The Conventionby TheKing2001ChaptersA librarian, a musician and a princessAnother day in ManehattenA diamond and a pegasusA librarian, a musician and a princessSilver Spanner stretched out on her bed, hugging Rexy as she exhaled softly and occasionally nuzzled her stuffed animal she held in her forelegs. Silver Spanner rolled onto her stomach and pulled her blankets tighter around her subconsciously as she dreamed of wrenches and other various tools flying around her mind. “Just tighen that into place and done,” Silver Spanner mumbled in her sleep as a thin line of drool ran down her chin. “Momma, I killed a colt. Slammed a wrench against his head. Beat his brains out, now he’s dead. Mama, life had just begun. But now I’ve gone and thrown it all away.” Silver Spanner sat up in her sleep and waved her forelegs around. ”Ooooooooo-” Silver Spanners parents laid in their own bed as they both stared at the ceiling of their bedroom as they listened to Silver Spanner continue to sing in her sleep. “I think our daughter found our classic rock vinyls when she was cleaning the attic,” Sweetie Charm mumbled as she shifted under the covers and felt Oil Canvas nuzzling the nape of her neck. “I don’t believe that’s how the song went though.” “I believe so,” Oil Canvas muttered and wrapped a foreleg around the mare. “It’s five am. I didn’t know she sang in her sleep.” Silver Spanner hit a high note that they both would normally be impressed by if it wasn’t five in the morning. “Nor did I. Remind me to tell her doctor that and maybe get her some sleeping medication. Celestia knows she clearly needs it,” Sweetie Charm pressed her flank against his leg and he rubbed a hindleg over her cutie mark. “We are the champions, my friends,” Silver Spanner sang and rolled over in bed facedown, mumbling some more lyrics. “Mhmmm warm.” “I really wish we had a sound proofing spell on this room. This is ridiculous,” Sweetie Charm mumbled as Oil Canvas kissed her mane. “Dear?” Oil Canvas snored and tightened his grip on his wife as Sweetie Charm sighed in frustration and awe. How he managed to sleep through their sleep singing daughter was beyond her. While she always loved hearing Silver Spanner sing, it was more so during a reasonable hour of the day. “Suns not up and neither am I,” Sweetie Charm shoved some ear plugs in she had in her nightstand into her ears and gave a content sigh. “Goodnight.” She could faintly still make out the noises in Silver Spanners room, but it became a dull sound as she drifted back off to sleep. At least Silver Spanner didn’t use magic or sleep walk. Though she might have preferred sleep walking over sleep singing. Silver Spanners alarm went off and the unicorn shot up in bed, her mane sticking out in wild directions as she licked her dry lips, searching for her water bottle with a hoof as she shut off her alarm with her magic. “Where the hell did my water bottle go?” Silver Spanner rolled out of bed in a cocoon of blankets. Only her eyes and horn was visible as she dragged the blankets behind her down the hall to the kitchen. “Five thirty. I’m going back to sleep.” She stumbled into the kitchen and went about her business before trotting back down the hall, pausing only to use the restroom before she trotted into her room and flopped on her bed. “Hi Rexy,” Silver Spanner mumbled and she kissed the green dinosaur stuffed animal. “Goodnight.” White Lightning rested a foreleg across Sprinkle Medleys stomach as the green pegasus slept quietly next to White. The white pegasus laid on her side with a hindleg resting over Sprinkles cutie mark of a rain cloud. Sprinkle Medley gave a quiet whinny and White Lightning snorted a quiet laugh as she flicked her blue mane out of her eyes. “Soft,” White Lightning mumbled and pressed her face in Sprinkles messy mane. She dragged a blanket closer around the both of them, giving a quiet content sigh as she listened to Sprinkles even breathing as the mare slept, her chest rising and falling with each breath. White Lightning always did enjoy watching her marefriend sleeping. She looked peaceful and content. And adorable, but that was a different story for a different day. White Lightning continued to watch Sprinkle Medley sleep soundly for a few more moments before kissing her head and untangling herself from the mess of limbs and blankets. White Lightning preferred to have dozens of blankets to stay warm while Sprinkle Medley only preferred two. White Lightning watched her roll over and hug the spot White had previously occupied. White trotted quietly into the bathroom connected to their bedroom and shut the door, flinging a towel onto the rack as she beelined for the shower. Rows of bottles of shampoo lined the wall of the shower, only three belonging to White Lightning. All other of the twenty bottles belonged to Sprinkle Medley, each different scents that apparently did different things. To White Lightning, shampoo was shampoo and that was that. She didn’t really see a need for multiple bottles of the same thing. Especially when it got a bit expensive to keep the bottle collection going. The price of some of the soaps made Whites head spin. But she did have to admit Sprinkle Medley did smell really good for the rest of the day. So far, their favorite had been some raspberry scented one. White Lightning started the shower and laid down, the cold surface of the tub making her shiver as she felt warm water spraying onto her chest. “Thank Celestia for us having hot water today,” White Lightning muttered to herself and she closed her eyes for a few moments. Canterlot had a habit of running out of hot water at a startlingly rapid rate that she couldn’t believe. It was like several ponies were taking eight hour long bubble bathes all at the same time. White Lightning herself only took an hour long one. Most of the time, unless she was in the mood for a shower. White Lightning flicked the curtain aside with a hoof to look at the clock on the sink counter, reading it at seven oh five. “White? Is it you in there or is it you Cotton?” Sprinkle Medley knocked on the door and White Lightning cracked her neck. “Me.” Cotton Cloudy had randomly had a fear of using the bathroom across from her room. Something about there being a monster inside under the sink. The two adult pegasi often got woken up accidentally by her sneaking in to use their bathroom. “Ah okay.” White Lightning listened to the door opening. “Couldn’t sleep. Got cold. Now I know why.” “Hm.” Sprinkle Medley blinked a few times as she searched for her toothbrush and White Lightning idly made out her silhouette through the blue shower curtain. “You look nice,” White Lightning commented and Sprinkle Medley rolled her eyes. “You can’t even seen me, White. How’s the water?” “Fine. And I can see enough,” White rolled onto her stomach and stood up, holding her mane under the shower head. “Is Cotton still asleep?” “Yes, I checked on her first before coming in here. Unless she’s gotten better at faking when she’s asleep,” Sprinkle opened a cupboard and retrieved a red plastic cup. “Which is always a possibility.” White Lightning hummed a song to herself and nodded absentmindedly as she continued to clean her wings. “We need more mouth wash. We’re gonna be out by tonight,” Sprinkle called out and turned to look at White cleaning her tail. “White?” Sprinkle glanced at the toilet and smirked slightly, flicking the handle with a wing tip and listened to White scream before laughing. “That was evil,” White growled and Sprinkle stood next to the curtain as a white hoof shot out and dragged the other mare. “It’s only fair to share the love and all.” Sprinkle shivered and turned the handle as far as it could go to the left. “You’re the worst,” Sprinkle grumbled and White grinned with a nod. “It’s only just. You got me in this situation. Might as well suffer with me,” White nudged her with her head. “Grow up, it’s not the first time we’ve showered together. Saving water and all.” Sprinkle decided it was too early to make sarcastic remarks and simply nodded along before grabbing her shampoo. Might as well since White so graciously asked me to join her, Sprinkle thought and sniffed the opened container. “Hey, doesn’t Cotton have school today?” Sprinkle asked suddenly and the two paused before looking at each other. “What day is today?” “Saturday. Yesterday was Friday. We worked yesterday, remember? Today is our day off,” White reminded her marefriend. “I believe Cotton is going to work on her math homework during breakfast.” Sprinkle closed her eyes and leaned against the wall. Cotton was definitely a better student than she ever was. Certain subjects like math always did bore her. She focused more on reading. Or did until that annoying attractive white pegasus in front of her sat next to her one day. “Wake up. Don’t fall asleep, I want somepony to talk to.” “Sorry.” Sprinkle hugged the other mare and yawned. “Still a bit sleepy. I’m not really used to getting to this early.” Sprinkle was used to waking up much later in the day before going to work or getting up to help keep the house clean. The two were very fond of a clean house and keeping every neat and orderly. White constantly had to remind Cotton to clean her room. “I have my own homework I have to work on. College is so fun,” Sprinkle rested the head on White’s shoulder as the other pony started washing Sprinkles coat. “Your hooves are soft. I need to go to the spa. My back is killing me.” “I’m well experienced in that field,” White boasted with a smirk and nuzzled Sprinkle affectionately. “I’m the best at massages, I got this. Easy peasy. How hard can it be?.” “Fine by me,” Sprinkle muttered as White moved to her mane. “Back to sleep after. I don’t wanna leave bed unless it’s food or bathroom.” “I think we can manage that.” Sunset sat on her floor amid piles of books, switching between three or four at any given time. “Where in Equestria did my book about duplication spells go?” Sunset trotted over to her book shelf and started tossing books haphazardly over her shoulder with her magic. She briefly paused to open her door before returning to searching for her missing book while she waited for one of the only three ponies close enough to her magic level to arrive. She would have preferred Twilight Sparkle, but the other unicorn was avoiding Sunset recently for some reason ever since she became friends with Lyra. So instead of Twilight, Sunset supposed Moondancer would work fine. The unicorn was fairly intelligent and worked in the royal library, so Sunset knew she was fairly intelligent and trustworthy. Not just anypony got a job there. There was a lot of hidden doors and spell books to look after. Moondancer was fairly nice, but quiet unless you created a mess in her library. Then she just kicked you out and slammed the door. Sunset had seen it many times enough to have a grudging respect for the mare. “Princess? There’s two ponies here stating they’re here to see you. They claim they got an appointment,” a guard said and stepped inside Sunset’s room. “Do you wish for me to allow them in or turn them away?” Sunset tilted her head. She was under the impression only Moondancer would be coming, not anypony else. Sunset presumed it was a mutual acquaintance of theirs or something. “Send them in please Corporal. Thank you.” Sunset watched Moondancer trot in wearing a black sweater that honestly seemed itchy. Sunset was very well aware of how Moondancer reacted to ponies making fun or commenting about her sweaters and Sunset peered around her at Lyra behind her. Lyra was....interesting, was the best way to describe her. Definitely a polite way of describing her. Lyra was nice, probably one of the nicest ponies Sunset had ever met. She was also weird as heck occasionally, big into mythology and something called hoomans? Humans? Sunset didn’t necessarily know the proper way to say that word. Other than that, Lyra was pretty normal. Liked science, surprisingly. She was really good at playing the lyre. Sunset didn’t even know that was an instrument until Lyra had explained to her what her cutie mark represented. Sunset vaguely remembered the day Lyra had came bouncing into their class one day to proudly show off her mark to practically everypony who would stop for her. “Good afternoon,” Sunset greeted the two and the two unicorns both peered around the piles of books Sunset had built around her, almost like a fort. “Yo,” Lyra flung herself onto Sunset’s bed and crossed her hind legs, propping her head up with a hoof as she laid on her side with a grin. “Sheesh, you’re hitting the books harder than Egghead over here or GeekLight.” Moondancer simply rolled her eyes and ignored the green unicorn as she went back to examining some of the book titles. “Ignore Lyra,” Moondancer muttered and sat down. “So what spell did you need help casting? I’m a bit surprised you of all ponies needs help casting a spell.” “She isn’t wrong. I mean, it must be a crazy spell if you got two of the Big Three in the room,” Lyra mused and examined her hoof. “I’m gonna have to get a hooficure soon.” “The Big Three?” Sunset echoed in confusion and she turned to look at Lyra. “What the heck is that?” “There’s three of the most powerful unicorns that have came from the CSGU,” Lyra started to explain and pointed at Sunset. “You, obviously. You’re probably the most powerful unicorn ever since that one old dude with the cape and hat.” “Starswirl the Bearded,” Moondancer corrected instantly and frowned. “He was not just that one old dude with a cape and a hat. He set the basics for all spells known to Equestria. We owe him a lot.” “Actually it was Stygian who did most of that. Starswirl simply helped,” Sunset chimed in and Lyra quickly tuned the two out. “Haven’t you read Stygians autobiography on his life? It got published after he died by his wife, Somnambula.” Lyra sat bored for a few more moments as she started to count the posters in Sunset’s room. “Okay, this is boring. Blah blah blah, dead ponies,” Lyra waved a hoof. “Like I said, there’s Sunset, the most powerful unicorn in over a thousand years, probably even a million or whatever. Then there’s Moondancer, who most, myself included, consider to be pretty damn strong with magic. And then there’s Twilight Sparkle. Therefore, the Big Three. Three unicorns. Obviously the only two who will ever come remotely close to being stronger than Sunset is Princess Celestia and Princess Cadence. From what I’ve heard, Raven isn’t a slouch in the magic department either.” Sunset could vouch for Raven. Sunset could vividly remember many times as a filly when Raven would drag her with her magic around the castle or Canterlot. Sunset was willing to admit that she caused a lot of trouble for the older unicorn then. Mostly randomly teleporting or interrupting Celestia’s court to spend time with her. “I can’t remember the spell for duplication,” Sunset answered and Moondancer tapped a hoof against her chin. “I see. Well, what are you trying to duplicate?” “That’s the fun part,” Sunset chuckled nervously and Moondancer raised an eyebrow. “Me.” The two stared at her with wide eyes for a few moments as Sunset shifted awkwardly into a better sitting position. “I’m sorry, you want to duplicate yourself?” Lyra broke the silence and a grin grew on her face. “Oh, I’m so down. I wanna learn how to do that! Imagine how much I can mess with Twilight.” Moondancer had a small smile as she rolled her eyes. Messing with Twilight was a hobby of Lyra’s. Random pranks here and there, placing stickers of lady bugs on all her books. Sometimes live ones. “Do you care to tell us why you want to use a duplication spell? You know they only last for a week at a time if done properly, right?” Moondancer reminded her and Sunset