Chapter 22
___________________________________________________________
"Diamond Tiara!"
The young filly stopped as she walked past the store with a mare wearing a flowing white shale with a small pink bow on the top, and turned to face the older, slighter darker pink coated mare with a purple mane and tail, both done into a fancy fashion, wearing a light blue blouse-like shirt with a lower golden rim, a golden necklace and wearing purplish-pink eyeshadow, with a Cutie Mark of a diamond ring.
"Yes, Mother?" she asked, trying to hide the hesitancy in her voice.
Spoiled Rich gave a firm smile to the filly. "I'm sure you remember that tomorrow is the school election for Student Pony President, correct?"
She gulped, looking down. "Yes, Ma'am."
"And you will win this election, correct?" Spoiled asked, though her tone made it sound like an order to the filly than a question.
Diamond Tiara nodded. "Yes, Ma'am."
Her mother smiled. "Good. And, once you have won, I'll convince the school board to put a statue of you in the schoolyard. That way all those low life ponies will know how inferior there are and will show everypony how important a pony you are. Even that fraud of a princess filly. Now, hurry on home, your father will be worried if you're late.
Though what Diamond heard was, "If you want to not become an outcast you will not be late for any appointment; even simply getting home."
Despite her parents being split up and her father planning on marrying that clumsy mailmare, Diamond's mother still held great sway over the filly. Diamond could never explain it, but, ever since she was a foal, whenever her mother had spoken with her authoritative tone, she couldn't go against her word. She feared her mother. She knew one shouldn't fear the mare that raised them, but she did and could never understand why. But it was this fear that made her follow her mother's example with how she treated other ponies and focus on social standing.
So Diamond hurried home without another word, getting there with plenty of time before dinner, which she chose to try and do her homework. However, thoughts of how her mother would react if she possibly didn't win the election, as ridiculous as that was, she always won, she found it harder and harder to focus.
In the end she gave up when it was time for dinner and decided she'd try again after school tomorrow.
She found it hard to enjoy the Pranisian style salad with steamed carrot in Japanieghs-style dressing and fine lemon tea the chef had made for her. She kept replaying all the times her mother had gotten angry at her for failing at something.
The last time had been when she didn't win the contest to show the Ponyville flag at the Equestria Games. That night she'd been staying at win her mother due to her father having business with ponies in the Crystal Empire, so when she'd gotten back and Spoiled had blown a fuse and sent Diamond to her room without supper, nor was she allowed a proper breakfast before school. If not for Silver Spoon sharing her lunch the next day, she would have gone hungry.
Not feeling very hungry, Diamond showered early, brushed her teeth and, after failing to finish more of her homework again, went to bed, worrying about what would happen if she failed to win the election tomorrow.
___________________________________________________________
Diamond sneered down at the ponies bowing to her as she sat on her throne proudly as even the princesses bowed to her, understanding her greatness. Sitting next to her was Silver Spoon, her lady in waiting, who was sneering down at those bowing before them just as much.
An interesting dream.
Diamond yelped, whirling around to see Princess Luna looking down at her.
Wait. That was where the back of her throne was meant to be. And wasn’t Princess Luna meant to be bowing to her?
She whirled around again to look at the ponies bowing to her, only to see blackness.
She turned to Luna and wilted under her gaze. Wh-what’s going on? Where’d my dream go?
Diamond Tiara Rich, do you feel bad for what has happened to my daughter?
Tiara scowled and looked away. You too, huh? Everypony thinks I don't feel bad for her. I do. She looked up at the princess with a deeper scowl, briefly forgetting who she was talking to. But it wasn't my fault! I never told anypony where she went for Hearth's Warming. Well, I told my parents, but other than them, nopony, so stop giving me the third degree!
Luna remained silent, causing Diamond to wilt under the unyielding gaze of the lunar princess. Why do you feel others should treat you as if you are the most important pony in Equestria?
Tiara snorted and looked away. I'm a Rich pony, of course. What other reason would I need? Social standing is everything. Anypony beneath me should treat me as their superior. Luna’s expression turned into a dark scowl and Diamond wilted again, remembering just who she’d just spoken smack to, whispered, Sorry
Luna turned away. I am not here because of your social standings, nor about your horrid behavior towards my daughter in the past. In fact, thanks to you, once I am done here, there is something I will be looking into elsewhere. However, for now I am here because of you, Diamond Tiara.
