Discipline & Pleasure

Diamond’s hooves beat the cobblestones as she galloped through downtown, fleeing from Silver Spoon’s accusations.

She ran without thinking, guided by her heart towards that questionable refuge on the edge of town. By the time she neared the Carousel Boutique she was coated in sweat. The blue doors beckoned, but the tears in her eyes burned like a fuse. Her heart was a bomb, ready to detonate any second. Her lungs aching with exertion, she stumbled towards a nearby grove and threw herself to the ground as the cool shade of the trees enveloped her.

Burying her face in her hooves, she focused on the buzzing of cicadas in the late summer afternoon heat, trying to fuzz out the fear gripping her. No luck. The fuse seared a rapid, stinging trail through her mind.

Humbolt. The name exploded in her mind, disintegrating the fragile dam she’d spent so many years building up. Deep, black jets of fear and pain rushed through her body. Holding back tears, she began to sink into the murky depths of her memory.

Once upon a time, there was a prince living in Ponyville. He was a pegasus by the name of Humbolt. Young, handsome, and daring, this prince had arrived in the town to serve the ponies there by teaching their fillies the refined sport of tennis.

Diamond was only a blank-flank, still a year away from getting her cutiemark. But this prince was wise, and saw beyond her immaturity. He gave her special attention, practicing with her one-on-one and advising her on her technique. His princess, he would call her. She liked the feeling of his eyes upon her during warm-ups, and the way his hoof would linger after correcting her stroke. He had promised that someday he would take her flying as well, to spend the night under a blanket of cirrus.

After weeks of waiting, she received the invitation she had been anticipating - a chance to soar above the clouds with her prince. She had lied to her father then, telling him she was going to be spending the night with Silver Spoon. It had only taken a little convincing to get her to go along with the plan.

That night. Diamond watched her younger self laying next to Silvy, the hands on the clock teasing the nervous filly with their mechanical indifference as they moved toward the hour when dreams ended and destiny began. She’d considered napping before she left, but she was too excited by what lay ahead, and too nervous about oversleeping. Silly, foalish Diamond Tiara, on the edge of the worst mistake of her life, and all she was worried about was being late for her date.

Her stomach twisted as she watched herself getting out of bed.

There was nothing you could do. How could you know? The paper-thin assurances sounded hollow and distant, as if from another time. How had she believed Humbolt in the first place? Why had she gone along with it? If she’d just thought it through, if she’d been smart about it, she would never have left that night, safe and secure in her innocence.

Don’t go. Please don’t go. She was powerless to stop herself. The naive little girl making her way across the room had a date with a nightmare.

Deeper and deeper still she sank, swallowed by old grief.

A thin cry pierced the silence of the dark bedroom.

Diamond Tiara held her breath, eyes darting around the room as she lifted her hoof from the doll she had stepped on. It hadn’t been loud, but to her twitching ears an alarm had just sounded, alerting the whole house to her escape.

“Di? Are you back?” Silvy’s voice was thick with sleep as the pile of sheets next to her stirred.

“I haven’t left yet. Sorry I woke you up.” Sighing in relief, she kicked the doll and sent it sprawling under the bed with another muffled cry.

“Are you sure about this?” Her friend rolled over to face her, peering from under the covers, her words just above a whisper.

“Of course, why shouldn’t I be?”

“But what if something happens?”

“Don’t be a wet blanket, Silvy, nothing’s gonna ‘happen’. It’s not like he’s a monster or something.” Her friend’s last-minute nerves were starting to infect Diamond, giving an edge to her words. “Why are you freaking out? We already went over this.”

“I know, I don’t know. It just... doesn't feel safe. Can you please just tell me where you’re going?”

"I already told you I can't." Don’t tell anypony, don’t let anypony see you. She had followed Humbolt’s instructions to the letter. Silver Spoon was the exception, but she needed an alibi and somewhere to go after her date.

“What if something happens?” The whispering made her friend sound younger, a frightened child scared of being left alone in the dark.

“Can you please be more jealous?”

No response. She knew Silvy liked Coach too - after practice, they would chat about his tight flank and the way he’d watch them as they went to the locker room to wash up. But Humbolt had chosen Diamond, and it was because of things like this - her friend had no self-control. If it had been her going to him in the middle of the night, she wouldn’t have been able to get a hoof out the door.

“Humbolt and I are going out. I’ll be back later, I promise. I need you to leave the door unlocked like we talked about.”

Still no answer. Shaking her head, she pushed the door open again, intent on getting to the meeting place early.

“Diamond?”

“Yes?” Another ‘what if something happens’ would see her bolting outside before she screamed.

“Be safe.”

She paused, on the verge of hurling the warning back at her friend. It wasn’t fair for Silvy to be so scared, to try and ruin the night with Diamond's prince that she’d been longing for with silly fears about something she knew nothing about. But the chiming of the clock downstairs called her - it was time to leave childish things behind.

"Yeah, okay." Securing the door behind her, she padded downstairs and out the door.

Her heart was racing as soon as she stepped outside. She’d never been outside alone so late at night, and it seemed as if Humbolt’s invitation had opened the door to strange and exotic places. Equestria After Dark was haunting in its emptiness, a foreign land populated only by adults when little fillies and foals were asleep. Silvy wasn’t invited there, even if she had wanted to go. Even Diamond, as confident as she felt, was a stranger to the night. She half-expected to round a corner and meet Nightmare Moon, or worse still, glimpse her father peering at her through the darkness of the town’s side-streets.

Doubt seized her at the edge of the path leading to the schoolhouse. Its black mass imposed itself upon the blue-violet sky like some towering beacon from another world. It loomed before her like the Signal Stone from The Eight Trials of Clover the Clever, a riddle taunting her with its forbidding opacity. She could imagine Clover standing before it, running her hoof over the inscription, reading it aloud: If you go right you'll lose your heart, if you go left you'll lose your head. Clover had gone right, of course, and even with her legendary wisdom and Starswirl’s magic staff it had taken three years before she found love again.

Shaking her head, she dismissed the foalish fantasy from her head. She'd had enough of stories. The hero never got what she set out for without a million problems getting in the way first, and sometimes not even then. Real life didn't have to be that hard. Her journey that night proved it.

Eyes intent upon the schoolhouse, she steeled herself for what lay ahead. She was leaving everything that she knew behind and venturing into an infinity of velvet darkness. This was her chance to prove herself. A filly had left Silver Spoon’s house, but when she stepped onto that path, she would be a mare.

Not just any mare, but his mare. His princess. That’s what Humbolt had said. This is your chance to soar with me. The force of his words pushed her forward.

