Chapter 19: Money (That’s What I Want)
Sweetie and Ash trot up to Rich Manor. “This place is huge." Ash says.
Sweetie nods, “Filthy Rich is one of the wealthiest ponies in Ponyville, this is his place."
"So we're going to convince this Filthy Rich to give us some bits?" Ash asks. "Is he some kind of foalaphile?"
"Not that I'm aware of." Sweetie answers. “We’re not here to see him anyway.”
“Then what are we doing here?”
"We're going to see his daughter, Diamond Tiara and convince her to give us some bits."
"Exactly how do you plan to do that?"
"Have you not noticed how few colts there are here?" Sweetie asks. "You’re going to give her what she needs."
Ash stops in his tracks and stutters. "W..w..what?"
Sweetie laughs. "I'm joking, I'd never share you; with her."
Ash looks at her confused. "Wait a second, did you just..."
Sweetie cuts him off by putting her hoof to his mouth. "Besides from what I’ve heard she’s not into colts. I'm more her type."
Ash looks at her in shock, "Are you serious?"
Sweetie nods, "I also believe she has a crush on my friend Apple Bloom."
"What makes you think that?"
"She teases Apple Bloom more than me or Scoots. In fact me and Scoots might not have ever met Apple Bloom had it not been for Diamond Tiara teasing her." Sweetie answers. "I didn't think anything about Diamond’s teasing until I heard the rumor of her being a fillyfooler."
"Well Sweetie Belle." The voice of Diamond Tiara says causing both of them to look at her. "I see there's no keeping a secret from you."
"Diamond, I was hoping to be able talk to you in private about this." Sweetie says.
"Yet you discuss it with this blank flank while standing at my gate, where anypony could hear." Diamond retorts.
"Sorry Diamond." Sweetie says. "I didn't mean to upset you."
"Well, you’re a little late for that. What exactly do you want?"
"I have this feeling that the reason you haven't told Apple Bloom how you feel is because you can't handle having feelings for a pony without a cutie mark."
"I..." Diamond hesitates, looking to the ground as she does.
"So it's true?" Ash asks.
"Who are you anyway?" Diamond asks glaring at Ash.
"His name is Ash." Sweetie answers, "and he's my coltfriend."
"Your coltfriend?!" Diamond asks surprised. "Surely you can’t be serious."
Sweetie nods, "I am serious, and don't call me Shirley."
Diamond groans at the joke. "Fine, I have a crush on Apple Bloom, happy?”
"Ecstatic," Ash replies dryly.
“Now go tell your friends so that you have something to tease me with.” Diamond says.
“What are you talking about?” Sweetie asks.
“That’s why you came here, isn’t it?” Diamond asks. “You want to be able to tease me like I tease you and your friends all the time.”
Sweetie shakes her head. “That’s not why I came here at all.”
“Then why are you here?”
“First I needed to confirm my suspicion. Now I want to help you, I want you to at least have a chance with Apple Bloom.”
“Why would you want that after how I’ve treated all you?”
“Well, since I know it’s all an attempt to get Apple Bloom to get her cutie mark so you can confess to her, I think I can forgive you.” Sweetie says then looks at Ash. “Besides I’ve found somepony that makes me happy, so I’ve started thinking that everypony should have that chance.”
“Does Apple Bloom even like fillies like that?” Diamond asks.
“I honestly don’t know Diamond, but the only way to find out is to ask her.”
“So you want me to tell her how I feel?” Diamond asks
“Yes, but I also want you to help her get her cutie mark.”
“What do you mean?”
“I have a plan to get Apple Bloom her cutie mark."
"Then why aren’t you talking to her?" Diamond asks. “Isn’t that what your group is for?”
“I realized something the other day after I got my cutie mark. We know are special talents all along, it’s just a matter of realizing it.”
“What made you realize it?” Diamond asks.
Sweetie blushes. “When Ash fell asleep to my lullaby, I realized that my singing must be good.”
“So what’s Apple Bloom’s special talent?”
“Right after we started the Crusaders Applejack gave us her old clubhouse Apple Bloom fixed it up good as new.”
“So you think she’s good at fixing things?”
“At least buildings.”
“You know, daddy did say I could do what I wanted with that run-down building he found.”
“I was hoping you had something like that.”
“Yes, I could say I was talking to you. She’d figure I was being nice to you now that you had your cutie mark, and that you had mentioned her fixing the clubhouse. I can make that lead into asking her to do something to my place.”
“That was the general plan.” Sweetie says. “I figure if you help her get her cutie mark there’s a chance she might be more receptive to you when you tell her.”
“I like it, it could just work.” Diamond smiles then looks at the two of them. “You want something else don’t you?”
“We need bits, as many as you can spare. We also need train tickets to Tall Tale, preferably in such a way that nopony can track us.”
“Tall Tale? What do you need to go there for?” Diamond asks.
“That’s our business.” Sweetie says. “You’d better off not knowing the details, as it is the odds are nopony will ask you where we went, but the less you know the better.”
“I’ll send Au Pair to get them.” Diamond says. “I’ll have her bring them by your sisters Boutique later, that way nopony knows we’ve been talking. Few ponies know she’s our servant”
“Thank you Diamond.”
“Thank you Sweetie, your plan will probably get Apple Bloom her cutie mark. Not sure what she’ll say when I tell her how I feel, but at least I’ll be able to tell her finally.”
“I hope she at least give you a chance Diamond, you’re not a bad pony.” Sweetie says and with that she and Ash leave Rich Manor.