“Hold on folks, Diamond Tiara is trying something. Oh! Is that the beginning of an attempt at the triple-mid-air-spin-split-landing-thingamabob?"
It sure is, Silver Spoon. It’s a very difficult move to master. Let’s see if I can do it! A one, and a two, and a-
“Aaaaagh!”
“DT? Are you alright DT?” Silver Spoon skated onto the ice as soon as she saw me hit it face first.
“Yeah, I’m alright... Thankfully.” Silver Spoon helps me over to the edge of the now frozen pool. I don’t see why she’s so concerned though. It only stings a little bit.
“How about I attempt some moves for you while you rest for a bit. Alright, DT?”
Dazzle suddenly comes running up with a first aid kit. “I’m fine, Dazzle. Really, I am. You can calm down. I will sit down if it will please you two however.” Suddenly a screeching hello sounds from the distance. I surely don’t need to say it at this point, but it’s...
“Hello, Button Mash.” Silver Spoon leaves me in the care of Dazzle and unlocks the gate for him. “If you’re here to try to get Diamond to play against you again, she’s most likely not in the mood right now.”
“Nah, just saw you two ice skating and thought it might be fun to watch. I think I’ll go sit over by DT.” He trots very fast over here, nearly slipping and falling a few times. What is up with him today? He sits down next to me as Dazzle curls up beside him to give him the stink eye. I don't think he's over the punch incident just yet.
I pick up my kitty and pull him away from our guest. “It’s okay, Dazzle, if anyone is going to hurt him today it may as well be me.” Mashed Potatoes gives me an indignant look. He better have a good reason for bothering us today.
An awkward silence ensues as we watch Silver Spoon pull off some spinning jumps. Normally I would clap my hooves, but with Button Mash there it just continues to be awkward. It gets so awkward that Dazzle goes off to get some snacks. That’s when Button strikes.
“Have you ever heard of the Magic Comic Shop?” My only response is to look at him with intrigue, as if to say go on. “Ok, so... There’s been rumors of a magic comic shop somewhere within this area of Equestria. Apparently this is where various comic authors make magic versions of some of their greatest comics where you can be transported into a world where... Well... You can literally be your favourite heroes.” I can’t believe my ears, that sounds... so...
“Stupid, there’s no such thing, as awesome as it would be.” In truth, I think it sounds awesome. But the idea of such a thing existing sounds stupid in itself.
“Ok then, Comic-edian... If you don’t come with me to search for these rumors... How can you call yourself a true comic lover? Oh, right, you're not.”
He’s challenging me, isn’t he? He’s so challenging me. “Fine, Mashed Potatoes... I’ll play this little rumor game. But as soon as we figure out this is all fake, you get a good thumping on the noggin! Got it?” I hold up my hooves threateningly, he seems to understand but doesn’t show any fear. Is he really that confident?
“Deal, I’ll see you in two hours. Be sure to be in your “disguise” at our local comic shop then.”
I’m about to retort with how my disguise is better than anything he could come up with, but then Dazzle returns with delicious snacks. So I eat some. That retort will have to wait for later.
About an hour later, Silver left the mansion and headed for home. Sometimes I wonder if I should just tell her about my like for comics. She doesn’t seem like she’d reject me for it. But most fillies aren’t as nice to me as Silver. Well, genuinely nice. Now in my room, I notice Dazzle pigging out on an ice cream cone.
“Dazzle, remember what happened the last time you had to go to a doctor to get your check up, and you had to get your blood sugar checked?” He looks from the ice cream cone to me, then back to the ice cream cone. He continues licking away at it. “You don’t even care do you? I guess that’s reassuring in a sense. You don’t judge me for liking comics, in fact, you enjoy them. I guess you wouldn’t really care that it’s considered uncool by most.”
I ponder to myself exactly what I should do, should I tell Silver and risk her not liking me anymore? Or should I let her know? Ugh... Why does life have to be so complicated? I can feel Dazzle tugging at my leg, he’s hugging the comic from last night. He really likes them doesn’t he? Maybe I should be more like him... Enjoying it without hesitation. Still, it’s not that simple in real life. Ponies will judge you for the littlest things. I know, because I can also be guilty of that at times.
Still... I know what I’m gonna have to do now.
When I got to the comic shop, Button was clearly in a great amount of shock. As he should be. After all, I wasn’t wearing my disguise.
“Is... Is that going to be alright DT? You know yesterday I only really needed money for that one comic, I wasn’t really going to make you pay every month for the rest of your life.” He looks at me sheepishly.
“Yeah, I know. I also know that this has been kept a secret long enough. Diamond Tiara isn’t scared of being known to like comics. Diamond Tiara isn’t scared of the public opinion. Diamond Tiara isn’t scared of-”
“Button Mash thinks Diamond Tiara is doing the third person thing she does when she’s scared.”