A few steps onto the path, she felt... nothing. It seemed the cobblestones beneath her were as plain at night as they were during the day. No magic surrounding her, no grand transformation.

Something brushed her cheek, a gentle breeze stirring from its slumber. Above her, the clouds covering the sky pulled back, disrobing the waxing moon. A new world unveiled itself before her eyes. Fireflies surrounded her, sparkling like stars, drifting to and fro on the unseen currents of night. The pale moonlight lit up the stones before her, guiding her towards the solemn monument at the end of the path.

Something unspeakably beautiful filled her heart as she took in the view before her. Before she knew it, she was flying. Tears of joy streamed down her face as she galloped up the path, fleeting pearls of joy spirited away by the wind. Leaping to the base of the flagpole, she took the midnight air into her lungs, wanting to scream the sweetness of her triumph. Only her promise to Humbolt held her back.

Panting, sweating, and still utterly bursting with pleasure from her run, she trotted twice around the school. The green was deserted - she was early, as planned. After peering inside the darkened windows just to make sure, she planted herself beneath the pole, scanning the night for her prince.

She wondered where they would go. Cloudsdale, maybe? Almost all the pegasi lived there, although he said he hadn’t been back in years. How high would they go? Was it safe? Her mind brimmed with questions.

As for what would happen after that... all the pegasus had talked about was flying, but maybe he would kiss her? Silvy was worried he might try to sleep with her, but that didn’t seem like a very princely thing to do on your first date.

Resting and thinking, the nervous energy that had propelled her through town and across the path began to dissipate. Her young body reminded her that, in spite of the fact that it was the season of sleepovers and staying up late, she was up far past her bedtime. Resting her head against the flagpole, she imagined herself in her prince’s embrace, soaring above the clouds.

In the twilight of her half-consciousness, she was hovering above Ponyville, held tight in Humbolt's strong forelegs. The whole world stretched out before her eyes, Canterlot shining like the world’s largest jewel in the distance.

And then they were soaring. Humbolt shot forward so fast she felt the wind whipping her face as they pushed through the clouds. But there was something wrong. The clouds were dusty, like they were made of dirt. She rubbed her eyes, coughing, trying to clear her lungs...

Her eyes shot open. The sound of beating wings in her ears, she saw the silhouette of a pegasus landing on the ground before her.

“Humbolt?” she coughed, her heart leaping in anticipation. Wincing, she was blinded by a flashlight shining in her eyes.

"There you are! Stay put, kid." She began to squirm as she felt a hoof rest on her back. The pegasus spoke with a mare’s voice, gravelly and harsh, not Humbolt’s smooth baritone.

“Hey guys, I found her! Over here!”

With the light out of her eyes, she could make out the pony’s multicolored mane - Rainbow Dash? What was the head of the weather team doing there? Other points of light were moving through the darkness towards them. She shrank beneath the hoof of the pegasus.

“Where’s my daughter?”

If it had been possible for Diamond to sink any lower into the ground, she would have. Instead, Dash was pushed aside and she found herself being hoisted off the ground by Filthy Rich.

“What did he do to you? What happened?” He was holding her tight, stroking her mane. “Oh Celestia, Diamond, where is he?”

The filly hung limp in her father’s embrace, staring over his shoulder at the other ponies coming into view behind him. Dash glared at Filthy’s back, picking herself up and brushing her wings off as she moved to join two other pegasi just arriving. The Mayor stood next to them, the grim look on her face complemented by the dark circles under her eyes, and Miss Cheerilee hovered around the edges of the crowd. Her date had transformed into half of Ponyville gawking at her humiliation.

“Let go of me.”

“What? Are you hurt? Where did he hurt you?” Her father set her down, taking a step back.

“No, I’m fine. I don’t know what you’re talking about.” Don’t tell anyone. Humbolt’s words returned to her, as they had on her walk to the schoolhouse.

Filthy looked to the others, bewildered.

The blue mare stepped forward again, shoving her father out of the way as she did. The smile she wore beamed smug confidence. “Hey, you’re Diamond Ring, right? I’m Rainbow Dash, if you didn’t know that already, and I just rescued you. No need to thank me, though, I can see you’ve been through a lot tonight. We just need to know where this Humbolt guy is.”

“My name’s Diamond Tiara.” Dash’s celebrity charm had worn off the moment she opened her mouth - she was just as obnoxious as her smile had suggested. The pegasus was talking to her like she was some lost filly they’d found wandering alone at the mall.

“O... kay then, Diamond Tiara, same question. Where is this guy?”

“How should I know? I was just taking a walk.” Summoning the courage that had filled her on the path earlier, she sighed and rolled her eyes in her best impression of being bored.

“This is an awful funny place for a kid to hang out alone after midnight. You sure about that?”

“Yeah, pretty sure.” Diamond yawned and examined her hoof, trying to ignore how much it was shaking. She was Clover the Clever, outwitting her enemies in the face of certain danger, not small, scared Diamond Tiara. However if Dash was going to treat her like a filly, she may as well act the part.

“You’re not lying to me, are you, Diamond?” The tone of the pegasus suggested she’d been downgraded from filly to foal.

“Maybe.” She locked eyes with Dash, smirking.

Diamond felt a small surge of triumph at the shocked look on the weather mare’s face. Maybe that would be the end of the stupid questions.

“Listen, punk, I didn’t get woken up just to deal with some spoiled--”.

“Don’t you talk to her like that!” her father yelled, stamping on the ground. “She’s not normally like this. He did something, I know it.” There was an edge to his voice, something sharp and dangerous slicing through the air.

“He didn’t do anything, Dad! I told you, I’m fine!” She pleaded with him, trying to intervene before--

"Hey! Back off, pal! She knows something, and I'm not going anywhere 'til she answers the question!" Dash’s friends were twin shadows behind her, staring down Filthy but keeping their distance.

“Don’t take that tone with me.” Her father advanced on the mare, staring her down. “Mayor, I want to file a complaint with this young lady’s superior. This kind of behavior is unacceptable.”

She needed to calm him down. Her father had talked about complaints, but his eyes were on Dash, muscles tensed as he stamped the ground again. “Dad!” she yelled, trying to get past the haze of anger in his eyes.

“Excuse me?” Dash held her ground, spreading her wings. Her thin body was a coiled spring, just waiting for Filthy to take another step. “My hooves are about ready to file a complaint with your face!”

“Stop it!”

Diamond cringed on instinct as Cheerilee stepped forward, placing herself between her father and Dash as if she were breaking up a schoolyard fight instead of two adults at each others' throats.

“Both of you, stop it right now. This isn’t helping anyone, least of all Ms. Tiara.”

“But--”. They both started at once.

“No, no ‘buts’. I’m going to take her inside, and we’re going to have a chat while you work out your differences.”

