Author's Note
IMPORTANT WARNING
Whatever is written in this chapter is something I do not support on what should happen during the mentioned events. This should not occur to anyone at all. Everyone can agree what will happen is harsh to the point to which is unacceptable. I advise that you should continuously remind yourself that this is a story and not reality.
Everyone does matter in life whether or not you agree with me. Everyone serves a purpose and if you're clueless about it, you'll find out soon enough. Just don't go digging immensely for it. Trust me, it didn't work out for me.
- Mr.User
Darkness Returns
It was another but exciting day in Cheerilee's Schoolhouse; the second last day of the semester and an upcoming six weeks holiday. Cheerilee had the whole class (besides two colts) playing games inside to protect them from the grey clouds hovering over Ponyville, raining down clear pellets. But with the gloomy weather, everyone was high in spirit as Diamond Tiara faced her best friend in a game of Battleships.
The two had the same number of ships laid in strategic positions while the Cutie Mark Crusaders observed on different sides, whispering amongst each other. None of them had attacked their ship yet. Diamond Tiara still had a two-hit ship while Silver Spoon had a five-hit ship still standing.
Diamond Tiara tapped on the floor, strategising where to attack until she slammed and announced a position, "A2!"
Silver Spoon sighed in defeat as she replied sadly, "Hit."
A hoof raised in the air followed with a pump connected to an enthusiastic pony, "Yes! I've got you cornered, Silver Spoon!"
"Nu-uh, I still have to get rid of your ship. I can still fluke this." Silver Spoon remarked, adjusting her glasses in confidence.
Silver Spoon called out a position and a miss came her way and another hit from Diamond Tiara. A serious face overtook her as she planted another miss on the board. A cackle came from Diamond Tiara as she gained another hit. There were two more hits left until Diamond Tiara would win the game. Another miss had sent Diamond Tiara on a frenzy, attempting to contain her excitement. That was until Silver Spoon hit her ship.
"No!" She cried, "But I can still beat you with an A6!"
"Miss." Silver Spoon said bluntly, sending Diamond Tiara over the edge, "What?"
"I shall attack D8."
Diamond Tiara's hooves flailed in the air as she lost her game, laying on the cold, wooden floor. Letting out a breathy sigh, a comfortable hoof rested on her shoulder, forcing her to look up. Apple Bloom held Diamond Tiara and gave her a calm grin, tapping it until she stood from the ground. Gathering a group's hug, in the mist, she found a welcoming hoof - Silver Spoon's.
Her destroyed expression disappeared and came to a joyful hug and sigh, "That was a good game. Not the best, but it was good. If you had said A1, then I would have lost with A5."
The Crusaders began to sort the board game into its original spot, greeting the other ponies. Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon laid in the same spot and discussed basically anything that came to their minds. Silver Spoon droned on her hate for algebra. She completely despised the subject but found all the other competitors okay. Diamond Tiara merely snorted and explained how simple it was, gaining an 'A' during their test while Silver Spoon had received a 'C'.
A brown-coated earth pony came strutting over to the duo, flicking his dark mane. He stamped the ground forcefully and eyed the fillies with his blue eyes. He squinted at Diamond Tiara harshly until he swayed his tail violently towards her, getting caught in her tiara.
"Hey!" She shouted.
"Hey, what?" The colt repeated, showing off the tiara, "No wonder why ponies hated you, you're such a brat!"
Apple Bloom stepped in front of her friend, "Doesn't mean she hasn't changed, Bitter Jam."
"What's a puny farmpony gonna do, huh? Cry to your mother?" Bitter had a devilish stare with a smirk that matched each other, "Oh right, she's not alive!"
"Hey, hey, hey!" Rumble interjected, snatching the tiara, "Leave these fillies alone, they did nothing to you!"
"Standing for your marefriend, Rumble?" Bitter Jam continued, "Didn't know you liked snobs."
"Bitter Jam, stop this at once!" Cheerilee ordered as her voice radiated throughout the classroom, "You have no authority to speak like that, Bitter Jam. Everyone wants to have a pleasant last two days until they move on to their next year. I suppose you'd like to sit outside and think about what you've done?" She said bluntly as the colt stumbled outside in the chilly breeze.
