Cotton 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.