The pegasus snorted and shook her head, grumbling about overprotective parents and runaway daughters.

Filthy started after her. “She’s my daughter--”.

The teacher fixed him with a familiar, no-nonsense stare that made even Diamond wince. “I’ll let you know as soon as we’re finished, Mr. Rich.”

Puzzled, she followed her teacher, just happy to be away from the conflict outside.

The schoolhouse was eerie in its emptiness. Only a few months ago, she had sat waiting for school to end, anticipating another summer vacation. She hadn't even known Humbolt yet. How had she felt then? Excited? Secure? It seemed like forever ago.

“Would you like some juice?” Cheerilee pulled a chair from the wall, motioning for Diamond to sit behind her desk with the same comforting smile she would wear during class. Taking a pair of small orange boxes from the drawer, she nudged one towards the filly.

Diamond eyed the juice, wondering what the mare expected her to say.

“I already told them everything. Nothing happened tonight.” Sitting in the empty classroom, she couldn't help but feel like she was being held after class.

“I don’t expect you to tell me anything, Diamond. I want you to ask the questions.”

“Questions?”

“For me. You’re very smart, and you did just get captured by a pack of screaming adults. You must have at least a few.”

She smiled at the thought of Filthy and Dash beating their chests and howling like animals. That’s what it had felt like. She loved her father - she had always taken comfort in his strength and defensiveness at the first sign his daughter’s distress. But that night she had felt an intense discomfort in his embrace, like he was smothering her.

Taking the juice, she leaned back in her seat. It felt like an exercise from class, but too simple. Still, Cheerilee was the reason she was sitting inside instead of being pulled apart in a mad midnight game of tug-of-war. If there was a catch, it wasn’t clear to her.

“Why are the pegasi looking for Humbolt?”

“Big question.” Cheerilee tapped her hoof on the desk in thought. “I guess the simplest answer is the one you might have figured out already. They thought you were with him, and that he might be doing something bad to you.”

“Why?”

“Your father and I went to the mayor after we didn’t find you at Silver Spoon’s house. With you missing and Humbolt suspected, she called together the ponies she knew we could trust with such a sensitive issue. We needed to find you, and catch him, as soon as possible. Dash may be headstrong, but her heart’s in the right place, and she’s the fastest flyer in Ponyville.”

“You went to the mayor? Why were you talking to my father? What did you say to him?” Diamond closed her eyes and leaned on the desk, dizzy with confusion.

“Diamond, listen.” Cheerilee's tone suggested she was confiding something in her, speaking from one mare to another. Raising her head from the desk, she saw something in her teacher's eyes that would stay with her for years - an inseparable combination of sadness and understanding. Sitting up, she took a few deep breaths to calm herself.

“I went to Humbolt's house tonight, before I went to your father.”

“You talked with him? What did he say? Do you know where he is?” None of what Cheerilee said was making sense.

“I don’t know where Humbolt is now. No one does. That’s why Dash was so... insistent on asking you. I only talked with him about a rumor I’d heard. It wasn’t very specific, something about you and him. I needed to know if it was true or not.”

“What did he say?” She found herself leaning forwards in fearful anticipation.

“He laughed. He thought you’d said something to me, and told me that it was nothing. ‘Foalish gossip from a silly girl’, is how he put it.”

“He thought... I told you?” Foalish, silly girl. He must have been lying, to protect them, but the words still stung. “If that’s what he said, why didn’t you believe him?” The question scraped over her tongue, leaving it dry and bitter. The light, airy feeling that had carried her across the path to the schoolhouse and through her confrontation with Dash was disappearing, blown away by the sour wind of Humbolt’s words to Cheerilee, leaving only the weight of his warning upon her back. She’d have felt better if he’d been angry, denied everything, or just said nothing like he had told her to.

"I've seen plenty of schoolfilly crushes in my time as a teacher, but they're usually not... returned. I didn’t like the feeling I got from Humbolt, or the way he talked about you.”

“So you told my father?” She spat the question like an accusation.

“I did. I wanted to talk with you first, to get more information. I was your age once too, you know. If it really had just been gossip, the last pony I’d have wanted to hear it was my father.” Cheerilee’s smile was gentle and sad. “But when you weren’t there, I got worried. If something had happened to you, Diamond... I couldn’t bear it.”

“But I told you, I’m fine, I was taking a walk!” Her answer was too fast, too loud, too defensive.

“Diamond, this is serious. You’re not protecting him by pretending not to know anything. He’s being accused of some very serious things, and if nothing really happened tonight, you need to tell them everything you do know. If you don’t, he could be in even more trouble.”

“But I don’t want to.” Silly girl. Her eyes welled with tears. Why did he have to say that? Why did it have to sound so true in her ears? She could feel the weight of her responsibility to Humbolt slipping from her back, pushed by her growing sense of doubt.

“I can’t.” She couldn’t tell them. She couldn’t keep watching her teacher’s eyes shine with concern for her.

“You can. I don’t know what occurred between you two, but he left you here, with a horde of angry ponies outside waiting to hear what you have to say.” Cheerilee didn’t look sad anymore - she radiated anger and indignation at the absent pegasus. “Staying silent is only going to cause more trouble for you. And you don’t deserve that.”

That was it. Diamond broke, tears wetting her hooves as she leaned on the desk, sobbing harder at the gentle touch of Cheerilee’s hoof on her back. Playing adult with Humbolt had been as much of a game as playing house with Silvy.

Through her tears, she told Miss Cheerilee everything. The weeks of flirting and lingering touches, the promises he had made to her, all the events leading up to that night. The teacher gently herded her back outside and repeated her story to her father and the mayor, but Diamond Tiara couldn't do more than weep. As she cried, she felt herself shrinking in their eyes. Her father was furious, imprinting forever upon his daughter’s memory the towering figure of a frothing stallion ready to gallop across Equestria to find the pony who had dared to seduce his daughter.

Humbolt had disappeared, never to be seen again. The official story said he had been recalled to Cloudsdale due to unlicensed flying with students, but rumors about her persisted. The first few days of school after Humbolt’s disappearance, the taunting from other children had been merciless. Only Silvy had stuck by her - Silvy, who kept her secret when questioned by Cheerilee and Filthy, who said she hadn’t been told anything about Diamond meeting her coach, and had last seen her friend sound asleep, the picture of innocence.

After she came home from school crying two days in a row, her father had debated sending her to boarding school in Fillydelphia for the rest of the year. She had to beg him not to - she was stronger than that. She had gone where none of her peers had dared. Though the pegasus was gone, crossing that threshold to the schoolhouse had changed her forever. No matter what they said, she would always be above them.