Rumble said calmly, handing her tiara, "Hey, you alright?" She replied with smiling nod until she gazed upon the aftermath.
Diamond Tiara looked to the cold floor, reflecting on her mood, staring back at a depressed Apple Bloom whose tears came rushing down like a waterfall. That waterfall, however, had no glorified features, just a rush of water. Distinct and common words exited her friends' lips, saying that everything would be okay and that it was just one incident. Diamond Tiara heard the nonsense, knowing that everything would not be okay. She had met Bitter Jam before, reminding her of the torment she faced.
A strange feeling fluttered in her stomach before she returned to Equestria, hearing her teacher exclaiming to put on a movie for everyone to watch. Her neutral expression soon turned into a more joyful one once she discovered what the film was. It was very old, but one of the more memorable. Cheerilee had allowed everyone to eat while watching the movie but Diamond Tiara was already enraptured by the moving pictures that she had forgotten to have her packed lunch.
As the movie reached a quarter left towards completion, the bell had echoed across the classroom, making students become startled. Diamond Tiara had gotten frightened herself at the immediate scare, slowly grabbing her saddlebag as did her other classmates. Some had already neared the exit - Button Mash, Rumble and Pipsqueak with tired eyes coupled with a yawn.
Diamond Tiara soon followed the trail with her own yawn being displayed with Silver Spoon on her tail. Turning to see her best friend, they held a hug and bade goodbye, going their own way. Silver Spoon had to leave early for a show in Manehattan while Diamond Tiara's parents forced her to go for the final days of school. Even though she still had the Crusaders behind her back, they couldn't match what Silver Spoon had to offer.
Silver Spoon hopped on a chariot with her father along with fancy suitcases behind them. She waved to her friend who stood still while they drove off into the city. Apple Bloom had already been next to her loveable sister, and Sweetie Belle was bouncing towards hers. Scootaloo was still in the schoolhouse, ready to leave as Diamond Tiara called over to her.
Waving goodbye to Cheerilee, the two ambled towards town. Scootaloo was talking for the majority before Rainbow Dash bolted by, giving her a lift. She had an interest for this Bright Flight colt, the smartest in the class, but Diamond Tiara never paid much attention to the colts, except for one.
Noticing the growing, grey clouds, Diamond Tiara recalled having a salad sandwich in her bag, trying to find a safe spot to eat. Glancing around, a small tree rested on a hill, overlooking Ponyville. Racing towards it, Diamond Tiara set down her bag and flicked the latch, exposing her books, ink, quills and her untouched sandwich, safe in its own sleeve.
Grasping onto her sandwich, she unfolded the wrapping paper and took a large bite, filling her stomach. Sighing from the relief, she heard a distinct noise which made her ear twitch to the left. Turning to the noise, she peered by the tree, noticing Button Mash and Rumble just chatting in the corner of the schoolyard. Surprisingly, Button Mash looked smarter as he leaned onto the oak fence.
Rumble looked suspicious too, peeking behind for an unknown reason. Dropping his saddlebag, he pulled out a strange object.
"Hey, Demanding Tiara!" Bitter Jam yelled, scaring her, "I thought you said you weren't looking for a special pony." He leaned on the tree.
"I'm not, Bitter," Diamond Tiara sighed in disgust, "What do you want?"
"Nothing much, I'm just surprised you're even friends with those colts... Especially before you were 'reformed' as everyone always says. It's more like deformed in my case." He mocked, staring back to the town, ignoring Diamond Tiara's expression.
Diamond Tiara lifted her hoof in dismay and stuttered her words before a shushing hoof came to her muzzle. A sly grin entered Bitter Jam's face as Diamond Tiara inched back until she couldn't go further. Feeling a light pain on her rump, she stopped tugging and observed Bitter Jam's actions: His hoof caught her tail.
She tugged on her tail once more, getting another spark of pain until she was fully vulnerable, "Seriously, what's this all about?" She whimpered.
"You were spying on Rumble, weren't you? You were too caught up in how he 'saved' you from my insults," Bitter Jam resumed as he crawled towards Diamond Tiara, covering her muzzle with his hoof, "But he's not here, is he? Now I can begin."
