For me, this evening was a mixed bag. I did have a lot of fun going to the Spa, then eating, then shopping for fancy clothes at my sister’s place, and finally going to the theater and seeing the debut of a new play which was something I really enjoyed. Diamond Tiara also covered the bill for the whole evening, too, so that was really nice of her.

On the other hoof, I didn't like how much pressure this put on my special somepony and we didn't get to do what we were aiming for. I'll admit that our plans weren't this detailed but the point is those plans didn't get much of a chance to be executed.

After all of that, I thought that we'd part ways because we achieved what Diamond initially set us out to do. Everything we've done prior to the theater visit was in preparation for it. Now that that is accomplished, I figured we'd be done.

But no. That's not what happens. Instead, Diamond directs her driver to her mansion with us still inside it. When we question her why, she tells us that we still have some business to discuss and iron out. To accomplish that, we are “invited” to her home, but drafted seems to be a more accurate term. She says she'll send an agent to report to our legal guardians the fact that we'll be spending the night at her place. The plan really is to sleep there eventually but she says she wants to get a few issues off her chest first.

During the ride to her mansion, I am disturbed by how quiet Diamond remains. She mostly keeps her focus out the window of the carriage but occasionally glances at us since the rest of us are more chatty.

Of those in the carriage, aside from Diamond, Button speaks the least because he is still having trouble remaining awake. Silver Spoon and I end up the most chatty during the voyage as we discuss our favorite intricacies of the play we just saw. Sometimes we're also explaining some things to Apple Bloom and Scootaloo. I'm really not surprised to discover that the singing was the favorite part for my fellow Crusaders. I don't blame them, either. That's my favorite part, too.

When I exit the carriage after it stops, it dawns on me that I haven't visited this place often. I especially didn't see the inside of their mansion much. The first time I was here, I recall we circled around to the back of it for a private pool party.

“Private” was definitely right. After a while, we noticed how few guests there were so I asked Diamond beside me why this party was so special. In response, while also laying on a pool lounge chair, Diamond smugly bragged, “Becaaaaaause of all the ponies we're keeping out!” then subsequently pointed at a crowd of foals beyond the fenced-off bars of the property who looked upon us with jealousy and longing to join us. Seeing that immediately gave me an empty and guilt-stricken feeling.

That visit taught me one thing about the mentality of the Rich family, though. They sure do value their privacy. At the time, I used to think that they were concerned that poorer ponies might try to steal all their fancy stuff. Later on, however, I finally got a good look at Diamond's mother and how supremely snooty she was. Spoiled Rich seemed disgusted just to be in the mere presence of her “lessers” so it made the emphasis on the privacy of the Rich family even more understandable.

Meanwhile, I'm privately hoping the fact that we're invited here now means that Diamond's mother has grown more amenable since then.

I turn to Diamond in order to ask that after we stop and I exit the carriage but I pause when I notice her slip Randolph a note. I see the elderly servant open it, read it, then passes Diamond a concerned and questioning, “Are you sure?” kind of look. In silent reply, Diamond simply nods. To that, Randolph closes his eyes and bows to her for a second before soon departing.

“What was that all about?” Scootaloo asks Diamond after stifling a yawn seconds after she exits the carriage as well. She unknowingly asked the very same question I was about to ask our hostess.

“Nothing,” Diamond replies curtly as she spins about to face her own mansion. “Or, rather, you don't need to know yet.” Diamond waves for us to follow before she trots up the steps to the base of her mansion. “Come along, my little fillies. We have much to discuss.”

“Can we get something tah eat while we're here?” Apple Bloom requests as she follows our hostess up the steps along with the rest of us. “Ah reckon Ah could use anoth'ah bite tah eat.”

Ahead of us, Diamond freezes in mid-step for a moment before looking back at Apple Bloom in surprise as she asks, “Really? But we just ate before we went to the theater and Miss Rarity's shop.”