Torching the hopes she’d committed to paper during those dream-soaked summer weeks, she vowed never to let anyone make her feel as vulnerable as she had that night. The next day in class, the first filly to call her ‘Do-Me Tomorrow’ had gotten a black eye. Cheerilee had let it go, the first few times, telling her to stay late and letting her out once the other kids had left. After the third incident and the threat of enrolling her in counseling for ‘anger issues’, she found different ways to assert herself.

And now?

Diamond rubbed away the wetness and memories that clouded her vision. If she’d pulled herself up from rock bottom once, she could do it again, and sitting on the ground crying wasn’t getting her anywhere. She needed to figure this out.

Judging by the tone of their argument, Silvy wasn’t planning on doing anything immediately. She was angry - enough to threaten something she’d refused to do the night of the catastrophe - but her words gave her away. You’re gonna be in trouble if you keep it up, she had said. If. There was a lot of wiggle room between those two letters.

“If,” she spoke the word slowly, savoring it. It was jealousy. There was no proof of anything, despite what her friend thought she knew. She had to know that telling her father would be the end of their their relationship, and their friendship.

And IF she’s done with your relationship, and your friendship? Pushing her nerves to the back of her mind, she stood up and shook herself off. She had time, and that was what mattered. Silver Spoon was playing a dangerous game, trying to push her around with threats. But it was Diamond’s move now, and whatever she did, she had to make it count.

First and foremost, she had to tell Rarity. She hated the idea as soon as it came to her, but she needed to know, in case... she thought of the night Humbolt disappeared, the look on her father’s face as Cheerilee told him what she was doing in that schoolyard... even if the unicorn put and end to their classes tonight, even if she fled Ponyville forever because if it, it would be better than the violence his eyes had promised. What was left of Diamond after she told the unicorn would go home tonight to plan the rest.

The oppressive summer heat blanketed her as soon as she emerged from the shade of the grove, but she pushed forward, eyes intent upon the dressmaker’s shop.

Closing her eyes, she breathed in the moist air. The last thing she wanted was for Rarity to see a panicked little filly, in trouble over her head. She had to be confident, strong, like the unicorn herself.

Diamond paused before the door. Was she really doing this?

Before she could stop herself, she was knocking.

“Come in!” Rarity’s voice beckoned from inside the shop. Swallowing her doubts, she pushed the door open, intent on meeting her fate head-on.

“Rarity, I need to talk with your about--”. Diamond paused at the entrance, mouth agape. Standing inside the front room were Rarity and her model friend. Rarity’s eyes widened as they looked at each other, her face turning a paler shade of white.

“Um, are you okay, Rarity? Is something wrong?” The yellow pegasus broke the silence, looking between the two with concern.

“Everything’s fine, thank you,” Rarity blinked and turned to her friend, a smile on her face. “I believe I’ve told you about my latest project? The young lady I’ve been instructing?” The unicorn motioned Diamond in.

“I think so. Is this her?” Frozen in her tracks, the filly was a magenta conversation piece.

“It is indeed. But where are my manners? Fluttershy, meet Diamond Tiara, my pupil. Diamond, this is one of my dearest friends, Fluttershy.”

“Nice to meet you. Rarity says you’re a very good student.”

“Um...,” Diamond stuttered in response.

“Well dear, do come in, I believe you said you had something to talk to me about? In private, perhaps?” Rarity tilted her head towards the kitchen again. Paired with a gentle eye-roll, these motions, in rough translation from the language of the hyper-polite, meant ‘get in here now, I just saved both our flanks’.

“Oh, yeah. Yes.” Thawing, the filly crossed the threshold.

“Ah, the door, if you could, Diamond?”

Of course she could. Some student of etiquette she was turning out to be. Rarity must have been mortified. Diamond nudged the door closed, pushing until she heard the latch click.

Boom! An explosion of pink flung the door open again. Diamond was thrown to the wall, crashing into a shelf stacked high with cloth. Her body cushioned the floor for the falling bolts of silk.

“So sorry I’m late, girls! I was gonna leave on time, but the Cakes made me stay late for a super-duper huge absolutely-last-minute order. I don’t even think I can look at another doughnut tonight, never mind eat one!” Pinkie Pie stood panting in doorway, half a cruller in hoof. Looking down at the baked good as if she had just remembered it, she offered it to the room. “Does anypony want the other half? It’s still fresh.”

The pink pony turned to Diamond as she stood up, pulling lengths of gauzy fabric off of her coat. “Oh, hey there Diamond Tiara, what are you doing here? Are you coming to dinner with us? Want a cruller? Well, it’s half a cruller now, but a whole half is better than no halves, that’s what I always say.”

Pinkie’s eyes narrowed as she looked Diamond over. “What’s that dirt on your face for? And all those twigs in your mane?” Eyes widening, she gasped, “Are we playing hide-and-seek? Are you hiding? That’s not very good camouflage for a dress shop--”

“As I was just saying to Fluttershy,” Rarity intervened, cutting off the barrage of words from Pinkie, “Diamond has something she’d like to discuss with me, in private. We shan’t be but a moment!”

Diamond paused, frozen again, looking the room over. Her picture of the dressmaker had been, up to this point, incomplete. She’d come to imagine Rarity as somehow divorced from the rest of Ponyville - the boutique had always been empty during her previous visits, minus the odd customer. No friends, not even her whiny sister. Who were all these ponies, the fullness of Rarity’s life spilling into the shop, throwing her aside?

Brushing the last of the silks from herself, she escaped from the room, following the dressmaker to the kitchen. As she did, she caught sight of herself in a stand mirror. A dark smear ran over one cheek, and bits of grass and sticks stuck out from something which resembled a rat’s nest rather than a mane. The remains of her retreat to the grove, complemented by the impact of Rarity’s annoying pink friend. So much for first impressions.

As soon as she entered the kitchen, a wet washcloth covered her cheek. “What on earth happened to you, darling?” The cloth scrubbed her skin as Rarity fretted over her mane with a brush. “You look like you’ve had a fight with a lawnmower!”

Diamond found her voice again. “No, I’m fine, Rarity. I need to talk with you,” She glanced at the doorway to the front room, “without your friends here.”

The brush running through her mane stopped mid-stroke. Levitating, it hovered over her, ready to resume its task. Rarity looked her in the eye. “Unfortunately, you’ve caught me at a rather bad time. We were just on our way out to dinner.” The unicorn looked to the doorway, biting her lip. “Perhaps this could wait until later?”

Diamond held her breath. She was struck by the innocence of the scene before her. The brush, still in a holding pattern above her head, awaiting further orders. Rarity’s eyes slipping from her to the doorway again, mindful of the hungry friends awaiting her return. Pinkie’s muffled voice streaming into the kitchen from the other room. Fluttershy must have been really interested in the specifics of hide-and-seek, because she was still going on about it.