Tapping his chin, he thought about what to say, "Let me remind you of what you are. You are an ungrateful brat who will never find any true friends. All the ponies are just acting to be your friend - they all secretly hate you for what you've done before. Even you're parents hate you. You get everything you want because your parents are worried that you'll start crying like a little foal," She attempted to shake free, "And you really think Rumble will date you for that? I know you've got the hots for him, but how could a wanting, deceiving piece of trash make for a good marefriend, huh?"
Bitter Jam leaned closer, giving off a negative feeling with his edgy smile. Diamond Tiara heaved a breath before headbutting his muzzle, causing a trickle of blood run down his nose. Wiping the tainted liquid off his muzzle, Diamond Tiara's eyes shrunk as a forced hoof threw her back. Pain surged throughout two places, her nose and her tail... or at least, what felt to be her tail.
Glancing down, she found small batches of wavy, purple and white. Her breaths quickened as she realised what had happened to her tail - it was completely devastated. The tidy mixture of colour was now left with missing strands which left Diamond Tiara in an excruciating state. Tears rushed down as she struggled to gain a tough stance. Sitting up only slightly, she could sense a furious presence in front of her and she could only squeal from the next hurtful hit.
"This is why no one will ever love you!" Bitter Jam threw massive blows with every insult, "You're pathetic, spoiled - like your parents, ungrateful, forceful, unacceptable, untreatable and a toxic pony!"
Bitter Jam breathed heavily on Diamond Tiara, gradually stepping off her body as she laid motionless on the dirt. Whimpering, Diamond Tiara remained silent, reminded of what she was. Her tiara was filthy, like her - shattered inside with a broken appearance. Her eyes were blank with red with flowing tears. She laid defenceless as she broke down, sobbing from those harsh words.
"And that's all you'll ever be." Bitter Jam spat as he cantered off towards the schoolhouse.
Diamond Tiara didn't know what to do, what to say, what to feel. She was confused to the brim that doing nothing was the only thing that made sense to her. She sniffed sharply and examined her tiara - broken, like her. Diamond Tiara couldn't breathe normally but could gather the strength to go home. Gathering her fallen belongings, she stood on the grass to feel for any breaks and looked back at the schoolyard where Rumble and Button Mash were. But Button Mash wasn't there, only Rumble and Bitter. Diamond Tiara was shocked at what she had seen. Her eyes turned into pins as a sack of bits from Rumble were thrown to Bitter as he cupped the prize into his hooves.
A rush of water came crashing down onto Ponyville and it was going to storm in Diamond Tiara. She was devastated, too much to be angry at Rumble. Rumble glanced at her and turned tail, heading inside of the schoolhouse. Diamond Tiara's heart skipped a beat and was on the edge of failing. Her already watery eyes mixed with the overtaking red did not help the dark atmosphere. She wanted to break down there but she didn't want Bitter's words to be true. Diamond Tiara tilted her head up to the path, fixed her footing and left for home.
There was one day left before school ended.
The dirt was sodden and disgusting - just like Diamond Tiara. She had no care in the world besides getting home in a safe environment. The thought of a warm and calming place filled her shattered mind that scurried like confused rats. Her once clear and clever mind was now vague and subtle, leading to single conclusions and irregular thoughts. She draped her head near the wet brown and couldn't blink as she was stuck in a trance that filled her with terror.
She was going insane. Her mind wasn't hers anymore. She wanted to leave her school behind even if it meant that she would never see Bitter Jam ever again.
The only time she ever gazed up was when she arrived at her home. She looked at its state: it wasn't bright and colourful as it was in the morning. The lights were dim, the atmosphere was gloomy and the feeling was bleak. Diamond Tiara twisted the doorknob and let herself in as she was soaking, planting patches of water on their carpet. It wasn't easy to clean liquid off their expensive carpet but Diamond Tiara couldn't care less. Immediately, she dropped her saddlebag as though it was heavy and searched - searched for her parents.
She was desperate to find them in the house. Peering her head through the kitchen, no one was present nor was anyone in the living room. Perhaps they were sleeping, so Diamond Tiara checked their room but no one was there. Their room was messy, uncouth, untidy - all the words that could describe Diamond Tiara's soul. She wanted, no, needed to find her parents hastily until those words could seep into her mind again. It was no use though, they were already flashing back in streaks of nightmares.