Tiara wilted again. Wh-what are you going to do?
Luna closed her eyes and heaved a heavy sigh. I am here to help you lose that attitude that has led everypony to think of you as your mother makes you think you need to be, as well as make them think of you as so cruel that you don't care about my daughter's condition... and to free the part of yourself you've forgotten.
Tiara was confused, but still scared. What did the princess mean “free the part of yourself you've forgotten”? What was that all about?
Luna shook her head, her face solemn. It is time you learned the truth, Diamond Tiara.
Her horn began to glow and Diamond screamed, preparing for the worst, but was cut off in the flash of light and all went black.
___________________________________________________________
When Tiara opened her eyes, she looked around. They were in a bright, colourful room, with pictures of animals and toys strewn all around. In the room were dozens of fillies and colts, at the most four-years-old, barely more than foals.
She blinked as recognition settled into her mind.
This is my old pre-school, she said, her eyes wide. This is where I first met Silver Spoon.
Indeed.
Tiara turned around and saw Princess Luna was standing next to her, watching the foals all around them.
At that moment, she caught sight of a pink foal she recognized. It was herself. She wasn’t wearing a tiara, nor did she have her Cutie Mark.
Yikes, she muttered. I forgot that, even though I was a Blank Flank, I was still pretty cute.
Past Tiara was playing with a few blocks. However, she didn’t look happy. Her expression was one of sadness.
Tiara could just remember why. This was her first day of pre-school and she missed her daddy even though he said he’d be back to pick her up in a few hours, and she hadn’t wanted to make friends because...
Tiara frowned. Why hadn’t she wanted to make friends? Now that she thought about it, she’d never understood why she’d stayed away from the other foals before meeting Silver. Sure, her mother had always told her about how the majority of ponies in Ponyville weren't worth socializing with... but it felt... different too, and she couldn't understand why.
At that moment, her attention was drawn to a small grey coated foal that had come up to her past self.
“Hi.” Past Tiara looked up from her blocks at the other pony. “I’m Silver Spoon. What’s your name?”
Past Tiara looked up, surprise on her face, then looked away. “Tiara. Go away.”
Silver Spoon frowned. “Tiara Go Away? That’s not a very nice name.”
“Diamond Tiara!” Past Tiara snapped. “My name is Diamond Tiara. Now, go away.”
“Diamond...?” Silver Spoon said, her expression becoming sad.
“Yeah,” Past Tiara said, then noticed Silver’s expression. “What’s got you so sad?”
Silver wiped a few tears from her eyes. “My mommy’s name was Diamond. Silver Diamond.”
Past Tiara blinked, her expression softening a little. “Was?”
Silver wiped at more tears. “Daddy said she’s with grandma now.”
Tiara watched her past self look at Silver Spoon, then give a small smile, get up and hug her. “I’m sorry.”
Silver Spoon wiped a few tears that had appeared in her eyes, gave a small smile, then closed her eyes. “Wanna be friends?”
___________________________________________________________
The memory faded away and Luna looked to Tiara, who paid no attention as she watched where her past self and Silver had been standing.
Silver didn’t know her mom. She giggled sadly. I think that’s why I wanted to be friends with her. She was sad and I wanted her to be happy because I was scared of my own mom. She never knew how lucky she was. If I'd been dumber at the time, I'd have told her she could take my mother and I'd be happy without her.
Luna said nothing at first. Then her horn started to glow again as Tiara could’ve sworn she heard a sigh come from the princess, but when she looked, Luna didn’t seem to her changed the slightest bit since the last memory of the filly's past.
Let us see when your happy nature left you.
___________________________________________________________
A new scene appeared before them. It was one Tiara had mixed feelings about. Her first day at Ponyville’s school house.
They watched as the past Tiara and Silver Spoon walked into the school grounds.
Laughter made the two of them stop and turn. Standing by the gate were four ponies. One was a yellow filly with a red mane and tail, wearing a pink bow in her mane. She was hugging an elderly green mare with a grey mane, wearing a checked piece of cloth around her neck and with an Apple Pie for a Cutie Mark.
The other was a white filly with a white coat and curly purple and light-purple mane hugging a mare with a simialr colouration to her own mother, only with a lighter-pink coat
Both filly were... laughing as they older mares hugged them.