Diamond wanted to live in that moment, as if all the silly concerns and irrelevancies that had piled up within it could hide her from the trouble that waited to find her upon its conclusion.

Like a spell, she could will her fears away with a sentence: That’s okay, Rarity, go to dinner, we can talk later.

And later, she would go to the unicorn with some petty concern of her own - her dress for the festival, a trivial argument with a friend - and they would talk, and Rarity would help her, and after that, her worries would be forgotten, swept into the deep ocean of her past through the force of their lovemaking.

Exhaling, she came crashing back down to earth. “Rarity, my friend knows about us, and she’s threatening to tell my father.”

“WHAT?!” Rarity’s shriek silenced the chatter from the other room.

The unicorn stood still, a look of shock frozen on her face. Just as quickly as it had appeared, the look was gone, her face trying to decide upon a more fitting emotion for five o’clock in the Carousel Boutique with her friends waiting in the other room. After a moment, Rarity turned from her and gave a slight, pained sigh.

“I’ll be just a moment,” said Rarity, turning around again. Whatever internal upheaval had produced that sigh was masked by the serenity gracing her face as she left the kitchen.

Through the wall, Diamond could hear Rarity’s sincerest apologies that she would most likely not be eating dinner with her friends that night, as her student was in desperate need of an understanding adult and some good life advice, but she would be certain to catch up with them later.

She jumped at the sound of the front door closing. Tension gripped her, as it had Friday night, fear and curiosity threading through her as she awaited the first strike of the crop on her flank. The blow had been light, almost gentle, a reminder of who was in charge. Would it be the same now?

“Diamond, could you come here, please?” Rarity’s voice summoned her to the front room. The unicorn stood before one of the many mirrors which lined the walls, eyes intent on its contents. Turning to Diamond, she was cool. “Could you tell me what happened between you and your friend?”

“I didn’t tell her anything!” She bit her tongue. This wasn’t going well at all. But beneath Rarity’s calm veneer she felt judgement and disapproval, as if she was a filly caught breaking the rules. The same filly that had found herself crying before Cheerilee a few years ago.

And aren’t you? Ignoring her doubts, she started again. “I-- Silver Spoon, she accused me of sleeping with you, right before I came here. We fought about it. I don’t think she’s gonna do anything, though. She doesn’t have proof.”

“Well she certainly must have some proof. What made her assume we were involved?”

Diamond studied the impassive features of the dressmaker’s face, waiting for a glimpse of some emotion, some signal as to what she should say. Silvy was an open book - her pain and annoyances were easy to read. But Rarity’s pages were a riddle, shrouded beneath the cipher of professionalism and politeness.

“We were just talking about class on Saturday. I really didn’t tell her anything, but we got into an argument. I just said she needed to be more respectful. About you.” She felt heat rising in her cheeks.

“That’s all? Perhaps a better question is, why is your friend so concerned about your activities in the bedroom?”

She reached within herself, dragging the truth kicking and screaming. If she was going to protect Rarity, she needed to know. “We’ve been sleeping together. For a little while. We-- us, we weren’t-- it was after the first time, I didn’t think you’d--”.

She stopped herself, having said too much, and too little. Her cheeks had blossomed into a full-blown blush. “She’s jealous. It’s nothing serious.”

“Nothing serious? Obviously this friend of yours would disagree, if she’s threatening you.” The growing heat in Rarity’s voice scalded her with disbelief.

“I’m sorry, Rarity. I just wanted to warn you, in case... in case something happened. If she says anything to my father, there could be trouble.”

Hanging her head, she braced herself, awaiting the dressmaker’s verdict.

“No, I’m sorry. This is all just a bit much for me.” When Diamond looked up, the mask of artificial calm had dropped from Rarity's face, leaving concern in its place. “Not that it isn’t for you, of course. Perhaps dinner would make it somewhat easier to swallow?”

They lapsed into an uncomfortable silence as dinner was prepared. Diamond studied the mare as she cooked. The blow she was expecting hadn’t come - just like with the crop, the unicorn had pulled back, leaving her confused.

“So, did you have any ideas for how to deal with our problem?”

Though spoken gently, the question still stung. She didn’t have any ideas, at least nothing substantial. She had always prided herself on being one step ahead of her classmates, if not more. It was part of what distinguished her from their foalish immaturity. But ever since she had stepped into the boutique that afternoon, she had found herself overwhelmed, struggling just to keep up with the whirlwind of events in the past few weeks.

“Of course.” she lied, pausing to come up with something. “Well, I told Silvy-- Silver Spoon that she needed to apologize to me, because I told her she was making everything up. She’ll talk to me again soon, I’m sure of it. I’m just going to wait her out.”

The more she talked, the more she believed herself, becoming animated with some of her former confidence. “I can’t wait to see the look on her face. You should have seen her today, Rarity, when I called her out for accusing me. There’s no way she’s doing anything.”

“And what will you say to her if she’s not coming to apologize?”

“Nothing! I’ll tell her she was wrong again. I’ll threaten her with something. I don’t know! I would never tell anyone anything, you have to believe me.”

Diamond stared at the table, unable to meet Rarity’s eyes, watching her smudged reflection disrupt the spotless teal surface. She was riveted before the unicorn as sure as she had been bound upon her bed, waiting for the strike of the lash.

“It’s not that I don’t believe you.” Diamond look up at the gentle touch to her shoulder. “I trust you, and I appreciate your honesty.”

Rarity’s smile was wearier than the one that she had worn for her friends. A real smile. “Now, I do have an idea as to how we solve this dilemma, but it’s going to depend on whether you’re willing to do it.

“I want you to apologize to Silver Spoon.”

“Apologize?” She sputtered in disbelief. “For what? I told her she needed to apologize to me, because she’s making it all up. If I go to her, she’ll suspect something.”

“She already suspects something, dear, and not without reason. Yes, her definition of proof is a little loose, but your spat this afternoon didn’t help that.”

“What am I supposed to apologize for?” Diamond felt a mountain of objections rising up within her.

“For overreacting about your lover’s concerns. And for lying about your feelings for your teacher.”

“You want me to tell her about my feelings for you?”

“Which do you think is worse, for her to think we’re involved, or to know that your desires, of which she already has some idea, have not yet been realized?”

“But Rarity--”, The filly began to object again before she caught herself She was doing exactly what she hadn’t come there to do - pleading with the unicorn like a child.

“Fine. Okay. I’ll... apologize to Silver Spoon.” Despite her best effort, her admission was tinged with reluctance.