Her hooves were dry now, but her eyes weren't. They were long gone from being dry. She tried to call out for her mother and father but she couldn't. Her voice was aching to say a word but nothing could come out. All she could do was wander in a dark place and weep sorrowly.
Diamond Tiara stopped in front of her room where she examined everything closely. The bed she slept on, the clothes in her closet, the toys and stuffed animals and the life she had.
"I don't deserve this," She whispered to herself, "Bitter Jam was right."
She began to breathe uncontrollably, but she didn't hyperventilate, "He was right all along. I am a monster. A monster that shouldn't have lived at all!"
She broke down, sobbing on the carpet that tried to comfort her with its softness, "I'm useless, a waste of a pony, pure garbage!" She spat at herself, letting out any anger she had for her.
"Why didn't I see this before? It's because I'm stupid, isn't it? Dumb, old me couldn't understand a thing! Why am I still living!" She screamed regrettably as she tried to calm her breathing, "Bitter Jam said it all for me. I'm weak, worthless and I doubt any of my parents actually love me. They're just doing everything they can to shut my whining! I'm no one to these ponies and everything would be much better with me out of the picture! It's not like anyone cares about me!" Her voice cracked at that moment, growing a small river of tears. She wasn't sobbing though.
"I'll make the world better, Bitter Jam. You'll see. Well, it's more like that you won't see!" She cackled insanely.
Diamond Tiara wasn't sad anymore nor was she feeling any regular emotion. Her coat, mane and tail matched one another with a hint of disgust as her eyes were filled with a blur that she couldn't manage. Her breathing began to be irregular and unscripted and a sharp grin overtook her head. She wasn't herself anymore. Her tiara was the only thing left that suited her but was quickly torn away by Diamond Tiara's stamping to the kitchen.
She had one goal to do now, and it was the simplest one to do. But it was also the hardest.
Darting her gaze around the kitchen, there was only one thing that caught her attention - a shiny metal object that pointed with a sharp end. A knife was in view of the little filly as she rushed over to it. Looking at the knife, she hesitated to grab it. Her hoof was so close to the threatening blade but something inside didn't want her to take it. Overcoming that feeling, she held it in her hooves and aimed the weapon at her.
"Which to cut? Head, foreleg, stomach or hindleg?" She creepily stammered.
As she was about to cut her foreleg, she planted the knife firmly but she couldn't move the blade. A trickle of blood only spurted until her conscious took over her mind, causing her to throw the knife at the hallway, leading to the outside.
"What am I doing?" She squealed horrifically at the serrated metal, "Did I really just try to..."
"You did." Bitter Jam said, causing Diamond Tiara to flinch at his tone.
Startled, she darted her eyes around the room but he was nowhere to be seen, "I'm not in your house. I'm just your imagination. But that won't fool you. You'll be tormented every single day."
His voice was distorted. The walls seemed to be closing in on Diamond Tiara, making a perfect hallway towards the knife. The ceiling light burst open, shining onto the blade. She knew what had to be done.
With enough stalling, she crept towards the ending pain as she still heard all the nasty insults in the back of her mind shouting out her worthlessness. She finally gave in. She was no longer herself - the pretty, rich and young filly was now broken, filthy and poorly cared. Diamond Tiara couldn't stand it anymore.
Holding the blade firmly, she aimed at her stomach and resisted for the final time until... the door was knocked open with Filthy Rich and Spoiled Rich came through with bags. Midway through their chatter, Diamond Tiara stopped in her tracks, staring at her parents with the knife near her chest. Time seemed to stop at that moment as Diamond Tiara's mouth was unnaturally wide and smiling with the definite hint of death. Her eyes said the same and with no tears flowing at last. She repeated in her mind all those personal facts. She didn't care anymore.
Her terrifying stare wasn't enough for her parents to hold her with unknowing compassion. Diamond Tiara resisted the care with Bitter's words. She smiled as her parents took the knife away and held her tight, tighter than ever before. Their tears streamed down their faces as they desperately calmed their daughter who blocked their words.
They lost their daughter. Diamond Tiara lost herself. She couldn't turn back to the pony she wanted to be and instead died inside by Bitter's words. His words damaged her gravely and he knew what was going to happen.
She was gone a long time ago.