Past Tiara scowled at the fillies and mares. Silver Spoon noticed the scowl and glanced from her friend to the other four ponies, curiosity playing across her face.
“Um, Tiara?” she asked hesitantly.
“Come on, Silver Spoon,” she replied, her tone cold, turning and heading into the school.
The grey filly looked unsure of what to do, then followed.
___________________________________________________________
The memory faded and Luna cocked an eye at Tiara. That was when you started being, to put it simply, mean, I take it?
Tiara just scowled like her past self had. Yeah, well, they deserved it.
Luna’s eyebrow cocked a little higher. And just what did they do to deserve it?
They have families that love them! Tiara shouted, then froze.
Luna inclined her head, indicating for her to go on.
Tiara looked away, feelings she hadn’t truly felt for a long time welling up inside her.
Daddy does love me, he really does, and I know Mother must too, or she wouldn't be so concerned about my future being successful. But I hardly get to see him anymore and, these days, Mother's more stern with me. It was always, “Sorry, Tiara. I didn’t make it to dinner because the meeting went later than I thought.” Or, “I won’t be home for a few days, Tiara. I’m going on a business trip. Ask the maids and servants if you need anything” from Daddy or "You must always act better than others, even when things are going against you. Though, things should never be going against you". "If you ever fail at something, it means you will fail again. Never fail even once, Tiara, or the world with see you as nothing else but a failure"! from Mother.
Tiara’s scowl returned and she glared at Luna.
But they all get to be with their parents, without having to worry about failing, ever! I never get to spend a lot of time with my daddy, but Dinky, Pipsqueak, Feather Weight, even Snips and Snails, they all get to be with their parents whenever they want and never have to worry about failure at any point! Do you have any idea what my parents will think if I ever fail at anything? Do you?!
Luna looked off into the blackness. What of Apple Bloom, Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo? They do not see their parents all the time. In fact, Apple Bloom never can, for they died when she was still a little foal.
But they’ve got their sisters! Tiara snarled. Apple Bloom gets her big sister, her big brother and her loving senile grandmother, not to mention all their other relatives! Sweetie Belle spends almost all her time with her sister, who’s an Element of Harmony, for crying out loud! She snorted. And Scootaloo? That flightless Pegasus has Miss Cheerilee and, if that wasn’t enough, Rainbow Dash has become like her sister, too!
Luna cocked an eyebrow. So, you bully them because they have families to go to that support them? Do you not think your father would respect any life choices you made, whether they be what he wants or not?
Silvy’s the only one who understands me, Tiara turned away, scuffing the dark ground. Her dad's are always working in his forge, making tools and stuff to meet the demand, so she never really gets to talk to him that much. She growled. Though she still spends more time with her dad than I do. She sighed. But, still, she understands me, unlike those other losers.
Luna shook her head. So, you bully other ponies because they enjoy being with their families?
Tiara stomped a hoof, her eyes burning at Luna. It’s not fair! I hardly ever get to be with my daddy, but everypony else does! Even Stellar, she pointed at Luna, has you! She's not even from Equestria, but she got you as a mom! It’s not fair!
Luna did not say anything. Just stood, taking in what Tiara shouted at her.
___________________________________________________________
I do not believe your life is all sadness, Tiara, only part of it. Her horn shone brightly and the area around them changed to the inside of Tiara’s home, her daddy’s mansion. It was decorated for Hearth’s Warming.
Sitting in front of a Hearth’s Warming Tree, unwrapping a present, with the biggest smile on her face, was a very young Diamond Tiara, maybe a few months younger than the one from the pre-school memory. It was a few days after her daddy had started dating Spoiled Rich.
“Wow!” the younger Tiara said, holding at a doll that looked like Princess Celestia, but with her fur dyed to match Tiara’s. “She’s so pretty. Thank you, Daddy!”
The younger Tiara ran to the brown stallion sitting across from her and hugged him tightly. Her mother watched from the sofa, her eyes not quite matching the happy expression she was wearing as she was watched the filly hugging the Earth Pony, though neither ponies in the memory noticed.
He chuckled as her wrapped his hooves around her and held her close. “I’m glad you like it, Diamond. Happy Hearth’s Warming.”
Tiara smiled at the memory. That was my first Hearth’s Warming with Daddy.