Rarity’s sigh magnified her disappointment. “I’m not Cheerilee, dear, this isn’t homework. You needn’t apologize at my behest. Further, I won’t order you to do this. The choice, as always, is up to you.”

“No, it’s fine, it’s a good idea. I’d thought about it before.” Though it tugged at Diamond’s pride, the suggestion made sense. Silvy wanted the truth, so she would get it. Not the whole truth, but enough. “I’ll take care of it.”

“I trust that you will.” Diamond felt like a piece of cloth under the dressmaker’s appraising eye. “Perhaps, before you leave, we should run through some practice arguments, just in case.” With that, the unicorn stepped down from her chair and levitated their plates to the counter.

Diamond waited for more, but Rarity was engrossed in washing the dishes. Just like that, the argument was over.

She should have been happy. The lash had been withheld, the conflict ended. She had her assignment now - go apologize to Silver Spoon. So why the nagging sense that she had gotten away with something? And why did it feel so bad?

Anger welled up inside of her. Rarity had gotten her to tell her everything, even told her what to do, with barely a word. It wasn’t fair.

“So that’s it? You’re not mad at me anymore?”

“I wasn’t mad at you.” Rarity half-turned, still focused upon the sink. “I was simply concerned.”

“I don’t buy it.”

“Pardon?”

“When I told you what happened, you were pissed.”

“I was not,” Rarity sniffed, “‘pissed’. Nor am I now. But, I will remind you to watch your language.”

“Yeah, well, if you’re not gonna be honest with me, if you’re gonna talk to me like I’m a fucking blank-flank, I guess I don’t have to worry about my language.”

“Excuse me, Diamond Tiara,” The unicorn turned to face her, fixing her with a glare that turned her insides to jelly, “But I don’t appreciate your tone. If you don’t think I was angry enough, I’m sure you’ll understand I was only trying to be compassionate towards the filly that came crashing into my Boutique, practically in tears because the marefriend she’s been cheating on might have her figured out. Something which, I might add, has both endangered my well-being and disrupted an engagement with my friends.”

Diamond was taken aback. She wanted to say something, to retort with some sarcastic comment, but nothing came to mind. Rarity’s words hurt, like a crop laying into her conscience, and she could already see the unicorn’s gaze softening in anticipation of an apology.

She didn’t want the unicorn to apologize. The realization shocked her. She wanted to feel the unicorn’s anger, to taste the consequences of her actions, as she had Friday night.

“Would you punish me?” she blurted out.

“You want to be punished?” Rarity’s eyebrows raised in disbelief, “Why, whatever for? I’m sorry I yelled at you, you didn’t deserve that.”

“No, I did, I messed up. All of this is my fault. Would you, please?”

“Punish you. Hm.” The unicorn brought a hoof to her chin as she considered, her lips forming a small, knowing smile. “Very well. I have just the thing, if you’ll wait here a moment.”

She took a breath as the unicorn stepped out, feeling some of the tension in the air dissipate into the rays of sunset streaming through the window across the room. She realized she hadn’t been in the shop without the curtains being drawn, not since that first day. It cast the boutique in a new light. The lavender walls and pink awnings that surrounded her had seemed so precarious only an hour ago. She wanted to stay there, to put off the weight of responsibility a little longer.

“You may come upstairs now,” Rarity called from the stairwell.

The shades were drawn in Rarity’s room, the scent of orchid wafting from the fat purple candles within. A small black pouch lay upon the perfectly folded maroon sheets of the bed. Opening it, Diamond found a pile of leather straps attached to each other by small metal studs. A bridle. She had only ever seen one in the Hearths Warming Eve pageant, when Princess Platinum forced Clover the Clever to carry her to Unicornia. In the play it was meant as a joke, a humorous symbol of Clover’s lower status. In Rarity’s darkened bedroom, it spoke to her of authority and submission.

Attached to one end of the bridle was a black plastic cylinder, held on by two steel rings. Puzzled, she slid her hoof along its smooth surface.

“It’s called a bit - it goes in your mouth. The perfect accoutrement for a young lady who must learn to watch her tongue in the future, both with her friends and with me.” The unicorn emerged from the bathroom, the scent of White Diamonds blending with the floral perfume of the candles.

“Are you gonna ride me?” She felt a growing warmth in her rear as she thought of Clover, panting and sweaty, bound beneath her princess, forced to yield to her wishes.

“No, not today at least.” Rarity chuckled. “I have something else in mind. I’ll admit, I’m somewhat nervous about your impending mea culpa.”

“My what?” The bit shimmered with magic as Rarity lifted it from her hooves.

“Your confession, dear, to your friend.” The unicorn levitated a small packet from the nightstand beside the bed, unfolding something that looked like a moist towelette from within. She began to polish the bit.

“Rarity, I’ll do it! You have to trust me!”

“I know you will. What I’m nervous about is how you’ll do it.” Before Diamond could object again, Rarity placed a hoof on her shoulder. “How do I put this? You’re very... passionate. It’s quite charming, actually. But, your ardeur, your eagerness, has a habit of getting you in trouble.”

Seeing no objections from the filly, Rarity removed her hoof. Diamond’s thought process was still stuck somewhere around the word ‘charming’. The simple compliment, from the unicorn, had taken on the same mysterious romance as mea culpa and ardeur. Did Rarity really find her charming? She realized she was blushing again.

“And so, we should use this opportunity to teach you a lesson about self-control.” Rarity’s explanation had taken on the tone of a lecture, complete with the plastic cylinder gesturing in mid-air to emphasize her points. “I’m going to pleasure you. I want you to tap me on the shoulder when you’re approaching climax. We’ll stop there.”

“What happens after that?”

“Why, we’ll be done, of course.” The unicorn grinned, touching her on the nose with her prop. “You asked to be punished, so this is your punishment: no orgasm - from me, yourself, or any other pony - until you’ve resolved this dispute with your friend in an amicable manner.”

"Okay," she agreed without hesitation. Rarity had called it a punishment, but the bit hanging in the air before her was a shimmering challenge, like the crop on Friday night. Rarity thought of her as a filly, like some blank-flank unable to control herself. Like she couldn’t last a day or two without coming.

“Open wide.”

Smooth plastic pushed into her mouth, pulling her lips back into a gentle smile. She ran her tongue over its length, and tasted mint.

“Now bite down, softly.” said Rarity. The leather straps on the bridle wrapped around her muzzle and threaded through her mane.

“We won’t be doing much talking-- well, you won’t be, at least, but we should agree on a few signals just in case,” Rarity explained as she fasted the leather straps at the back of her head. “Basic head movements - nodding and shaking - should do for ‘yes’ and ‘no’.”