nodded. “Well, I’m leaving next week on Monday morning to Manehatten. But I got certain royal duties here I still have to do. But if I duplicate myself temporarily for that week, my clone can act in my place. Nopony except us three will be the wiser,” Sunset explained and cracked her hooves. “I get my work done, I get to have fun in Manehatten with Silver, White, Sprinkle and Cotton. I wish Mom could go.” Lyra and Moondancer shared a look as Moondancer anxiously chewed on her lower lip. There was probably a million different ways this could backfire. She could probably come up with more if she really put her mind to it. “Okay,” Moondancer decided and tugged on the collar of her sweater. “But I’d like to state for the record I’m not one hundred percent comfortable with this. Especially if this one-” Moondancer pointed at Lyra. “Abuses it.” “You’re talking crazy right now,” Lyra blew a raspberry at Moondancer and her voice went up a voice octaves as Moondancer snorted. “I never abuse any spells you teach me. None whatsoever.” Sunset didn’t have to look at her long to know she was lying. “Uh huh,” Moondancer scoffed and tapped a hoof against the floor. “So you never used that transfiguration spell I taught you to replace Spike’s soap with molasses the other day?” “Okay, maybe I did. If I remember correctly, you laughed at it,” Lyra shot back accusingly and jumped off of the bed next to Sunset. “It’s not like he doesn’t have a closet full of that stuff in the first place.” Sunset didn’t know how to respond to that. She and Spike weren’t really close. She didn’t really know anything about the dragon or have anything in common with him as far as she knew other than having mutual acquaintances. “So are we gonna do this?” Sunset glanced over with a bored look. “I don’t got all day.” “Somepony woke up on the wrong side of the bed,” Lyra mused and Moondancer chuckled as she pushed up her glasses. Lyra laid on her back, her mane splaying out under her as she listened to Moondancer and Sunset going back and forth over some spell terms Lyra didn’t really care enough to know. “Okay so I’ll cast the spell and we will see what happens,” Sunset said and that was enough to get Lyra’s attention. “Wait!” Lyra cried and Sunset froze. “Moondancer, cast the spell.” Moondancer nodded and Sunset tilted her head as a magic bubble formed around the two unicorns. A moment passed and all of the books around them were dragged inside the bubble and Moondancer stood on her hind legs, standing in front of the piles, leaning against it with her forelegs stretched in front of them protectively. “I will die before the books suffer any harm,” Moondancer proclaimed and Lyra laughed loudly and Sunset shook her head with a smile. “Apologies in advance, but your magic tends to be, how shall I say this? Chaotic? Stuff tends go wrong and right at the same time somehow for you.” Sunset couldn’t argue with that. The mare did have a point there. She herself didn’t really understand what was wrong with her magic. Stuff did have a tendency to go wonky when she used her magic to cast spells. The two watched as Sunset’s horn started glowing and they both covered their eyes as a white light blinded them. “I’ve seen the light,” Lyra announced and she blinked a few times once the light faded. “Woah.” A perfect copy of Sunset stood in front of her, occasionally flickering. The real Sunset or what she hoped was the real Sunset stood to her left breathing heavily. “Tada!” Sunset proclaimed proudly and she stumbled forward to sit on her beanbag chair. “Woo, that was a lot of mana I had to use, sheesh.” “So what can she do?” Lyra asked and she stepped to the clone, hesitantly sticking her hoof through her and her hoof started tingling. “Woah, this is trippy. You gotta try this, Moondancer. It’s like my hoof is drinking an energy drink.” “Yeah, looks fun,” Moondancer muttered sarcastically and the mare grinned slightly. “This is amazing.” Sunset examined herself for a few moments, slowly circling the copy of her. The small, egotistical side of her had to admit she was good looking and she flicked her tail subconsciously. “Sheesh, I’m hot,” Sunset mumbled and Lyra snorted. “Shush.” Sunset canceled the spell and watched as her clone faded quickly from existence. Now she just had to tinker with the spell to make her clone speak. That should be easy, or so Sunset hoped. At least she had Moondancers big brain on her side and whatever it was Lyra offered. Author's Note Name: Moondancer. Age: 19(currently) Mane color: Red, Purple, Violet. Coat Color: Light yellowish gray. Eye color: Purple. Motto: Think before you speak. Read before you think. Bio: Moondancer is a unicorn pony who resides in Canterlot and works at the Royal Library as a librarian. She is a kind hearted mare only interested in sharing knowledge with everypony she meets. Moondancer firmly believes everypony deserves to read and have books. She can accidentally be a bit forceful in her approach. She is strict about being quiet in her library and isn't afraid of kicking ponies out who cross her. She is fairly talented and strong with magic, considered by Sunset to be close to her and Twilight in strength. Moondancer is a close friend of Spike's and later becomes his primary caretaker, allowing him to move in with her. She has a fondness for sweaters. She is considered by many to be one of the more powerful unicorns to come out of the CSGU in recent years alongside Sunset and Twilight. The three are often referred to as the Big Three in reference to their magical skills. Moondancer has made it her personal mission to ensure every filly and colt she comes across knows to read, spending most of her time at her library after closing with groups of kids alongside Spike. She currently is a junior at CSGU and sticks to herself. Lyra or Minuette often speak for her when meeting new ponies. Moondancer opted to skip Cadences wedding in favor of hanging out with Lemon Hearts and stayed home, missing all of the changeling invasion with the yellow unicorn. She enjoys playing soccer with her friends and is affectionately called a egghead by Lyra. She lives near the stadium and enjoys going to see movies. She skipped the Summer Sun Celebration due to being sick with a cold, later regretting the decision due to missing the arrival of Luna. She is one of the few ponies who knows the truth about Princess Luna being Princess Celestia's sister due to her studies of the restricted section. She quietly came to the conclusion that Princess Celestia arranged the Elements meeting, but keeps that opinion to herself. Moondancer later takes part in cleaning up Canterlot after a series of storms. She can be seen in the background watching Berry Punch and Flitter argue over work ethics. Moondancer is a loyal and kind pony albeit a bit shy due to being bullied in middle school for wearing glasses. She is awkward around most unless she grew up with them. Moondancer considers Sunset a close ally. Moondancer was asked to keep the truth about Sunset's aunt a secret until the Summer Sun Celebration by Raven. Moondancer often can be heard lecturing Spike on taking several hour bubble baths. She later helps him find where he comes from and travels secretly to the Dragon Lands. Later defends her library from Tirek. Abilities: Moondancer is highly intelligent and quick thinking. She has average strength and makes up for it else where. She is capable of teleporting long distances and capable of using complex spells. Weaknesses: Quick to anger when somepony insults her for her glasses, sweaters or goes after Spike. Another day in ManehattenSeveral rays of sunshine cut through the blinds of the apartment of a white mare, sleeping peacefully under a few blankets with a small smile. On the night stand rested a nurses cap with a cutie mark of a red cross with four hearts surrounding it along with a clock. Two lamps stood on either side of her bed as she breathed evenly, shifting onto her stomach. The room was fairly modest, a few pictures on her book shelf that was mainly full of nursing books and romance novels that the mare was fond of. She nuzzled her blanket a few times as the alarm went off and Redheart flailed a foreleg before slamming down on the clock to shut it off. “Ugh.” Redheart licked her lips as she kicked the covers off her and she shivered slightly, making a mental note to mess with her apartments thermostat later. Redheart forced herself out of bed, stretching out with a long groan and she pulled the blinds open, staring out of her window at the view of the East River. Even at seven am, Manehatten was bustling with taxis being pulled by stallions, ferries heading out on the water to the Statue of Liberty, pegasi flying around or pushing clouds. Everypony was a small dot to her from her apartment. The two towers of the WTC stood proudly in the distance and Redheart cracked her neck before she started to brush her mane as she watched some ponies flying to the observation deck. It had been at least four to five years since Redheart had been up there as she stifled a yawn and set down her mane brush, picking up a hair tie as she went about putting her mane up in a bun. She picked up her nurse hat and stuffed it into her saddlebags hanging from a hook next to her bedroom door. She quickly sprayed herself with perfume, sighing contently at the smell of raspberries. Redheart yawned as she trotted through her apartment to the coffee machine as she went about her normal routine of coffee. Breakfast was being skipped in favor of meeting with Tenderheart, Grace and Coco for breakfast before Redheart and Tenderheart went to school. Coco and Grace would presumably be going to work at Suri’s boutique on the west side of the town after. Redheart didn’t really know Suri that well, but she did hear stories from her two friends and she wasn’t really a fan of what she heard. Coco was too nice to say anything bad about Suri, but Grace sure wasn’t. Redheart still remembered the words Grace had used and they were very unfriendly and rude. That mare is a rude bitch and a cunt to everypony she meets. Quoting Grace, of course. Redheart was far too kind to ever say that about anypony ever. She took a sip of her coffee and sighed as she continued to watch out her small kitchen window at the ponies below her for a few more moments. Redheart hummed to herself as she rinsed out her mug and set it in the sink to clean later when she came back home and she grabbed her apartment keys, opening her front door and locking it behind her as she stepped into the hall. The paint on the walls of the hallway were fading and peeling in some spots along with the occasional small hole. The railing on the stairs was a bit loose, way too loose for Redheart to be entirely comfortable using it. Redheart took a half step to her neighbors door and knocked softly, swishing her pink tail occasionally as she waited. “Hello, Mister Royal Shine,” Redheart sang out as the door opened and the elderly tan stallion stood in the doorway. “How are you today?” “Fine.” “Have you had breakfast? We don’t want your sugar going down again, do we?” Redheart smiled warmly at him and he raised an eyebrow with a bored expression. “Yes, I’ve ate and I’ve taken my blood sugar. Now good day.” Redheart sighed as the door slammed shut and she scuffed a hoof against the concrete flooring. That was unsurprisingly short lived. Redheart started trotting down the steps and she narrowly avoided some colts running up the stairs laughing as she gave a slow exhale. “Don’t play on the stairs,” Redheart warned one as she continued walking. “Those four have a death wish.” Redheart stopped at the elevator and pressed a button, humming to herself as she waited patiently for the elevator. It made an awful sound and dinged as the doors opened with a rattle and she stepped inside, pressing a hoof against the one button. She listened to the annoying elevator music as Redheart cringed internally at the grinding sound the elevators gears made, ninety nine percent certain elevators weren’t supposed to sound like they were going to drop and kill all the occupants inside at a moments notice, being her. “In a week or two, I was gonna bring you diamonds,” Redheart hummed softly to herself and tapped a hoof against the carpet and the elevator groaned in protest. “Maybe that’s not such a good idea.” Dying due to elevator sounded like an embarrassing way to go. It’s up there with, say food poisoning or choking to death. You’d be surprised at how many ponies choke to death. Three thousand ponies. That’s a lot of ponies. Granted, any death is obviously tragic but Redheart would like to go out in some cool way. Like in her sleep so she didn’t feel anything. Thirty eight thousand ponies a year died in their sleep. Equestria had over a million ponies and other creatures in it. Redheart imagined it was fifty fifty for her. Practically nopony really had a pleasant death. “I really shouldn’t be thinking about dying right now,” Redheart muttered as the elevator dinged and she stepped out once the doors opened. “God bless I’m out of that death trap.” “Morning Red,” her landlord, Quick Bit, waved as she trotted past him. “Mornin.” Redheart would normally stop and talk longer with him, but she was always on time. She made it a point to show up at least five minutes early anywhere she was going. Old habits die hard, Redheart supposed. It was even busier looking than it had from her apartment and she forced her way through a throng of ponies. She had long since learned that being assertive in Manehatten was key to surviving in the bustling town. Redheart whistled sharply, waving a hoof over her head. “Taxi!” A cab being pulled by two stallions stopped in front of her and she quickly climbed into the carriage before somepony could steal it from her. And that was a thing that happened. It always told her the rest of the day was going to go poorly when it happened to her. Redheart got a bit more angry than she probably should when that occurred, though she didn’t use as colorful language as Grace tended to. “Misty’s Cafe, on Ann Street and Bank Street, please.” Redheart sipped her tea as she listened to Grace complaining about her morning. Grace was a lavender earth pony with dark purple glasses and a blonde mane with a cutie mark of a pale blue quill with a teacup next to it along with a blue fabric, a blue pencil stuck over her left ear. “And then the fucking water heater of my complex broke,” Grace continued her furious fuming as the other three mares listened. “Because my freaking landlord refuses to get it fixed and just tries to do it himself.” “Why don’t you just switch apartments?” Tenderheart suggested as the blue earth pony went about putting blackberry cream cheese on her bagel. “Can’t. It’ll cost me more in the long run if I move out before my lease is up. Got six more months.” “You can stay with me if you wish until it’s fixed. My couch is available,” Coco suggested as the cream colored earth pony brushed her blue mane aside before adjusting her red tie she always was wearing. “We will see, I guess,” Grace grumbled and slouched against the table as she pushed her glasses up into her mane. “You’re quieter than Coco normally is, Red. What’s up with you?” “Nothing. Just quiet today,” Redheart answered and she glanced outside at some police ponies trotting down the sidewalk with two royal guards and the four shared a laugh about something. “Not much to talk about.” “So,” Coco broke a donut in half and tossed one half into her mouth. “How’s the nursing school going?” “Busy,” Tenderheart answered and paused. “Expensive. Lots to learn. My head feels like it’s gonna explode.” Redheart gave a dry chuckle. She felt the same as her friend and fellow student. The