“So… what are we doing again Daddy?” Diamond Tiara asked as she followed her father.
“Oh nothing much. I just have a surprise for you is all,” Filthy Rich answered.
“A surprise?” Diamond Tiara repeated before gasping a bit, “Did you get those Cutie Mark Losers out of Ponyville? Or better yet, are we finally leaving this backwater town?!”
Filthy Rich could only give a mental groan at that, but he kept repeating to himself ‘it’s for her own good.’
“Here we are,” he smiled as they were in a cabin somewhere in a forest outside of Ponyville that wasn’t Everfree.
“....Is my surprise in there?”
Filthy Rich nodded in response.
“Then what’re we waiting out here for?! Let’s go in already!” Diamond Tiara exclaimed impatiently as she ran to teh door. Her dad opened it up and let her in, but as soon as she was inside, he locked it and stood there.
---
Diamond Tiara looked around the cabin, there wasn’t exactly much in it, except maybe a few chairs.
“...I don’t see anything,” Diamond Tiara noted with a slight frown, “...Where’s my surprise!?”
“Hi,” Timid said with a smile as she walked in from the shadows.
“What?! YOU?!” Diamond Tiara exclaimed, “Daddy, what’s one of those Cutie Mark Losers doing here?!”
“She wants to talk with you.” he informed from outside, “And you will not be leaving until you get the consoling you deserve!”
“Ugh… this again?!” Diamond Tiara groaned, “And why is this Timid Birdbrain here?”
“She’s here to console you a-”
“Wait...She’s gonna be my consoler?” Diamond Tiara asked before laughing, “Don’t make me laugh! She doesn’t even have her Cutie Mark yet!”
“Yes. I. Do.” Timid responded simply, not anger, not annoyed, just in a ‘matter of fact’ sort of tone.
“...Prove it,” Diamond Tiara frowned.
“Okay,” Timid nodded as she lifted her skirt up a bit, just enough to show the spoiled filly her Cutie Mark, “See?”
“...So, your Cutie Mark makes you one of those annoying ‘feeling ponies’? Lame…”
“I’ve seen others like you.” Timid informed, sitting down in a chair, “She changed her tune after...certain events, and has become a better pony for it. Somepony I’d be glad to possibly call… my sister.”
“...Let me guess, another Blank fl-”
“No. She was a lot like you, only… she saw the error of her ways.”
“Oh please. What did she ‘possibly do that was so bad?’” Diamond tiara asked sarcastically.
“...Poison someone.” Timid responded.
“...Excuse me?” Diamond Tiara asked in near surprise.
“She had poisoned someone… by her ex-father’s orders. Since she changed… I want to believe there can be a small chance of change for anypony. Well… almost anypony. But I don’t want to get into that,” Timid informed, as she motioned for Diamond Tiara to sit.
“I’m not going to speak to you anymore.”
“You’re not leaving until you do.”
---
It had been two hours since Diamond Tiara had arrived and had been locked up inside of the cabin with Timid. And almost throughout the entire time, the spoiled filly was ‘bored’ by what Timid had to say and stuff.
“Are we done now?”
“Not until you talk to me.”
“There’s nothing to talk about, Timid Birdbrain,” Diamond Tiara scoffed, “Like I told all those other counselors, there’s nothing wrong with me.”
“It’s Timid Swallow, first off. Second off… from what Applebloom, Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo have told me… there’s a BUNCH wrong with you. You constantly bully them for not having Cutie Marks, you called Applebloom’s grandmother a ‘Kooky old lady’, you made everypony mad and ignore them when you ran the school newspaper…” Timid listed before clearing her throat for the next part, “You made fun of Scootaloo’s handicap just so you can become the flag bearer for the Equestrian Games, you ‘accidently’ messed with Scootaloo’s board and landed her in the hospital, need I go on?”
“...Shut up.”