Luna glanced at her, an eyebrow raised. You look only a few months younger than when you went to pre-school. How is this your first Hearth’s Warming?
Tiara was about to answer in her usual way, the way she spoke whenever somepony said something really stupid and she had to correct them, when she stopped.
Why had she said that? This couldn’t have been her first Hearth’s Warming with her daddy. It couldn’t be.
She strained herself, trying to find memories of past Hearth’s Warmings before this one, when she felt a chill go through her body. She couldn’t remember any Hearth’s Warming before this one. Not one.
Wh-what’s going on? she asked, taking a step back. Wh-why can’t I remember other Hearth’s Warmings?
Luna heaved a heavy sigh, like the one she’d done before. I am sorry, Tiara. The mind will block out the good in order to keep out the bad.
Tiara turned to the Moon Princess, shivering. Wh-what are you talking about?
Luna shook her head sadly. It is time you learned the whole truth, Diamond Tiara.
___________________________________________________________
Silver Slippers smiled as she peeked into the crib. The tiny pink filly inside it giggled and gurgled at her, holding out her hooves.
Silver smiled as she leaned down and took the foal in her forehooves.
Holding her close, she rubbed her nose against the smaller pink one, causing the filly to giggle like any foal would.
___________________________________________________________
Tiara’s blinked, watching the mare and foal.
There were in what was clearly a nursery. It had bright pink walls, a blue padded carpet. There was a changing table, a bunch of toys for foals and a blue crib, where she saw the two ponies of the memory she did not understand.
Who...? Who are they?
Luna glanced at her, then at the mare and filly. That, Diamond Tiara, is you as a foal, no more than five weeks old. And that mare is Silver Slippers... your real mother.
Tiara’s eyes widened and she looked from Luna back to the mare holding her foalself. The mare had coat like her own, but her mane was bright yellow. On her flank was a pair of Silver Slippers.
My... my real mom? Tiara took several steps forward and looked up at the mare who had given birth to her.
Silver paid her no mind, of course, playing with the foal as any mother would their child.
She'd always known Spoiled Rich wasn't her birth mother. She hadn't been able to fully figure out why, despite their colourings being so similar, but she'd always gotten this feeling she'd never been raised by the mare who birthed her.
“Silvy?” a male voice called from outside the nursery, pulling Diamond from her thoughts. “Honey, where are you?”
Silver turned to the door, smiling. “In here, Heart Song.”
Tiara frowned. She didn’t recognize the second voice and had she said Heart Song?
A few moments later a stallion walked into the room.
Tiara took several steps back. This stallion was not her father. He was a Pegasus, with a purple coat and a pink mane and tail, with a light pink stripe going down the middle of both. His eyes were bright blue and his Cutie Mark was a white star surrounded by another white star with another star, this one a purplish-pink, inside it.
Tiara looked to Luna, confusion and worry filling her.
Luna nodded. That stallion is your birth father.
Tiara’s heart stopped. Birth father? Why did she say birth father?
Before she could ask, however, the scene began to change once more.
___________________________________________________________
Tiara watched her two-year-old self running around Silver Slippers’ hooves, laughing as the mare and Pegasus smiled at her.
Tiara couldn’t tell what city her past self and parents were in. It wasn’t any city she’d been to as far as she could tell... until she saw the Statue of Liberty. They were in Manehatten.
However, no sooner had Tiara registered this, then she heard a scream.
She and her past family looked up and saw a small filly hanging from the edge of the flame of Liberty.
Tiara couldn’t make out anything like colour or race, but she knew this was bad.
Before she could react, however, her family shot passed her, heading for the statue.
She looked to Luna, who nodded and they were engulfed in a flash of light, reappearing near the filly.
Nopony was able to get to her. How could there be no unicorns or pegasi nearby at a time like this?
She watched as Silver gave her foalself to another mare and she and Heart Song hurried towards the edge, where Tiara could see the barrier fence had broken (no doubt wear and tear after many years exposed to the elements of nature), causing the filly to fall.
Heart Song flew down to the filly, who was clinging to the edge with all her might. Her hooves were going white from how hard she was holding on.
“Hey, little one,” he said, his voice soothing, causing Tiara to realize just why he was called Heart Song. “How about we get you back to safety, huh?”