two were both nineteen and in their second year of schooling. Coco was the second oldest at twenty one, Grace was twenty three and was ironically the shyest of the group at first. Redheart had honestly expected it to be Coco at first to be the most shy. “She’s not wrong,” Redheart confirmed softly and she flicked her light pink tail as she watched Tenderheart put up her green mane in a messy bun. “Lots to learn. That being said, I don’t think I’d do anything different. It’s a great opportunity for us to help our fellow ponies and hopefully save lives.” Redheart was still reeling two years in about how expensive her schooling was. She was going definitely be feeling it for the next few years. She was fairly lucky her mom and dad helped pay for half. She had considered joining up with the Royal Guard for a long time. They had promised to pay her nursing school after four years in the Guard as a medic pony. Tenderheart had gotten a scholarship for her to the school. Redheart wasn’t entirely privvy to all the details, but it was something for poor families to send their kids to school. Which Redheart didn’t judge. Wasn’t any of her business and Redhearts family certainly wasn’t all that well off themselves. “Oh buck,” Tenderheart muttered and she glanced at a clock the cafe the four had decided to go to had above the wall. “Our class starts in an hour. We’re gonna have to leave in five minutes to make it to our subway train.” Coco grimaced slightly. She personally hated the subway. Too many ponies all crammed on top of each other and all up in her business. Wasn’t natural to her. And then there was always the occasional fight between ponies on the subway, which she was grateful was rare for her to witness. “Our shift starts in forty five minutes. You know how Suri is,” Grace commented and started giggling to herself. “You know, she’s Suri-ously a bitch.” Grace continued to laugh at her joke as the other three gave light hearted chuckles. Had to give Grace some wins otherwise she tended to get all mopey and depressed. And that really helped nopony because the other mare would end up surrounded by dozens of empty ice cream containers and a bottle of wine. The brain freeze would come later and the hang over quickly following the next day along with the vomiting and constant bathroom trips. Redheart was all too familiar with that whole scenario as Grace either ended up on her couch somehow or Coco’s. Rarely Tenderhearts because the other mare apparently didn’t baby her enough. Or whatever the phrase the half drunk Grace had stated that one time. “I’ll catch you two girls later,” Grace winked as she slapped down some bits on the table. “My half of the tab. Have fun at school you two. Let me know if you run into any cute stallions. I could use some stability in my life.” Tenderheart rolled her eyes as they all slapped down bits and pushed out their chairs. Redheart was really not looking forward to being crammed up next to some pony for the next ten to twenty minutes at least. If the two nurse students were lucky, at least. “Oh goody,” Redheart faintly made out a stallion in the back mutter. “Another day in hell.” Redheart and Tenderheart both shared an annoyed look as they sat a table in the front of the class. A fake pony skeleton was hanging from the ceiling in the corner or Redheart hoped it was a fake at least. Be a bit awkward if a pony had agreed to donate their body to science or whatever and here they were, hanging in a classroom for everypony to see. That would be a horrible fate or at least it was to Redheart. Redheart adjusted her hat and sighed softly as Tenderheart took a sip of her smoothie. “Alright everypony, morning!” A mid forties looking stallion trotted in with a suit and tie. “Sorry I’m late. Had a meeting with the Dean. How is everypony today?” “Good Mr. Spectacle,” the room chorused as he sat down at his desk. “How are you?” “Good, thanks,” Bright Spectacle sat down at his desk, adjusting his glasses. “I hope nopony is missing today. It’s your education and money, not mine.” Redheart zoned out as he went down attendance of the ponies in the class. Attendance was always a boring and tedious process to her. The last teacher from her first year just had them sign a sheet when they walked in class every day and she just shoved it in a drawer after everypony was sat down. “Alright everypony, for the next four months, you’ll be sent to work alongside some doctors and nurses to learn some hooves on experience. Hence the nurses caps I distributed out last week with your cutie marks on them. Redheart, Tenderheart and several others are being assigned Manehatten Central Hospital,” Mr. Spectacle searched through some sheets and Redheart crossed her hooves. Manehatten Central was a fairly big hospital. As the name implied, it was in the center of Manehatten and got the most injured ponies out of the other eight hospitals in the town. Mostly stabbing victims, ponies in need of surgery right away, burn victims, the like were sent there. Redheart had heard stories that there was never a dull moment there. Obviously, they had a large budget to suit their needs. Redheart idly prayed she got assigned to somepony in the ER. She enjoyed the chaos of running around and calming scared ponies down. Her kind and calm personality did help out a lot with stuff like that. “Naturally, to get you prepared, we’re gonna go over some codes you’ll hear in hospitals. You’ll have most likely heard these already I hope, but it’s always best to go over them,” Mr. Spectacle spun his chair to face his students. “What’s a code red?” “A fire or possibility of a fire?” A gold mare in the back called out hesitantly. “Correct, good work Golden Glow. What is a code black and what should you do in a code black?” “A code black is a security, such a bomb or a pony with a weapon. You’re supposed to help escort patients out if there’s a bomb, following Royal Guard and police instructions. If there’s a pony with a weapon, we’re supposed to lock ourselves in a room with patients, close the blinds and shut the lights, placing ourselves between our patients and the threat if necessary,” Redheart recited and the teacher nodded. “You don’t have to place yourself in front of the patients, but everything else is right.” Redheart didn’t necessarily agree with that but she opted to stay silent. This time at least. She was well known around her school for defending all of her opinions aggressively, for better or worse. Tenderheart did answer a few, which made the white mare proud of her friend for that. Tenderheart did have a tendency to get overlooked by most of her peers, which aggravated Redheart a bit. She didn’t necessarily like all the competition some students had with each other. In Redhearts eyes, they were all there with the shared purpose of saving lives. She personally felt that should take precedence over some stupid grudge but unfortunately not all shared her opinion on the matter. “I hope I get to work with foals,” Tenderheart whispered and nudged Redheart as the white pony sat quietly. “Freaking love kids. The maternity ward would be nice.” “I hope I get the ER. The chaos of the emergency room sounds more my speed than anything else, honestly. But kids do sound nice, I suppose.” While Redheart didn’t have a problem with kids, she loved kids. Kids were freaking adorable unless they were screaming in your face. She didn’t really think the maternity ward of the hospital would be crazy enough to suit her. Redheart sat and allowed some other students to answer his other questions. Redheart had really hoped nopony would fail on what a code blue was. Even normal civilians knew what a code blue was. “I’ll be posting the assigned sections from the hospitals later after class so be sure to check the board. Now open your books to page one thousand, five hundred and seventeen,” Mr. Spectacle instructed and Redheart took a sharp inhale. She had a hatred for the thick, heavy books she had to buy. They were unwieldy, large and hard to carry. Her old saddlebags had already ripped from the weight causing her to have to get specially made ones with enchantments to make them more sturdy. Thank Celestia for magic and unicorns, Redheart licked her lips as she started flipping through pages, Tenderheart peering over her shoulder and Redheart pushed the book between them to share. “Thanks,” Tenderheart muttered and flicked a strand of mane away from her eyes. The mare was too proud to ask for help when it came to the bits area, but Redheart had kinda figured she wouldn’t be getting any of the books from the store on the first floor. Redheart had already made a note to buy Tenderheart them for her birthday next week unless Coco had beaten her to it. Redheart stretched her hind legs under the table and sighed as she felt her legs start to become tingly from sitting still for too long. She’d probably have to drag Grace out for another jog on her next day off. “Salad bar again today during lunch?” Tenderheart asked and Redheart nodded. “It’s not even been a full hour and you’re already thinking about food?” Redheart teased with a small smirk. “Yes, I get enough of fast food smells at work. I feel like I’m getting unhealthy by just being there.” “That’s what you get for working at Burger Queen,” Tenderheart retorted with a grin and Redheart chuckled. “How you can afford a studio apartment in downtown Manehatten on a fast food paycheck is miles beyond me.” “I’m stingy with my money.” That, and working two jobs somehow while studying. It did leave Redheart little time to socialize or have time to do something she liked, but she practically lived off coffee and energy bars. But she did know it would pay off once she graduated. Especially since being a nurse paid good money. She personally had her eyes on a nice house in a nice area of New Colt City, preferably with a colt friend and maybe a foal if she was lucky enough. Or maybe Neigh Jersey, where most of her family lived. Excluding her parents, of course who still lived in Manehatten. She was incredibly close to her parents, visiting every Sunday for family dinner. Redheart shook her head quickly and went back to studying with Tenderheart on the topic of Microbiology. Work first, think about personal life later. Author's Note Name: Redheart. Eye color: Blue. Coat color: White. Mane color: Pink. Age: 19(currently) Element: ? Motto: Be kind, for everypony you meet is fighting a battle. Bio: Redheart is a kind hearted nurse who enjoys helping others and doing her best to save lives of everypony who comes into her hospital, whether it's an adult pony to a scared foal. She was born in Manehatten and spent all of her life in the city. She is currently in nursing school alongside her friend, Tenderheart. She is part of Grace Manewitzs friend group along with Coco Pommel and Tenderheart. The four often meet up for breakfast at Misty's Cafe every morning. Redheart currently works at Burger Queen and a hobby store. While kind and friendly, she can be stern and strict with those who are loud or disruptive in her hospital. She is incredibly competent and intelligent. She later helps Sunset and the royal guards search for a missing foal with the goal of reuniting the family, later using her apartment to store the child for the time being. She later becomes an Element of Harmony, though which one is currently unknown. Redheart is the second strongest of the elements and fastest on the ground. She and group of five other nurses were later sent to Baltimare to help assist in cleaning up the town after a series of tornadoes. Redheart often can be seen playing as mediator when members of the Elements are fighting, later working with Berry and Flitter to get over their differences. Redheart enjoys relaxing at home after long shifts at the hospital and her other jobs or with her friends at various places around Manehatten. She is incredible close with her parents and can often be found at their house every Sunday for family dinner. She is an only child. Redheart doesn't handle death well, occasionally using alcohol to help cope with the occasional patient dying and suffers from depression. She and Berry Punch can often be found together drinking their troubles away and are very close friends, later delivering her friends foal. She later administers a DNA test on Sunset upon the unicorns request, the two being stunned by the results. Redheart later takes part in helping defend Canterlot against the changelings and witnessed the Queens defeat. Redheart was instrumental in talking one of her friends down from killing the Queen. Redheart was later seen in the background helping clean up Canterlot and administering medical aid to changelings and ponies alike. Redheart is a firm believer of the Neightingale Pledge and stands by it wholeheartedly. She only breaks the "do no harm" rule once. She moves to Canterlot later on, traveling by train with Sunset, White Lightning and Silver Spanner and the royal guards, later forcing the train to stop to help an injured mare on the side of the tracks. She thoroughly enjoys White Lightnings company and jokes, Flitters generous spirit, Silver Spanners intelligence and honest opinion, Sunset's impressive talent with magic and Berry Punchs loyal personality. She later has multiple various arguments with Silver Spanner over untested medical equipment, leading to multiple tense altercations between the two. Abilities: Redheart is highly intelligent and strong. She is skilled in the medical field and is the Elements healer. Weaknesses: Her depression can hinder her abilities. Redheart is very hard on herself when she believes she failed a patient or loses one. A diamond and a pegasusCotton Cloudy paced back and forth outside her classroom, occasionally glancing at her teacher, Miss Cheerilee and her older sister talking as White Lightning gestured at Cotton rapidly a few times. What they were saying, she had no idea. Cotton coughed into her hoof as she sat down against the wall, listening to hoof steps as a small pink filly trotted up. “Hi,” the filly stopped next to Cotton Cloudy. “Hello, Diamond Tiara.” The pink filly sat down with her tiara held in her hoof, idly toying with it as the pair sat silently together. The two didn’t really talk to each other in general, unless it was in passing. Diamond Tiara wasn’t that well liked by her classmates except Silver Spoon. Cotton Cloudy stayed to herself unless it was Dinky or Noi. “So what did you do?” Diamond asked finally and Cotton glanced at her for a few seconds. “What makes you think I did anything in general? Maybe my older sister just wants to ask how I’m doing in school? I am new around here, after all.” Diamond Tiara rolled her eyes. Five months really wasn’t all that new to her. The white pegasus gave a flutter of her wings and coughed loudly into her hoof, Diamond quickly scooching away a few feet as she eyed her warily. “Don’t get me sick. I despise being sick,” Diamond scoffed and Cotton Cloudy rolled her eyes. “Hmph. You’re quiet. You should be grateful I am here. I am in need of company and here you here.” “And how’s that?” Cotton challenged and she flicked her pale blue mane aside. “I hear things. I hear a lot about you.” Everypony in class knew Diamond Tiara, for better or worse. She had a reputation of being ruthless to those she deemed an enemy. Miss Cheerilee might be the new teacher at the Ponyville school, but Diamond Tiara called the shots among the playground. Cotton Cloudy hadn’t had any real interaction with the filly, preferring to watch alongside a filly she met named Dinky, an equally if not more shy pony. Dinky rarely spoke, opting to use hoof gestures or nodding to get her point across. Cotton Cloudy had honestly thought she was mute