“Which was a good several hours ago,” Scootaloo points out. “I swear, it feels like we spent almost as much time at Rarity's boutique as we did at the theater itself. Maybe even more time.”

“Yeah,” Button agrees in annoyance. “Because you fillies were so busy dressing me up like a doll and couldn't make up your minds.”

Diamond pauses a moment to stare at Button exclusively for a few seconds then looks ahead as she resumes her journey while saying over her shoulder to us, “Whatever. I'll have our private kitchen staff whip us up a meal soon. I want to get a few issues off my chest first prior to that.”

“So you keep saying,” Button says a little bitterly.

Aside from the stressful evening he's endured, I suspect Button is getting tired and therefore even more cranky.

Button goes on to say, “But we 'fillies' need our beauty sleep, too. That's hard to do on an empty stomach sometimes. Between our discussion and the following meal, how long is it going to take before we finally hit the hay?”

Diamond doesn't answer us. Instead, she just rings the doorbell of her mansion. Five seconds later, two maids open it for her and greet her politely. In response, Diamond trots past them and starts to order them to make preparations on behalf of her guests, but she pauses in mid-sentence when she sees her own mother in the entrance hall also who was busy discussing something with yet another maid until she spots her daughter. Mother and daughter lock eyes on each other for a moment until her mother looks past her daughter. When she notices us, I see her eyes narrow in disgust.

Which makes me inwardly sigh. I had hoped for a more hospitable hostess in Diamond's mother. I had hoped that the snooty mare had softened up since that time in our schoolyard. Now I'm starting to realize that was terribly naive of me.

“Diamond Tiara,” Spoiled speaks stiffly to her daughter, “what are these despicable low-lives doing in my mansion?”

Diamond meets her mother’s cold gaze with even greater steel as she says, “These fellow ponies, Mother, are my friends and I'll thank you kindly for treating them with respect.” Diamond lifts her head higher and has her back straighter with a look of supreme dignity. “Besides, these ponies are our invited guests, Mother, and you were the one who taught me that we should always treat our invited guests with utmost courtesy. To do any less would bring shame upon the hostess and our good family name.”

I see Spoiled Rich huff in anger for a moment, but she quickly forces herself to calm back down because she realizes that her daughter has a point. No matter how far she considers us beneath her, she is also subject to the very same civil rules of etiquette that she imposed herself.

“Well . . . very well . . . fine then,” Spoiled says with strained acceptance. “If these ponies really are invited guests then they shall be treated in accordance with that for as long as they, too, respect the rules of this house.” Spoiled closes her eyes, lifts her nose high to an obviously arrogant degree, and fluffs her mane as she goes on to say smugly, “Besides, I'm sure these common riffraff will have a wonderful time here in our mansion. We can introduce these peasants to more luxury now than they have ever experienced before or probably ever will again.” She opens her eyes at us narrowly as she grows a wicked smile. “So much the better in order to educate them why they must defer to their betters.”

“Well gee! Thanks for making us feel so welcome!” Scootaloo snaps in annoyance with a bite of sarcasm.

“Oh, you're quite welcome, you pitiful little thing,” Spoiled replies in the same way. “Perhaps you'd care for a tour? I'd be more than happy to show you all the neat and wonderful stuff I have as well as introduce you to all the security we have too.” She shrugs as she smiles smugly. “All to show you how secure you all are as our invited guests, of course.”

“I'm sure I can take it from here, Mother,” Diamond announces with cold steel remaining in her voice. “I'm sure you have other business to take care of as usual. I, meanwhile, shall attend to mine.” Now Diamond narrows her eyes at her own mother as she asks tightly, “Are we clear?!”

Spoiled meets her daughter's steel gaze for just a moment longer before whipping her head to the side and closes her eyes as she says, “Fine, then. That's one less stain on my hooves.” Spoiled cracks one eye open at her daughter as she tells her, “Just make sure they behave themselves properly while they dwell in our home. And please be so kind as to keep them off our expensive furniture, will you? We just had them cleaned and they are worth more than they can ever afford.”