“I need go on. And I can get you to talk with this last one… the whole Ponyville Days fiasco. You and your father were partially involved for causing the town to split.”
“Tch. Like I was gonna let Applebloom and her hick family get that plaque,” Diamond Tiara scoffed.
The notepad fell right out of Timid’s hands and she began to glare at her, “You. Did. That. Just for a stupid plaque?”
“Yeah. My great grandfather, Stinkin’ rich owned the first building in Ponyville, not those stupid applehicks,” Diamond Tiara answered with a scoff, “So my family deserved that plaque. Not them. In fact, this whole town would be better off if those stupid Apple hicks just left a-”
“Shut. Your. Mouth.” Timid growled, the filly trying her best to stay calm about this.
“Or what?”
Timid’s eyes widened and she began to stare at her, and suddenly, a sort of spiral appeared in Timid’s eyes, not that the filly noticed this.
“...Wh-why’re you staring at me like that?” Diamond tiara asked in a slight nervous tone, “...Seriously, stop looking at me like that. It’s making me nervous.”
“You won’t say anything negative… I want to talk with you. You need to be talked to. So sit down and start talking!” Timid practically ordered, the spirals in her eyes now appearing in Diamond’s for half of a second and she just nodded.
“What do you want to know?” she asked.
‘Huh… those lessons with Onee-chan about the stare worked,' Timid thought to herself before clearing her throat, “Now then, I want you to tell me first off why you have the need to make fun of Ponies who don’t have their Cutie Marks yet.”
“...My mother had some philosophy about Cutie Marks… I don’t remember it all since she left when I was a filly… but I do remember that she said Cutie Marks makes you better than everypony else. And then my older sister teased me for not having a Cutie Mark… So the reason I bully you…” Diamond Tiara paused as her eyes widened a bit, “Is because of what my older sister did to me.”
‘Good...we’re getting some progress done,’ Timid thought with a small smile, writing this down. Diamond’s eyes flashed for a moment and she looked nervously.
“...Did I just tell you that?” she asked.
“Yea,” Timid nodded.
“...Fine… I’ll talk to you…” Diamond Tiara growled out in defeat before sitting down.
“So… what is your family like? Do they at all encourage your behavior?”
“...My daddy's mostly away with either business, or talking at the town hall,” Diamond Tiara admitted a bit, “My older sister’s up in Manehatten, thank Celestia… and I have no idea where my mom is.”
“I see…” Timid nodded, before thinking for a moment, “Why do you not like Applebloom and her family? Is it maybe because… you’re jealous she has such a functional family compared to you?”
Diamond Tiara felt like this question pierced an outer armor, the spoiled filly flinching a bit.
“...That’s it isn’t it?”
Diamond Tiara thought about what to say next before she sighed, “...Yes. I’m jealous of them. Applebloom and her family are just so...nice. And they care and look out for each other...like her cousin Babs, even after the things I pressured her to do...that is before I found out she didn’t have a Cutie Mark.”
“...If I might ask, What’s your relationship with Silver Spoon?”
“...She and I were only friends because our parents were… at least Silver Spoon has her mom to help teach her about what she did and all. My mom...isn’t around at all.”
“Is she…?”
“She’s still alive. We just don’t know where she is.”
“I see… do you remember your mother’s name at least?”
“I do,” Diamond Tiara nodded a bit, “Starlight Glimmer.”
“I’ll ask Twilight-san to try and find her so you can meet… so… apart from Silver Spoon, do you have any friends?”
“....No,” Diamond Tiara looked down sadly, “Silver Spoon was my only friend… until after what happened with Scootaloo and her scooter. After that...I...had nopony left.”
“So… I’m guessing Applebloom’s friendship with the Crusaders made you jealous and that’s why you began to torment them?”
“Are you some sort of mind reader or something?”
“...”
