Author's Note

I got a nice slap in the face from reality that inspired this story. Everything's been researched to the best of my ability so as not to make light of what cancer victims go through. There are different symptoms for different types of cancers, and failing to acknowledge the nuances might seem offensive. For this story, I chose a specific type that meshed with Diamond's personality and could possibly contribute to her development as a character. There is no malice or offense intended, and I hope one day cancer will be a thing of the past. If you know someone who has cancer, please support them in any way you can, whether it's through donations for treatment research or just being there to comfort them in their hour of need. If you have cancer yourself, please know you are loved and that there are people who want to help you get better. No one deserves to go through that kind of pain. I wish you all the best in the world and pray that you will find peace in the form of remission.

Beyond the Valley

It was a typical day at school for the colts and fillies of Ponyville. They sat quietly at their desks for a written assignment. Their objective was to solve a number of problems related to fractions and decimals.

Though her previous demeanor never suggested it, Diamond Tiara was quite masterful with numbers. Countless hours of her free time had been spent learning from books in her own home. Now that teasing her classmates was a thing of the past, she had more time than ever to expand her knowledge of the world around her.

*cough*

That was the beginning. Of course, at the time, it was little more than a mild inconvenience, and could have been attributed to anything: a speck of dust, saliva, sinuses, or all of the above. The possibilities were endless. Like most ponies, she simply brushed it off and moved on with her day. On the way home, however, Silver Spoon felt an overwhelming need to make a note of it.

"You've been coughing a lot lately. Are you okay?"

"You gettin' sick?" Sweetie Belle inquired.

"I'm fine," Diamond assured, "My nose gets a little stuffy around this time of year. I'll probably end up with a cold or something before it's over."

"That's true. It happens to me a lot, too." Sweetie admitted.

"Y'all wanna hang out at my place?" Apple Bloom asked.

"I'm kind of tired," Diamond replied, "I wanna go home so I can study and get to sleep early."

"Make sure to eat ya some soup."

"I will."

Though her expression implied annoyance, in truth, Diamond was deeply touched by the crusader's concern. It wasn't very often anyone took time to check on her well-being. Knowing someone cared made a world of difference from her point of view.

"You guys stay safe."

"No promises." Scootaloo said.

Over the next few days, Diamond's cough worsened. She developed a fever, and her chest and throat became unbearably sore. She believed she'd somehow caught a particularly nasty bug, and that a few more days of rest would rectify the issue. Her hopes were shattered when the hemoptysis set in.

"AHHH!!!"

Diamond screamed bloody murder. Her parents, Filthy and Spoiled, rushed to her bedroom.

"What's wrong, Sweetheart!?" her father questioned frantically.

"Daddy, I'm bleeding!"

"Let me see!"

The filly showed her paternal figure the stain on her foreleg. The quantity alone was cause for concern.

"We're taking you to the hospital, no ifs, ands, or buts."

Normally, Diamond would have protested, but the amount of pain she was in beat her into reasonableness. Filthy lifted her onto his back. He and Spoiled galloped all the way across town to the hospital.

Over the next week, Diamond's condition improved slightly. The food and pain medication kept her stable while the doctors monitored her vital signs. Around that time, they received the results from her tests.

"Oh, good God..." one of the physicians mumbled. He disappeared into the hall.

"Mr. and Mrs. Rich?"

Diamond's parents snapped to attention.

"We just received the MRI results for your daughter's diagnosis."

"Give it to me straight, doc," Filthy spoke, "How is she?"

"Not good, I'm afraid. She's developed an exceptionally rare malignant tumor around the left atrium of her heart, a condition known as Cardiac Sarcoma."

"Cancer...?"

Spoiled broke out in tears, sobbing uncontrollably on her husband's shoulder.

"I'm sorry..."

"Is there anything we can do?"

"Surgery is one option, but because of its position and size, the odds of success are low. The only other option at the moment is chemotherapy."

"What exactly does that entail?"

"It's a supervised drug therapy used to kill cancerous cells. If it's successful, the possibility of surgery may open up at a later date."

"Do whatever you have to to save my daughter."