The little filly nodded, but didn’t let go, so Heart Song gently scooped her up and flew her up to the balcony, where everypony cheered as he lowered to floor and gave the filly to her mother, a brown Earth Pony, who hugged her daughter tightly.
Silver smiled at her husband, who winked back.
However, at that moment there was a groaning sound and the edge where Heart Song was standing bent. He stretched out his wings instinctively, reading to fly, when a piece of the broken barrier snapped with the movement of the falling metal, whipping his wing and tearing through it.
He cried out in pain and dropped.
Silver, not thinking, reached out.
In that moment, Tiara saw what was going to happen. She wanted to stop it, but knew she couldn’t change the past when she was just an observer. Not that it stopped her from trying.
She ran forward just as Silver grabbed Heart Song’s outstretched right hoof, not seeing she’d stood on a still bending piece of the metal and they both fell.
Tiara reached out to grab them, but skidded to a stop in midair and watched as her mother and father fell, their screams echoing back at her, long after the memory had faded and they stood in the darkness again.
___________________________________________________________
Tears slid from her eyes as Tiara suddenly remembered the few memories of her mother and father she had, both those she’d just seen and those she hadn’t. Her first steps, playing with her toys with them, family trips, they all played out in her mind at Rainboom creating speed, making her remember just what she’d lost.
Why had she forgotten them? How could she have forgotten them? She loved them. They were her parents!
...
And they were dead.
She felt a hoof on her shoulders and whirled around, hugging the princess as she cried.
Luna merely rubbed her back, letting the filly cry as her memories of loss returned to her after so long.
When she’d finally calmed down, Tiara looked up at the Alicorn, worry and sadness her only emotion. Wh-why did I forget them?
Luna sighed and looked ahead. It is not a pleasant memory for you, I am afraid.
Knowing she’d dread what she saw, Tiara turned around to see the memories playing out before them.
___________________________________________________________
“You worthless trash!” a unicorn stallion shouted as he hit a three-year-old Tiara, causing her to drop to the floor, her face holding a large bruise.
“I still can’t believe our son gave us such a worthless heir,” a unicorn mare said, walking in from another room. "And an Earth Pony at that. You're useless!"
Both were white, with a grey mane and tail. The mare’s Cutie Mark was of a golden ring with a large ruby and the stallion’s a trio of golden bars.
“I-I’m sorry, grandmother, grandfather,” three-year-old Tiara whimpered, holding her already swelling cheek with a hoof.
“What were you doing talking to those commoners?!” her grandmother demanded.
“I-I just wanted to ask if they wanted to be my friends,” Past Tiara said weakly.
“Friends?!” her grandfather spat, then he smiled and laughed a deep, cruel laugh that made Tiara shiver along with her past self. It was a laugh she used herself many times and hearing it now terrified her. “Nopony will ever be your friend! You’re worthless! Nopony would even want to be friends with a pathetic excuse of a pony like you!”
“B-b-but, I want some friends” Past Tiara began, only to be silenced by a kick in the face from the stallion.
“Don’t you dare talk back to me, you useless whelp!” he snarled, then sneered. “And you want friends? Ha. If I can help it you’ll never meet anypony aside from the one somepony with find for you to marry!”
Tiara sniffled. “B-but I don’t want that. I-I want friends.”
His smirked grew. “Not my problem.”
“The fact that our son sired you doesn’t mean we care about you, worm,” her grandmother followed. “We only took you in because it would have ruined our image if we had left you alone. Our son was your father, after all.”
“But you’re also the daughter of that tramp he fell in love with!” her grandfather said, then spat on the filly’s face. “Love. He chose her because of love and you’re the result of that love. How pathetic. ”
“Oh, we’d act the part,” her grandmother said, and started crying fake tears just to prove her point. “We would act like we mourn your loss, but in fact," the tears ended and she wore a cruel grin, "it would be lifting our burdens to be rid of you! It’s not like anypony loves you enough that they'd care if you died, your worthless waste of space!”
Tiara sobbed along with her past self at the cruelty of the two ponies as it slowly started coming back to her. She took several steps back, then looked at the princess, who was glaring at the mare and stallion with disgust.
Suddenly the memory changed to show the two older ponies sitting at a long dining table, in a room that put her father’s one to shame with high white walls, marble sculptures and portraits all around. They looked like they were discussing something important with— HER FATHER?
