Beautiful Things

Chapters

Love, Hate, And Too Late
Prologue
Nothing But A Burden
Butterflies
Questions

Love, Hate, And Too Late

Diamond Tiara slowly opened her eyes to the crow of the rooster. Ugh, she hated waking up this early, before Celestia's sun had a chance to rise. And, to top it all off, she didn't even dream about that mare with the butterfly. The mare that gave her so much courage to stand up to her mother in her dreams a couple of nights ago. Actually, she hadn't been dreaming at all for the past couple of nights, at least by what she could recall. She couldn't remember the last time she slept so peacefully.

Suddenly, a young foal who looked to be about eleven came into view. He stared at her with big green eyes, sporting a mane that was a shade lighter than his dad's and a purple coat a couple of shades darker than his mother's. She squinted at him, as he leaned over her and blinked at her a couple of times.

"Good mornin', Miss Tiara," He finally said, leaning back so she could flip onto her side. She saw his front hooves fall to the ground like he was using the couch she slept on to prop himself up so he could tower over her.

"How many times have I told you, Big Sugar," Diamond said wearily, a touch of annoyance in her voice. "I was there the day you were born. You don't need to call me 'Miss'" This wasn't the first time they'd had this conversation before.

Despite being friends with Apple Bloom, being with the other Crusaders in the hospital the day he was born, brief visits during the holidays, and attending some of his birthday parties, Big Sugar didn't know Diamond Tiara enough to call her Aunt like the other Crusaders, even though she was an honorary member. Actually, he didn't know her at all apart from being the bum that slept on his family's couch once in a while and funded his Cute-ceañera.

They didn't exactly spend very much quality time together. Big Sugar was a great foal, better than most these days—at least he had manners—but Diamond wasn't a foal pony. She didn't do foals. They were too needy, too messy, and way too loud for her tastes. Honestly, the only two foals who could bombard her like this this early in the morning were Silvey's little brother, and Big Sugar.

"But, Aunt Jackie said—" Aunt Jackie? Is that what he's calling her these days? Diamond thought to herself before tuning back into what Big Sugar was saying. "—all grown-up ponies Miss or Mister, or ma'am and sir if I don't know their name."

Diamond would never get used to hearing herself referred to as a 'grown-up pony'.

Diamond rolled her eyes. "Fine, whatever kid. Call me whatever you want." Diamond put a hoof over her eyes, rolling onto her back with a yawn. "I give up."

She laid on her back for about thirty seconds before..."Up and at 'em, Tiara. Y'know the rules." A familiar voice called, the sound of hooves walking down creaking stairs accompanying it. She swore Apple Bloom enjoyed this, even if it was just a little bit. "Sugar, give the mare some space. You know how Diamond is this early in the mornin'."

Diamond groaned and slid off the couch. Bi-passing her Tiara and mane brush completely, she dragged her hooves to the kitchen and made a beeline for the coffee pot. She could smell something delicious being cooked, but nothing mattered but that pot of coffee. After pouring herself a mug full of coffee, downing half of it, and then filling it back to the top, she turned around to see Applejack in front of a stove, cooking eggs. Diamond Tiara's mouth watered just at the smell.

"Mornin' Tiara," Applejack said without turning around. She must've seen Diamond when going from the stairs to the kitchen. "Didn't hear ya come in last night. I trust ya found everything alright?"

Diamond nodded slowly, looking down at her cup of coffee. Remembering that Applejack had her back facing Diamond, she muttered a small "Yeah."

Small tears welled in Diamond's eyes. Last night was...rough, to put it mildly. She came home the night before to an angry mother. After her father died, she tried to avoid her mother by any means possible, though that was easier said than done. It was easier to do when she took over the company. She would have an excuse to wake up before her mother did and not come home until after her mother went to sleep. However, she was surprised when she came home at 11:00 to see her mother still awake, standing in the entry hall, an angry expression on her face. Last night replayed in her mind, bringing more tears to her eyes...

Diamond Tiara unlocked the door to her mansion, quietly stepping inside the dark manor. She searched for a light switch, graciously finding one and flipping it on. She started in surprise when she saw her mother standing there, leaning against the stairwell, an angry expression on her face.

She was surprised by this. Her mother was a very routine pony, always doing the same thing every day at a certain time. It made it easier to keep track of everything in her life, the life of an upper-class pony. Spoiled Rich always went to bed at 10:30 sharp, 10:45 at the latest. Diamond knew. She made sure she'd always come home after her mother went to bed. The only reason she'd be standing there was because she was waiting for Diamond Tiara. Diamond bit her bottom lip and braced herself for the worst. When it came to her mother, she could be mad about anything.

"Diamond Tiara. Tell me it's not true."

Diamond looked up at her mother, confused. "What's not true?"

Spoiled Rich gritted her teeth, clearly upset at Diamond's slow mind. "You're father's store,"Oh no, Diamond thought to herself. Now she knew what this was all about. She just made the decision a couple of days ago. "You've closed it on weekends!" Her mother yelled in anger.

"Okay, Mother listen—" Diamond started before she was interrupted.

"Why?! You know how busy the weekends are! Those are our biggest sale days! What in the hay was going through your mind when you made that decision!?"

"Because, Mother, I was overworked. I couldn't keep working all week, around the clock. I needed a break. It's been affecting me, Mother. I haven't been sleeping and I've been snapping at everycreature. I accidentally snapped at Scootaloo the other day and—"

"Scootaloo?!" Her mother yelled, her anger growing. Diamond clamped her mouth shut, realizing her mistake as soon as she said Scootaloo's name.

Her friendship with the CMCs was like walking on eggshells with her mother. Her mother knew she hung out with them sometimes, and they both knew her mother didn't approve of it, but it was one of those things that even though they both knew about it, nopony was allowed to mention it aloud in her mother's presence. Spoiled Rich pretended that the CMCs didn't even exist, let alone that her daughter hung out with them from time to time. She certainly didn't want any of their names mentioned in her house.

"You mean that stunted, good for nothing, nonpegasus?" Diamond gulped nervously as she watched her mother's fury grow. "You're telling me you based a decision about a multi-million-bit company off of the opinion of an undereducated nopony?!"

"Mother! She's my friend and I need you to stop calling her such horrible names!" Diamond yelled back, feeling the need to defend her friend who wasn't here to defend herself.

"Oh, give me a break, Diamond Tiara." Spoiled Rich waved a dismissive hoof. "We both know it's true. And you know what? You're no better than her if you're going to make such a reckless decision with the company!"

"I didn't base it off of Scootaloo's opinion. It was an example. I'm overworked, Mother! Don't you understand that?! I need a break!"

"A break?! A BREAK?! Don't tell me you're getting soft! What's next?! Are you going to sell the store generations of Riches have worked so hard to build so that the Rich family could be one of the most influential families in Equestria?! As a Rich pony, you must always think of your social standing. That starts here in Ponyville and reaches all over Equestria. Never forget that Diamond Tiara. EVER!"

Diamond flinched as she heard the lines she'd heard over and over as a filly. The lines that have been ingrained in her since the day she was born. Lines she was so damn sick and tired of hearing!

"And what if I don't want to be a damn Rich?! What are you going to do?! Ground me for life?! Newsflash, I'm a grown pony! And you can't keep telling me what to DO!"

"How dare you talk to me like that! I am still your mother—"

"Then why don't you act like it!"

"Diamond Tiara! Don't you raise your voice at me! Those low lives have changed you for the worse! You've lost all the potential you could have had! You're useless to the Rich family! If your father was still here, we'd have another foal. One who could be ten times the pony you've become!"

"No! You want a mini version of you! Because you're too damn stupid to see how much of a bitch you ARE! You claim you want to make the Rich family great, but you're a stain upon it! You're an embarrassment to this family and you've only dragged it down to be a curse! I HATE you! I HATE YOU SO MUCH!"

Silence echoed through the mansion. Not a soul made a sound. Diamond Tiara didn't say anything, panting heavily, practically snarling. She had had enough of her mother being so mean and rude, trying to drag Diamond down until she felt like nothing but a kicked puppy.

And then she saw the flash of hurt in Spoiled Rich's eyes and suddenly what Diamond said sank in. She gasped, realizing the weight of her words. Her heart stopped and guilt welled up in her.

"Mother, I—"

"Get out." Her mother muttered dangerously.

"But—"

"I said GET OUT!"

Diamond stood there in shocked silence. Yes, after her dad died, her mother kicked her out of the house many times before, but this felt different. This felt...final. Diamond's heart raced, her brain refusing to process.

Her mother took a deep breath. "I will allow you to pack some essentials. I want you out of here in ten minutes. I never want to see you again. We'll sort out any legal details later."

"But, Mother—"

Diamond's mother just turned her back on her, and walked away after saying, "If you're still here when I have the servants search the house for you, I will have the guards physically remove you."

Spoiled Rich walked upstairs to her room. Diamond stood there in shock. No doubt her mother would make good on her threat, but she'd never made that threat before.

Diamond snapped out of it, galloping upstairs to grab her saddlebag from her room. She grabbed the most important paperwork and files regarding the company she sometimes brought home to work on, her mane brush, a couple of other essentials, and her key to Sweet Apple Acres. She was out of the mansion with four minutes to spare, and she galloped to Sweet Apple Acres with tears in her eyes...

Diamond took a deep breath, blinking back tears. Guilt welled up in her heart. She was so mean to her mother. Sure, her mother was mean and rude and maybe partly a bitch, but Diamond was better than her mother. She didn't want to be her mother. However, a part of her wonders if she really is so different from her after all.

Diamond steeled herself and put up that wall that blocked her emotions. She needed to talk to somepony, but she didn't want to spill her guts to the entire Apple family. And if they saw something was bothering her so much, they'd barely give her a chance to be alone, constantly asking her if she was okay.

Diamond softly cleared her throat. "Hey AJ?"

Applejack was in the middle of a conversation with Apple Bloom but stopped when she heard Diamond Tiara.

"Yeah, sugarcube?"

A small, sad smile grew on Diamind's face. Diamond loved it when Applejack called her that. It made her heart warm. Diamond knew Applejack called every creature that, but it still made her feel special. Her parents never called her by any endearing terms. It was always Diamond Tiara this and Diamond Tiara that. And she believed that Applejack, on some level, knew it made her feel special because Diamond thought Applejack called her that more often than she did others.

"Would you mind if I...if I stayed here a little longer than usual?"

Without hesitation, Applejack answered, "Sure, sugarcube." She picked up a wooden spoon with her mouth and began stirring the raw eggs she had just cracked into the pan. "How wong were ya shinkin'?"

Diamond paused, biting her lower lip, and looking down at her cup of coffee. "Um...a couple of months, maybe?"

Diamond looked up in time to see Applejack drop the spatula on the floor. Apple Bloom was looking at Diamond with wide eyes. Diamond suddenly felt stupid for asking. Of course they wouldn't want her around that long. She should've known better.