until she heard her ask her softly for a quill. Cotton Cloudy partially wondered if she was like that at home time with her mom, a gray mailmare pegasus that Cotton Cloudy was quite fond of, as was most of the town she had noted. Not that anypony would say anything. Thunderlane, Rainbow Dash, Sunshower, Clear Skies, Berry Punch and Open Skies were quick to defend her if outsiders said anything about Derpy. Berry Punch honestly was intimidating. Cotton only knew her due to Berry being one of Miss Cheerilee’s sisters. Berry Punch was a tall mulberry colored earth pony with a cutie mark of grapes and a strawberry with purple eyes and a raspberry colored mane. She was fairly nice, Cotton supposed. Nice until she got mad, which was fairly often. She had a temper according to Miss Cheerilee’s other sister, Cherry Berry. One of four, that is. “Equestria to Cotton Cloudy,” Diamond waved a hoof in front of her face and Cotton Cloudy jumped. “Oooooookay then.” “Sorry, I was thinking,” Cotton answered and eyed Diamond Tiara. “Why are you talking to me, let alone being nice? According to others, nice isn’t something you do.” Diamond Tiara rolled her eyes as she sat her tiara on her head, brushing some of her mane aside as she stared at the wall in front of them. “I have no real reason to be mean to you. Blackmailing you would serve me no purpose, just like it wouldn’t with that unicorn friend of yours. And I am perfectly capable of kindness, just my own brand of kindness. Ask Noi or Dinky or Silver Spoon or- well, just those three really,” Diamond Tiara shot her a smug smile. “Unless you’d rather I manipulate you into doing what I wish, which would be a pretty weird thing to want.” “Hmm.” “Really, you should be thanking me. Just imagine how much your popularity is gonna shoot up because of you being around me. Ponies pay attention to that sorta thing. Now come with me,” Diamond Tiara commanded and stood up, holding out a hoof. “Why?” “Because I am graciously offering you a shake and my time. If you need further persuading,” Diamond pulled a bag of bits out of her pink saddlebags and dropped them with a clang in front of Cotton. “I have more back home from what Daddy gave me if you wish for more money.” Cottons eyes widened as she stared at the bag of bits, imagine the amount of candy she could buy. Or toys. Or save up for a bunch of video games. “You can pick it up if you wish,” Diamond watched Cotton hesitantly pick up the heavy bag and she breathed out slowly in awe. “Now do we have an agreement?” Cotton Cloudy opened her mouth to answer yes when White Lightning trotted out of her classroom with Cheerilee behind her. “Hey kiddo, who’s this?” White Lightning rubbed her sisters head with a hoof and smirked. “Hello there, little one. And who might you be?” “That is Diamond-” Cheerilee started and White Lightning shot her a look. “Let her speak for herself, teacher,” White Lightning narrowed her eyes and Cheerilee scowled slightly but complied. “My name is White Lightning.” “Diamond Tiara. My father is Filthy Rich,” Diamond answered and White Lightning tilted her head. “Filthy rich or Filthy Rich?” White asked and the filly stared in confusion. “I’m....not following,” Diamond muttered and White glanced at her sister. “She means his name means multiple things. She didn’t know his name was Filthy Rich.” “Oh.” White Lightning tilted her head in confusion at the bits Cotton held in her hoof and she picked up the bag, eyes widening slowly. “Where in Equestria did you get all these bits?” White stared down at her sister. “There’s like, two hundred bits in here Cotton.” “Me. I’m giving them as a gift of our friendship,” Diamond Tiara wrapped a hoof around Cotton and pulled the filly closer to her. “Isn’t that right?” “Uh yeah! Absolutely,” Cotton nodded and White gave them both a doubtful as she raised an eyebrow slowly. “Alright then,” White answered after a long couple minutes of awkward silence as she tossed the bag into her saddlebags. “I’ll hold onto this until we get home. Ready to go?” “Actually,” Cotton shared a look with Diamond and the filly tilted her head at her curiously. “Can we stay a bit longer? We were gonna get shakes at Sugarcube Corner.” White gave them both a surprised look as she chewed on her lower lip. She personally didn’t care, more so surprised she was asked. Cotton rarely asked to stay around in Ponyville, opting to head straight to Canterlot. “Okay. But two hours,” White held up two feathers. “Two. Not three, not four, but two. And don’t eat too much, dinner will be ready soon and you know how Sprinkle gets about us not eating his food, capiche?” “Yes sister,” Cotton bowed her head respectfully. “Thank you, Whitey.” “Anytime kiddo. I’ll be around town. Might as well explore Ponyville, eh? After all, it is Silver Spanners home. I owe her a chance to say I’ve looked around,” White Lightning chuckled and her wings fluttered a few times as Cheerilee froze. “Y-you know Silver Spanner?” Cheerilee asked and White Lightning shot her a wary look before nodding slowly. “I am a friend of hers. I grew up with her.” White Lightning tilted her head before smiling finally at the mulberry mare. Cheerilee had a pinkish mane and tail with a cutie mark of three smiling sunflowers. White Lightning didn’t know much about the teacher other than what Cotton Cloudy tells her. “Wanna get a drink then?” White suggested and stretched out her legs with a grin. “I could use something with sugar, but don’t tell Sprinkle. He would be upset.” “He? Isn’t Sprinkle a-?” White Lightning gave her a sister a warning look and shook her head. “Yeah, he. He would be.” “Some ponies are not as accepting of two mares dating like my friends are,” White Lightning whispered into her sisters ear. “That is all. We will call Sprinkle a he around others we do not know. We can discuss this further at home, promise. So Cheerilee, lead the way?” “As you wish, ma’am.” White Lightning tossed her sister and Diamond Tiara some bits. “Have fun, you two.” Diamond Tiara was admittedly a bit surprised Cotton Cloudy had even agreed to come with her. She was even more surprised at how many ponies said hello to her, even Bon Bon grudgingly said hello to the two. And Bon Bon almost never said to the two. Though she would never admit, Bon Bon did scare Diamond Tiara. The cream coated mare had cold blue eyes that intimidated all of Ponyville, mares and stallions alike. Diamond Tiara wasn’t aware of whatever Bon Bons story was, but she did know it was most likely an interesting one. Diamond Tiara glanced back at the third filly they had somehow picked up. How, she didn’t know, but she was somewhat okay with it as she watched Dinky carrying a battered stuffed elephant on her back. Dinky quietly made eye contact with Diamond and the earth pony gave a subtle nod her direction. Diamond Tiara hadn’t really seen any use in manipulating Dinky. There was no point. And Diamond Tiara did have a grudging respect for the unicorn. A few classmates openly teased the filly and Cheerilee would quickly shut them down. Honestly faster than she did with Diamond Tiara herself. Not many would keep coming back to school, but Dinky somehow did. Diamond Tiara did value strength over anything and she had a faint feeling Dinky possessed a fair amount. Dinky had at first turned down Cotton Cloudy suggesting she came with once the two ran across the filly sitting next to the fountain with a purple pegasus. But not even Dinky could apparently turn down free ice cream. Dinky wasn’t really used to other ponies giving her stuff. Usually only her hard working mom or dad did. “I presume that’s yours?” Diamond looked at the elephant and Dinky nodded as she hugged it. “It looks very nice.” Dinky said nothing as she hugged animal tighter and nuzzled it before she placed it on her back, the blonde filly following after Diamond and Cotton into her gingerbread themed store. The three noted an absent Pinkie Pie as Mrs. Cake went about cleaning the counter that the pink ball of chaotic energy usually manned. Dinky was admittedly a fan of the party planner earth pony. Pinkie was always nice to Dinky and her mom, randomly dropping by or helping Dinky pick out gifts for her mom on Derpy’s birthday or Mother’s Day or Hearths Warming. “You first,” Diamond nodded and Dinky nervously stared at Mrs. Cake. “Hello sweetheart,” Mrs. Cake propped herself up on the counter and stared down at Dinky. “What can I get an angel like you?” Dinky looked to Cotton and whispered something in her ear and the pegasus nodded as Dinky nuzzled her neck. “Dinky wants a strawberry ice cream with fudge on top and a cherry please. I’ll have a cotton candy shake with extra whipped cream please,” Cotton told the older mare and Mrs. Cake gave a warm smile as she nodded. “And for you?” The blue earth pony looked to Diamond. “Just a chocolate shake with crushed up coconut.” “Coming right up dears. Grab a table and I’ll bring them right out to you.” Diamond took her normal spot, a table by a window so she could watch the ponies going about their daily lives. Ponywatching was an odd hobby of hers, or at least it was according to Silver Spoon. It was a bit refreshing to her at least, being able to see what a normal pony did with their daily life. Sea Swirl was always at thw aquarium at three thirty. Communicating with the dolphins, she claims. That was probably the case. She did have a cutie mark of a dolphin, after all. Caramel was always losing stuff and getting lectured by his marefriend, Junebug. The stallion was well known for losing everything, from random seeds to his quills. Diamond Tiara sat across from the Dinky and Cotton, watching the unicorn hugging her stuffed animal tightly like she was trying to suffocate it. “She hugs Ell when she’s nervous,” Cotton commented and glanced at Dinky. “Helps her feel safe. Breath.” Dinky nodded and took a deep breath before letting it out. “Here you three go,” Mrs. Cake slid two shakes and an ice cream to their respective owners along with a pill in a wrapper to Dinky. “And here’s the dairy aid pill your mom dropped off. We don’t want you sick, now do we?” Dinky nodded and Diamond watched her rip open the package and toss a pill into her muzzle before swallowing it. Diamond Tiara couldn’t imagine just taking a pill a stranger gave. Then again, Mrs. Cake wasn’t really a stranger. “You have good taste,” Diamond noted and idly smirked as Dinky’s cheeks turned a faint pink. “No offense, but I’ve never heard her speak. What’s her voice sound like?” Cotton hummed and tapped her chin a few times as Dinky gave her a subtle nod of approval. “Soft,” Cotton decided on. “Imagine if Princess Celestia combined with say, Fluttershy. You’d be close to a Dinky.” “Hm,” Diamond hummed and stretched out a hoof to Dinky as the unicorn flinched and ducked behind Cottons wing. “What the...?” “She thinks you’re gonna hit her,” Cotton translated and nudged the unicorn. “She’s not a huge fan of being touched unless it’s me or Mrs. Hooves or Dr. Hooves. She won’t hurt you, I can guarantee that.” Diamond stayed silent as she watched Dinky come from the wing and stared at the hoof in front of her. “Hoof bump,” Diamond Tiara answered after a long moment. “You tap your hoof against mine.” Dinky tapped her hoof against Diamonds and the earth pony gave a small smile as she nodded. “You two are now my friends. Nopony dares mess with me so they will not mess with you either. I don’t have many friends,” Diamond Tiara licked some whipped cream off her shake. “If you wish, of course.” “I’m fine with that,” Dinky muttered and Diamonds eyes widened. She had expected Cotton to speak for her again. And Cottons description of her voice had been on point. “What about my bullies? Or Cottons?” Diamonds eyes hardened slightly as Dinky shivered and Cotton gulped. “Leave them to me. Names.” Dinky always did find angry Diamond scary. If she was telling the truth about them being friends, she was grateful to be on her side than against her. Dinky inhaled as she and Cotton shared a look as Dinky hugged her elephant before rattling off names. “Silver Spoon and I will have words,” Diamond promised and patted Dinkys hoof. “Your ice cream is melting.” Dinky stared down at her melting ice cream. “Oh, oops.” Author's Note Name: Diamond Tiara Age: 9(currently) Mane color: Pale, light grayish violet with white streaks. Coat color: Pale magenta. Eye color: Blue. Motto: Never improve up perfection- and I'm as perfect as they get! Bio: Diamond Tiara is a socially awkward pony who's only friend was Silver Spoon until she met Cotton Cloudy and Dinky. Diamond Tiara is the only child of Filthy Rich and Spoiled Rich, though most of the town has a rumor that Diamond Tiara is a product of an affair Filthy Rich may or may not have had with Nurse Sweetheart, a pony who looks identical to Diamond. Diamond Tiara often tries to use her families wealth to buy her way into her classmates affections, often failing to those who are smart enough to realize her intentions. Diamond Tiara is considered cold and aloof by many who don't know her. She is charge of the school news paper, The Foal Free Press and uses it to spy on those she deems a threat. She, surprisingly to most, considers Cotton Cloudy and Dinky to be her friends, quickly accepting the two into her circle. She later secretly helps set up Feathweight with Dinky, unbeknownst to the two. She considers Featherweight to be her greatest asset and employs him to document everything. Diamond Tiara is a shrewd and intelligent filly. She isn't above blackmailing those she deems a threat to her friends. Diamond Tiara cares about her friends in her own unique way by blackmailing ponies who bully them, especially Dinky. Physical violence is beneath her and she considers uncouth. To Diamond Tiara, using wits and manipulation to defeat her foes is much more enjoyable than physically attacking them. Diamond Tiara is later seen with Dinky, Cotton Cloudy and Silver Spoon at the Summer Sun Celebration. The four witnessed the return of Nightmare Moon and were quickly hidden by Sprinkle Medley after wards, being protected by the pegasus. Diamond Tiara has an extreme dislike of Apple Bloom, Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo simply for them having much more stable families than she currently does. She considers Sunset a role model and respects power greatly, something the Princess has an abundance of. Diamond Tiara is ultimately a loyal subject of Princess Celestia, Princess Sunset, Princess Cadence and later Princess Luna. She later sneaks out to follow the unicorn and her friends through the Everfree forest, witnessing Sunset's subsequent defeat. She has a great respect for Sunset's raw magical power and influence and is her ultimate goal to be noticed by the Princess. She has several failed (and occasionally comedic) attempts to get in close proximity to Princess Sunset. Diamond Tiara is a close friend of Princess Luna after the Lunar Princess visits her in her dreams. Diamond Tiara later secretly travels to Canterlot to witness the Canterlot Wedding and is protected by a royal guard. Diamond Tiara later attempts to blackmail Raven Inkwell into getting her a private audience with Princess Sunset, to no avail and her anger. Diamond Tiara has a cutie mark of a tiara, later studying long dead philanthropists. Many Ponyvillians believe she has a future as Ponyvilles mayor. Abilities: Diamond Tiara is surprisingly calculating and shrewd for a filly her age. She is considered the leader of her small group of fillies and colts, often displaying her leadership skills. She is skilled in manipulation and blackmail. Weaknesses: Her manipulation and blackmail often leaves others with a bad opinion of her. Her many failed attempts to bribe friends often leaves her classmates distrusting of her.