Filthy Rich was sitting across the table, smiling as he discussed business like Tiara had seen him do so often before.
Suddenly there was a loud thumping sound from the room above them.
All three looked up, along with Tiara and Luna. When they and Filthy Rich looked back, both ponies were still looking up at the ceiling, their faces dark.
“Blasted child,” her grandfather muttered. He didn’t seem to notice it had happened, for he reacted surprised when Rich spoke.
“You have a foal?”
Both turned to him, worry playing across their faces, before it disappeared and they put on convincing smiles.
Well, they would have been convincing to any normal pony, but not her daddy. He was skilled at seeing through fake smiles and he was clearly having no problem seeing through theirs.
“Yes, our dearest granddaughter,” her grandmother said, then muttered. “Soon to be dearly departed if she isn’t careful.”
Again, they obviously assumed they wouldn’t have been heard, or that Rich would simply ignore it or think he’d just misheard. That was not the case, as Tiara saw him put on a confused look, though she could tell he was hiding a glare of suspicion beneath it.
“Aren’t you going to go and see what’s going on up there?” he asked, pointing to the room. “She might have hurt herself.”
Her grandmother gave a grin that was clearly covering an aggravated expression anypony could’ve figured out.
“Oh, no. I’m sure she’s just... tossing a ball around up there. She does love those kind of games.”
Not on my own, I don’t, Tiara muttered as she started to remember her horrible life with her grandparents. And you never gave me any toys, so I wouldn’t have had a ball to bounce in the first place.
After her mother and father fell to their deaths, her father’s parents were the only living family members she had left and so she had been placed in their care.
However, her grandparents were nobles and her mother had been a common pony. Tiara being her mother's child, they detested her, saw her as a blight on their great bloodline and during her one and half years of living with them, made sure she knew it, giving her beatings almost every day, feeding her only bread and water, sometimes the table scraps if she was good enough and never letting her go outside, or gave her any toys to play with.
Filthy Rich glanced up as another thump came, this one even louder than the last. “Are you sure you don’t want to go check on her?”
“Oh, we’re quite sure,” her grandfather said through gritted teeth as he grinned a grin that wouldn’t have fooled a mule.
Suddenly a scream came from the floor above, a mare’s scream.
Before either of them could react, Filthy had leaped from his chair and was bounding up the stairs.
Tiara and Luna followed and what they saw when they reached to the top of the stairs made Tiara’s breathe catch in her throat.
Her younger self was lying on the carpet floor, a floor that was several stories below her room. Blood was slowly pooling around her as two Earth Pony maids tried to clean up the mess, while another lifted her and started tending to her wounds.
“Ignore this.” Rich whirled around to see her grandparents standing at the foot of the stairs, glaring at the unconscious filly and the maid tending to her. “And you’re fired,” her grandfather said to the maid tending to her younger self.
“What?” Rich asked, glaring at them. “She’s injured and your maid is helping tend to her wounds. Why are you firing her?”
“For that very reason,” her grandmother said, before blinking and hastily saying as she moved forward, “I mean, she let our dear Demand get hurt.”
“Diamond!” the maid snarled, holding the unconscious filly closer. “Her name is Diamond. Not that you two would even know that, since all you care about is getting her old enough to marry her off and never having to see her again!”
“Shut your mouth, you peasant!” her grandfather shouted. “Or—”
“Or what?” she shouted, taking a defensive stance, her fellow maids now coming to stand beside her. “You’ve already fired me, so I don’t work for you anymore, meaning I’m not bound to the silence you threatened my job with!”
Rich glared at the two for a moment longer, then moved over to the mare. “We need to get her to a hospital, quickly. As for a job, I’ll hire all three of you.”
“In that case,” the other two maids said, throwing off their uniforms, “we quit.”
The three maids started walking down the hall, heading for another set of stairs, since those in front were blocked off by their ex-employers.
Filthy Rich glared at the two of them over his shoulder. “You may be nobles, but I’m not a voice you’ll be able to silence easily. Mark my words; all of Manehatten and Canterlot are going to know about this.”
With that he walked off, following the maids, leaving Tiara’s grandparents fuming.
___________________________________________________________
Tiara watched her younger self lying unconscious in the hospital bed. She had several IVs plugged into her, including one that was supplying her with more blood. Her head was heavily bandaged.