"But, if that doesn't work for you, I can just stay here until Silvy comes back to Ponyville next week. I just thought she'd have her hooves full with her parents' company and taking care of her little brother, but I'm sure I can figure something out by next week. I just—"

"No, sugarcube, we'd love to have ya over. Ya know yer welcomed here anytime. We're just surprised is all. When you'd come to stay here because you and yer mama were fightin', you'd never usually stay here fer more than a week or two. Somethin' happen I should know about?"

"Uhh...no. It's just that our fight was a little more intense than usual. I don't think my mother will want to see me again for a while."

Diamond sighed, looking back down at her coffee cup. She couldn't believe she said that to her mother. She didn't say those things anymore. That was something she'd say before the day the CMCs got their cutie marks. Not now. Not after everything she did to change.

Her eyes widened slightly, remembering what she said to Snipp's a couple of days ago. Back when Apple Bloom accidentally bumped into him. She thought back to when she'd say mean things to ponies who were rude to her or her friends. That mean girl in her would come out.

Tears came to her eyes, everything she thought she knew about herself vanishing in an instant. She wondered if the mean girl in her really left all those years ago, or if it stayed in hibernation, just waiting for the opportunity to resurface and ruin her life as she knew it. She wondered if she really changed at all. If it was just a brilliantly crafted facade, one that even fooled herself.

"Tiara?" Apple Bloom asked, startling Diamond.

Diamond looked up at Apple Bloom, who was staring back at her with concerned eyes. "S-sorry?" She asked.

"Applejack was askin' what time ya needed to be at your daddy's store."

Diamond smiled softly at that. Even though she's owned her family store for a year, to all the ponies her age and older, it'd always be her father's store. Hell, even to Diamond Tiara it felt weird calling it her store, despite owning the damn thing.

Then the question sunk in, unearthing the events of last night and her smile faded. She looked back down at her coffee cup, taking another big drink. Ugh. She was going to need something stronger if she was going to get through today.

"I uhh...closed the store on weekends. So, I'm completely free to help out around the farm today..." Diamond responded with a nervous smile.

Apple Bloom and Applejack stared at her for a moment before Applejack spoke. "It's fine. You know you don't have to. The only reason I made ya help out here before when you were a filly was cause I didn't want ya comin' here thinkin' you could lounge about all day. But you got yer own hard workin' job so—"

"No, I want to," Diamond said, causing Apple Bloom to drop her fork with surprise and stare at her with wide eyes.

"Y-you want to?" Apple Bloom asked, which Diamond answered by nodding. Apple Bloom was speechless for a moment before continuing. "Did ya forget how hard it is? Do ya think it'll be easier or somethin'?"

Diamond chuckled bitterly. "Physically? No. Definitely not. Mentally? Hell ya." Apple Bloom raised an eyebrow skeptically. "Trust me. At least you don't have board meetings with business ponies trying to trap you with every sentence they say so you have to listen closely to every word so you don't screw yourself over and lose the business your family has worked generations to keep and grow and so your overwhelmed with having to micromanage everything," Tears welled in the corners of Diamond's eyes. "and you're so exhausted that you're snapping at your friends so you have to close the store on weekends your biggest sales day just so you can find a little rest but then your mother finds out and calls you horrible things and then you call her horrible things back" Diamond squeezed her eyes shut, yelling in front of her as though accusing nothing but the darkness behind her lids. "and next thing you know you're sleeping on your friend's couch like a bum wondering if you've really changed at all or if you're just fooling yourself because maybe being a bitch is in your blood and that can never change and so maybe you think you should just give up on the whole friendship thing but that'll let everypony down and you just wish you can just die so then it'll at least all go away!"

Diamond panted heavily, as though she just ran a marathon, tears streaming down her face. In her mental breakdown, she had dropped her mug of coffee and it shattered upon hitting the ground, causing the liquid inside to create a puddle on the hardwood floor and soak into her front hooves.

Diamond quickly wiped the tears away with her eyes still squeezed shut, her breath still heavy. She slowly opened her eyes again and her heart stopped, realizing what just happened. The entire room was completely silent. Applejack was just staring at her with wide eyes, ignoring the still-cooking food on the stove. Applebloom and Big Sugar's forks were frozen mid-air halfway between their plates and their mouths, one having a forkful of eggs and the other one empty. Big Sugar was staring at her wide-eyed, his mouth hanging open and still full of food. Apple Bloom's look was similar to Big Sugar's, but instead of just shock, there was some concern and pity mixed in there too.

And finally, there was the newcomer. Big Macintosh stood halfway through the entrance of the kitchen. His eyes were wide as well, but at least his mouth was closed. Diamond's own eyes widened, her mouth trying to form words, but no sound came out. Her face blushed a red so deep that she swore Big Mac could see it clear as day from across the room. Her breath was still heavy and tears were still streaming down her face.

Applejack was the first to recover and break the five-minute-long silence. "Umm...uhh...m-maybe...uh...if ya w-wanna help so badly....m-maybe you should help Apple Bloom in the...uh...south orchard...so uh...why don't you go there now?" Applejack chuckled nervously, as though Diamond didn't just spill her guts in front of the whole Ponyville branch of the Apple family, minus a member. "Cause uh...Apple Bloom's gotta ton of work to catch up on. Right, Apple Bloom?" To this day, Applejack still couldn't lie to save her life.

"Uh...yeah. I do..." Apple Bloom trailed off, never taking her eyes off of Diamond Tiara. But she didn't go anywhere. She just stayed sitting at the table, fork in hoof, staring at Diamond with increasingly growing concern taking over the shock in her look.

Applejack cleared her throat. "So why don't you go start that right now? So you can get it all done. By the end of the day. Since today's a weekend and there're no classes to teach." Applejack said sternly, glaring at Apple Bloom. If Applejack was aiming for stealth, she missed the target by a mile.

Apple Bloom was still for a moment before she finally blinked and it seemed to click. She quickly stood up. "R-right. Sorry. I'll go do that now. Uh...T-Tiara...y-you should come help. I gotta lot of work to catch up on..." Apple Bloom trailed off. She was a better liar than her sister, but just barely.

Diamond rolled her eyes, shaking her head. She got the hint. In fact, it would take a three-year-old social idiot to not take it. "Yeah. Whatever." She muttered bitterly, looking down and following Apple Bloom out of the kitchen and out of the farmhouse.

Diamond and Apple Bloom were silent on their way to the barn to pick up the supplies they'd need for harvesting the south field. As soon as they entered the barn, she and Apple Bloom fell into a familiar rhythm from when they were fillies. Diamond Tiara grabbed twenty wooden baskets and tossed them into the cart one at a time before she hooked herself up to it. Apple Bloom did the same, and by the time Diamond was done, Apple Bloom was already waiting by the barn door.

All of this they did in silence. Diamond Tiara was waiting for Apple Bloom to speak first, and Apple Bloom was at a loss for words. She'd never seen Diamond Tiara act like that in her life. Even when she was going through a tough time, Diamond always presented herself with a level head, only showing small glimpses of vulnerability to Apple Bloom and her friends. She didn't know how to react to this Diamond Tiara. This friend of hers, who can always beat back a sappy moment with a cynical comment, being so emotional, scared Apple Bloom a bit. Apples were tough. Perhaps not as tough as Scootaloo and Rainbow Dash, but still, you didn't put your emotions on display unless it's behind closed doors with your family. Sweetie Belle would be better equipped to handle something like this. But not Apple Bloom. She didn't know what to say or do. But she knew she had to try.

They were both silent until they got to the south field. They unhooked themselves from their carts, and Diamond Tiara emptied her cart of the baskets, pushing the cart so that it faced the group of trees Apple Bloom was going to tackle first. Diamond then grabbed some baskets and placed them around the first couple of trees Apple Bloom was going to buck.

"There somethin' you wanna talk about?" Apple Bloom asked as she prepared to buck her first tree. She bucked and a cascade of apples fell from the trees and into the baskets. After placing baskets around the fourth tree, Diamond began moving the filled ones into the first cart using the ramp that was connected to it.

"No," Diamond replied, moving on to the second basket.

Apple Bloom was silent as she went to the second tree and bucked again, another cascade of apples falling. "Ya know, if ya keep it all bottled up, you'll have another meltdown like ya did the kitchen, but next time, it'll be in front of other ponies. Ponies I don't think you want to see ya like that. Is that what ya want?" Apple Bloom reasoned, moving on to the next tree.

Diamond was silent for a long moment as she began moving apple-filled baskets to the cart. "No," She finally said, grunting as she worked, her body remembering the familiarity of all of it. She was silent for a bit before continuing. "I had a fight with my mom last night."

"I gathered." Apple Bloom stated flatly, moving to the next tree.

Diamond sighed as she moved the last basket onto the cart and moved on to putting baskets around more trees. "She found out I closed the store on weekends."

"And..." Apple Bloom gestured with her hoof for Diamond to continue before bucking another tree.

"And…I think you can put the rest together."

"If ya mean that she didn't react kindly and was a total bitch about it by refusin' to listen to a word ya said, before kickin' ya out fer no reason, then yeah. I guess I can," Apple Bloom stated bluntly.

"It was a little more complicated than that," Diamond explained. "I...she said horrible things, but I called her horrible things back," Diamond admitted, twisting her mouth and resting her hoof on a filled basket that was halfway up the ramp.

Apple Bloom scoffed. "Diamond, I don't mean to sound so heartless, but, to put it simply, yer mother's a bitch. It'd probably do her some good if somepony told her that once in a while."

"I did," Diamond replied glumly.

"See? Exactly."

"And that she was ruining our family's name," Diamond said, her ears flattening a bit, waiting for Apple Bloom's reaction.

"Well...that ain't exactly not true." Apple Bloom reasoned.

"And that she was a stain on the Rich name."

"Alright, again, not exactly not true."

"And that I hated her..." Apple Bloom breathed in through her teeth upon hearing that, but Diamond wasn't done. "Twice."

"Yikes. Alright, so ya said some things ya didn't mean. Big deal. We all do that–" Apple Bloom started before she was interrupted.

"You don't get it, Bloom! You didn't see me last night! If you did, you would've realized that I...that I acted just like I used to before I was reformed! That...that deep down inside, I'm still the bully I used to be and I've always been! You wouldn't be here, trying to explain my actions! We all don't tell our mothers we hate them–"

"Well, we all don't have a mother like yours so that ain't an accurate comparison." Apple Bloom interjected.

"It doesn't matter! I should still control myself! My first reaction shouldn't be to say horrible things when she pisses me off! I'm scared, Bloom. What if...what if I haven't changed at all? What if what ponies said about me is true? That I'm still the mean girl I've always been. That I'm just waiting for you to fully trust me before I backstab you in the worst way possible?" Tears filled Diamond's eyes, and she quickly wiped them away with her hoof.