A librarian, a musician and a princessSilver Spanner stretched out on her bed, hugging Rexy as she exhaled softly and occasionally nuzzled her stuffed animal she held in her forelegs. Silver Spanner rolled onto her stomach and pulled her blankets tighter around her subconsciously as she dreamed of wrenches and other various tools flying around her mind. “Just tighen that into place and done,” Silver Spanner mumbled in her sleep as a thin line of drool ran down her chin. “Momma, I killed a colt. Slammed a wrench against his head. Beat his brains out, now he’s dead. Mama, life had just begun. But now I’ve gone and thrown it all away.” Silver Spanner sat up in her sleep and waved her forelegs around. ”Ooooooooo-” Silver Spanners parents laid in their own bed as they both stared at the ceiling of their bedroom as they listened to Silver Spanner continue to sing in her sleep. “I think our daughter found our classic rock vinyls when she was cleaning the attic,” Sweetie Charm mumbled as she shifted under the covers and felt Oil Canvas nuzzling the nape of her neck. “I don’t believe that’s how the song went though.” “I believe so,” Oil Canvas muttered and wrapped a foreleg around the mare. “It’s five am. I didn’t know she sang in her sleep.” Silver Spanner hit a high note that they both would normally be impressed by if it wasn’t five in the morning. “Nor did I. Remind me to tell her doctor that and maybe get her some sleeping medication. Celestia knows she clearly needs it,” Sweetie Charm pressed her flank against his leg and he rubbed a hindleg over her cutie mark. “We are the champions, my friends,” Silver Spanner sang and rolled over in bed facedown, mumbling some more lyrics. “Mhmmm warm.” “I really wish we had a sound proofing spell on this room. This is ridiculous,” Sweetie Charm mumbled as Oil Canvas kissed her mane. “Dear?” Oil Canvas snored and tightened his grip on his wife as Sweetie Charm sighed in frustration and awe. How he managed to sleep through their sleep singing daughter was beyond her. While she always loved hearing Silver Spanner sing, it was more so during a reasonable hour of the day. “Suns not up and neither am I,” Sweetie Charm shoved some ear plugs in she had in her nightstand into her ears and gave a content sigh. “Goodnight.” She could faintly still make out the noises in Silver Spanners room, but it became a dull sound as she drifted back off to sleep. At least Silver Spanner didn’t use magic or sleep walk. Though she might have preferred sleep walking over sleep singing. Silver Spanners alarm went off and the unicorn shot up in bed, her mane sticking out in wild directions as she licked her dry lips, searching for her water bottle with a hoof as she shut off her alarm with her magic. “Where the hell did my water bottle go?” Silver Spanner rolled out of bed in a cocoon of blankets. Only her eyes and horn was visible as she dragged the blankets behind her down the hall to the kitchen. “Five thirty. I’m going back to sleep.” She stumbled into the kitchen and went about her business before trotting back down the hall, pausing only to use the restroom before she trotted into her room and flopped on her bed. “Hi Rexy,” Silver Spanner mumbled and she kissed the green dinosaur stuffed animal. “Goodnight.” White Lightning rested a foreleg across Sprinkle Medleys stomach as the green pegasus slept quietly next to White. The white pegasus laid on her side with a hindleg resting over Sprinkles cutie mark of a rain cloud. Sprinkle Medley gave a quiet whinny and White Lightning snorted a quiet laugh as she flicked her blue mane out of her eyes. “Soft,” White Lightning mumbled and pressed her face in Sprinkles messy mane. She dragged a blanket closer around the both of them, giving a quiet content sigh as she listened to Sprinkles even breathing as the mare slept, her chest rising and falling with each breath. White Lightning always did enjoy watching her marefriend sleeping. She looked peaceful and content. And adorable, but that was a different story for a different day. White Lightning continued to watch Sprinkle Medley sleep soundly for a few more moments before kissing her head and untangling herself from the mess of limbs and blankets. White Lightning preferred to have dozens of blankets to stay warm while Sprinkle Medley only preferred two. White Lightning watched her roll over and hug the spot White had previously occupied. White trotted quietly into the bathroom connected to their bedroom and shut the door, flinging a towel onto the rack as she beelined for the shower. Rows of bottles of shampoo lined the wall of the shower, only three belonging to White Lightning. All other of the twenty bottles belonged to Sprinkle Medley, each different scents that apparently did different things. To White Lightning, shampoo was shampoo and that was that. She didn’t really see a need for multiple bottles of the same thing. Especially when it got a bit expensive to keep the bottle collection going. The price of some of the soaps made Whites head spin. But she did have to admit Sprinkle Medley did smell really good for the rest of the day. So far, their favorite had been some raspberry scented one. White Lightning started the shower and laid down, the cold surface of the tub making her shiver as she felt warm water spraying onto her chest. “Thank Celestia for us having hot water today,” White Lightning muttered to herself and she closed her eyes for a few moments. Canterlot had a habit of running out of hot water at a startlingly rapid rate that she couldn’t believe. It was like several ponies were taking eight hour long bubble bathes all at the same time. White Lightning herself only took an hour long one. Most of the time, unless she was in the mood for a shower. White Lightning flicked the curtain aside with a hoof to look at the clock on the sink counter, reading it at seven oh five. “White? Is it you in there or is it you Cotton?” Sprinkle Medley knocked on the door and White Lightning cracked her neck. “Me.” Cotton Cloudy had randomly had a fear of using the bathroom across from her room. Something about there being a monster inside under the sink. The two adult pegasi often got woken up accidentally by her sneaking in to use their bathroom. “Ah okay.” White Lightning listened to the door opening. “Couldn’t sleep. Got cold. Now I know why.” “Hm.” Sprinkle Medley blinked a few times as she searched for her toothbrush and White Lightning idly made out her silhouette through the blue shower curtain. “You look nice,” White Lightning commented and Sprinkle Medley rolled her eyes. “You can’t even seen me, White. How’s the water?” “Fine. And I can see enough,” White rolled onto her stomach and stood up, holding her mane under the shower head. “Is Cotton still asleep?” “Yes, I checked on her first before coming in here. Unless she’s gotten better at faking when she’s asleep,” Sprinkle opened a cupboard and retrieved a red plastic cup. “Which is always a possibility.” White Lightning hummed a song to herself and nodded absentmindedly as she continued to clean her wings. “We need more mouth wash. We’re gonna be out by tonight,” Sprinkle called out and turned to look at White cleaning her tail. “White?” Sprinkle glanced at the toilet and smirked slightly, flicking the handle with a wing tip and listened to White scream before laughing. “That was evil,” White growled and Sprinkle stood next to the curtain as a white hoof shot out and dragged the other mare. “It’s only fair to share the love and all.” Sprinkle shivered and turned the handle as far as it could go to the left. “You’re the worst,” Sprinkle grumbled and White grinned with a nod. “It’s only just. You got me in this situation. Might as well suffer with me,” White nudged her with her head. “Grow up, it’s not the first time we’ve showered together. Saving water and all.” Sprinkle decided it was too early to make sarcastic remarks and simply nodded along before grabbing her shampoo. Might as well since White so graciously asked me to join her, Sprinkle thought and sniffed the opened container. “Hey, doesn’t Cotton have school today?” Sprinkle asked suddenly and the two paused before looking at each other. “What day is today?” “Saturday. Yesterday was Friday. We worked yesterday, remember? Today is our day off,” White reminded her marefriend. “I believe Cotton is going to work on her math homework during breakfast.” Sprinkle closed her eyes and leaned against the wall. Cotton was definitely a better student than she ever was. Certain subjects like math always did bore her. She focused more on reading. Or did until that annoying attractive white pegasus in front of her sat next to her one day. “Wake up. Don’t fall asleep, I want somepony to talk to.” “Sorry.” Sprinkle hugged the other mare and yawned. “Still a bit sleepy. I’m not really used to getting to this early.” Sprinkle was used to waking up much later in the day before going to work or getting up to help keep the house clean. The two were very fond of a clean house and keeping every neat and orderly. White constantly had to remind Cotton to clean her room. “I have my own homework I have to work on. College is so fun,” Sprinkle rested the head on White’s shoulder as the other pony started washing Sprinkles coat. “Your hooves are soft. I need to go to the spa. My back is killing me.” “I’m well experienced in that field,” White boasted with a smirk and nuzzled Sprinkle affectionately. “I’m the best at massages, I got this. Easy peasy. How hard can it be?.” “Fine by me,” Sprinkle muttered as White moved to her mane. “Back to sleep after. I don’t wanna leave bed unless it’s food or bathroom.” “I think we can manage that.” Sunset sat on her floor amid piles of books, switching between three or four at any given time. “Where in Equestria did my book about duplication spells go?” Sunset trotted over to her book shelf and started tossing books haphazardly over her shoulder with her magic. She briefly paused to open her door before returning to searching for her missing book while she waited for one of the only three ponies close enough to her magic level to arrive. She would have preferred Twilight Sparkle, but the other unicorn was avoiding Sunset recently for some reason ever since she became friends with Lyra. So instead of Twilight, Sunset supposed Moondancer would work fine. The unicorn was fairly intelligent and worked in the royal library, so Sunset knew she was fairly intelligent and trustworthy. Not just anypony got a job there. There was a lot of hidden doors and spell books to look after. Moondancer was fairly nice, but quiet unless you created a mess in her library. Then she just kicked you out and slammed the door. Sunset had seen it many times enough to have a grudging respect for the mare. “Princess? There’s two ponies here stating they’re here to see you. They claim they got an appointment,” a guard said and stepped inside Sunset’s room. “Do you wish for me to allow them in or turn them away?” Sunset tilted her head. She was under the impression only Moondancer would be coming, not anypony else. Sunset presumed it was a mutual acquaintance of theirs or something. “Send them in please Corporal. Thank you.” Sunset watched Moondancer trot in wearing a black sweater that honestly seemed itchy. Sunset was very well aware of how Moondancer reacted to ponies making fun or commenting about her sweaters and Sunset peered around her at Lyra behind her. Lyra was....interesting, was the best way to describe her. Definitely a polite way of describing her. Lyra was nice, probably one of the nicest ponies Sunset had ever met. She was also weird as heck occasionally, big into mythology and something called hoomans? Humans? Sunset didn’t necessarily know the proper way to say that word. Other than that, Lyra was pretty normal. Liked science, surprisingly. She was really good at playing the lyre. Sunset didn’t even know that was an instrument until Lyra had explained to her what her cutie mark represented. Sunset vaguely remembered the day Lyra had came bouncing into their class one day to proudly show off her mark to practically everypony who would stop for her. “Good afternoon,” Sunset greeted the two and the two unicorns both peered around the piles of books Sunset had built around her, almost like a fort. “Yo,” Lyra flung herself onto Sunset’s bed and crossed her hind legs, propping her head up with a hoof as she laid on her side with a grin. “Sheesh, you’re hitting the books harder than Egghead over here or GeekLight.” Moondancer simply rolled her eyes and ignored the green unicorn as she went back to examining some of the book titles. “Ignore Lyra,” Moondancer muttered and sat down. “So what spell did you need help casting? I’m a bit surprised you of all ponies needs help casting a spell.” “She isn’t wrong. I mean, it must be a crazy spell if you got two of the Big Three in the room,” Lyra mused and examined her hoof. “I’m gonna have to get a hooficure soon.” “The Big Three?” Sunset echoed in confusion and she turned to look at Lyra. “What the heck is that?” “There’s three of the most powerful unicorns that have came from the CSGU,” Lyra started to explain and pointed at Sunset. “You, obviously. You’re probably the most powerful unicorn ever since that one old dude with the cape and hat.” “Starswirl the Bearded,” Moondancer corrected instantly and frowned. “He was not just that one old dude with a cape and a hat. He set the basics for all spells known to Equestria. We owe him a lot.” “Actually it was Stygian who did most of that. Starswirl simply helped,” Sunset chimed in and Lyra quickly tuned the two out. “Haven’t you read Stygians autobiography on his life? It got published after he died by his wife, Somnambula.” Lyra sat bored for a few more moments as she started to count the posters in Sunset’s room. “Okay, this is boring. Blah blah blah, dead ponies,” Lyra waved a hoof. “Like I said, there’s Sunset, the most powerful unicorn in over a thousand years, probably even a million or whatever. Then there’s Moondancer, who most, myself included, consider to be pretty damn strong with magic. And then there’s Twilight Sparkle. Therefore, the Big Three. Three unicorns. Obviously the only two who will ever come remotely close to being stronger than Sunset is Princess Celestia and Princess Cadence. From what I’ve heard, Raven isn’t a slouch in the magic department either.” Sunset could vouch for Raven. Sunset could vividly remember many times as a filly when Raven would drag her with her magic around the castle or Canterlot. Sunset was willing to admit that she caused a lot of trouble for the older unicorn then. Mostly randomly teleporting or interrupting Celestia’s court to spend time with her. “I can’t remember the spell for duplication,” Sunset answered and Moondancer tapped a hoof against her chin. “I see. Well, what are you trying to duplicate?” “That’s the fun part,” Sunset chuckled nervously and Moondancer raised an eyebrow. “Me.” The two stared at her with wide eyes for a few moments as Sunset shifted awkwardly into a better sitting position. “I’m sorry, you want to duplicate yourself?” Lyra broke the silence and a grin grew on her face. “Oh, I’m so down. I wanna learn how to do that! Imagine how much I can mess with Twilight.” Moondancer had a small smile as she rolled her eyes. Messing with Twilight was a hobby of Lyra’s. Random pranks here and there, placing stickers of lady bugs on all her books. Sometimes live ones. “Do you care to tell us why you want to use a duplication spell? You know they only last for a week at a time if done properly, right?” Moondancer reminded her and Sunset nodded. “Well, I’m leaving next week on Monday morning to