Diamond doesn't answer her mother this time. She only stares at her mother with the kind of cold steel that sends shivers down my spine.

Spoiled huffs then trots away.

“Dang, Diamond. I'm so sorry you had to grow up with that,” Scootaloo announces tightly.

“But we're awfully proud of ya!” Apple Bloom says proudly and brightly to Diamond. “Sweet apples, Diamond! Yer one tough filly!”

“You can plainly see why that's necessary,” Silver Spoon says flatly along with a deadpan, almost bored expression, but there is also a slight twinkle of resentment deep in her eyes.

Diamond expels a deep breath as she closes her eyes and directs her head down sadly. Moments later, she says, “Forgive us, Crusaders.” She peeks an eye at me. “Plus guest.” She lifts her head back up again and sweeps her gaze across us all as she goes on to express, “I, at least, have every intention of being a courteous hostess. I hope that's enough for you.”

“Hey! As long as there's some chow involved then I'm game!” Scootaloo expresses with a daring grin. “I consider myself pretty easy to get along with. I don't need anything too fancy. I just have to have my basic needs met. That includes my social needs too, of course.”

“Yeah,” Apple Bloom agrees. “We Crusaders are pretty easy going because helping other ponies is kinda our thang.”

A fond look sinks into Diamond's eyes as she happily expresses, “And, for that, I will always be grateful to you all.”

“Ah . . . so, Diamond . . . what is it you wanted to discuss with us?” I ask to get us back on track with our apparently primary reason for being invited here. I have a pretty good idea what it might be, too.

Because I'm smart.

Diamond looks at me for a silent second before looking somewhere up on the second story of the mansion, then she announces, “Not here. For that, let's retire to the study.”

“Just what is a study room for anyway?” Scootaloo asks us when we arrive in it and she scans about the room. “Is it a place where you come to study something? And, if so, why are we meeting here?”

Thanks to my sister's teachings, I'm not as lost in this environment as my pegasus friend but even I can see why somepony not used to this would be confused. The walls are indeed lined with tall bookshelves stacked with books but there is also a glass cabinet at one end that has all kinds of drinks in it. If that is compared to a true library then that addition may seem really random to those not used to this. Furthermore there is the fact that this room has a big fireplace, a bunch of expensive-looking leather furniture facing each other, and a desk at one corner of the room which seems designed for a scribe.

Since Diamond knows that Scootaloo is speaking from a place of true ignorance, she gives a patient response by explaining, “The study is often a place meetings are typically conducted in, especially business meetings.” She smiles a bit as she goes on to say, “It used to be one of the most important and used rooms for my father and his business meetings. For that very reason, I remember when I used to be forbidden to come inside of it, but lately he's been more lax about that because I think he's starting to realize that I'm growing up and became mature enough to use this place with dignity and respect. I aim to prove that theory correct.”

“Then why not call it the 'meeting' room?” Scootaloo questions. “It would be less confusing that way.”

In response, Diamond just shrugs.

“So what did'ja want to talk to us about anyway?” Apple Bloom asks our hostess. “Cuz Ah, for one, am also hankering fer some good ol' fashion grub.”

Diamond sighs but with a tense look to her eyes that puts me on edge. She's nervous and suspicious about something. I've been smelling it all over her ever since we got into the carriage after the theater.

“I'm not going to beat around the bush too much this time,” Diamond decides firmly. “Because this issue is too important.” She suddenly snaps her head and looks sharply at Button Mash. “First things first: Who are you and what did you do with the real Sweetie Belle?”

“Huh?” Button asks while taken aback.

“You heard me, and I'm not playing around here!” Diamond cries out insistently and with deadly seriousness as she takes a few menacing steps closer to Button. “You really aren't the real Sweetie Belle so I want to know what you did with her, you changeling monster!”

“Excuse me?! You're accusing me of being a changeling?” Button asks incredulously.