Apple Bloom stopped her work and stared at Diamond Tiara, her heart clenching. Diamond Tiara has always struggled with her past. And, while she definitely used to be horrible, Apple Bloom knew she wasn't a bully anymore. Some ponies, however, didn't seem to get that memo, even after ten years. Apple Bloom wasn't sure why. Sure, she was a bully and she was cruel and made fun of anypony who was different…

Okay, so maybe Apple Bloom could see why ponies treated her differently. But still, that was ten years ago. Diamond has so clearly changed since then. She wasn't the same pony she used to be. Yet, ponies their age or younger were either still scared of her or glared daggers when they thought she wasn't looking. Or, in some very bold cases, when they knew she was.

It just sucked. Diamond worked so hard to change and be different. It was worse when the ponies who didn't even go to school with her were treating her this way. Sure, she was rich and could ruin anypony's life if she wanted to. She was sarcastic and seemed cold-hearted at first, but once you got to know her, she had a heart of gold. Kind of. It was deep down. But it's not like she was mean though. She was actually pretty nice.

Apple Bloom walked up to Diamond and put a hoof on her shoulder. "Tiara, I'm gonna be blunt. Even if ya weren't mean in the past, yer rich, an' ponies are gonna hate ya for that. No matter what ya do, no matter what ya say, ponies will resent ya because you're rich. Not to mention ya got a lotta ponies' lives in your hooves. That'll be another reason why they'll hate ya. No matter where you go, even somewhere that don't know yer past, they'll resent ya."

Diamond glared at the yellow earth pony. "Kicking somepony while they're down. Didn't know that was your style, Bloom."

Apple Bloom gave Diamond a look. "You know I didn't mean it like that. And besides, I warned ya." Apple Bloom sighed and shook her head. "Point is, there are gonna be ponies who don't like ya."

Diamond sighed and hung her head, preparing for the blow.

"And ya know what I think? I think those ponies can go to hell." Diamond Tiara snapped her head up in surprise. "Yep. I said it. And I meant it. Those ponies can go to hell. Sue me. Those ponies who judge ya fer bein' successful can go and take a hike would you stop lookin' at me like that?"

Diamond blinked, shaking her head and looking away. "Sorry. It's just that…I'm surprised. I guess I just didn't expect you to say something so…rude. I mean, I know you can be blunt, and subtlety is not your forte, but I just…that's something I'd expect Scootaloo to say. I just thought you'd be…a little more respectful."

"Well, there ain't no respect for jerks who judge a pony just cause they rich. Those ponies…they don't matter. The only ones who matter are the ones who do like ya. Who don't judge ya just cause you're rich, but judge ya for who ya are. If they still don't like ya, then that's on them. At least they got themselves a real reason. But, ya got yerself some friends Tiara. And their opinions are the only ones that matter. Like mine. I'm yer friend, and I say you've changed. Yer not even close ta bein' the same pony ya used to be. If ya were, ya wouldn't be worrin' about it so much. Ya wouldn't be feelin' so guilty."

Diamond's heart warmed. Apple Bloom wasn't always the best at giving advice, but to those who knew her, her advice could make anypony feel better. And better yet, Apple Bloom was right. She has changed. If she was really her old self, she wouldn't be beating herself up over the things she said so much. She'd simply deflect and brush it off like it was no big deal.

"You're right. Thanks, Bloom," Diamond said with a smile.

"No problem. Let's get back to work. AJ wasn't kiddin' when she said we need to get this done." Apple Bloom said, walking to the next tree to buck it.

It was about mid‐day when Big Sugar came running towards them. Apple Bloom and Diamond Tiara had about half the orchard done, having already carried their first two cartloads to the barn to be sorted later and already onto their next.

Apple Bloom turned to ask what was up when she saw the look on Big Sugar's face. There was concern and panic and a little bit of fear. Her mind immediately went to Sugar Belle. She was already running the rest of the distance to Big Sugar, Diamond trailing her once she realized something was wrong.

"What's wrong? Is it your mama? Did she go into labor?" Apple Bloom asked frantically. It would be too early.

Big Sugar shook his head, much to Apple Bloom's relief. But her relief was short-lived. "Aunt Jakie sent me to get ya. There are two police stallions at the house. They want to talk to Miss Tiara."

Diamond's heart stopped. What in Equestria did two police officers want to talk to Diamond Tiara about? She clenched her jaw. Apple Bloom and Diamond looked at each other before following Big Sugar to the house.

Once they got there, they burst through the door, skidding to a stop when they saw two grown stallions in police uniforms sitting in the living room. One was a unicorn who was floating a cup of coffee with his magic Applejack probably offered him while the other was a pegasus, who was writing something down in her notepad.

Upon their arrival, the three ponies looked up at them. The look in the officers's eyes made Diamond's heart skip a beat. Pity. Sorrow. Worry. Diamond bit her lip, walking forward to stand next to Applejack, Apple Bloom on her heels.

"Are you Diamond Tiara?" The unicorn officer asked, though, from the sound of it, he already knew the answer.

Still, Diamond nodded, wondering what the officers wanted to talk to her about, her mind going to dark places.

"May we speak in private?" The pegasus officer asked, making Diamond that much more nervous.

Applejack immediately asked Big Sugar if he wanted to help her in the kitchen, to which he promptly agreed. However, when Apple Bloom didn't move, the officers gave her a look. It was as though she knew Diamond wanted her there because she stood taller and more resolutely.

"Do you mind?" The pegasus officer asked, earning a glare from her partner.

"No. She can stay. I want her to stay. Please?"

The officers hesitated, glancing at each other before the unicorn officer finally nodded. "Yeah, whatever. You might want to sit down for this kid."

Diamond and Apple Bloom sat down, Apple Bloom discreetly touching Diamond's hoof in silent comfort.

"There's no easy way to say this, kid," the unicorn officer said, looking down. "So, I'll just say it. I'm sorry to tell you…your mother…she passed away. There was an accident involving your mother. She…"

Diamond couldn't hear anything else. It was like she was sucked through a vacuum cleaner and shoved back out as those words rang through her head. Her mother…no, that couldn't be right. They must have her mistaken with somepony else. She couldn't…she wasn't…

Except she was. They couldn't mix her up with anypony else. She was Diamond Tiara for crying out loud. Everypony knew who her mother was. Which means…it's true. Diamond's mother really was gone.

She couldn't believe it. Sure, her mother put her through hell, but never in a million years did she ever wish or want her dead. Despite everything her mother put her through, she loved her. Tears filled Diamond's eyes. She loved her mother like any filly would. And hearing this…it turned her world upside down.

Diamond knew she used to wish for a different family when she was young. Heck, she even just made that wish the other day. But Spoiled Rich was the only mother Diamond's ever known. Despite wishing for something else, she didn't know anything else.

"Tiara?" Apple Bloom asked, a hoof on her shoulder. "Did ya hear what they said?"

Diamond shook her head, tears streaming down her face, staring at the officers with wide eyed shock.

"Right…" Apple Bloom sighed, turning to face the officers again. "I'll fill her in on the details when…she ain't reelin' from shock."

"I understand this all must be very hard to hear," One of the officers started, though, Diamond didn't know which. "But we need you to come down to the station to identify–"

"Hard to hear?! You just told her her momma is…" Apple Bloom stopped herself when she realized Diamond was sitting right there and could hear everything. "Of course it's hard to hear! Are ya really that heartless? Now, when she's barely had any time to process anythin', ya want her to come down and…are ya really that–"

"I'll come by in the morning," Diamond said, staring blankly at the wall behind the officers, tears still streaming freely down her face, though she made no move to wipe them away.

"Are ya sure?" Apple Bloom asked softly, looking at Diamond with a concerned look. "I know she was mean, but…well, she was still your mama. Somepony else could…ya know…"

"Who? I'm the only living relative she has left. Her parents are dead. So are my father's. She has no siblings. My father's dead. I'm an only child. I'm the only one who can."

Apple Bloom stayed silent, keeping her hoof on her shoulder.

There was a moment of silence before Diamond heard one of the officers say, "I'm sorry for your loss, Diamond Tiara. Losing a parent is…never easy. Your mother was a…pillar in this community. I'm sure her loss will be felt by everypony in town."

"Sure," Diamond mumbled, still staring blankly at the wall.

Without another word, the officers stood up and left. Even when Applejack came in to ask what had happened, as if they weren't eavesdropping, Diamond thought, she still didn't move. She just sat on the floor, staring blankly at the wall, one thought going through her mind. Her last words to her mother.

"I HATE you! I HATE YOU SO MUCH!"

And she'd never get the chance to fix it. It was too late.

Diamond Tiara opened her eyes to see nothing but a dark empty void. Diamond closed her eyes, waiting for what she knew would be coming. And if she were honest, she deserved every bit of it.

But then her ears perked as she heard something. It was that voice. The same voice she heard a couple of nights ago. She opened her eyes, looking around, but not finding anything but empty blackness.

She turned in a slow circle, looking around. Empty. Closing her eyes, she focused all her thoughts to her ears, listening closely.

She heard the voice again. She couldn't tell what it was saying, but she could pinpoint a direction. With no hesitation, she cautiously followed the voice, opening her eyes once in a while so she wouldn't run into anything.

Eventually, she could hear actual words:

"Please, Opaline! I'm sorry!"

"You're always sorry, Misty! I am sick and tired of hearing it! They mean about as much as you're worth! NOTHING!"

Diamond hurried her pace. Whoever this Misty was, she was suffering under another pony's hoof. Whoever this Opaline was needed to be stopped and now.

When the voices sounded directly in front of her, Diamond opened her eyes in shock. Hovering in the air was a dark pink alicorn with white hair with blue streaks. She had blue eyes and it looked like her the edge of her wings were engulfed in a light pink and blue fire. She didn't recognize this alicorn, but something about her made her heart stop.

Then Diamond's eyes fell on the other pony. The same one with the voice that Diamond heard once before. The one who helped her stand up to…Diamond refused to think of her at the moment. Not when this pony needed her.

This pony, this unicorn, was unremarkable, she'd be easy to overlook. She had a blue coat and a dark blue mane with light blue highlights and green eyes. The bottom of her hooves were a light pink and her ears were flat as she coward before the strange alicorn.

Then, on the mare's flank, the magenta and coral butterfly Diamond had seen twice before flashed ever so briefly, as though it were a cutie mark that disappeared. Diamond gasped, not only gaining the attention of the blue unicorn, but also the attention of the chilling alicorn.

Author's Note

Alright. Finally the next chapter is here!

Sorry it took so long. I had inspiration somewhere else and it kept going and going and I kind of put this one aside until I was finished with 'The Magic In Us' and 'Royalty Before Family' stories.

This is one of my favorite stories I'm writing, and I just wanted to make sure I could give 100 of my attention without other ideas distracting me, and I'm glad I did. I like how this chapter turned out.

Stay tuned for the next chapter, though that might be a bit because I'm publishing a new story called 'Starlit Roots'. But I'll try to publish these chapters more regularly.

Prologue

Once upon a time, there was a very special unicorn, a bright unicorn. As bright as the sun. One day, she was summoned by the Princess for an assignment. To learn about friendship! She moved to Ponyville, and met earth ponies, unicorns, and pegasi, who became her best friends! Together, they taught the power of unity and how to live in harmony to everypony in Equestria. But then, one day, a magical accident happened. An earth pony got hurt by a unicorn. Everypony started fighting with each other...