“..Sorry,” Diamond Tiara apologized sheepishly before sighing, “But yes… the reason because i like to pick on the Cutie Mark Crusaders is… I’m jealous of them. No matter what kind of things I said to them, no matter what I did… they always pulled through… they have a really great friendship. Why should I not be jealous of that when I know for fact my only friend is my friend because of our parents? And how can I not be such a bad guy when I’ve had to put up with so much crud in my life? I had such a good life back in Canterlot, but me, my daddy, and my older sister had to move here to Ponyville because my mom left.”
“You’re from Canterlot?”
“Yes…” Diamond tiara nodded sadly, “Only time I even go back is when I visit my uncle… what was his name? Fancy Trousers or something like that?”
“I see…” Timid noted as she wrote that down, “Anything else you want to talk about?”
“...I want to change. But I don’t know how to…” Diamond tiara sighed.
Timid thought a little bit, when she saw the watch she had brought with her.
“Have you ever heard of hypno therapy?”
“....Kinda, yeah.”
“...Do you want to try it?”
“...If you think it’ll help me change… I guess.”
Timid nodded and moved the watch in front of Diamond’s eyes.
“So, just follow this watch with your eyes, don’t look away from it’s shine…” Timid told her as she swung the watch a bit from the gold chain attached to it.
“Uh huh…” Diamond Tiara nodded slightly as her eyes followed the watch.
“Just relax… don’t let worries be in your mind… just let all the unpleasant things wash away, like sand on the beach.”
“Like sand on a beach? But i-” Diamond Tiara began before her eyes became swirls, the filly now in a hypnotic state.
“Good… now, just keep listening to the sound of my voice and let it guide you out of the darkness and into light…” Timid told her.
“Darkness...into light…” Diamond Tiara repeated in a low, very quiet voice, almost monotone.
“When I snap my fingers, all you will want to do is listen to what I say… no questions asked, okay?” Timid asked.
“Okay…”
Timid snapped her fingers and Diamond Tiara’s eyes snapped shut.
“You can hear me, right?”
“...yes,”
“Good. Now… I’m going to help you get better. First off… all of those major damages you’ve done to Ponyville… such as the fued and causing the town to hate the Crusaders… you will have to keep living with that, but… you’ve learned from them. You won’t be jealous of the Crusaders anymore… you want to be friendly, you want to be a better pony… you want to make amends. Do you understand this so far?”
“I understand…”
“Good. And… you’ll want to be friends with us Crusaders, even if you have your Cutie Mark already…Do you understand that as well?”
“...I understand…”
“And… I want to give you this assurance. Even if nopony else forgives you… and they hate you forever and don’t want to be your friend… I’ll be your friend,” Timid told her, a faint blush appearing on her face.
“....Okay,” Diamond tiara nodded slowly.
“I’m going to snap you out of this trance now. When I snap my fingers, you will awaken and remember everything it is I said and told you,” Timid instructed.
“Alright.”
“Good. 3….2….1…” Timid counted down as she snapped her fingers, causing Diamond Tiara’s eyes to open up and turn back to normal, “...how do you feel?”
“I feel… good. Like...a heavy burden was lifted off my shoulders...” Diamond tiara admitted before she walked over and hugged Timid, “...Thank you. Thank you so much…”
“...You’re welcome,” Timid smiled, returning the hug as she looked at the door, “You can come in now.”
Thus, in walked Filthy Rich, alongside with the other Crusaders, Silver Spoon included.
Diamond Tiara flinched a little as she slowly turned around, taking a deep breath as she looked at everypony, mainly the CMC.
“I… I… I… I…” Diamond Tiara stuttered nervously.
“Go on…”
“...I’m sorry… for everything I did,” Diamond tiara sighed sadly, “I… I shouldn’t have done such terrible things...I’m not even grown up, and I…” she paused as small tears formed in her eyes, “I caused you all so much pain..I got the town to hate you girls… I made fun of Scootaloo’s handicap, I got her into the hospital when I messed with her scooter...I…” she held back a sob, “I caused the town to go to war over a stupid plaque…”
“...I forgive you,” Sweetie Belle smiled.