"Of course."

A schedule was set for Diamond's treatments. She would receive two doses a week via an intravenous filter. She responded to the initial doses the same as many patients, vomiting every so often as the drugs affected her other cells. Fortunately, the side effects appeared fairly minimal. Her body constantly ached, but she believed it was a small price to pay to manage her other symptoms. Swallowing food gradually became easier, and the coughing subsided to a degree.

A few days after her first treatments, Diamond told her parents she felt strong enough to return to school. She met up with Silver Spoon and the crusaders in front of the building.

"How ya doin'," Apple Bloom asked, "We were worried about ya."

"The doctors said I was really sick. I have to go back in a few days for more medicine."

"Sorry you feel so bad." Scootaloo said.

"I'm okay right now, but they said my mane might start falling out soon because of it."

"Rarity might be able to help," Sweetie interjected, "She makes hats and stuff, too."

"Really?"

"Yeah! Why don't you come with me after school! You can take a look!"

"Thanks..."

"Are you sure everything's okay?" Silver Spoon asked with uncertainty.

Diamond rubbed her foreleg.

"Well...They told me if the medicine doesn't work...I'll probably die..."

"WHAT!?" the others yelled in horrified unison.

Cheerilee stepped between them.

"It's good to see you, Diamond."

The teacher spoke with her usual sweet tone, but a clear tinge of sorrow pervaded underneath.

"Your parents told me about what happened. I'm so sorry you're going through this."

"It's okay."

"If you start feeling sick again, I'll take you to the hospital right away."

"Sorry I won't be able to turn in all my work..."

"If you'd like, I can tell you a little secret about life before we start for the day."

"What is it?"

"Grades only matter so much. While I must encourage you to excel as a teacher, your health is more important than any test."

"I guess that makes sense."

"If you'd like, I could tutor you on the days you can't come in."

Diamond nodded. The first bell of the day rang.

For a while, things seemed to go back to normal. To the doctors' delight, Diamond's body remained fully intact, mane and all, but soon enough, the grim reality sank in. Five months in, the cancer stopped responding to the treatment. Like many diseases, it developed a resistance, metastasizing into the fourth and final stage. Diamond was given an estimate of three weeks to live, and she fought. She fought until her muscles could no longer sustain her weight.

Diamond was given a choice between two options: dying at home or in hospice care. She chose the former for one reason. She wanted to be surrounded by her friends and family in her final moments.

"Apple Bloom...?" the fading filly choked out.

Apple Bloom sniffled. The emotions that flowed through her were beyond the description of words. She wiped the tears from her eyes.

"Yeah...?"

"I'm sorry...For everything..."

"Don't be. Everyone makes mistakes."

"It wasn't right...The way I treated you...All those years..."

"If you hadn't, we wouldn't have become friends near the end, right?"

Diamond smiled.

"Yeah...Maybe..."

Applejack, Scootaloo, and Sweetie gathered around the youngest foal of the Apple family to comfort her.

"Mom...?"

"Yes...?"

"I'm sorry for fighting with you all the time..."

"I'm the one who should be sorry. In my greed and lust for material wealth, I lost sight of what was truly important. My arrogance cost me dearly. If only I'd known, things would've been different."

"It's not your fault..."

"Do you hate me?"

Diamond shook her head.

"No..."

"I love you, so, so, so much..."

"I love you too..."

Spoiled turned away. She couldn't bear to witness her beloved child deteriorate any further.

"Daddy...?"

"What is it, sweetheart?"

"When I got sick, I had a question I wasn't sure how to ask, but now I think I know..."

"Anything."

"Why are we here...?"

"What do you mean?"

"Why do we live in Equestria? What was the reason I was born...?"

"I don't know. Nobody really does."

"Oh..."

"I wish I could tell you, but there's something I want to ask you, too."

"What...?"

"What did you want to be when you grew up?"

"I...I wanted to be a superhero...Do you think I still can be...?"

Filthy chuckled.

"You already are, baby...You already are..."

Filthy wrapped his forelegs tightly around his daughter. She closed her eyes for the last time as her breathing slowed to a halt...