However, there was another pony responsible for it all, one who took advantage of the ensuing chaos, who wasn't a pony at all, but an alicorn queen, fallen from Skyros. Her name was Opaline Arcana. She attacked Equestria, set on taking all of their magic for herself. They tried to beat her back, but she was too powerful...

So, the Princess, wanting to protect her kingdom and all of the ponies in it stole all the queen's magic and put all of the magic into three crystals before it got out of hoof...

Then, the Princess put an enchanted invisibubble around Equestria so the powerful queen could not find the magic or the kingdom of ponies again. The queen was left alone, with only a shadow left of her strength and power...

After that, earth ponies only felt safe with other earth ponies. Unicorns with unicorns, and pegasi of a feather flock together. The ponies galloped, trotted, and flew as far as they could with their crystals., settling in what would become Zephyr Heights, Briddlewood, and Maretime Bay...

But, a thousand years later, an earth pony who learned Twilight Sparkle's teachings from her father knew that earth ponies, unicorns, and pegasi could live in peace and she believed she could bring back magic. In her quest to do so, she made four amazing friends: earth ponies, unicorns, and pegasi, and together, they brought back magic and brought ponykind back together. The earth pony, who had united ponykind, was turned into an alicorn with golden wings and a golden horn. However, now that magic was brought back, the land of ponies was exposed once again to the evil alicorn queen...

However, Twilight expected this and put in a secret magical hologram message, for when the three crystals were brought back together, to warn the ponies of this evil alicorn so they could be prepared to fight together against her. Unfortunately, something went wrong with the spell and not the whole message was sent through, so they didn't know who the queen was or when she would strike...

Now that the queen could find Equestria again, she began to do whatever it took to get their magic. Using a young unicorn mare who she fillynapped when she was a young foal to mercilessly dragon-nap a baby dragon and betray the only ponies who were ever nice to her, she was able to—

"Whoa, Misty," Sunny interrupted Misty on her part of the back-and-forth storytelling she and Sunny were doing for the rest of their friends. "That's a bit harsh, don't you think? I mean—"

"Shh, Sunny." Pipp groaned, throwing her head back. "We're trying to listen and it's not your turn."

"Pipp! Seriously? Misty's clearly beating herself up—" Zipp started before she was interrupted by Pipp again.

"It's called good storytelling, making it dramatic to keep ponies at the edge of their hooves. Anyway, Misty knows we forgave her and that it's not her fault that Opaline dangled getting a cutie mark in front of her to do her bidding. Right, Misty?"

"Y-yeah." Misty stuttered, looking down, hoping her friends didn't see it for the lie it was. Because truth was, Misty didn't forgive herself and she knew it was her fault, despite what others told her.

"See? And if it bothers Sunny so much, she can exalt Misty when it's her turn, okay?"

"I don't really des—" Misty started, but again, Pipp interrupted.

"Misty, get back to the story. All this talking is ruining it."

"Um...r-right. Where was I?" Misty paused but then remembered. "R-right. Anyway...

Using a young unicorn mare who she fillynapped when she was a young foal to mercilessly dragon-nap a baby dragon and betray the only ponies who were ever nice to her, she was able to—

"Misty stop." At Pipp's glare, Sunny continued. "Sorry, Pipp, I just can't sit by while Misty's being so hard on herself. It's not right. She didn't mean to betray us and she was blackmailed by the evil pony who raised her. Misty is making herself out to be the bad pony and it's not right.

"Fine fine, whatever you say, Sunny. It's late and I need my beauty sleep. Misty, reword it differently, okay. Don't be so harsh with your wording."

Misty: R-right. O-okay. Back to the story...

Using a young unicorn mare who she fillynapped when she was a young foal to trick into dragonapping a baby dragon and forcing her to betray the only ponies who were ever nice to her, she was able to gain enough dragon fire to become powerful again. So powerful, that when the golden alicorn and her friends came to save the baby dragon, she was able to trap them...

But, the young unicorn mare realized the error in the alicorn queen's ways and set the golden alicorn and her other friends free, gaining a cutie mark and a friendship with the golden alicorn and her friends...

However, the dragon fire from the baby dragon was all the fire alicorn needed to make her powerful enough to kidnap two full-grown dragons to gain more dragon fire using an ancient relic called the dragon stone. Using that, and the two dragons the young unicorn mare unknowingly helped her capture, the alicorn queen went back to Equestria and stole all the cutie marks and their cutie mark magic from the ponies. All except one...

Sacrificing her new cutie mark, the young unicorn mare distracted her lifelong tormentor long enough for the golden alicorn to escape. The bravery, courage, and sacrifice the young mare showed inspired the golden alicorn to do the same. So, she went to Opaline's lair alone to end this once and for all. But, she wasn't alone, because she had her friends in her heart, and together, they could do anything...

So the united ponies band together around the Together Trees in hopes of using their unity magic through the roots of the trees to strengthen the golden alicorn in her fight against the evil alicorn queen...

And guess what? It did. If it wasn't for the unity magic of all of Equestria, the golden alicorn wouldn't have been able to defeat Opaline. And now, with Opaline defeated, Equestria lives in peace and harmony once again.

"Yay! You completed your final unicorn ritual in a traditional unicorn sleepover." Izzy exclaimed with a yawn.

"Really! What's next?" Misty exclaimed, excited for her first traditional unicorn sleepover, done right.

"Next is sleep," Izzy said, reading all of their minds. "Goodnight girls. Goodnight Hitch. Goodnight Sparky."

"'Night" All of them replied, all of them except Misty.

Misty slowly laid down on her pillow, cuddling her pile of junk she named Madam Taphietails, mumbling Oh. Okay. Goodnight." None of her friends could hear the fear in Misty's voice.

Author's Note

Just in case you were wondering:

Orange= Sunny

Blue= Misty

And if you can't see the color for whatever reason, during the story, the two characters switch off every paragraph, starting with Sunny, unless said otherwise.

Nothing But A Burden

"MISTY!!!!"

Misty shot to her hooves, raw instinct taking over. She didn't even pause to look around. She simply ran out the door, her hooves knowing where to go, even if her mind was still a blur. She didn't know where she was or what was happening, but she knew that voice. If that voice was screeching her name, she best hoof it as fast as she could to the center.

She arrived in a cold stone room with a pool of reflective water and a purple throne. A place she hoped never to see again. Finally, her mind seemed to catch up to her and her heart stopped. No no no no no. She was supposed to be out of here. She glanced around and she was right. This wasn't the Crystal Brighthouse. This was the lair. And if Misty was called to an empty throne room...Misty instinctually backed into a corner until she could feel the comforting, cool stone that told her Opaline wasn't going to appear behind her. Her eyes glanced around, landing on the exit on the other side of the room.

She took a deep breath, steeling her nerves. She had to get out of there. She had to tell her friends that Opaline wasn't defeated. That Opaline was still out there, waiting to strike. She bolted for the door, running as fast as she could, her eyes wide, her breath heavy, her heart racing. Memories flit through her head—horrible, terrible, memories.

Suddenly, she saw a dark shadow. The features were undiscernible, but Misty would recognize that shape anywhere. Opaline. Misty skidded to a halt, stopping just before her. She used her hooves to quickly scramble backward, her breath heavy, her heart pounding, her mind breaking. Tears fell down her face.

No, she's faced Opaline before. She didn't need Opaline anymore. She had her friends. Her friends loved her no matter what. Opaline couldn't take that away. Not now. Not ever. Misty closed her eyes, bracing herself.

"I might seem a little quiet, but my strength is very real. When my cutie mark comes to life, my heart helps me feel!" Misty said, gaining confidence from that one line, a line she learned from her new spellbook room. A line that gave her the confidence to face anything when she spoke it aloud.

"You still want me to give you a cutie mark, don't you?

Misty stood tall despite how her legs shook, her heart raced, and how much it took to hold back the tears. She had to face Opaline. Just long enough to escape or for her friends to rescue her. Because they would, they had to. Misty could face Opaline. Opaline couldn't hurt her.

"I already have my cutie mark, Opaline!" Misty said confidently.

"Oh? Are you sure about that?" Opaline said with a wicked smile.

Confused, Misty looked down at her flank but it was completely blank. No. That's not right. It...it...Opaline must've stolen it. She was just about to demand that Opaline give it back when she saw that her tail was blue again. That's not...that's impossible. She dyed it the same colors as her cutie mark. She...that's...Misty looked at herself and saw that she was her old self. Her blank-flanked, blue mane and tail self. Tears filling her eyes, she saw that the charm bracelet with all her friends' cutie marks was gone. She never felt more alone.

She looked at Opaline, trying to glare at her, but there was more fear in her eyes than glare. "What did you do to my friends?" Misty muttered, trying to sound intimidating, but failing miserably.

"Oh, Misty. I'm your only friend. Without me, you have nothing." Opaline took a menacing step towards Misty intimidatingly, successful, unlike Misty. With every step Opaline took towards her, Misty took a step back, like they were in some odd dance. "No family. No friends. No cutie mark."

Misty swallowed nervously, her fear causing her to cower under Opaline's glare. She backed up until her rump hit the wall, making her heart stop. Misty's breath came faster, edging a panic attack. She was under Opaline's spell again, and there was nothing she could do about it.

Opaline leaned in close, a manic smile on her face. She put her hoof under Misty's chin, forcing Misty to look up at her. Opaline's touch started soft but slowly became tighter. "I hope you know that I'm so hard on you because I believe in you. I see so much of the young pony I once was."

"No. I'm nothing like you! We defeated you. My friends and I...we took you down...we..." Misty stuttered, trying to remember everything that happened. That happened, right? It wasn't all just a dream? "We...Zip! Pipp! SUNNY! IZZY! HELP! HELP ME! Please!" Misty cried out, tears streaming down her face, her voice coming out in broken sobs, as she called out for her friends.

"They left you, Misty. Do you know why? Because their friendship with you wasn't enough! YOU aren't enough, Misty!" Opaline yelled, leaning into Misty's face, gripping her chin as hard as she could while Misty squeezed her eyes shut, tears streaming uncontrollably down her face. "Not until you can prove that you're actually useful and get! That! DRAGON!"

Opaline threw Misty's head into the wall and Misty screamed out in pain and fear, her brain seeming to rattle from the impact. Misty could feel something warm and wet on the back of her head. Opaline sneered at Misty before walking out of the throne room, a sinister chuckle echoing throughout the throne room. Misty collapsed into a ball on the ground, sobbing into her hooves. Opaline was right. She wasn't enough. She was never enough. She couldn't even get her cutie mark by herself. Without Opaline, Misty had nothing. She'd never have anything.

"Misty!" Misty heard Opaline call her name. Misty froze, tears streaming down her face. She just wanted out of here. She needed out of here. "Misty! Misty!! MISTY!! MIIII—"

"—sty! Misty, wake up!"

Misty widened her tear-filled eyes. Panic from the dream filled her whole being and she pulled her blanket over her head, her whole body shaking. She curled into a ball, waiting for the blow she knew would come.