“...I’m not so sure,” Silver Spoon admitted, “I just need to think this over a bit.”
“...ya were jealous?” Applebloom blinked.
“Yes I was jealous!” Diamond Tiara snapped, tears in her eyes, “I… I wanted what you and your friends had! But all I ever did was make fun of you and did terrible things!” she then looked down sadly, “If anything… somepony as horrible as me doesn’t deserve any friends…”
“I said I would be your friend,” Timid reminded.
“Same here,” Applebloom smiled.
“I wouldn’t mind calling your my friend, Diamond Tiara,” Sweetie Belle smiled.
“Same here!” Quirky beamed.
“I don’t know…” Dawn Star admitted, “I’m willing to give you the benefit of the doubt at the most right now. I want to see how much of a behavior improvement you’ll get first, okay?”
“That’s fair,” Diamond smiled.
“Well… why don’t we all go over to mah house and get somethin’ to celebrate,” Applebloom offered, when Diamond Tiara remembered something.
“Uh… there, might be a tiny problem with that.” Diamond Tiara informed.
“Why?”
“Uh… remember how I said I thought Ponyville would be better without the Apple Family? Yesterday… I went over to the mayor’s office… and paid her a lot of money to… to… to uh…”
“Do what?” Applebloom asked.
“...To get a notice to… kick you all out…” Diamond Tiara said nervously.
“What?!”
“But don’t worry! I can get her to cancel it if I want!”
“Ya may wanna hurry. Mah sister just texted me, ‘Somepony’s kickin’ us out. Want us gone by tommorrow night, and will make sure we never come back.’” Applebloom informed, reading the text her sister just sent her.
“....We have to hurry now!”
----
“What made you think it was a good idea to kick the Apple Family out?” Filthy Rich asked the mayor.
“Your daughter said it was your idea… some bitterness about the whole debacle from Ponyville Days.”
“....I really wish I could take that back,” Filthy Rich sighed, “Look Mayor, I know my daughter wanted what was best for our family, but...I didn’t think she went this far to do such a thing. I tried to be a good father and support her, but… I even failed at that… the whole Ponyville Days fiasco spiraled out of control...and I have myself to blame for that...I should’ve stopped Diamond Tiara back then…”
“I can see… regardless… I don’t know if I can save the Apple Family’s house. I’m not saying I can’t, I’m just saying I don’t know… I think I heard the land was bought or something… I really don’t know…” the mayor sighed.
“Do you know who said they bought it?”
“Uh… some Slim and Jam or something like that…”
---
“Ya have got to be kiddin’ me.” Applejack growled, seeing who was by the front gate, the Flim Flam Brothers.
“Hello there Applejack,” Flim smiled.
“Now get out,” Flam added.
Applejack rolled her eyes as Winona walked over. The dog saw them and began to growl and bark at them.
“I suggest you keep your dog of our property,” Flim suggested, “Isn’t that right my brother?”
“Absolutely,” Flam nodded.
“Hold on… what’re y’all talkin’ about?” Applejack frowned, “This ain’t yer land. Remember when y’all tried t’ swindle it out of me and mah family teh first time?”
“We did. But..” FIlm began.
“We have decided to go the legal route. Your land is up for sale, so we took it.”
Applejack’s jaw dropped as she looked at them, “...This farm is… is…”
“Correct. It is now rightfully property of the Flim Flam brothers,” Flim stated with a slight grin.
“That is correct, my brother. And thus, everything within rightfully belongs to us. But we will still give you until tomorrow night to pack up and get out.”
“We may be bad guys, but we’re fair.”
With that, the brother took their leave, with Applejack picking up her dog and fighting back the urge to cry… but sadness wasn’t the only thing she was feeling. Right now she felt another emotion build up inside her… hate… hate for the Flim Flam brothers.