Manehatten. But I got certain royal duties here I still have to do. But if I duplicate myself temporarily for that week, my clone can act in my place. Nopony except us three will be the wiser,” Sunset explained and cracked her hooves. “I get my work done, I get to have fun in Manehatten with Silver, White, Sprinkle and Cotton. I wish Mom could go.” Lyra and Moondancer shared a look as Moondancer anxiously chewed on her lower lip. There was probably a million different ways this could backfire. She could probably come up with more if she really put her mind to it. “Okay,” Moondancer decided and tugged on the collar of her sweater. “But I’d like to state for the record I’m not one hundred percent comfortable with this. Especially if this one-” Moondancer pointed at Lyra. “Abuses it.” “You’re talking crazy right now,” Lyra blew a raspberry at Moondancer and her voice went up a voice octaves as Moondancer snorted. “I never abuse any spells you teach me. None whatsoever.” Sunset didn’t have to look at her long to know she was lying. “Uh huh,” Moondancer scoffed and tapped a hoof against the floor. “So you never used that transfiguration spell I taught you to replace Spike’s soap with molasses the other day?” “Okay, maybe I did. If I remember correctly, you laughed at it,” Lyra shot back accusingly and jumped off of the bed next to Sunset. “It’s not like he doesn’t have a closet full of that stuff in the first place.” Sunset didn’t know how to respond to that. She and Spike weren’t really close. She didn’t really know anything about the dragon or have anything in common with him as far as she knew other than having mutual acquaintances. “So are we gonna do this?” Sunset glanced over with a bored look. “I don’t got all day.” “Somepony woke up on the wrong side of the bed,” Lyra mused and Moondancer chuckled as she pushed up her glasses. Lyra laid on her back, her mane splaying out under her as she listened to Moondancer and Sunset going back and forth over some spell terms Lyra didn’t really care enough to know. “Okay so I’ll cast the spell and we will see what happens,” Sunset said and that was enough to get Lyra’s attention. “Wait!” Lyra cried and Sunset froze. “Moondancer, cast the spell.” Moondancer nodded and Sunset tilted her head as a magic bubble formed around the two unicorns. A moment passed and all of the books around them were dragged inside the bubble and Moondancer stood on her hind legs, standing in front of the piles, leaning against it with her forelegs stretched in front of them protectively. “I will die before the books suffer any harm,” Moondancer proclaimed and Lyra laughed loudly and Sunset shook her head with a smile. “Apologies in advance, but your magic tends to be, how shall I say this? Chaotic? Stuff tends go wrong and right at the same time somehow for you.” Sunset couldn’t argue with that. The mare did have a point there. She herself didn’t really understand what was wrong with her magic. Stuff did have a tendency to go wonky when she used her magic to cast spells. The two watched as Sunset’s horn started glowing and they both covered their eyes as a white light blinded them. “I’ve seen the light,” Lyra announced and she blinked a few times once the light faded. “Woah.” A perfect copy of Sunset stood in front of her, occasionally flickering. The real Sunset or what she hoped was the real Sunset stood to her left breathing heavily. “Tada!” Sunset proclaimed proudly and she stumbled forward to sit on her beanbag chair. “Woo, that was a lot of mana I had to use, sheesh.” “So what can she do?” Lyra asked and she stepped to the clone, hesitantly sticking her hoof through her and her hoof started tingling. “Woah, this is trippy. You gotta try this, Moondancer. It’s like my hoof is drinking an energy drink.” “Yeah, looks fun,” Moondancer muttered sarcastically and the mare grinned slightly. “This is amazing.” Sunset examined herself for a few moments, slowly circling the copy of her. The small, egotistical side of her had to admit she was good looking and she flicked her tail subconsciously. “Sheesh, I’m hot,” Sunset mumbled and Lyra snorted. “Shush.” Sunset canceled the spell and watched as her clone faded quickly from existence. Now she just had to tinker with the spell to make her clone speak. That should be easy, or so Sunset hoped. At least she had Moondancers big brain on her side and whatever it was Lyra offered. Author's Note Name: Moondancer. Age: 19(currently) Mane color: Red, Purple, Violet. Coat Color: Light yellowish gray. Eye color: Purple. Motto: Think before you speak. Read before you think. Bio: Moondancer is a unicorn pony who resides in Canterlot and works at the Royal Library as a librarian. She is a kind hearted mare only interested in sharing knowledge with everypony she meets. Moondancer firmly believes everypony deserves to read and have books. She can accidentally be a bit forceful in her approach. She is strict about being quiet in her library and isn't afraid of kicking ponies out who cross her. She is fairly talented and strong with magic, considered by Sunset to be close to her and Twilight in strength. Moondancer is a close friend of Spike's and later becomes his primary caretaker, allowing him to move in with her. She has a fondness for sweaters. She is considered by many to be one of the more powerful unicorns to come out of the CSGU in recent years alongside Sunset and Twilight. The three are often referred to as the Big Three in reference to their magical skills. Moondancer has made it her personal mission to ensure every filly and colt she comes across knows to read, spending most of her time at her library after closing with groups of kids alongside Spike. She currently is a junior at CSGU and sticks to herself. Lyra or Minuette often speak for her when meeting new ponies. Moondancer opted to skip Cadences wedding in favor of hanging out with Lemon Hearts and stayed home, missing all of the changeling invasion with the yellow unicorn. She enjoys playing soccer with her friends and is affectionately called a egghead by Lyra. She lives near the stadium and enjoys going to see movies. She skipped the Summer Sun Celebration due to being sick with a cold, later regretting the decision due to missing the arrival of Luna. She is one of the few ponies who knows the truth about Princess Luna being Princess Celestia's sister due to her studies of the restricted section. She quietly came to the conclusion that Princess Celestia arranged the Elements meeting, but keeps that opinion to herself. Moondancer later takes part in cleaning up Canterlot after a series of storms. She can be seen in the background watching Berry Punch and Flitter argue over work ethics. Moondancer is a loyal and kind pony albeit a bit shy due to being bullied in middle school for wearing glasses. She is awkward around most unless she grew up with them. Moondancer considers Sunset a close ally. Moondancer was asked to keep the truth about Sunset's aunt a secret until the Summer Sun Celebration by Raven. Moondancer often can be heard lecturing Spike on taking several hour bubble baths. She later helps him find where he comes from and travels secretly to the Dragon Lands. Later defends her library from Tirek. Abilities: Moondancer is highly intelligent and quick thinking. She has average strength and makes up for it else where. She is capable of teleporting long distances and capable of using complex spells. Weaknesses: Quick to anger when somepony insults her for her glasses, sweaters or goes after Spike.
Another day in ManehattenSeveral rays of sunshine cut through the blinds of the apartment of a white mare, sleeping peacefully under a few blankets with a small smile. On the night stand rested a nurses cap with a cutie mark of a red cross with four hearts surrounding it along with a clock. Two lamps stood on either side of her bed as she breathed evenly, shifting onto her stomach. The room was fairly modest, a few pictures on her book shelf that was mainly full of nursing books and romance novels that the mare was fond of. She nuzzled her blanket a few times as the alarm went off and Redheart flailed a foreleg before slamming down on the clock to shut it off. “Ugh.” Redheart licked her lips as she kicked the covers off her and she shivered slightly, making a mental note to mess with her apartments thermostat later. Redheart forced herself out of bed, stretching out with a long groan and she pulled the blinds open, staring out of her window at the view of the East River. Even at seven am, Manehatten was bustling with taxis being pulled by stallions, ferries heading out on the water to the Statue of Liberty, pegasi flying around or pushing clouds. Everypony was a small dot to her from her apartment. The two towers of the WTC stood proudly in the distance and Redheart cracked her neck before she started to brush her mane as she watched some ponies flying to the observation deck. It had been at least four to five years since Redheart had been up there as she stifled a yawn and set down her mane brush, picking up a hair tie as she went about putting her mane up in a bun. She picked up her nurse hat and stuffed it into her saddlebags hanging from a hook next to her bedroom door. She quickly sprayed herself with perfume, sighing contently at the smell of raspberries. Redheart yawned as she trotted through her apartment to the coffee machine as she went about her normal routine of coffee. Breakfast was being skipped in favor of meeting with Tenderheart, Grace and Coco for breakfast before Redheart and Tenderheart went to school. Coco and Grace would presumably be going to work at Suri’s boutique on the west side of the town after. Redheart didn’t really know Suri that well, but she did hear stories from her two friends and she wasn’t really a fan of what she heard. Coco was too nice to say anything bad about Suri, but Grace sure wasn’t. Redheart still remembered the words Grace had used and they were very unfriendly and rude. That mare is a rude bitch and a cunt to everypony she meets. Quoting Grace, of course. Redheart was far too kind to ever say that about anypony ever. She took a sip of her coffee and sighed as she continued to watch out her small kitchen window at the ponies below her for a few more moments. Redheart hummed to herself as she rinsed out her mug and set it in the sink to clean later when she came back home and she grabbed her apartment keys, opening her front door and locking it behind her as she stepped into the hall. The paint on the walls of the hallway were fading and peeling in some spots along with the occasional small hole. The railing on the stairs was a bit loose, way too loose for Redheart to be entirely comfortable using it. Redheart took a half step to her neighbors door and knocked softly, swishing her pink tail occasionally as she waited. “Hello, Mister Royal Shine,” Redheart sang out as the door opened and the elderly tan stallion stood in the doorway. “How are you today?” “Fine.” “Have you had breakfast? We don’t want your sugar going down again, do we?” Redheart smiled warmly at him and he raised an eyebrow with a bored expression. “Yes, I’ve ate and I’ve taken my blood sugar. Now good day.” Redheart sighed as the door slammed shut and she scuffed a hoof against the concrete flooring. That was unsurprisingly short lived. Redheart started trotting down the steps and she narrowly avoided some colts running up the stairs laughing as she gave a slow exhale. “Don’t play on the stairs,” Redheart warned one as she continued walking. “Those four have a death wish.” Redheart stopped at the elevator and pressed a button, humming to herself as she waited patiently for the elevator. It made an awful sound and dinged as the doors opened with a rattle and she stepped inside, pressing a hoof against the one button. She listened to the annoying elevator music as Redheart cringed internally at the grinding sound the elevators gears made, ninety nine percent certain elevators weren’t supposed to sound like they were going to drop and kill all the occupants inside at a moments notice, being her. “In a week or two, I was gonna bring you diamonds,” Redheart hummed softly to herself and tapped a hoof against the carpet and the elevator groaned in protest. “Maybe that’s not such a good idea.” Dying due to elevator sounded like an embarrassing way to go. It’s up there with, say food poisoning or choking to death. You’d be surprised at how many ponies choke to death. Three thousand ponies. That’s a lot of ponies. Granted, any death is obviously tragic but Redheart would like to go out in some cool way. Like in her sleep so she didn’t feel anything. Thirty eight thousand ponies a year died in their sleep. Equestria had over a million ponies and other creatures in it. Redheart imagined it was fifty fifty for her. Practically nopony really had a pleasant death. “I really shouldn’t be thinking about dying right now,” Redheart muttered as the elevator dinged and she stepped out once the doors opened. “God bless I’m out of that death trap.” “Morning Red,” her landlord, Quick Bit, waved as she trotted past him. “Mornin.” Redheart would normally stop and talk longer with him, but she was always on time. She made it a point to show up at least five minutes early anywhere she was going. Old habits die hard, Redheart supposed. It was even busier looking than it had from her apartment and she forced her way through a throng of ponies. She had long since learned that being assertive in Manehatten was key to surviving in the bustling town. Redheart whistled sharply, waving a hoof over her head. “Taxi!” A cab being pulled by two stallions stopped in front of her and she quickly climbed into the carriage before somepony could steal it from her. And that was a thing that happened. It always told her the rest of the day was going to go poorly when it happened to her. Redheart got a bit more angry than she probably should when that occurred, though she didn’t use as colorful language as Grace tended to. “Misty’s Cafe, on Ann Street and Bank Street, please.” Redheart sipped her tea as she listened to Grace complaining about her morning. Grace was a lavender earth pony with dark purple glasses and a blonde mane with a cutie mark of a pale blue quill with a teacup next to it along with a blue fabric, a blue pencil stuck over her left ear. “And then the fucking water heater of my complex broke,” Grace continued her furious fuming as the other three mares listened. “Because my freaking landlord refuses to get it fixed and just tries to do it himself.” “Why don’t you just switch apartments?” Tenderheart suggested as the blue earth pony went about putting blackberry cream cheese on her bagel. “Can’t. It’ll cost me more in the long run if I move out before my lease is up. Got six more months.” “You can stay with me if you wish until it’s fixed. My couch is available,” Coco suggested as the cream colored earth pony brushed her blue mane aside before adjusting her red tie she always was wearing. “We will see, I guess,” Grace grumbled and slouched against the table as she pushed her glasses up into her mane. “You’re quieter than Coco normally is, Red. What’s up with you?” “Nothing. Just quiet today,” Redheart answered and she glanced outside at some police ponies trotting down the sidewalk with two royal guards and the four shared a laugh about something. “Not much to talk about.” “So,” Coco broke a donut in half and tossed one half into her mouth. “How’s the nursing school going?” “Busy,” Tenderheart answered and paused. “Expensive. Lots to learn. My head feels like it’s gonna explode.” Redheart gave a dry chuckle. She felt the same as her friend and fellow student. The two were both nineteen and in their second year of