"I'm sorry I'm sorry I'm so so sorry I didn't mean to wake you up, Opaline it was just some stupid nightmare I know I'm not supposed to be afraid of them, I promise it won't happen again just please don't hurt me I'm so sor—"

"Misty! Calm down! It's just us!"

Misty stopped her rambling when she heard the familiar voice. "Z-Zipp?"

"Yeah, Misty. It's just us."

Misty leaped out of bed, wrapping her hooves around Zipp, tears filling and flowing out of her eyes. She couldn't be happier to see the detective. Zipp grunted from the full weight of Misty falling on her, but slowly, hesitantly, Zipp wrapped her hooves around the blue unicorn, unsure as to how to react. Misty just hugged her tighter, afraid that if she let go, she'd disappear.

"Misty?" Misty heard Sunny's concerned voice next. She let go of Zipp and saw standing at the foot of her sleeping bag Sunny, Izzy, and Pipp, each with concerned looks on their faces. Right, she forgot she was at her first successful traditional unicorn sleepover. She should've known they'd all wake up to her sobbing. "What's wrong?"

"Yeah, we woke up to you screaming our names and stuff. What happened?" Pipp asked, still looking half asleep.

Misty looked at all her friends, looked deep into their eyes, and that's when she knew. She couldn't tell them. She couldn't tell them about the nightmares she'd been having since they defeated Opaline. She was already enough of a burden to them, already caused so much trouble for them. She didn't need to cause more. She knew deep in her heart that Opaline was defeated, and while that didn't banish Opaline from her mind, it did banish Opaline from her friends.

"I-it's nothing. I'm fine." Misty said, putting on a fake smile. A smile similar to the one she wore for her father during their father/daughter day. She's done it for years. She was a master at it.

"You were screaming over nothing?" Zipp asked, narrowing her eyes before they widened. "Was it about Opaline? Tell me everything." Zipp quickly said, pulling out her phone and pressing the record button. Misty swore Zipp was just as addicted to her phone as her sister was, loath Zipp was to admit it.

"Whoa, Zipp, give her some space. Remember?" Sunny said with a small chuckle, softly putting her hoof in front of Zipp, but everypony could hear the slight scolding tone in Sunny's voice.

"B-but, this could be important. Opaline could be back, maybe she's just lying in wait and Misty's having another vision, or—"

"Zephyrina Storm!" Pipp yelled, shutting Zipp up immediately on instinct from the multiple times their mother had used their full names. Both princess sisters knew that when their mother used their full names, they best shut up because they were in big trouble. Pipp wore a smug grin as Zipp glared at her. "Works every time."

But Misty wasn't listening anymore. Voices were ringing through her head:

"MISTY!"

"Stay focused!"

"What is taking so long?!"

She squeezed her eyes shut against the sudden onslaught of Opaline's voice, trying to block it out, but it just kept coming...

"Can't you do anything right?!"

"You never listen!"

"Get it OUT OF HERE!"

"Misty?" Izzy asked.

Misty started, eyes wide, turning to look at Izzy who was now sitting right in front of her. The rest of her friends were surrounding her, with concerned looks on their faces. No, not just concern. Pity. There was pity in their eyes. That only served to make her feel worse. They were pitying her for being so stupid. Aww, poor Misty-wisty. She's foolish enough to believe anything anypony tells her. If she were smarter, she would've seen Opaline for the liar she was. Let's all feel bad for Misty.

Misty squeezed her eyes shut again, shaking her head, ridding herself of those horrible thoughts. These were her friends. Of course, they didn't think that of her. They loved her. They didn't blame her. That was Opaline talking. That was Opaline infiltrating her mind for eleven years. That was Opaline's way of thinking. She was different. She was better. She was not Opaline.

She wore a small grin, not needing to try too hard to make it look tired. "Sorry, I guess I just zoned out a bit. I'm really—" Misty faked a yawn, stretching with it just to be safe. "Tired. What were you saying?"

Hitch gave her an odd look. "We were saying that if there's anything you want to talk to us about, don't feel like you have to hold back. We're your friends, Misty. That's what we're here for. You know that, right?"

Misty gave him a small smile. "Yeah, I know. And as I said before, I'm fine really." Misty scooted over to her sleeping bag and crawled inside. "Now, if you don't mind, I'm going to sleep." Misty yawned again for good measure. "I'm really tired and it's late." She snuggled deeper into the sleeping bag, closing her eyes.

Misty could feel their eyes on her for a little while longer, probably staring at her with that same concerned look full of pity, before she could hear the shuffling of hooves as her friends slowly dispersed to their sleeping bags. She stayed like that until she could hear nothing but the snores of Izzy and the soft gurgling of Sparky before she breathed a sigh of relief.

Yes, Misty caused them enough trouble already. She didn't need to cause them anymore and prove Opaline right.

Butterflies

"Tiara?"

Diamond Tiara looked up at the yellow earth pony with a pink mane that almost looked red, a pink bow that was just a shade lighter than her hair, and a light pink scarf around her neck that clasped in the front. Diamond Tiara always hated that scarf and tried to talk Apple Bloom out of it when she started wearing the damn thing, but alas, that mare was going to be unfashionable her whole life. You can't force somepony to have good taste in clothes. Though, she's surprised that the scarf hasn't been burned yet considering who her best friend's sister is.

Apple Bloom rolled her eyes. "Tiara, were ya even listenin' ta me?" Diamond was about to open her mouth to answer, but before she could say anything Apple Bloom interrupted. "Don't even try lyin'. I may not have my sister's affinity fer honesty, but I do have an uncanny way of hearin' a lie from the truth."

Diamond Tiara sighed in defeat, knowing her friend was right. "Sorry, Bloom. I guess I just zoned out."

"You doin' alright, Tiara? You look mighty tired."

Diamond let out a small groan and dropped her head on the table, startling Apple Bloom.

"That bad?"

"It's the company. It's kicking my flank. I don't know how in the hay my father did it. My parents were jerks, but at least they knew how to run a multi-million company."

"Maybe the two ain't unrelated," Apple Bloom muttered, a touch of bitterness in her voice.

"It wouldn't even be so bad if everypony there weren't being a bunch of dicks." Or if it weren't for the nightmares. Diamond shook her head, casting the thoughts away. She wouldn't think about those or her parents. Especially her mother. After realizing what she had just said and to who, she quickly gave a mumbled "sorry."

"Don't be. It was always Sweetie Belle who was uncomfortable with the cursing. Scoots and I never minded it."

Diamond only sighed heavily, closing her eyes. She was sleeping every night, granted not too much these days; probably about three or four hours, but the sleep she did get wasn't very restful. She'd often wake up in a cold sweat, tears streaming down her face, her whole body shaking. She had nightmares of her mother.

Her mother was never...physically abusive to her, nor did that abuse cut deep verbally or emotionally, but it was still there. Still, there was enough to mold Diamond's behavior to whoever her mother wanted Diamond to be, despite whether or not her daughter was happy. That is until the Crusaders showed her a new way. A better way. Before, she believed she could either have her mother's love or nopony's love. But the CMCs showed Diamond Tiara that the path was much different, a path carved by her mother. Her mother can either love her for her or not. Either way, if she were herself, ponies would love her. She'd have friends. Whether or not her mother loved her was her mother's choice. There was nothing Diamond could do that would change that. Love, real love, is unconditional. It isn't something you have to earn. It's something that is given in hopes of having it returned. That's all Diamond could do. Give her mother her love and hope her mother returns it.

But even with both the Crusaders and, her best friend, Silverspoon telling her this on a multitude of occasions, Diamond couldn't help but think that maybe there was something more she could do. That there was some way she could have earned it somehow. She'd often think about what would've happened had she not chosen the Crusaders that day instead of her mother. Would she still have Silverspoon as her friend? Or would their fight be the end of it? Silverspoon always understood her more than anypony else. While her parents were more kind and loving than hers were, she still grew up in a similar lifestyle, with similar principles. That the entire world, the entire upper class, is watching you, and every move you make, every breath you take can make or break your family's social standing. However, the difference between their families was that Silverspoon never had to prove herself. She was their daughter, through thick and thin. She'd have their love no matter what she did. Diamond did not. Sure, Silverspoon and her had known each other since before they went to school, and Silvy's parents loved her nearly as much as they loved Silverspoon, but it would've been nice if her mother loved her too. And her father...he just went along with whatever she wanted.

Though, it's true that when she stood up to her mother, her father and her grew closer. It was as though her mother was like a barrier between them, and each time Diamond stood up to her mother, it was like chipping away at the barrier, one chip at a time.

"Diamond?" A high-pitched, nearly squeaky voice asked.

Diamond ignored the voice, keeping her head on the table.

"Sweet Celestia, what happened to you, Di?" A voice asked. Diamond could hear the smirk in it. "You look like a carriage ran you over."

Diamond looked up in time to see a white unicorn with a pink and purple mane and green eyes smack an orange pegasus with stunted wings on the back of her head, both her and Apple Bloom glaring at her.

Diamond gave the stunted pegasus an annoyed look. "Good to see you too, Scoots." It impressed Diamond how much Scootaloo and Rainbow Dash were alike when they weren't even related.

Scootaloo gave an apologetic smile, rubbing the back of her neck. "Sorry."

Applebloom, who had stood up to hug her friends, sat down next to Diamond Tiara instead of her original seat, and Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo took the booth in front of them. Diamond Tiara didn't know why, but she always felt closer to Applebloom than she did to the other Crusaders. Sweetie Belle seemed to still be a little cautious of her, like she was still scared of her after all these years and Scootaloo seemed to be just waiting for her to slip up, to make the wrong decision, to throw in her face the "I told you so" she has been waiting so long to give. But Apple Bloom? Diamond Tiara felt as though Apple Bloom was truly her friend, through thick and thin. Like she was in for the long haul. And over the ten years they've been friends, it was to Apple Bloom Diamond Tiara had been more open with. More vulnerable to. Besides Silverspoon, who was like a sister to her, Apple Bloom was Diamond's best friend.

"So..." Diamond trailed off when three pairs of eyes looked at her. Diamond didn't mind the attention on her. In some cases she loved it. But it always made her nervous when she was trying to start small talk with one of her past classmates. Like every conversation they had was a test, and if she didn't score 100%, she failed. Especially when it came to Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle.

Suddenly, Diamond Tiara felt something on her hoof. She looked down at it and saw a yellow-coated hoof softly resting on hers. She glanced up at Apple Bloom, and saw her watching her like Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle, waiting for her to continue. But there was a small encouraging glint in Apple Bloom's eye and a soft smile on her lips. Suddenly, Diamond Tiara felt better going forward and felt more confident instead of being eaten alive by nerves.

"Umm, so...how have things been at the Friendship School?" She finally asked, a tremor in her voice, so slight she doubted any of them could hear hear it.

Scootaloo groaned. "Exhausting."

"Things have been a bit...tense lately." Sweetie Belle filled in when it was clear Scootaloo wasn't going to continue.