A sound caused her and Luna to turn around and they saw Filthy Rich walk in, the three maids, now out of uniform, following behind.
Tiara gasped as she recognized them now. There were Lilly Rose, Candy May and Merry Melody, her personal maids and who had always treated her with kindness, even on her worst days and no matter how rude she was to them.
The nurse standing by younger Tiara’s bed turned around as they entered and nodded.
“How is she?” Rich asked, looking at the sleeping filly.
The nurse sighed. “She lost a lot of blood and we’ve found evidence of physical injuries and some head trauma. Her body is also very undernourished, so we’ve had to feed her more than normal through the IVs. She...” she sighed again. “There is also a chance she may have some memory loss due to the head trauma.” She walked out the room, then paused. “Stay with her. Though you are now her legal guardian, I highly doubt you’ve heard the end of her grandparents.”
She closed the door, leaving the four of them alone with the sleeping filly.
“I wish we’d spoken up sooner,” Candy May said solemnly.
Rich shook his head. “No. Had you done so you would have already lost your job and Diamond would have been left with one less pony to watch out for her.”
They all walked over to the bed and sat in the chairs surrounding it.
It had been a week since Diamond had been taken from her grandparents’ house and to the hospital for treatment. In that time, Rich had been surprised when her grandparents showed up at the hospital with adoption papers. As long as he kept quiet about their treatment of Diamond, they’d hand all legal rights to her over to Rich and he could do whatever he wanted with her. They would even pay for the hospital treatment and a hefty sum to ensure he could look after her.
Though he didn’t like letting them get off scott free after what they’d put her though, thinking of Diamond’s well being, Rich had agreed. Within minutes the paperwork was signed and the two ponies left, never to see the filly they cared nothing about again.
The maids had also agreed to not let the truth come out as long as they were paid properly for all the years they’d spent working with them and the two ponies' personal word on their families' bloodlines that they would never do anything to Diamond ever again.
After several minutes of them all just sitting and watching the sleeping filly, she stirred.
All four ponies leaned forward anxiously.
Past Tiara slowly opened her eyes, then let her eyes wander around, the room, slight confusion entering them, before they fell on the ponies surrounding her. She looked at each of the four ponies, not recognizing them.
“Who’re you?” she asked, looking from the maids to Rich.
Rich, blinked, then smiled and stated simply, “Hello, Diamond. I’m going to be your new guardian.”
Past Tiara blinked. “Guard-i-an? What’s that?”
Rich gave a small chuckle. “Well, I suppose, you could... you could think of me like your new daddy.”
The filly blinked, then gave a small smile. “Daddy?”
Rich returned the smile. “Yes, honey. I’m your daddy, now.”
She looked around the room curiously. “Where am I?”
“You’re in a hospital,” Rich said, sitting down next to her bed. “You had an accident. Do you remember what happened?”
Past Tiara scrunched up her nose, trying to remember, then shook her head. “I don’t remember anything, Daddy.”
Rich sighed. “Okay, what do you remember? Not about the accident, I mean before that.”
Past Tiara shook her head again. “I don’t remember anything.”
It was now that Rich and the maids realized the nurse had been right. Diamond head trauma had given the filly had complete memory loss.
Rich sighed and leaned down, nuzzling her cheek. “That’s okay, Diamond. If you’ve lost your old memories, let’s make some new ones; better ones.”
Tiara watched her past self snuggle close to her father, enjoying the warmth from his body. Only know, as she watched, Tiara realized the reason she’d been so comforted by that warmth was because she hadn’t been given it since her parents’ passing.
___________________________________________________________
The memory faded and Tiara just looked down at the ground, understanding finally dawning on her after so long.
You see now your true reasons for being so horrid to others and you feelings towards other ponies, Luna said, sitting down next to the silent filly. Your time with your grandparents was horrible and, though you had forgotten it, your subconscious was allowing the emotions of those memories to filter through—
And I started acting like them, Tiara whispered, her face filled with shame. I even started thinking like them. But... I don't want to be like them. I want to have friends... more than just Silvy. I want to have lots of friends... not just one who follows me around out of fear for what I can do.