“That's right, for I know you're not the real Sweetie Belle!” Diamond says in the same tone. “If you were, you wouldn't be caught wearing that stupid hat earlier this evening.”

“Hey! Lay off the hat, please!” Button requests in a clearly offended tone.

“And you haven't acted like Sweetie at all this evening!” Diamond goes on tightly. “In fact, the only one who acted even remotely close to Sweetie Belle is this filly here!” she says as she continues to look firmly at Button but also points to me. “The real Sweetie Belle would have done more of the talking about my planned initiative for the Crusaders because I discussed this with her before. She'd also be far more comfortable in the Ponyville Spa and especially comfortable in her own sister's shop because no pony, aside from her sister, is more accustomed to Rarity and her eccentricities.”

“Huh?” Button asks with a confused tilt of my head. “Her ex-en what now?”

“That's what I was wondering too,” Scootaloo agrees with equal confusion.

“Rarity's odd quirks!” Diamond exclaims in explanation while throwing up her forehooves for a moment. During that time, she stands on her hind hooves for a second before landing back on all four hooves as she resumes her argument. “The real Sweetie Belle would have been used to that, not rolling her eyes in disgust with every outfit we put on her. The real Sweetie Belle would have found that all fun instead because she likes dressing up and she loves helping out her beloved older sister. Dressing up often gives Rarity new ideas for fancy designs, after all.”

Wow! I'm actually amazed how well Diamond knows me. I didn't think we were that close before!

Come to think of it, she is being spooky accurate about me right now. Has she been stalking me without my knowledge? Because, if so, now it feels really ironic that she once accused us Crusaders for trying to get our cutie marks for “supposedly” spying on her.

Huh. As if! If there was one time we ever should have earned our cutie marks for spying, it should have been when we regretfully worked for her during our dark days with the Foal Free Press.

I loose my train of thought when Diamond goes on to say, “But, most of all, I know for a fact that the real Sweetie Belle was looking forward to seeing that stage show. I didn't tell her that I planned on buying the tickets ever since she made the offhoof comment that she wanted to see it, but it is enough to know that she certainly wouldn't fall asleep during the performance.”

“Maybe I'm just tired,” Button counter argues. “Did you think of that? Did you think of that? Huh? Did'ja?”

“DROP THE ACT!” Diamond screams at Button insistently. “As I said, I'm not playing around with you anymore! What did you do to my FRIEND?!”

Button sighs as he continues to regard Diamond for a few seconds then looks over at me with a helpless, questioning look as if to ask me, “What should I tell her? She's being serious right now. She knows.”

I sigh next before saying, “It's quite ironic that you accuse him of being a changeling because, as it turns out, your guess was so close to the truth.” When I say this, I notice I draw Diamond's attention. With her attention on me, I use my new shapeshifting powers to morph into my natural form which now also happens to be this body’s new natural form as well.

“Sweetie Belle?” Diamond asks with a shocked gasp.

“Yes and no,” I announce. “It's kind of hard to explain.”

Scootaloo shrugs as she says to me, “I disagree,” before turning to Diamond and explains, “That filly right here is the real Sweetie Belle, but only her mind.” While still looking at Diamond, she nods towards me then taps the side of her head three times. “Sweetie got ponynapped about a year ago from some hostile changeling then had her mind shoved into another changeling body for some reason. Her real body was left in slimy changeling goo while her mind, unbeknownst to even herself, was in a changeling body for almost a year.

“Then, recently, she joined with Starlight with some experiment that involves the Cutie Map in the castle. Something about locating other pony’s cutie marks?

“Anyway, the experiment went wrong because there were already unexpected things in play that caused the spell to go nuts. As a result, Sweetie temporarily assumed her new, quote/unquote, 'true' form and Button Mash here ended up possessing Sweetie's original body.” Scootaloo points at the southern wall. “That's why Button's real body is in a coma right now. He's that way because his mind unexpectedly and unwillingly got transferred to Sweetie's real body while her mind ends up stuck in some nameless changeling's body.” Scootaloo looks at me. “Only very recently did she learn how to use her new shapeshifting abilities enough to simulate her original form.”