Stepping back, the dressmaker admired her work. “You look gorgeous, darling.”

The warmth between Diamond’s legs grew, stoked by the unicorn’s compliment. She liked the desire that flickered in Rarity’s eyes as they wandered over her body, devouring her. Once again, she was prone before her teacher, awaiting her command.

Rarity took her time crossing the room, advancing on her until she was just in front of her. The scent of White Diamonds and another - conditioner, she didn’t know the name yet - teased her nose. Was she dreaming again?

“I want you on the bed. It’s time for your punishment.” The unicorn's words brushed her cheek.

Diamond did as she was told. Rarity mounted the bed beside her.

“On your back.”

Silk pillows greeted her as she lay before her teacher. She watched as Rarity licked her lips, shivering as she imagined that tongue between her legs again.

The white mare stood above her, eyes half-lidded in a come-hither look that made the filly’s heart skip. Bedroom eyes. The unicorn was seducing her all over again.

“You’ve been a bad girl, Diamond.”

If it had been any pony but Rarity, Diamond would have laughed. Out of any other pony’s lips, that line would have seemed cheesy, some cliched attempt at setting the mood, like a bad romance novel. But in that moment, on that bed, the filly was putty in the dressmaker’s hooves. She had been a bad girl. She was the worst. She had misbehaved, and she deserved whatever the unicorn gave to her.

Rarity leaned over her, and Diamond moaned as she felt soft lips against her neck. The scent of White Diamonds again, awakening thoughts of Friday night’s dream - Rarity propping her up on the dirty breakroom table, a throbbing in her rear.

Kisses trailed up her neck, moving higher, until Rarity’s tongue was massaging her ear. Diamond bit down hard on the plastic in her mouth, squirming under the unicorn’s ministrations. She pushed backwards, trying to bury herself in the pillows behind her, trying to escape the sensation of the muscle gliding over her sensitive flesh.

She gasped as teeth grazed her ear. The feeling was electric - a spark running over her whole body. And then the unicorn bit down.

A lightning bolt of pleasure shot through her - almost unbearable in its white heat. Diamond yelped and jerked away from Rarity’s attentive mouth.

“Sensitive ears?”

Speechless for more reasons than one, she nodded. Not usually so sensitive, but when she was turned on... she had never let Silvy do more than touch them, and even then not for very long.

“Shall I stop?”

Diamond shook her head. Anything but that. Whatever had just happened, she wanted more of it.

“Remember,” Rarity’s voice was heat caressing her. “If you’re getting close, let me know.”

Close? To coming. Right. Her punishment. The instructions were a hazy memory, receding into the mists of ecstasy as the unicorn traced the outside of the same ear with the tip of her tongue. Teeth came down again, but softly, a ghost of a nibble.

It was enough. Diamond moaned again, struggling to stay still as more sparks danced over her abdomen, prickling against her teats and mound. After a few more nibbles she pulled away again.

“How about now?”

‘Now’? The word sounded foreign to her, Rarity speaking in the incomprehensible poetry of her dialect again. Ardeur. Mea culpa. Charming. Coming. Oh. Right. Diamond shook her head. Not coming, not yet, just... it was too much. The filly lay back, breath hissing around the bit, saliva flecking her cheeks and running down her chin.

“Good.” With that, the unicorn leaned over and gave her other ear the same treatment, running her tongue along the edge before sucking the whole thing into her mouth.

Diamond squealed, her hips bucking at the unexpected sensation. Her whole body was on fire. Pleasure - bolts of it shooting through her, concentrating on the dripping flower between her legs and the button buzzing on top. The pressure building in her was threatening to push her to the brink. Again she pulled away, overwhelmed.

“Hm, ears, I’ll have to remember that.” When the filly looked over, Rarity’s grin was all satisfaction. “How are you feeling?”

Soaked - that was the best way to describe it. Diamond’s chest was soaked with saliva. She brought a hoof to her face in an attempt to wipe away some of the mess, only to notice her haunches, mound and tailbase glistening between her legs.

But she hadn’t come. As wet as she was, the pressure that had build up during their foreplay hadn’t gone away. The unicorn’s assault on her ears had left her saturated, dazed, and incredibly, frustratingly turned on.

Rarity, please. She urged the older mare to keep going. Or tried to, anyway. Her speech failing her, she channeled her desperation through her eyes. Sexual telekinesis. Could unicorns even read minds? She’d read a story once where they could.

“Is something the matter?” Whether it was unicorn magic or her very visible discomfort, Diamond had made contact.

She rolled her eyes, gesturing to her groin in a crude clarifying statement.

“Oh, I see,” said Rarity, addressing her plea with exaggerated seriousness. “Well, I suppose a little more wouldn’t hurt.”

The unicorn moved between her legs, kissing the base of her neck. Diamond’s ears twitched in anticipation, but Rarity had another target.

Diamond rolled her hips as Rarity moved lower - those incredibly soft lips, moaning from the friction between their bodies. She was so sensitive. The kisses, the feeling of that white coat running over her mound, it all all felt amazing.

The unicorn’s tongue was lapping at her teats, avoiding her nipples. She was drooling again. She didn’t care. The pressure building in her loins was pushing her, clouding her mind as her body took over.

Her hoof ran through the indigo mane draped across her stomach, trying to push Rarity lower, to the source of the pressure. Still, that lapping tongue, those perfect white teeth in that perfect white muzzle wouldn’t move, content with torturing her aching teats.

She pushed again, instant on having Rarity finish the job. Why was she taking so long? Her whole body was humming with need, all she needed was one touch. The muzzle moved lower, until it hovered above the throbbing nub at the top of her slit.

A little lower. She willed Rarity with her thoughts. Only a little lower. She was so close.

Close. A single word cutting through the haze of arousal with painful clarity.

She was too close.

Diamond shot up from the pillows, tapping the unicorn frantically on the shoulder. Her whole body ached with desire as the tantalizing warmth of Rarity’s body deserted her.

Closing her eyes, she waited for the almost-painful sensitivity that had overtaken her to recede.

She felt the bridle loosen and give, magic releasing her muzzle from the apparatus. Working her jaw, Diamond began to get up, feeling her fur sticking to her in a number of places.

“Wonderful.” Rarity lay beside her, blue eyes watching from the almost-darkness of the bedroom. “You did wonderfully, darling.”

“I don’t feel wonderful.” She felt like she had after the debacle with the Foal Free Press - cut off just as she was enjoying herself most, and covered in sticky fluids besides. But In spite of her frustration, Diamond felt a smile forming at Rarity’s compliment. She did do wonderfully. It was her choice, and she had succeeded.

“Well, yes, that’s understandable. But just think, a day or two and one apology later, and it will be all worth it.”

