

Sweetie looked back at the other two, as if for reassurance. Apple Bloom smiled wide, almost evilly, while Scootaloo seemed a bit uncertain. Nevertheless, she gave a slight nod, smirking.

“As you wish,” Sweetie said sweetly, before dropping a dizzy Diamond right on her head. Diamond cried out, but got up anyway, rubbing her head. She wasn’t that hurt.

“Go ahead,” Sweetie Belle said. “Call a teacher.” She smiled knowingly while Diamond looked down at her hooves.

Sweetie chuckled. “Oh that’s right, you can’t! The teachers don’t believe you anymore, do they?”

Diamond sniffled. Unfortunately, she was right. Every time she tried to talk to a teacher, the CMC always seemed to know just how to get out of a sticky situation. It got to the point that now, the adults didn’t even want to listen to her. And everypony else either worshipped the CMC or were too scared of them to report anything.

Sweetie stepped uncomfortably close to Diamond, and poked her in the chest with her hoof. “You’re worthless,” she hissed. “You’re a worthless bitch. You don’t even know what your special talent is.” She stepped back, taking in the sight of the cowering Diamond Tiara. “That’s probably why your mother left.” She smiled, seeing that she hit a nerve. “You were probably EMBARRASSING her, with your BLANK FLANK, a WORTHLESS, BURDEN of a CHILD!” Sweetie was breathing heavily, watching Diamond’s reaction.

Diamond was on the verge of tears. She was a burden… that’s why Mother left. It was her fault. It was all her fault…
Sweetie Belle and Apple Bloom grinned as Diamond galloped away, crying. Scootaloo, however, watched her run with a blank face, void of emotion.

***

Diamond was crying softly by now, remembering every last detail of that afternoon. It was her fault Mother was gone… Mother left because of her… because of her cutie mark, or lack thereof… It was her fault, she was a burden, it was all her fault…

She felt for her diamond necklace. It was her mother's. She had found it on her dresser that morning, with a note that said, My little Diamond, I'm sorry, but I have to leave. I can't stay any longer. Perhaps your father can tell you when you're older. This used to be my necklace. Now, it is yours. Keep it as a reminder of your dear mother. I love you, my little gem.

She stepped closer to the edge of the cliff. She couldn’t believe what her hooves were doing; why was she going TOWARDS danger? She should be headed home, back where it was safe, safe from the outside world, the CMC, the disappointment, the criticism…

She took another step. She was almost at the edge. She took another step. Almost there…

She took another step. She was at the edge. If she took another step…

She could feel her hoof begin to move. Ever part of her body, her natural instincts told to turn around! What are you doing?! Turn around and go home to where it’s safe, you idiot! You worthless bitch!

She placed her hoof on empty air, and felt the breeze move her fur. She tensed up her hind legs.

“Goodbye,” she whispered.

She jumped.

She felt the wind run through her mane. She fell limp, ready for the inevitable impact of her body against rocks.

Her life flashed before her eyes. All the good moments, all the birthdays, the Heartswarmings, the Mother’s Days… All the moments before she left.

Before her mother had left.

Suddenly she stopped falling. The impact knocked the breath out of her, leaving her gasping. She struggled to calm her racing thoughts. If she had hit the bottom, why wasn’t she dead?

Then she realised she hadn’t. A pegasus pony had caught her. She held on for dear life as she tried to figure out who this mysterious pony was. It was dark, and a new moon. The stars weren’t bright enough.

They touched down, and Diamond gasped when she realised who it was. “Sc- Scootaloo?” she asked, barely audible.
Scootaloo gave a slight nod, her black eyeshadow, earrings, chokers, and bracelets blending into the black night.

“W-why? I thought you hated me…?”

Scootaloo sighed. “I don’t hate you.” She paused before continuing. “I left the CMC.”

Diamond’s eyes widened. “Why would you do that?”

Scootaloo chuckled quietly, shaking her head. “I decided it wasn’t worth it. I couldn’t take seeing my ‘friends’ torture other ponies like that.” She looked directly into Diamonds eyes. “Do you know why I joined in the first place?”

“N- no.”

She took a deep breath. “After my parents died, my sister and I moved to Ponyville, because the living accommodations here were cheaper than in Trottingham. I had to get used to new ponies, a new school… I didn’t want to be picked on because of my style-” she gestured to her black adornments “-or the fact that I didn’t have a cutie mark. You see, I was
always bullied back in Trottingham.” She paused, a pained expression on her face.

Diamond wanted to hear more, but didn’t push her. This was obviously hard for her to talk about.

Scootaloo composed herself, then continued. “I started to scooter like crazy, and I became known as ‘the daredevil’. When I got my cutie mark, well…” She chuckled. “You can imagine the attention I got from the other two.” She looked up. “I didn’t want to be on my own for the whole year, so I decided to join their little, ah, ‘group’. When I saw what they did to others, though…” Scootaloo looked back down and shifted her wings uncertainty. “I decided that being a bystander was better than being all on my own. At least I had ponies to count on.”

Scootaloo fell silent. Diamond desperately wanted to hear the end of the story. “But?” she said.

Scootaloo smiled a little, then her face fell. “When I saw how they affected you, what they said about your mother… I kinda snapped. I came up to them after school and told them I was done. Then I walked away.” She chuckled. “You should’ve seen their faces. They were like-” She opened her mouth wide, imitating a face of shock.

Diamond laughed. “You look ridiculous!” she said between snorts. Then she abruptly stopped, seeing Scootaloo’s confused expression.

Scootaloo smiled. “Relax, I won’t hurt you.” She surprised Diamond with a hug. “I only want to help you.”

The end.