schooling. Coco was the second oldest at twenty one, Grace was twenty three and was ironically the shyest of the group at first. Redheart had honestly expected it to be Coco at first to be the most shy. “She’s not wrong,” Redheart confirmed softly and she flicked her light pink tail as she watched Tenderheart put up her green mane in a messy bun. “Lots to learn. That being said, I don’t think I’d do anything different. It’s a great opportunity for us to help our fellow ponies and hopefully save lives.” Redheart was still reeling two years in about how expensive her schooling was. She was going definitely be feeling it for the next few years. She was fairly lucky her mom and dad helped pay for half. She had considered joining up with the Royal Guard for a long time. They had promised to pay her nursing school after four years in the Guard as a medic pony. Tenderheart had gotten a scholarship for her to the school. Redheart wasn’t entirely privvy to all the details, but it was something for poor families to send their kids to school. Which Redheart didn’t judge. Wasn’t any of her business and Redhearts family certainly wasn’t all that well off themselves. “Oh buck,” Tenderheart muttered and she glanced at a clock the cafe the four had decided to go to had above the wall. “Our class starts in an hour. We’re gonna have to leave in five minutes to make it to our subway train.” Coco grimaced slightly. She personally hated the subway. Too many ponies all crammed on top of each other and all up in her business. Wasn’t natural to her. And then there was always the occasional fight between ponies on the subway, which she was grateful was rare for her to witness. “Our shift starts in forty five minutes. You know how Suri is,” Grace commented and started giggling to herself. “You know, she’s Suri-ously a bitch.” Grace continued to laugh at her joke as the other three gave light hearted chuckles. Had to give Grace some wins otherwise she tended to get all mopey and depressed. And that really helped nopony because the other mare would end up surrounded by dozens of empty ice cream containers and a bottle of wine. The brain freeze would come later and the hang over quickly following the next day along with the vomiting and constant bathroom trips. Redheart was all too familiar with that whole scenario as Grace either ended up on her couch somehow or Coco’s. Rarely Tenderhearts because the other mare apparently didn’t baby her enough. Or whatever the phrase the half drunk Grace had stated that one time. “I’ll catch you two girls later,” Grace winked as she slapped down some bits on the table. “My half of the tab. Have fun at school you two. Let me know if you run into any cute stallions. I could use some stability in my life.” Tenderheart rolled her eyes as they all slapped down bits and pushed out their chairs. Redheart was really not looking forward to being crammed up next to some pony for the next ten to twenty minutes at least. If the two nurse students were lucky, at least. “Oh goody,” Redheart faintly made out a stallion in the back mutter. “Another day in hell.” Redheart and Tenderheart both shared an annoyed look as they sat a table in the front of the class. A fake pony skeleton was hanging from the ceiling in the corner or Redheart hoped it was a fake at least. Be a bit awkward if a pony had agreed to donate their body to science or whatever and here they were, hanging in a classroom for everypony to see. That would be a horrible fate or at least it was to Redheart. Redheart adjusted her hat and sighed softly as Tenderheart took a sip of her smoothie. “Alright everypony, morning!” A mid forties looking stallion trotted in with a suit and tie. “Sorry I’m late. Had a meeting with the Dean. How is everypony today?” “Good Mr. Spectacle,” the room chorused as he sat down at his desk. “How are you?” “Good, thanks,” Bright Spectacle sat down at his desk, adjusting his glasses. “I hope nopony is missing today. It’s your education and money, not mine.” Redheart zoned out as he went down attendance of the ponies in the class. Attendance was always a boring and tedious process to her. The last teacher from her first year just had them sign a sheet when they walked in class every day and she just shoved it in a drawer after everypony was sat down. “Alright everypony, for the next four months, you’ll be sent to work alongside some doctors and nurses to learn some hooves on experience. Hence the nurses caps I distributed out last week with your cutie marks on them. Redheart, Tenderheart and several others are being assigned Manehatten Central Hospital,” Mr. Spectacle searched through some sheets and Redheart crossed her hooves. Manehatten Central was a fairly big hospital. As the name implied, it was in the center of Manehatten and got the most injured ponies out of the other eight hospitals in the town. Mostly stabbing victims, ponies in need of surgery right away, burn victims, the like were sent there. Redheart had heard stories that there was never a dull moment there. Obviously, they had a large budget to suit their needs. Redheart idly prayed she got assigned to somepony in the ER. She enjoyed the chaos of running around and calming scared ponies down. Her kind and calm personality did help out a lot with stuff like that. “Naturally, to get you prepared, we’re gonna go over some codes you’ll hear in hospitals. You’ll have most likely heard these already I hope, but it’s always best to go over them,” Mr. Spectacle spun his chair to face his students. “What’s a code red?” “A fire or possibility of a fire?” A gold mare in the back called out hesitantly. “Correct, good work Golden Glow. What is a code black and what should you do in a code black?” “A code black is a security, such a bomb or a pony with a weapon. You’re supposed to help escort patients out if there’s a bomb, following Royal Guard and police instructions. If there’s a pony with a weapon, we’re supposed to lock ourselves in a room with patients, close the blinds and shut the lights, placing ourselves between our patients and the threat if necessary,” Redheart recited and the teacher nodded. “You don’t have to place yourself in front of the patients, but everything else is right.” Redheart didn’t necessarily agree with that but she opted to stay silent. This time at least. She was well known around her school for defending all of her opinions aggressively, for better or worse. Tenderheart did answer a few, which made the white mare proud of her friend for that. Tenderheart did have a tendency to get overlooked by most of her peers, which aggravated Redheart a bit. She didn’t necessarily like all the competition some students had with each other. In Redhearts eyes, they were all there with the shared purpose of saving lives. She personally felt that should take precedence over some stupid grudge but unfortunately not all shared her opinion on the matter. “I hope I get to work with foals,” Tenderheart whispered and nudged Redheart as the white pony sat quietly. “Freaking love kids. The maternity ward would be nice.” “I hope I get the ER. The chaos of the emergency room sounds more my speed than anything else, honestly. But kids do sound nice, I suppose.” While Redheart didn’t have a problem with kids, she loved kids. Kids were freaking adorable unless they were screaming in your face. She didn’t really think the maternity ward of the hospital would be crazy enough to suit her. Redheart sat and allowed some other students to answer his other questions. Redheart had really hoped nopony would fail on what a code blue was. Even normal civilians knew what a code blue was. “I’ll be posting the assigned sections from the hospitals later after class so be sure to check the board. Now open your books to page one thousand, five hundred and seventeen,” Mr. Spectacle instructed and Redheart took a sharp inhale. She had a hatred for the thick, heavy books she had to buy. They were unwieldy, large and hard to carry. Her old saddlebags had already ripped from the weight causing her to have to get specially made ones with enchantments to make them more sturdy. Thank Celestia for magic and unicorns, Redheart licked her lips as she started flipping through pages, Tenderheart peering over her shoulder and Redheart pushed the book between them to share. “Thanks,” Tenderheart muttered and flicked a strand of mane away from her eyes. The mare was too proud to ask for help when it came to the bits area, but Redheart had kinda figured she wouldn’t be getting any of the books from the store on the first floor. Redheart had already made a note to buy Tenderheart them for her birthday next week unless Coco had beaten her to it. Redheart stretched her hind legs under the table and sighed as she felt her legs start to become tingly from sitting still for too long. She’d probably have to drag Grace out for another jog on her next day off. “Salad bar again today during lunch?” Tenderheart asked and Redheart nodded. “It’s not even been a full hour and you’re already thinking about food?” Redheart teased with a small smirk. “Yes, I get enough of fast food smells at work. I feel like I’m getting unhealthy by just being there.” “That’s what you get for working at Burger Queen,” Tenderheart retorted with a grin and Redheart chuckled. “How you can afford a studio apartment in downtown Manehatten on a fast food paycheck is miles beyond me.” “I’m stingy with my money.” That, and working two jobs somehow while studying. It did leave Redheart little time to socialize or have time to do something she liked, but she practically lived off coffee and energy bars. But she did know it would pay off once she graduated. Especially since being a nurse paid good money. She personally had her eyes on a nice house in a nice area of New Colt City, preferably with a colt friend and maybe a foal if she was lucky enough. Or maybe Neigh Jersey, where most of her family lived. Excluding her parents, of course who still lived in Manehatten. She was incredibly close to her parents, visiting every Sunday for family dinner. Redheart shook her head quickly and went back to studying with Tenderheart on the topic of Microbiology. Work first, think about personal life later. Author's Note Name: Redheart. Eye color: Blue. Coat color: White. Mane color: Pink. Age: 19(currently) Element: ? Motto: Be kind, for everypony you meet is fighting a battle. Bio: Redheart is a kind hearted nurse who enjoys helping others and doing her best to save lives of everypony who comes into her hospital, whether it's an adult pony to a scared foal. She was born in Manehatten and spent all of her life in the city. She is currently in nursing school alongside her friend, Tenderheart. She is part of Grace Manewitzs friend group along with Coco Pommel and Tenderheart. The four often meet up for breakfast at Misty's Cafe every morning. Redheart currently works at Burger Queen and a hobby store. While kind and friendly, she can be stern and strict with those who are loud or disruptive in her hospital. She is incredibly competent and intelligent. She later helps Sunset and the royal guards search for a missing foal with the goal of reuniting the family, later using her apartment to store the child for the time being. She later becomes an Element of Harmony, though which one is currently unknown. Redheart is the second strongest of the elements and fastest on the ground. She and group of five other nurses were later sent to Baltimare to help assist in cleaning up the town after a series of tornadoes. Redheart often can be seen playing as mediator when members of the Elements are fighting, later working with Berry and Flitter to get over their differences. Redheart enjoys relaxing at home after long shifts at the hospital and her other jobs or with her friends at various places around Manehatten. She is incredible close with her parents and can often be found at their house every Sunday for family dinner. She is an only child. Redheart doesn't handle death well, occasionally using alcohol to help cope with the occasional patient dying and suffers from depression. She and Berry Punch can often be found together drinking their troubles away and are very close friends, later delivering her friends foal. She later administers a DNA test on Sunset upon the unicorns request, the two being stunned by the results. Redheart later takes part in helping defend Canterlot against the changelings and witnessed the Queens defeat. Redheart was instrumental in talking one of her friends down from killing the Queen. Redheart was later seen in the background helping clean up Canterlot and administering medical aid to changelings and ponies alike. Redheart is a firm believer of the Neightingale Pledge and stands by it wholeheartedly. She only breaks the "do no harm" rule once. She moves to Canterlot later on, traveling by train with Sunset, White Lightning and Silver Spanner and the royal guards, later forcing the train to stop to help an injured mare on the side of the tracks. She thoroughly enjoys White Lightnings company and jokes, Flitters generous spirit, Silver Spanners intelligence and honest opinion, Sunset's impressive talent with magic and Berry Punchs loyal personality. She later has multiple various arguments with Silver Spanner over untested medical equipment, leading to multiple tense altercations between the two. Abilities: Redheart is highly intelligent and strong. She is skilled in the medical field and is the Elements healer. Weaknesses: Her depression can hinder her abilities. Redheart is very hard on herself when she believes she failed a patient or loses one.
