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.