"Tense ain't even half of it." Apple Bloom countered. "With Scootaloo's and Sweetie Belle's time split between teachin' and crusadin', not ta mention pickin' up some of my shifts, those two are wound tighter than a clock."

"Why are they picking up your shifts?" Diamond asked. In the whole time Diamond knew her, she'd never known Apple Bloom to be a slacker.

"My time's been split between teachin', crusadin', and the farm. Since Granny died, things haven't been quite the same. With AJ's responsibilities on the Council of Friendship and Mac needin' to take care of Big Sugar since Sugar Belle's now on bed rest—"

"Bed rest?" Diamond asked, genuine fear filling her voice. "Is Sugar Belle okay?"

The Apples had always been so kind to her. On nights when her parents' fighting was bad, that's where she'd often go to get some sleep and peace, just to get away from all that. Applejack and Granny Smith would always take her in for the night, after, of course, her reformation when she and Apple Bloom were friends. They always treated her as part of the family. She was just as grief-stricken about Granny Smith's passing as Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo were. Hell, the whole town was, but the Apples, the Crusaders, Princess Twilight, and her friends—specifically Pinkie Pie—and herself were the most affected.

She was there right along with Apple Bloom and the other Crusaders when they celebrated Big Sugar being born and had even funded his cute-ceañera. Only the best of the best for her second best friend's family. She knew Sugar Belle and Big Macintosh were expecting their second, but she didn't realize Sugar Belle had been on bed rest. With Big Sugar, she was going until the day she went into labor.

Apple Bloom waved a dismissive hoof. "She'll be fine. The doctor says it's just a precaution. This pregnancy is a bit tougher than her first, but doc says that's normal. Should be fine goin' inta labor."

"Right. Well, that's good, I guess."

"Yeah, well, things at the School of Friendship haven't been. Things have been incredibly tense since Starlight took over as headmare. Some creatures have even pulled their kids out of school. Says they only trust the Princess of Friendship to run the Friendship School." Scootaloo informed with a scrunched-up look on her face.

"Not to mention, somecreature has been spreading nasty rumors around Ponyville for the past couple of months! Fights have been breaking out all over town, especially at the school!" Sweetie Belle exclaimed. Upon closer inspection, Diamond was surprised to see bags under Sweetie Belle's and Scootaloo's eyes. That bad? Yeesh.

"Yeah. One of them even ended with Apple Bloom being thrown out an open window!" Scootaloo added, pointing a hoof at Apple Bloom, as though accusingly, as though it was her fault she was thrown out the window.

Diamond rounded on Apple Bloom, but she just dismissed it with a wave of the hoof. "Just a fight between a changelin' and a yak, and it was a complete accident. No big deal. Yaks are incredibly strong and changelings can turn into any creature in Equestria. It was bound to happen at some point. Shoulda knew better than to jump in the middle like that."

"After that, Starlight told everycreature that if any students are caught fighting again, they'll be suspended." Sweetie Belle explained.

"But that's easier said than done when even the teachers are starting to fight with each other too. In front of the students nonetheless." Scootaloo added.

"So, to say the least, Starlight's strung out. That mare can barely walk straight." Apple Bloom continued.

"Yeah. Her, Sunburst, Trixie, and the three of us have even been pulling night shifts since there have been...incidences of pranking and fighting at night when there are no teachers around to catch them. So, yeah...it's been exhausting," Scootaloo concluded.

This was all very shocking. When Diamond left Ponyville to stay with Silverspoon for two months in Canterlot, everything was fine at the School of Friendship. Alright, maybe things were a bit tense, but nothing too serious. Have things really de-escalated so quickly?

Now that she thought about it, the unicorns in Canterlot were a bit more snobbish than usual. When she was little, she remembered accompanying her father on business trips. Sometimes her mother would come too, but most of the time, it would just be her and her father. The unicorns then reminded her a little of her mother, but now, they seemed to be just as snobby as her.

"So, how's Silver?" Sweetie Belle asked, her face quickly morphing into sympathy and grief.

The Cutie Mark Crusaders may not have known Silverspoon's parents very well, but they would often come over to Silverspoon's house to do homework and her parents were always kind to them, just like they were to Diamond. They may not have been as welcoming and warm as the Apples, but any friend of Silvy's was like a distant family member to them. Except for Diamond. Silverspoon's parents treated her and Silvey like sisters. When the Crusaders heard about their death, they wanted to come with Diamond to Cannterlot, but Starlight desperately needed them at the School of Friendship. Especially since Luster Dawn joined, Starlight didn't want to look incapable in front of Twilight's top pupil, according to the Crusaders.

"Silvey's doing...as fine as you'd expect. She just has to take care of a few things and then she's moving back here to Ponyville."

"Doesn't she have to stay there and run her parents' company or whatever?" Scootaloo asked. Diamond always thought Scootaloo always liked Silverspoon more than her. Not that Diamond blamed her.

"Yeah. Turns out she has like...this distant cousin from Manehatten that's her dad's brother's nephew or something. Whatever. Anyway, turns out, he can be the physical figurehead of the company in her stead and she can pull all the strings from here."

Scootaloo scoffed. "So she's the puppetmaster this time," Scootaloo mumbled under her breath, earning glares from Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle.

Diamond Tiara seemed to wilt under Scootaloo's comment. Diamond wasn't unused to being insulted. She could stand up for herself to any creature. Any creature that is, except for the Cutie Mark Crusaders. When they were still in school and she had yet to be reformed, she always picked in the Cutie Mark Crusaders far more than necessary. She knew why now. She was jealous of them. She didn't know what her cutie mark meant, despite being the first in her class to get one, yet they were still blank flanks, but they had the opportunity to find out who they were before they got their mark.

So for that, she felt like she deserved their scorn, even after all this time. She was so mean to them, even stooping so low as to make fun of Scootaloo's disabled wings. She remembered how guilty Silverspoon felt afterward, and nearly went to apologize multiple times, but Diamond always stopped her. Sure, Diamond felt guilty at the time too, but she let her jealousy dictate her actions. She was the puppetmaster of Silverspoon, who only went along with it because she knew how Diamond really felt. It was just that the Cutie Mark Crusaders were so lucky, and they didn't even realize how lucky they were. They had everything Diamond spent nights praying for for as long as she remembered. A family who would love her no matter what. The opportunity to find out who she is and what her mark means. A role model to look up to. A mother who didn't call her useless if she wasn't promoting the family name. A life where she could make mistakes and not pay for them dearly, no matter how small. And they took it all for granted.

Diamond felt her anger rise in her. They were all so lucky, and they didn't even know it. They even complained about it. How annoying Sweetie Belle's sister was. How overprotective Apple Bloom's sister was. How Scootaloo barely had any time to spend with Rainbow Dash. How they couldn't go to the Appleoosa fair by themselves because they were too young and they had nopony to take them. They didn't know that Diamond would've given anything to have their lives. Would've done anything and everything just to live a week in their horseshoes. How she wished she had parents who didn't see her as only a ticket to higher social status. They were just so ungrateful. It grated on her nerves. It—

Diamond felt a hoof brush against her own, and she realized where her thoughts were going. She took a deep breath. And this is why she allowed herself to be scorned by comments from Scootaloo. Because of thoughts like these. Because it was feelings like these that made her wonder if she ever really changed at all.

She looked up and saw Apple Bloom give her a small, encouraging smile, like she could read what was going in in Diamond's head. Diamond took another deep breath, before giving Apple Bloom a small smile of her own.

"So, why is Silver comin' back to small town Ponyville instead of stayin' in the royal city of Canterlot?"

Diamond sighed, her mouth twisting slightly. "You wouldn't believe me if I told you." She mutterd.

"Ya, well, try us," Scootaloo said, as though offering some kind of challenge.

Diamond rolled her eyes. "Fine. Whatever. She met...well, not met since he used to be our classmate."

Sweetie gave her a confused look. "Who?"

Diamond sighed, twisting her mouth a bit more. "Rumble."

Cue pin drop. That's how silent it was. Diamond swore Scootaloo's jaw dropped to the floor and that Sweetie Belle's eyes were as wide as baseballs. Apple Bloom seemed to be the only one who wasn't shocked into utter speechlessness, but she still looked pretty surprised.

"R-Rumble?" Apple Bloom asked. "As in Thunderlane's little brother? As in used to hate cutie marks Rumble?

"Yep. They've been dating for about a year now, though they've been keeping it on the down low. He's up there with her now until she's ready to come back down here with him."

There was silence for a bit before Scootaloo picked up her jaw. "Well, I guess it's about as surprising when we found out Button Mash and Sweetie Belle were dating three years ago."

"Welp, I'm gonna go get us some drinks," Apple Bloom said as she stood up. "What does ever—" She was cut off when she accidentally bumped into somepony. A unicorn Diamond realized when she saw his horn.

"Watch it!" He bit out, glaring daggers at Apple Bloom.

Apple Bloom stepped back, bumping into their table. "Sorry, sir. It was just an accident. I just wanted to get some drinks for my friends and me. I didn't mean to bump inta ya or anythin'."

The unicorn just scoffed, turning away, mumbling under his breath, "Worthless mud pony."

Diamond stood up. Like hell, she'd let some creature talk to her friend that way and just sit by passively. She owned a multi-bit company for crying out loud. She may feel guilty for bullying them, but she could at least stop others from doing so. "What did you just call my friend?"

The unicorn rolled his eyes, turning around, another insult on his tongue, but when his eyes locked on hers, his face paled. Every creature in Ponyviple knew who she was, either from the CMCs or from taking over her father's store. Her father owned a lot of property. A lot of property that was rented out to a lot of creatures in Ponyville. Since she took over a year ago, she's been pretty lenient with rent and jobs. Not nearly as strict as her father. But no creature would want to get on her bad side because she had her mother's temper., and that was something to be trifled with. Especially as tired as she was then.

"N-nothing, Miss Tiara." The unicorn stallion stuttered.

"That's what I thought, Snipps. I own the building of your merchandise store. I've been pretty lenient with your rent, but insult my friend again and we'll see how lenient I've really been. Got it?"

The blue unicorn nodded quickly before turning away and making straight for the exit. Diamond turned to Apple Bloom, only to see her staring at Diamond with wide eyes. She turned to the other CMCs to see them with a similar expression as well.

"What?" Diamond asked, trying to put a little annoyance into her voice, even though her heart raced with nerves. Did they...did they hate now because of this? Sure, she's had to show her bad side a bit in front of them since they became friends, but nothing this bad. She basically threatened to put her childhood classmate's store out of business.

"Nothing," Scootaloo said dismissively, turning away from Diamond to stare ahead of her, her elbow on the table, and her face leaning into her hoof like she just wasn't staring at Diamond open-mouthed.

"It's just...we forgot how scary you can be sometimes." Apple Bloom explained, resting a hoof on Diamond's shoulder.

"And how much like her mother she can be sometimes," Scootaloo muttered, clearly not intending for Diamond to hear that. But she did and Diamond froze under Apple Bloom's hoof.