A diamond and a pegasusCotton Cloudy paced back and forth outside her classroom, occasionally glancing at her teacher, Miss Cheerilee and her older sister talking as White Lightning gestured at Cotton rapidly a few times. What they were saying, she had no idea. Cotton coughed into her hoof as she sat down against the wall, listening to hoof steps as a small pink filly trotted up. “Hi,” the filly stopped next to Cotton Cloudy. “Hello, Diamond Tiara.” The pink filly sat down with her tiara held in her hoof, idly toying with it as the pair sat silently together. The two didn’t really talk to each other in general, unless it was in passing. Diamond Tiara wasn’t that well liked by her classmates except Silver Spoon. Cotton Cloudy stayed to herself unless it was Dinky or Noi. “So what did you do?” Diamond asked finally and Cotton glanced at her for a few seconds. “What makes you think I did anything in general? Maybe my older sister just wants to ask how I’m doing in school? I am new around here, after all.” Diamond Tiara rolled her eyes. Five months really wasn’t all that new to her. The white pegasus gave a flutter of her wings and coughed loudly into her hoof, Diamond quickly scooching away a few feet as she eyed her warily. “Don’t get me sick. I despise being sick,” Diamond scoffed and Cotton Cloudy rolled her eyes. “Hmph. You’re quiet. You should be grateful I am here. I am in need of company and here you here.” “And how’s that?” Cotton challenged and she flicked her pale blue mane aside. “I hear things. I hear a lot about you.” Everypony in class knew Diamond Tiara, for better or worse. She had a reputation of being ruthless to those she deemed an enemy. Miss Cheerilee might be the new teacher at the Ponyville school, but Diamond Tiara called the shots among the playground. Cotton Cloudy hadn’t had any real interaction with the filly, preferring to watch alongside a filly she met named Dinky, an equally if not more shy pony. Dinky rarely spoke, opting to use hoof gestures or nodding to get her point across. Cotton Cloudy had honestly thought she was mute until she heard her ask her softly for a quill. Cotton Cloudy partially wondered if she was like that at home time with her mom, a gray mailmare pegasus that Cotton Cloudy was quite fond of, as was most of the town she had noted. Not that anypony would say anything. Thunderlane, Rainbow Dash, Sunshower, Clear Skies, Berry Punch and Open Skies were quick to defend her if outsiders said anything about Derpy. Berry Punch honestly was intimidating. Cotton only knew her due to Berry being one of Miss Cheerilee’s sisters. Berry Punch was a tall mulberry colored earth pony with a cutie mark of grapes and a strawberry with purple eyes and a raspberry colored mane. She was fairly nice, Cotton supposed. Nice until she got mad, which was fairly often. She had a temper according to Miss Cheerilee’s other sister, Cherry Berry. One of four, that is. “Equestria to Cotton Cloudy,” Diamond waved a hoof in front of her face and Cotton Cloudy jumped. “Oooooookay then.” “Sorry, I was thinking,” Cotton answered and eyed Diamond Tiara. “Why are you talking to me, let alone being nice? According to others, nice isn’t something you do.” Diamond Tiara rolled her eyes as she sat her tiara on her head, brushing some of her mane aside as she stared at the wall in front of them. “I have no real reason to be mean to you. Blackmailing you would serve me no purpose, just like it wouldn’t with that unicorn friend of yours. And I am perfectly capable of kindness, just my own brand of kindness. Ask Noi or Dinky or Silver Spoon or- well, just those three really,” Diamond Tiara shot her a smug smile. “Unless you’d rather I manipulate you into doing what I wish, which would be a pretty weird thing to want.” “Hmm.” “Really, you should be thanking me. Just imagine how much your popularity is gonna shoot up because of you being around me. Ponies pay attention to that sorta thing. Now come with me,” Diamond Tiara commanded and stood up, holding out a hoof. “Why?” “Because I am graciously offering you a shake and my time. If you need further persuading,” Diamond pulled a bag of bits out of her pink saddlebags and dropped them with a clang in front of Cotton. “I have more back home from what Daddy gave me if you wish for more money.” Cottons eyes widened as she stared at the bag of bits, imagine the amount of candy she could buy. Or toys. Or save up for a bunch of video games. “You can pick it up if you wish,” Diamond watched Cotton hesitantly pick up the heavy bag and she breathed out slowly in awe. “Now do we have an agreement?” Cotton Cloudy opened her mouth to answer yes when White Lightning trotted out of her classroom with Cheerilee behind her. “Hey kiddo, who’s this?” White Lightning rubbed her sisters head with a hoof and smirked. “Hello there, little one. And who might you be?” “That is Diamond-” Cheerilee started and White Lightning shot her a look. “Let her speak for herself, teacher,” White Lightning narrowed her eyes and Cheerilee scowled slightly but complied. “My name is White Lightning.” “Diamond Tiara. My father is Filthy Rich,” Diamond answered and White Lightning tilted her head. “Filthy rich or Filthy Rich?” White asked and the filly stared in confusion. “I’m....not following,” Diamond muttered and White glanced at her sister. “She means his name means multiple things. She didn’t know his name was Filthy Rich.” “Oh.” White Lightning tilted her head in confusion at the bits Cotton held in her hoof and she picked up the bag, eyes widening slowly. “Where in Equestria did you get all these bits?” White stared down at her sister. “There’s like, two hundred bits in here Cotton.” “Me. I’m giving them as a gift of our friendship,” Diamond Tiara wrapped a hoof around Cotton and pulled the filly closer to her. “Isn’t that right?” “Uh yeah! Absolutely,” Cotton nodded and White gave them both a doubtful as she raised an eyebrow slowly. “Alright then,” White answered after a long couple minutes of awkward silence as she tossed the bag into her saddlebags. “I’ll hold onto this until we get home. Ready to go?” “Actually,” Cotton shared a look with Diamond and the filly tilted her head at her curiously. “Can we stay a bit longer? We were gonna get shakes at Sugarcube Corner.” White gave them both a surprised look as she chewed on her lower lip. She personally didn’t care, more so surprised she was asked. Cotton rarely asked to stay around in Ponyville, opting to head straight to Canterlot. “Okay. But two hours,” White held up two feathers. “Two. Not three, not four, but two. And don’t eat too much, dinner will be ready soon and you know how Sprinkle gets about us not eating his food, capiche?” “Yes sister,” Cotton bowed her head respectfully. “Thank you, Whitey.” “Anytime kiddo. I’ll be around town. Might as well explore Ponyville, eh? After all, it is Silver Spanners home. I owe her a chance to say I’ve looked around,” White Lightning chuckled and her wings fluttered a few times as Cheerilee froze. “Y-you know Silver Spanner?” Cheerilee asked and White Lightning shot her a wary look before nodding slowly. “I am a friend of hers. I grew up with her.” White Lightning tilted her head before smiling finally at the mulberry mare. Cheerilee had a pinkish mane and tail with a cutie mark of three smiling sunflowers. White Lightning didn’t know much about the teacher other than what Cotton Cloudy tells her. “Wanna get a drink then?” White suggested and stretched out her legs with a grin. “I could use something with sugar, but don’t tell Sprinkle. He would be upset.” “He? Isn’t Sprinkle a-?” White Lightning gave her a sister a warning look and shook her head. “Yeah, he. He would be.” “Some ponies are not as accepting of two mares dating like my friends are,” White Lightning whispered into her sisters ear. “That is all. We will call Sprinkle a he around others we do not know. We can discuss this further at home, promise. So Cheerilee, lead the way?” “As you wish, ma’am.” White Lightning tossed her sister and Diamond Tiara some bits. “Have fun, you two.” Diamond Tiara was admittedly a bit surprised Cotton Cloudy had even agreed to come with her. She was even more surprised at how many ponies said hello to her, even Bon Bon grudgingly said hello to the two. And Bon Bon almost never said to the two. Though she would never admit, Bon Bon did scare Diamond Tiara. The cream coated mare had cold blue eyes that intimidated all of Ponyville, mares and stallions alike. Diamond Tiara wasn’t aware of whatever Bon Bons story was, but she did know it was most likely an interesting one. Diamond Tiara glanced back at the third filly they had somehow picked up. How, she didn’t know, but she was somewhat okay with it as she watched Dinky carrying a battered stuffed elephant on her back. Dinky quietly made eye contact with Diamond and the earth pony gave a subtle nod her direction. Diamond Tiara hadn’t really seen any use in manipulating Dinky. There was no point. And Diamond Tiara did have a grudging respect for the unicorn. A few classmates openly teased the filly and Cheerilee would quickly shut them down. Honestly faster than she did with Diamond Tiara herself. Not many would keep coming back to school, but Dinky somehow did. Diamond Tiara did value strength over anything and she had a faint feeling Dinky possessed a fair amount. Dinky had at first turned down Cotton Cloudy suggesting she came with once the two ran across the filly sitting next to the fountain with a purple pegasus. But not even Dinky could apparently turn down free ice cream. Dinky wasn’t really used to other ponies giving her stuff. Usually only her hard working mom or dad did. “I presume that’s yours?” Diamond looked at the elephant and Dinky nodded as she hugged it. “It looks very nice.” Dinky said nothing as she hugged animal tighter and nuzzled it before she placed it on her back, the blonde filly following after Diamond and Cotton into her gingerbread themed store. The three noted an absent Pinkie Pie as Mrs. Cake went about cleaning the counter that the pink ball of chaotic energy usually manned. Dinky was admittedly a fan of the party planner earth pony. Pinkie was always nice to Dinky and her mom, randomly dropping by or helping Dinky pick out gifts for her mom on Derpy’s birthday or Mother’s Day or Hearths Warming. “You first,” Diamond nodded and Dinky nervously stared at Mrs. Cake. “Hello sweetheart,” Mrs. Cake propped herself up on the counter and stared down at Dinky. “What can I get an angel like you?” Dinky looked to Cotton and whispered something in her ear and the pegasus nodded as Dinky nuzzled her neck. “Dinky wants a strawberry ice cream with fudge on top and a cherry please. I’ll have a cotton candy shake with extra whipped cream please,” Cotton told the older mare and Mrs. Cake gave a warm smile as she nodded. “And for you?” The blue earth pony looked to Diamond. “Just a chocolate shake with crushed up coconut.” “Coming right up dears. Grab a table and I’ll bring them right out to you.” Diamond took her normal spot, a table by a window so she could watch the ponies going about their daily lives. Ponywatching was an odd hobby of hers, or at least it was according to Silver Spoon. It was a bit refreshing to her at least, being able to see what a normal pony did with their daily life. Sea Swirl was always at thw aquarium at three thirty. Communicating with the dolphins, she claims. That was probably the case. She did have a cutie mark of a dolphin, after all. Caramel was always losing stuff and getting lectured by his marefriend, Junebug. The stallion was well known for losing everything, from random seeds to his quills. Diamond Tiara sat across from the Dinky and Cotton, watching the unicorn hugging her stuffed animal tightly like she was trying to suffocate it. “She hugs Ell when she’s nervous,” Cotton commented and glanced at Dinky. “Helps her feel safe. Breath.” Dinky nodded and took a deep breath before letting it out. “Here you three go,” Mrs. Cake slid two shakes and an ice cream to their respective owners along with a pill in a wrapper to Dinky. “And here’s the dairy aid pill your mom dropped off. We don’t want you sick, now do we?” Dinky nodded and Diamond watched her rip open the package and toss a pill into her muzzle before swallowing it. Diamond Tiara couldn’t imagine just taking a pill a stranger gave. Then again, Mrs. Cake wasn’t really a stranger. “You have good taste,” Diamond noted and idly smirked as Dinky’s cheeks turned a faint pink. “No offense, but I’ve never heard her speak. What’s her voice sound like?” Cotton hummed and tapped her chin a few times as Dinky gave her a subtle nod of approval. “Soft,” Cotton decided on. “Imagine if Princess Celestia combined with say, Fluttershy. You’d be close to a Dinky.” “Hm,” Diamond hummed and stretched out a hoof to Dinky as the unicorn flinched and ducked behind Cottons wing. “What the...?” “She thinks you’re gonna hit her,” Cotton translated and nudged the unicorn. “She’s not a huge fan of being touched unless it’s me or Mrs. Hooves or Dr. Hooves. She won’t hurt you, I can guarantee that.” Diamond stayed silent as she watched Dinky come from the wing and stared at the hoof in front of her. “Hoof bump,” Diamond Tiara answered after a long moment. “You tap your hoof against mine.” Dinky tapped her hoof against Diamonds and the earth pony gave a small smile as she nodded. “You two are now my friends. Nopony dares mess with me so they will not mess with you either. I don’t have many friends,” Diamond Tiara licked some whipped cream off her shake. “If you wish, of course.” “I’m fine with that,” Dinky muttered and Diamonds eyes widened. She had expected Cotton to speak for her again. And Cottons description of her voice had been on point. “What about my bullies? Or Cottons?” Diamonds eyes hardened slightly as Dinky shivered and Cotton gulped. “Leave them to me. Names.” Dinky always did find angry Diamond scary. If she was telling the truth about them being friends, she was grateful to be on her side than against her. Dinky inhaled as she and Cotton shared a look as Dinky hugged her elephant before rattling off names. “Silver Spoon and I will have words,” Diamond promised and patted Dinkys hoof. “Your ice cream is melting.” Dinky stared down at her melting ice cream. “Oh, oops.” Author's Note Name: Diamond Tiara Age: 9(currently) Mane color: Pale, light grayish violet with white streaks. Coat color: Pale magenta. Eye color: Blue. Motto: Never improve up perfection- and I'm as perfect as they get! Bio: Diamond Tiara is a socially awkward pony who's only friend was Silver Spoon until she met Cotton Cloudy and Dinky. Diamond Tiara is the only child of Filthy Rich and Spoiled Rich, though most of the town has a rumor that Diamond Tiara is a product of an affair Filthy Rich may or may not have had with Nurse Sweetheart, a pony who looks identical to Diamond. Diamond Tiara often tries to use her families wealth to buy her way into her classmates affections, often failing to those who are smart enough to realize her intentions. Diamond Tiara is considered cold and aloof by many who don't know her. She is charge of the school news paper, The Foal Free Press and uses it to spy on those she deems a threat. She, surprisingly to most, considers Cotton Cloudy and Dinky to be her friends, quickly accepting the two into her circle. She later secretly helps set up Feathweight with Dinky, unbeknownst to the two. She considers Featherweight to be her greatest asset and employs him to document everything. Diamond Tiara is a shrewd and intelligent filly. She isn't above blackmailing those she deems a threat to her friends. Diamond Tiara cares about her friends in her own unique way by blackmailing ponies who bully them, especially Dinky. Physical violence is beneath her and she considers uncouth. To Diamond Tiara, using wits and manipulation to defeat her foes is much more enjoyable than physically attacking them. Diamond Tiara is later seen with Dinky, Cotton Cloudy and Silver Spoon at the Summer Sun Celebration. The four witnessed the return of Nightmare Moon and were quickly hidden by Sprinkle Medley after wards, being protected by the pegasus. Diamond Tiara has an extreme dislike of Apple Bloom, Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo simply for them having much more stable families than she currently does. She considers Sunset a role model and respects power greatly, something the Princess has an abundance of. Diamond Tiara is ultimately a loyal subject of Princess Celestia, Princess Sunset, Princess Cadence and later Princess Luna. She later sneaks out to follow the unicorn and her friends through the Everfree forest, witnessing Sunset's subsequent defeat. She has a great respect for Sunset's raw magical power and influence and is her ultimate goal to be noticed by the Princess. She has several failed (and occasionally comedic) attempts to get in close proximity to Princess Sunset. Diamond Tiara is a close friend of Princess Luna after the Lunar Princess visits her in her dreams. Diamond Tiara later secretly travels to Canterlot to witness the Canterlot Wedding and is protected by a royal guard. Diamond Tiara later attempts to blackmail Raven Inkwell into getting her a private audience with Princess Sunset, to no avail and her anger. Diamond Tiara has a cutie mark of a tiara, later studying long dead philanthropists. Many Ponyvillians believe she has a future as Ponyvilles mayor. Abilities: Diamond Tiara is surprisingly calculating and shrewd for a filly her age. She is considered the leader of her small group of fillies and colts, often displaying her leadership skills. She is skilled in manipulation and blackmail. Weaknesses: Her manipulation and blackmail often leaves others with a bad opinion of her. Her many failed attempts to bribe friends often leaves her classmates distrusting of her.