Apology. All of the events of the day came crashing to the front of her mind. How long had she been at the Boutique?

“Rarity, I gotta go, my father’s gonna expect me home soon.” Pushing herself off the pile of sheets and pillows, her eyes were intent on the timepiece near the bed. 8 o’clock. She should have been home an hour ago.

Her thoughts were racing as she moved towards the door, trying not to gallop. Dad knew she was going out for dinner. She’d just tell him she’d been at Silvy’s since. Assuming Silvy wasn’t at her house right now, telling him about everything. If so, she’d have to come up with a different story. Maybe she was at the library and fell asleep reading? But then he’d ask the librarian, and--.

“Aren’t you forgetting something?”

“What?” Forgetting? Her eyes darted around the room - what was she talking about? The look on the unicorn’s face was familiar - expectant, like... I have another lesson for you, young lady. Like, you think I’m gonna give you all the pleasure without getting mine, your father be damned.

“I can’t. I wanna, but-- please, if I don’t go home now, I could be in trouble.” How could Rarity be thinking about that at a time like this?

“I realize you’re in a rush, dear, but I really must insist we get you cleaned up first.”

“Oh. Yeah.”

She followed Rarity into the bathroom for what was both the fastest and most thorough shower she’d ever had. If the unicorn had found anything strange about her practically begging not to wash up, she didn’t say. Instead, an array of brushes and soaps set upon her, leaving cleaner than when she had left the house that morning.

It also got her skin tingling again. Over the course of being dried off, she’d felt the towel brush over her mound and teats more than a few times, sending little shivers of pleasure through her body. She’d almost said something - it wasn’t fair for Rarity to be teasing her again, given her punishment - but if she could take Rarity practically going down on her, she could deal with a little extra attention. And besides, it didn’t feel half-bad.

“Perfect.” Her mane and coat were assigned the unicorn’s seal of approval. “Almost no evidence of your, hm, previous activities.”

Diamond nodded. She could feel the "almost" when her tail brushed over her still-sensitive rear. Thankfully nobody else would be looking under there.

The ground floor was dark as the older mare led her to the door. “I appreciate you coming here and telling me all this. It couldn’t have been easy.” In the dim light coming through the shop’s windows, she could see Rarity biting her lip. Apprehension?

“I want you to tell me what happens as soon as possible, but... ” A pause, more lip-biting. “Once you’ve resolved things with Silver Spoon, you shouldn’t feel required to come to me first to end your punishment.”

“Okay. Thanks.” Diamond pushed the door open, letting a chorus of cicadas into the shop.

“Also, if the topic of our classes should come up again, as I’m sure it will, I won’t think less of you if you choose to pull out for whatever reason. We’re scheduled to end in seven weeks, and a decision like this could have effects for you beyond that.” The unicorn’s smile was a fragile crescent in the moonlight.

“Thanks. I need to go, though.” Diamond stepped over the cusp of the doorway.

“Good luck!” Rarity’s words were at her back as she trotted through downtown. Even at 8 o’clock, the heart of town was quiet, with most shops and restaurants closed and few ponies to be seen. A little bit of luck - the less eyes on her coming from the Boutique, the better.

She had no idea why Rarity was acting so weird. Was it nerves? That irked her. Diamond was nervous too, probably more nervous than her, but still, she’d told the unicorn she’d take care of it, and Rarity said she trusted her.

Her steps slowed as she made her way up the walk to her house. There was light coming from the living room windows, but no ponies in sight. The fact that her father hadn’t come charging into Rarity’s place, combined with the apparent absence of concerned authority figures awaiting her arrival, told her her hunch was right - Silvy wasn’t planning doing anything yet. She could rest easy tonight, then go to her tomorrow and resolve this mess.

She could almost feel the unicorn’s lips on her again. Maybe she would visit Silvy in the morning, so she’d be free in time for Rarity’s afternoon break.

“Dad? I’m home.” Pushing open the door, she did her best to sound nonchalant.

“Diamond? Could you come here a minute?” He called from the kitchen. He didn’t sound happy.

Making her way inside, she saw her father leaning against the oven, his back turned to her.

“I’m very disappointed in you, young lady.”

“What?” Her heart was racing. She had waited too long, blown everything because she had gone to Rarity’s instead of going home.

“You missed dinner tonight!” Filthy turned around, revealing the meal in question sitting on the stove behind him. “It came out great, and there’s still plenty left.”

“Oh... thanks.” Mushroom Monday. It was his new kick - a new recipe every week. Just like that, she was plunged back into normalcy - the real world on a plate. She realized how hungry she was - despite the faint smell of smoke still in the kitchen, whatever he’d made would go well on top of the few bites of sandwich she’d eaten earlier.

“Now, can I ask why you were out so late? You had me worried.” He pushed a bowl of yellow grains towards her, little bits of mushroom sticking out from within. “Risotto,” he clarified as she inspected it.

“I was at Silver Spoon’s house. I guess I just wasn’t looking at the time. Sorry.” Despite some crunchy bits, the risotto was good, and Diamond found herself already anticipating seconds.

“Oh? Huh, you guys must have met up after she left here.”

“She was here?”

“Yup, about an hour ago, maybe a little more. Left a letter for you.” Filthy retrieved an envelope from the counter. “Said you’d understand what it was about.” It was the same as last time, nondescript except for her name on the outside.

“Did she say anything else?”

“Nope, that’s it.”

She shivered. The fact that Silvy had been in her house after their argument, talking to her father... it made her skin crawl and her appetite vanish.

“Seconds?” Filthy offered around the serving spoon in his mouth.

“No... no thanks, I’m full.” Diamond stepped away from the table, itching to escape to her room and tear open the letter. She’d played her part, her father had accepted the lie, but she hesitated. Silvy’s intrusion was an unspoken threat.

“Actually, Dad...” She paused, frowning, “Silver Spoon and I had a fight this afternoon. That’s why I was late, and I think that’s what the letter’s about.”

"Oh, I’m sorry honey. You wanna to talk about it?” Filthy set the utensil down, attention focused on his daughter.

“Not right now. But... she threatened to spread some rumors about me, so if you hear anything bad...” She scuffed her hoof, eyes to the ground, projecting her best Troubled Daughter.

“I understand. Whatever it is, I’m sure she’ll come around. She can’t stay mad at you forever. And you know you can always come to me, right?”

“Yeah, Dad, I know. Thanks.” Problem solved. Rarity would have been proud. “I’m pretty tired, I think I’m just gonna go to bed now.”

She retreated to her room. Leaning on the door, she tore open the envelope, revealing a single piece of notebook paper. Written upon it was a single sentence:

It’s over.