"Scootaloo! Keep yer thoughts to yerself! If ya ain't got nothin' nice ta say, don't say anythin' at all!" Apple Bloom scolded, her southern accent flaring up like it did when she got upset. She was daggers at Scootaloo along with Sweetie Belle.

"Oh," Scootaloo froze, eyes wide. "You heard that?"

"Hell ya, she heard it! I heard it! Stop being so damn rude! Yer makin' her feel like shit!"

"Apple Bloom! Language!" Sweetie Belle admonished, a disapproving look on her face.

Diamond Tiara felt guilt well up in her. She hated being the reason why they were fighting, but even worse, she noticed that none of them rebuked the claim itself. She really did look like her mother.

"Oh, Sweetie Belle. Stop being so damn sensitive." Scootaloo grumbled with a roll of her eyes.

"She's not. That's just how she was raised. What in the hay is with ya, Scoots? You've been grumpy all damn day!"

"Nothing. I'm just telling it like it is."

"No, you've been bein' mean. There's a difference." Apple Bloom countered.

Diamond took a deep breath. "Look, guys. It's no big deal. So what I looked a little like my mother. I am her daughter biologically, no matter how much I don't want to be. I should be going anyway. The company can't seem to function without me for long."

Before anypony else could say anything, Diamond walked away, trotting outside. On her way home, however, she saw the most peculiar butterfly. It was coral pink, with deep blue and magenta pink wings. Diamond smiled as it flew away, a warm feeling growing in her heart. For a reason she couldn't name, the butterfly seemed to give her hope. Hope that even with everything going on, things would turn out okay.

"Diamond Tiara!" A voice yelled into the darkness, a voice that caused Diamond's entire body to tense.

For what felt like the last ten minutes, Diamond Tiara was wandering in darkness. She knew she was sleeping, but it felt odd like falling asleep was a distant memory. She was starting to get hopeful. Sure, wandering aimlessly in the dark was horrible, but it was better than spending all night hearing her mother say she wished she wasn't born.

And then she heard the voice that shattered that hope. Slowly, reluctantly, she turned around and saw a pink mare with a dark purple mare and a snobby look on her face. "What are you doing? Associating yourself with mud pony farmers and a disabled pegasus?! Have you lost your mind?!"

Diamond squeezed her eyes shut, her ears flattening. "No. Don't listen. Don't listen." She mumbled to herself.

She could feel her mother getting closer. "If you aren't contributing to our social standing, there's no reason why you were born. You're completely useless, Diamond Tiara!"

She could feel her mother's face inches away from hers. Diamond squeezed her eyes tighter. "Don't listen. Don't listen."

"Do you hear me, Diamond Tiara? You have stooped so low. These friends you claim to have? They only want you for your money. They don't want to actually be friends with you. They're your friends because being your friend makes life financially easier for them. If you were to stop giving them gifts. Giving them loans. Giving them leniency, they'd want nothing to do with you. Nopony wants to be friends with you, for you."

"My name is Diamond Tiara. My best friend is Silverspoon. I'm friends with the Cutie Mark Crusaders..." Diamond Tiara began chanting quietly to herself.

"So why return the favor? If ponies are only going to use you, use them back. And you can't use dirty lowlifes. So why give so much when they give nothing in return?"

"They showed me the light of my cutie mark. They showed me there's a better way..."

"Don't make me do what I've so longed to do since you became friends with those..." Diamond's mother scrunched up her face in disgust. "Blank-flanks."

"There's so much more to learn about myself. See the light that shines in me. I can be somepony else..."

"Don't make me disown you, Diamond Tiara." Her mother hissed, leaning in closer still.

"I've had a brand new start. I've freed myself from the dark. And I've seen the light of my cutie mark..."

"Don't make me pretend you never existed. One word and all of Equestria will never remember you, especially those lowlifes. Trust me. I can do it. Your father and I have just enough social standing to do so. You'll be alone for the rest of your life. That is until you start acting like a Rich. Until you start acting like me."

"I'm not like you, Mother!" Diamond yelled, unable to hear anymore.

"Oh? If that's so, then why did that deformed, no-good pegasus say otherwise?"

"I'M NOT LIKE YOU!" Diamond yelled, trying her best to believe it as strongly as the volume and strength of her voice.

"Please! Stop! I'm so sorry, Opaline. It won't happen again. I promise!"

Diamond froze. That wasn't her mother. She never heard that voice before in her life. She sounded so scared, so frightened. She sounded...she sounded like Diamond Tiara when she begged her mother for forgiveness when she made a mistake. She needed to help that mare, whoever she was.

That gave Diamond the strength to combat her fears. To push her mother away. She stood up tall, squeezing her eyes shut, picturing all the good memories she had with her friends.

"My name is Diamond Tiara!" She repeated, louder and more confident this time. "My best friend is Silverspoon. I'm friends with the Cutie Mark Crusaders!" She declared, not letting her mother intimidate her when she came closer. Only standing taller in response. "They showed me the light of my cutie mark. They showed me there's a better way!" She could feel her mother starting to fade, but she wasn't done yet. "I've learned so much about myself. I've seen the light that shines in me. I am somepony else!" Diamond took a step forward, her mother scrambling back. "I'm not like you, despite what other creatures may say! Unlike you, I've had a brand new start. I've freed myself from the dark. And I've seen the light of my cutie mark! And will not let you control me any longer!"

Light flooded the dark space, and with a scream, her mother disintegrated, disappearing from view. She heard another scream. One that sent chills down her spine. It wasn't the mare she heard earlier, thank Celestia, but this scream sounded evil, wicked, worse than her mother.

Soon though, all of Diamond's senses were flooded. All she could see, feel, and hear was that bright, golden-white light. But, right before she woke up, she saw a glowing coral pink butterfly, with deep blue and magenta pink wings...

Questions

Misty sat up, a bright light filling her curtained room. She looked down and saw her cutie mark shining bright. It slowly dimmed back until it was just a mark on her flank and not a glowing beacon, as though nothing happened at all. She swallowed nervously, thinking about the shadowed pony. She just stared at her cutie mark, a million questions running through her mind.

"How...? Why....? Who...?" She muttered to herself, wondering why her cutie mark glowed, how that cloaked figure was able to banish Opaline with that blinding white light, and who that shadowed pony even was, to begin with.

"I was hoping you'd answer that."

Misty jumped, falling off her bed and onto the floor, her heart pounding and racing quicker than ever before. On instinct, she jumped to her hooves with her legs slightly bent in a defensive position in less than half a second. She whipped her head around in a panic. Were they under attack? Was Opaline back? Her entire body tensed at the thought, her reflexes ready to react to the smallest noise.

"Whoa, Misty, chill. It's just me."

Misty looked at the entrance to her curtained room, seeing a white pegasus with a pink and blue mane, standing at the entrance as though she tried to make a hasty exit, but was stopped by something, her phone camera pointed up at Misty.

Misty shielded her face and squinted her eyes, as though looking directly at a floodlight, despite it just being a camera. She hated having her picture taken, or any attention on her, especially if it was loud. Except when it's from her best friends. While she didn't exactly enjoy it when her friends showered her with abundant attention, she didn't hate it as much and didn't feel that tight, restricted helplessness. Except for now. She didn't like waking up to other ponies in her space, no matter who they were.

"Z-Zipp?" She asked, shying further away from the phone camera Zipp was holding up. "Zipp, c-can you put that away? Please?"

"Yeah, in a sec. Hold on. I wanna see if it glows again. And I wanna ask you some questions. It'll be better if it's all on one tape instead of an audio file and a video. Plus, I can film your reaction."

Misty may be able to be on alert when she first woke up, but cognitive thinking five minutes after she woke up was nonexistent. And she certainly didn't know what Zipp was talking about and she didn't care. All she wanted was a bit of privacy and the camera off of her. She had half a mind to march up and knock the phone out of Zipp's hooves.

"Zipp, Zipp, Zipp. Put the phone down." A voice said from the entrance of the curtains. Misty watched as Pipp flew over to Zipp.

"Pipp? What are you doing here? I thought you were at Mane Melody?"

Pipp rolled her eyes. "I was, but I forgot something over here, and when I flew by, I heard Misty asking to be left alone and you basically saying no. Anyway, put the phone down and stop giving Misty the third degree."

"B-but Opaline may be back. Misty could be having another vision or...we need to know so we can be prepared. We need to take down Opaline before she takes us."

Misty bit her lip, the thought of Opaline returning sending shivers down her spine. Opaline couldn't come back. After everything they've all been through, after everything Misty put them through. They've done too much to defeat her for her to come waltzing back. She couldn't. She was powerless without her cutie mark, right? And the together trees trapped her. Unless she figured out a way to free herself. She could figure out a way to get her cutie mark back and use her magic to escape...Misty shook her head. She had too much to worry about right now to let her mind wander like that. She wouldn't go there. She couldn't.

Pipp turned to Misty, still hovering in the air, crossing her front hooves in front of her chest. "Misty? Is Opaline coming back?"

Misty was shocked by Pipp's question. How should she know? She was just as clueless about the potential of Opaline returning as they were. Did they think she was in league with Opaline again? Did they not trust her? Misty flattened her ears, looking around, trying not to act suspicious, but looking exactly that.

"N-no." She started to say but then thought that if Opaline did come back, maybe they'd think she lied to them. Or that she was trying to hide something. "W-well, at least, I hope not. W-why?"

Pipp turned to her sister, giving her an annoyed look. "See Zipp? Misty doesn't know anything. So stop acting like she does, and treating her like a criminal. Do you want another Mane Melody situation? Because if you keep this up, that's exactly what it'll turn into."

Misty remembered that day all too well. Misty couldn't decide if she was insanely lucky or unlucky that she wasn't caught. And she wasn't sure if she should be grateful that Pipp intervened, revealing herself to be the "lantern thief" or upset that yet again, she would be able to cause her friends even more heartache.

She could tell Zipp was thinking the same thing. Had Zipp caught her that day, everything that happened afterward wouldn't have happened. They could have prevented all of that. However, had she been caught, perhaps she wouldn't have formed the friendships she had formed as she had now. It was still early on, and she still believed some of the things Opaline taught her about the ponies of Equestria. Perhaps she would've been able to escape and would go back to Opaline, her friends turning on her only further proving what Opaline had told her. She would've continued to help her, instead of seeing Opaline as evil. Perhaps she wouldn't be here now, with the friends and family she had.

Zipp hesitated for a bit, clearly thinking along similar lines as Misty. Misty held her breath, waiting for Zipp to say something, anything. Her answer would have a so much deeper meaning than Pipp even realized.

"No. I don't." Zipp finally answered, earning a sigh of relief from Misty. Zipp didn't regret that day. She didn't regret being stopped by her sister. At least that was one last thing to regret.

"Then turn your flank around, and let Misty get ready for the day in peace, okay? Or I swear I will drag you out of here."

Zipp stared at Pipp for a bit before groaning and marching out of Misty's curtained room. Misty breathed a sigh of relief. Misty could now think without that camera in her face.