The room grows very quiet after Scootaloo finishes her explanation. I look at Diamond and Silver and notice both of them looking so confused and surprised that their ears are smoking as if to suggest that their brains are fried.

Eventually Silver Spoon is the first to recover by shaking her head enough to clear it then looks over to Button as she says, “Wait. Time out for a second. So you mean to tell me that this is Sweetie's real body but it's occupied by Button Mash's mind?” She looks at me as she continues her questions. “And this is Sweetie Belle's mind but she's inhabiting a body of an unknown changeling?”

“See? You got it!” Scootaloo cheers in a fairly nonchalant way. “I told you it isn't difficult to understand.”

“But it is difficult to accept!” Diamond cries out. “I can't believe this!”

“You're the one who insisted that I wasn't Sweetie Belle,” Button reminds Diamond. “So you have to at least partially believe it.

“Sweetie is right, too. You really were close to the truth with your first guess. I'm kind of amazed, actually. You should totally become a detective.”

Diamond winces at Button narrowly as she asks, “Detective? You were dropping so many clues that any idiot could have followed it.”

Button looks offended as he says, “Well excuuuuuuuuuuuuse me, Milady!” He points at my body. “I've been trying my best here but I'm not an actor and I didn't ask for any of this! All I wanted to do was stay home and play my video games, but nooooooooo! You fillies had other plans for me like humiliating me so much that I can barely think straight.”

Diamond suddenly regards Button questioningly and sympathetically as she asks, “It really is you, Button? You're really in Sweetie's body right now?”

“Not by choice,” Button answers with a sad frown. “While it's true that I didn't end up like this deliberately, I did try to protect both of our reputations by acting like her in public.” He looks at us Crusaders for a brief moment then looks back at Diamond as he goes on to say, “All we were supposed to do this evening is enjoy ourselves, by ourselves, so we could all be ourselves as much as possible without any pretenses.

“But, the moment you showed up and insisted in dragging us all around Ponyville, I had to keep up the charade so that I don't embarrass either Sweetie or myself.”

Button now looks down sadly and with strong worry as he says, “And now you know. You were the one pony I didn't want to know this secret the most.”

At first Diamond looks shocked to hear him say that but sad acceptance soon settles into her as she theorizes, “Because you were afraid that I'd use that secret to take advantage of you two, didn't you?” Her question sounded more like a statement.

Button gives a very faint nod as he has my eyes tear up. I can see and smell the fact that he very much was and still is terrified that Diamond will take advantage of us now that she's armed with our secret.

I can well understand why he'd fear that, too, given her history as a bully at our school, but I also think he's wrong about her. I know for a fact that Diamond has become a much better pony since the early days of her youth. With the encouragement of the Cutie Mark Crusaders, she's seen the light of her cutie mark. I now have faith in Diamond. She's a very kind and generous pony now. She even reminds me of my sister a lot these days except for the fact that she's still bossy. Even then, Rarity can be like that too sometimes. She's very particular when it comes to details.

Wordlessly, Diamond slowly trudges next to Button. Once she stands next to him, he cringes from her very fearfully as his tears come leaking out with greater force. At this point, he is now shivering with fright.

As for Diamond, she's very still as she beholds this.

In fact, the whole room seems to hold its breath as we behold this scene.

Then, without warning, Diamond collapses onto Button in my body as she gently hugs him.

“I am so sorry, Button Mash,” Diamond whimpers in very sincere apology. “I'm sorry that I made you afraid of me. I'm sorry for any abuse you suffered at my hooves in the past. I'm sorry that this happened to you and that you felt so embarrassed about it that you felt you needed to conceal your true self on the assumption that things might become worse if you don't.

“Believe me, I know what it's like to try to conceal one's true self due to social pressures. The truth is I never wanted to bully any of you. Instead, I just wanted to be friends.