Ugh, is it that obvious? The amused look on Button Mash says yes, yes it is. “Well, here goes... well... everything.” I step into the comic shop, and to my surprise, everyone is too wrapped up in the comics to notice me. I walk up to the counter and ring the bell. Only a few pairs of eyes look in my direction, and if they had any dislike for me they didn’t show it.
“Ah, Miss... Hm... I don’t believe I’ve seen you here before. What is your name, by chance?”
I’m sure the look on my face must have changed from fear to terror at the mention of names, as he’s looking at me very strangely. Button nudges me slightly, and for a moment he almost seems to be giving me a reassuring smile before he nudges me again.
“Erm, my name is... D-Diamond. Diamond Tiara.” That apparently got their attention. Of course they’d recognise my name. Who in Ponyville wouldn’t? They group around us, in a makeshift circle, and give me piercing looks. Then one of the younger colts speaks up.
“Throws awesome birthday parties AND likes comics? There is so much I didn’t know about you, Miss Tiara!”
“Wow, maybe if you put in a good word for us, those Canterlot fillies will lighten up on us!”
“What’s your favourite comic, Diamond? Mine’s the Power Ponies comics!”
They didn’t seem to be mad at me for all the times I made fun of their comics, but why would that be? If I was in their position, I... Hm... I’m not sure what I’d do actually.
Button Mash however, seems pretty satisfied with himself. “You see, DT, much of the comic community started out kind of like you. Many of the ponies here had kept their like for comics secret as well. A lot of them can see where you're coming from, and I’m sure at least a couple saw your like for comics before you even revealed it to them.” Was it really that apparent? Now that I think about it though, Snips and Snails did try to approach me a couple of times with comics, I didn’t think they’d be smart enough to tell when I was lying about my like for them though...
“Now everyone, quiet down please.” Shushing the crowd, Button Mash explains that I’m here to investigate the rumors of the Magic Comic Shop, that instantly got their attention. It seems everyone had a story to tell about the place, but no one knew exactly where it was. The closest we got to finding its location is that it’s somewhere in the vast city of Canterlot. No one could give an exact location however, and Canterlot is large. Larger than you’d expect. With all these different theories on where in Canterlot it could be, there’s no way we’d be able to find it without an exact location by someone who has been there.
Eventually the conversation leads into our favourite comics, and what they think is going to happen next. I’ve never felt so overwhelmed at any point in my life. But I feel kind of happy too, it feels like getting all these feelings and opinions off my chest has really helped me. However...
“As fun as it is watching you young comic lovers gush about your favorite comics, it’s getting awfully late. You younglings should be getting home soon.”
“Oh... I see... Darn...” I’ll admit, I had a lot of fun here today. I still wish I could get an exact location on this place. It certainly seems to have a lot of mystery surrounding it.
“Don’t worry DT, I’m sure we’ll be able to find it soon enough! Besides, you made plenty of new friends today, right?”
When did he learn to read me so well? Usually only Silver Spoon, Dazzle, Randolph, and my Father can do that. I guess that means we have become friends to an extent.
“Alright, let’s head home.”
On the way home, I notice how nice the stars are shining in the sky tonight. It’s almost like they are proud of me for confronting my fear, even though I know that can’t be the case. It also reminds me that Silver Spoon was going to do some solo stargazing near here tonight. Maybe this would be the perfect time to tell her about my love for comics, before the news spreads to the rest of the school.
I reach the top of the hill where she usually goes stargazing, Button Mash had already headed home at a split in the path. So I go up to greet her alone.
“Hi Silver Spoon, you wanna-”
“EEEEK! Uh, I mean... Hi Diamond! What are you doing here?”
She turns to face me, but looks to be hiding something behind her hooves. I have a suspicion, but... Nah.
“Hey, Silver Spoon, I’ve got something to tell you.” I sit down next to her, take a deep breath, and blurt out my love for comic books. She stares at me, and starts laughing. I can’t believe it, is she laughing at me? I thought we were better friends than that, I thought-
“I like comic’s too, DT!”
Oh... She does? “Oh... You do? That’s great! Maybe, and this is a big maybe. Maybe you know something about this rumor of this Magic Comic Shop. I talked to everyone and no one seems to-”
“I know where it is.”
“Know... where... it is.” Things remain silent between us for a few seconds. Then I enrap her in a hug. “Oh... I was so silly to keep this a secret from you, and everyone else too!”
“I guess I was too, I didn’t think you’d like it though.”
“I guess we were both wrong. I bet Button will love to know you know where it is.”
“Wait... You told Button BEFORE me?”
“Um... He kind of found out on his own.” I smile at her sheepishly.
“Who else knows?”
“By tomorrow, everyone.”
“You are much braver than me. I’m going to tell everyone tomorrow too now.”
For another half an hour, we watch the stars. It was a nice day. I hope to have more like it. Maybe that birthday wish really is working?
DAY 16 END