"So sorry about Zipp. Since the Opaline mystery has been solved and Opaline was defeated, she's been going crazy trying to find something new to investigate, and driving the rest of us with her. I'll talk to her later about the importance of privacy and how much some ponies love it, especially you."

Misty gulped nervously. She hated how much privacy she needed from her friends. Don't get her wrong, the projection film her friends gave her made her feel so much better, and really made her feel as though she belonged, and she still watched it from time to time to remind herself of her true family, and the bracelet she always wore around her hoof made feel as though her friends were always with her, but when Sunny and their friends brought up the fact that Misty enjoyed her privacy, Misty couldn't help but think that they maybe thought she was hiding something.

"I-it's fine. I just don't want her thinking I'm hiding something."

Pipp waved a dismissive hoof, scoffing. "Trust me, we all know that if it was important enough for us to know, you'd tell us. Just because we're best friends, doesn't mean you need to tell us everything ."

"But how do you know it's important? You could deem something unimportant but is actually the most crucial thing for us to know!"

Pipp glared in the direction of Zipp's voice. "Zipp! What did Mom tell you about eavesdropping!" Pipp yelled, using her wings to fly through the curtain.

"Seriously?! You're bringing Mom into this?!" Misty heard Zipp yell back.

Misty smiled softly to herself. If what their mom said was true, Misty wondered how those two got along so well when they were young when they were complete opposites. Especially now when they fight so much. It reminded her of their portrait day. How they fought all day, but in the end, came together when it truly mattered, and remembered how much they loved each other. Misty's smile widened a bit before...

An Ocean Lily. Childhood memories! Perfect!

Meddling ponies! Always sticking their noses places they shouldn't be!

We need to get rid of those two princesses as soon as possible! You'll just have to lure them into a trap.

Just one more thing. Be extra careful with the older one. She's far too curious for my liking.

Misty squeezed her eyes shut as Opaline's evil laugh filled her head until it was the only thing she could hear. She gritted her teeth as she tried to block out Opaline's voice but to no avail. She felt as if Opaline's voice was a noose, slowly inching its way closer and closer around her neck, her laugh holding the rest of her body in a vise grip. She tried to breathe, but every time she inhaled, it felt as if that noose got tighter and tighter.

Suddenly Misty heard a crash that hurled her back into reality. She could still hear the pegasi sisters arguing, and though it was louder, it sounded farther away. Misty suddenly felt her mind blank, completely devoid of Opaline's voice. She blinked a couple of times, as though waking up from a dream, looking around bleary-eyed.

Misty breathed a sigh of relief. She was in the Crystal Brighthouse. Opaline was gone. She was safe. She was loved. She was happy. She took another deep breath, swallowing any remnant of fear she had just moments before. Or, at least, that was what it was meant to do. Even after knowing Opaline was gone and there was no possible way for her to return, Misty still felt that lingering fear in the back of her mind, telling her to remain on guard, to be ready for Opaline to jump out of anywhere.

But that was ridiculous. Opaline was gone and that was that. She would know if Opaline was back. After living with the fire alicorn for so long, it was as though she developed a sensor for her. That was how she knew Opaline was near when Opaline was on her cutie mark stealing rampage and she and Sunny were on the Brighthouse balcony. She had felt the hairs on her back stand up and had felt her muscles tighten. She had heard Opaline's evil laugh. She could practically see Opaline walking through the together tree in Maretime Bay. It had sent shivers through her spine. It was unlike anything she ever felt before.

Wherever she went, before that fateful day around the together trees and when they went to Starlight Ridge, Misty had always been able to feel Opaline's presence, no matter how far away she was. It was always at the back of her mind. Like, she could always tell what Opaline was feeling, at least, when they were strong emotions, which was a lot. But especially when she was angry. Misty could always feel the anger and hatred radiating off of Opaline, especially when she was yelling at her.

Misty originally chalked it up to the necklace she always used to wear that could summon Opaline's physical presence in the form of smoke whenever it was opened. But that feeling didn't go away after she threw it off the cliff and it broke on the beach. After she got her cutie mark, Misty figured it was just one of the empathy things she'd get when her cutie mark magic flared to life. She was just lucky it never glowed around Opaline, otherwise, she couldn't be sure the makeup Pipp gave her would cover its glow.

But years of that empath power stuff couldn't prepare her for the maelstrom of emotions she got that day. Opaline's hatred. Her anger. Her need for vengeance. Her disregard for pony life. It nearly consumed Misty. It made it that much harder to face her.

Misty still wasn't sure how she stood up to Opaline so bravely. At least, in Zephyr Heights it was brave. She wasn't sure she'd call running around and hiding, only confessing to double-crossing her when she was sure she was out of Opaline's sight exactly brave. But still, she wasn't sure how she did it, especially after feeling the barrage of hate and anger radiating off of Opaline. And she sure as hell didn't understand how she made herself jump through the together tree portal after her when she could barely stand to have Opaline's voice in her head. She just knew that it was either her, or Sunny, and she wouldn't let it be Sunny. Not only was Sunny the only alicorn, Opaline excluded for obvious reasons, but she also refused to allow her friends to fall victim to Opaline yet again. Not when she could do something about it. However, she blamed her small moment of bravery on adrenaline and acting before thinking.

Still though, despite all that, she was thankful for her Opaline sensor. That way, it'd be harder for Opaline to take them by surprise. And she definitely couldn't feel Opaline's presence, which meant she was gone, right? Still, she felt like Opaline was waiting right behind her, whispering in her ear, despite the impossibility of it. It was impossible, right?

"Misty?"

Misty looked up and realized with a start that she was still standing by the side of her bed. How long was she standing there? She looked at the clock on her nightstand. The one Izzy unicycled for her. It was blue, with pink and purple butterflies glued all over it, with pink and orange numbers for the time. It made Misty smile whenever she looked at it. But she didn't smile this time when she noticed the time. 11:50. She was standing there, lost in her head for ten minutes.

She looked up at her curtained entrance to see Sunny standing there, a concerned look on her face. There was a pair of sunglasses on her head, a beach towel on her back, and a bottle of sunscreen in one of her hooves. Why did Sunny look ready to go to the beach? Shouldn't she be running her smoothie cart?

"H-hey Sunny. W-what are you doing here? Shouldn't you be making smoothie deliveries right now?" Sunny always made her deliveries between 11:30 and noon.

"I closed shop early. We and the rest of our friends were going to go to the beach today, remember? Because it's so hot?"

Ugh, right. She forgot she and her friends planned to go to the beach today. Zipp wanted to practice her surfing and teach Misty more moves, and Sunny thought they could make a day out of it. Sunny was going to open her smoothie cart an hour early so she could close it three hours early. And Jazz and Rocky were going to watch Mane Melody today and Izzy was going to close her unicycling shop early. It took a bit of convincing for Hitch to agree to end his sheriff's duties early, though he was going to meet them at the beach at two rather than noon like the rest of them.

"I just came back here because I forgot some sunscreen. That's when I noticed you just standing there. Are you okay?"

"What?" Misty was a bit caught off guard by the question, but she didn't understand why. "Y-yeah. I'm fine. I must've just...zoned out a bit." Misty lied, smiling nervously. "Why wouldn't I be okay? It's beach day."

Sunny was silent for a bit, as though hesitating, before continuing. "It's just that Pipp told us that Zipp was being a bit...much with you this morning. I just wanted to check in with you, you know, to see if you were okay."

"Yeah, I'm great. Zipp wasn't that bad. I just don't want her to think I'm hiding something, cause, I'm not. I'm an open book. Completely transparent." Yeah, transparent, especially since she just lied twice now about being okay. "I mean, just ask me any question and I'll answer correctly. I mean, as correctly as I can. I can't read the future or anything," Though, Zipp may think otherwise for some reason. "I mean, I'll answer honestly. Because I'm not hiding anything." Ugh, she needed to shut up. She was rambling again. "Y-you know?"

Sunny gave her a look that though she didn't say anything, her look told Misty "I didn't think you were until you started rambling." Misty chuckled nervously for good measure, though it really just made it worse.

"Right. Well, we just want you to know that we trust you Misty, so there's no reason to be nervous. Alright?"

'That's what you think,' Misty thought to herself. Instead, she just nodded to Sunny giving her another nervous smile.

"Okay, well, we'll see you at the beach, right?"

"Y-ya, I just have to get ready and then I'm good to go!" Misty said with fake enthusiasm.

Sunny nodded, giving her a reassuring smile before walking away.

Misty slowly walked into her curtained room. Her eyes burned from exhaustion. She was shocked at how late they stayed at the beach. The clock on her nightstand read midnight, which was the latest Misty ever stayed up. That was the most fun Misty's had in a while and she hadn't thought about Opaline once.

But now, alone in her curtained room, her thoughts came flooding back. She wondered if she'd see that shadowed pony again. Misty assumed it was a unicorn since she banished Opaline with a beam of light. She'd have to find a way to talk to them, so she could learn the spell they used. Life would be so much easier if she could find a way to banish Opaline from her dreams.

All Misty wanted to do was go to bed, but there was something she had to do first. She got down on her stomach on the floor and pulled herself under her bed. She then flipped over, grabbed a shard of metal she brought over from the lair, and carved another line next to the dozens of tally marks that were already there.

She used to do this same routine every night back at Opaline's. It was her own version of a calendar. Of how many days it'd take her to earn her cutie mark. Originally, she used to do it on the walls, but after the tenth day, Opaline found out and wasn't happy. Her punishment was that the number of tally marks on the wall was the days Misty had to go without food. She learned her lesson for sure, but it felt wrong not being able to keep track of the days somehow. Opaline never got her a calendar, only a clock, and she didn't know what day her birthday was, Opaline never celebrated it, so she wanted to keep track of the days, even if it was just to keep track of how old she was. She knew that every 365th mark, she'd turn a year older.

So, to keep Opaline from finding out, she'd crawl under her bed and carve it under the bedframe. Under her bed, on the frame, and the floor, were filled with tally marks. Even though she didn't remember her life before Opaline very well, she guessed on some subconscious level, she knew she didn't belong there.

Misty didn't know why she kept doing this, since she already knew her age, she got her cutie mark, and there were two calendars...wait no three calendars in the Brighthouse. There was no reason for Misty to keep doing this. Except that no matter how hard Misty tried, she couldn't sleep until she put that tally mark there. She supposed doing the same routine 4380 times would be a pretty hard habit to break.

She stared at her 182 marks. It was one of those private things her friends didn't even know about, and she didn't have any intention of telling them. She didn't know why, but it felt wrong to tell them. She knew they wouldn't be mad at her for it, but she just couldn't bring herself to. There was no reason they had to know and they all understood there were just certain things Misty didn't want them to know about her.

Misty slid out from underneath her bed with a sigh and crawled into her bed, pulling the covers up to her neck. She hated going to sleep, for fear of seeing Opaline, but it wasn't like she could just stay up until she found a way to stop her nightmares. She softly closed her eyes. However, the thought of seeing that shadowed pony again gave her the smallest bit of hope that maybe, sleeping would be a little easier this time around.