“But, at the time, I didn't know how to express those feelings and I was in a lot of pain because of everything I've gone through back then.

“I need you to know this, Button. I'll do whatever it takes to make up for what I've done in the past. That's my mission now. Until you learn to forgive me and not fear me anymore, I can't give up on my quest.”

“Do . . . do . . . do you really mean it?” Button stutters in a whimper.

Diamond squeezes him tighter for a brief moment and cries on my body's shoulder as she assures, “Yes, Button. I really mean it. I am a better pony now and I'll prove it for as long as it takes.”

“We believe you, of course,” Scootaloo assures warmly. “You were one nasty filly for a long time but it's okay. You're totally cool now. Almost as cool as Rainbow Dash in your own special way.”

“Wow!” Silver Spoon exclaims at Scootaloo. “That's really high praise coming from you.”

Scootaloo smiles with an odd combination of sheepishness mixed with pride as she closes her eyes, rubs the back of her neck, and proclaims, “Yeah! Totally!”

“Thah . . . thank you, Diamond,” Button says to the pink filly much more calmly. “I feel a lot better now.”

“Good!” Diamond exclaims with relief as she reveals to him a bright, happy smile that most definitely reaches her wide, shimmering eyes. “I'm so glad!”

Suddenly Button looks embarrassed as he struggles to maintain eye contact with Diamond. His gaze keeps shifting back and forth as he squirms in discomfort before saying, “Oh, and Diamond?”

“Yes?” she asks with a very friendly and open expression to him.

“I'm really sorry about dissing your tiara earlier tonight. I know how sentimental that thing is to you. Practically your whole identity revolves around it and it was really uncool of me to lash out at you about it.

“The thing is . . . I didn't mean it. Not even for a second.” He sighs as he rubs the back of my neck now. “I was just being stupid,” he shyly admits.

Diamond closes her eyes as she expresses brightly, “Why thank you for telling me that, Button! That honestly makes me feel much better.”

“Yer . . . you're welcome,” he continues to say shyly but also happily.

“And,” Diamond goes on to say as she opens her eyes back at him, “I'm so glad to hear that you're okay, Button . . . sort of. I know that being in the body of your own special somepony isn't ideal for you but the whole class feared something much worse for you. We've really been on the edge of our seats with worry for you. It would honestly make us feel much better if they were also told the truth.”

We are all shocked to hear Diamond proclaim that, but it's Button to be the first to object.

“No! You can't! Please don't tell them!” Button begs.

“Why?” Diamond asks as she tilts her head at him. “Are you afraid somepony will bully you and tease you about the fact that you're stuck in the body of a filly? Of your own special somepony, no less?”

“Well . . . yeah!” Button fearfully admits. “Of course! If they all found out about this, they'd never let it down. I'd never be able to show my face in Ponyville again even if I return to my true body.”

“Your whole class is worried for you, Button! We care for you!” Diamond promises. “We're your friends and we'd understand that you're the victim here. I promise you that no pony will tease you.” A slightly dark look sinks into Diamond's eyes as she goes on to say, “But if it does happen then you let me know. I'll have a little chat with that pony and set them straight.”

“Ya . .. you really mean it?!” Button asks with astonishment.

“Of course I do because I'm your friend!” Diamond swears.

I smile as a warm feeling sinks into my heart and proud tears rise to my eyes. It seems quite apropos that the one filly who used to bully us the most in our early years is now promising to defend us against the very same thing should it ever happen to us again. Bless her heart! She's come a really long ways up from the mean old filly she used to be.

“So how about it?” Diamond proposes hopefully. “Will you come back to school with me tomorrow and set the record straight?”

“Uh . . .” Button looks at Diamond with uncertainty. That same look is passed to me moments later.

“Both of you?” Diamond goes on to request as she now looks back at me. “You both belong there. You know you do. You know you want to as well. I say be brave and show as much courage in school tomorrow as you encouraged me to embrace when you asked me to embrace the light of my cutie mark. Well, now it's your turn. Do the right thing! Come back with us! Please!” she begs as she looks back and forth between me and Button.

Silence descends in the room for a few seconds which is broken first by Apple Bloom. The yellow farm pony sighs before she says while shaking her head, “Ah hate tah admit it, Sweetie Belle, but Diamond sure does have a mighty point there.”

“Yeah,” Scootaloo agrees. “And you have to admit . . . she makes a pretty persuasive case.” She shrugs. “But that's something we have to expect from a pony who has a cutie mark which basically stands for leadership.”

“A leader is only as strong as her weakest follower,” Diamond announces. “For me to be a good leader, I have to encourage strength in all of my followers. To do any less would be a detriment to us all. We all win together or we lose together.” She smiles warmly. “But either way . . . we are together and that is what's most important.

“So what do you all say? Are you with me?” she pleads with a look of rising hope. She practically gives me the puppy dog look.

That isn't fair! I've used that on others before so I know how effective it can be. To have that same tactic turned against me feels uncomfortably effective.

But worse is the fact that I know she genuinely believes in what she says. If I turn her down, I'm sure it would really hurt her. That, more than anything, is the most effective and manipulative truth here.

Beyond that, deep down, I feel the fact she's right. However the evil changeling within me warns that patience and strategy are very important right now. His original self practically threatened to silence anypony I speak to that leads to the truth.

I really don't want to endanger anypony, but Diamond is also right. My heart calls for this and I've learned for years now that paying attention to my feelings is very important if I'm to do my best work with our clients. All we really do is tell them to listen to their hearts as well. Should I really do any less?

I narrow my eyes as I realize that this story is about my life. My destiny! Only I say what goes on with my life.

I have to be careful, though, because it's not just my life on the line. Not even my club sisters fully realize that yet.

But I really didn't admit too much tonight. Diamond figured this out on her own and it was Scootaloo who filled in the gaps. While it might be considered a technicality, I hope it's enough to warrant mercy even from a cold, ruthless, and professional changeling assassin.

“Okay, Diamond Tiara,” I decide with sudden confidence in my voice. “I'll do it. I'll go to school with you tomorrow and admit everything.”

Button sighs before admitting, “I was afraid you'd say that.” He applies one of my hooves to my real face. “But, if that's the case, I might as well go too.” He drops my hoof back down and looks back at me. “Because, at that point, there is no secret to protect anymore. I'm still afraid of being teased but if you're all with me, I think I can face this.” He shrugs. “Besides, there is a strong part of me that wants to anyway. I want to reclaim as much of my old life back as I can. Even if I have to do it looking like this.” He gestures to my body for emphasis.

“Speaking of which, I also need to apologize for dragging you into all that feminine stuff,” Diamond expresses to Button as her cheeks blush with embarrassment. She shakes her head. “I didn't know whom I was dealing with. If I did, that certainly would've changed my approach. I hope you believe that.”

“I think I do . . . now,” Button replies to Diamond.

“So it's settled!” Apple Bloom declares triumphantly. “Tomorr'ah we all confront our peers and teacher in class and tell 'em everah’thang.” After she says that, she squints her face tightly in such great brimming happiness that she reflexively makes a squee sound. “After that, we Crusaders will be more fully united together once again!”

“Yay!” we three Crusaders cry out together happily and we high hoof each other. “Cutie Mark Crusaders together forever!”

Author's Note

And that is the conclusion of the Girl's Night Out saga. This chapter puts an extra emphasis on Diamond to show how she's changed. In my estimation, she's no dummy, or at least isn't anymore. There were too many oddities across the night that she'd catch on to which later drove her determination to confront the issue.

We even get to see her stand up to her passive/aggressive mother in this chapter whose only softened up a little bit since the show.

Because of her actions in this chapter, Diamond eventually learns the truth. Armed with it, she encourages a change for the next chapter because she believes it's right. She doesn't bully the others into it either but rather persuades them with gentle encouragement, compassion, and inspiring argument.