Luna nodded, then looked off into the blackness surrounding them. Spoiled Rich also had her role to play. She acts very much as your grandparents did, though not in anyway as violent as they. However, your subconscious memories of your fear of your grandparents caused you to follow Spoiled's ideals, a negative reinforcement left after so much time being treated as you had been.
They were silent for a long time.
After what felt like ages, Luna spoke again. It is not too late to change, Diamond. You can still have the life your father originally wanted for you when he took you in. A life of joy and happiness, with many friends.
At this, the filly looked down again and sighed. Yeah, right. Everypony hates me. She sighed again. Plus, what about Stellar? No way she’ll forgive me... for... Her eyes widened with horror. Oh... my... Celestia, she whispered, her lips trembling. I... she was struggling with who she is and I just... If I hadn’t then maybe she—
Before she could go on a pair of dark-blue wings covered her and pulled her close to the pony they belonged to, embracing Tiara and a hug she hadn’t felt in years, the kind only Heart Song had ever been able to give her, thanks to his wings.
It is not your fault, Diamond Tiara, Luna said firmly as she held the trembling filly close. True, you're role did cause Stellar great pain, making it all the worse when she learned she could not return to her original family, but you have been raised by a mare who caused you to think that why, which was not helped at all thanks to the influence your subconsious memories of your grandparents have held over you. Though you should apologize to my daughter, what she has been through is not and never will be your fault.
Stellar doesn’t see it that way, Tiara mumbled into the Alicorn’s fur.
Luna pulled a little away and looked down at her in confusion. And what makes you believe that?
The crusaders think I'm heartless, as do all of my class, even Miss Cheerilee I'd bet, so I know she does too, Tiara said quietly, slight sobs started to escape her mouth. And they’re right. I may as well have been helping that Alchemist pony personally. I’m a bad pony.
No!
Tiara went stiffen at the stern voice that bellowed from Luna’s mouth.
Seeing the filly’s reaction, and feeling her stiffen against her, Luna cleared her throat and calm down. No, Tiara. Never think you are like that monster! You are not a bad pony. You are a pony who made some bad choices and only because of negative memories you didn’t even know you had and their reinforcement by your mother. Luna gave a small chuckle. And, as for what my daughter thinks of you, I know for a fact that she does not see you as badly as you believe.
Tiara looked up at the Night Goddess, shocked. Stellar didn’t think horribly of her? How? Why?
Luna merely smiled warmly. Stellar is a wonderful child. She has been through much, and grown as a pony because of it. Plus, like myself, she can visit the dreams of others.
Tiara sighed, looking down again. But... I’ve been so horrible to her. Even if I told her I'm sorry... how could she forgive me for what I've done to her?
Luna nodded. Those were not truly your words, Diamond. Those were words enforced into your ideals after being used against you when you could not defend yourself, that you did not remember, but were still there. My daughter will forgive you for your past. All you need do is to simply apologize.
Tiara wiped her eyes and looked up at the princess. A-are you sure? If I just apologize... she’ll forgive me?
Luna nodded. I’m sure she will. Though, the crusaders might take a little more time.
Though she still felt bad about everything, including all the memories she’d just gained that hurt her because they were connected to her birth parents, Diamond couldn’t help giving a tiny smile.
And, as for your family matters, Luna gave a wry smile, I do believe you will be getting, not only a new mother soon, but a little sister, are you not?
Tiara’s eyes widened. You’re right. Daddy’s marrying Dinky's mother soon. But... she looked worriedly up at her again. What if, after everything that’s happened, she doesn’t want to be my mother, or Dinky my sister?
Luna just chuckled. That I cannot answer, little one. You will have to ask them yourself.
Tiara wilted. But... what about mother? I... she still scares me.
Luna's warm expression suddenly became a scowl. You needn't worry about her, Diamond Tiara. My daughter has spoken to me about certain matters involving Spoiled Rich that, especially after what you have said, I shall be looking into via's dreams. Let us just say, I have a feeling she has played her own part in my daughter's struggles.
Tiara opened her mouth to ask further, but suddenly felt very light-headed and Luna started to fade from sight.
___________________________________________________________
“Princess Luna?” Mama moved her head away and I turned to see why. A nurse was standing in the doorway. “There’s a filly here to see your daughter.”
Mama told me how all my friends from school had come to visit whilst I'd been resting the other day. Had another of them come?
Mama nodded and got up.
I didn't want her to go, but I decided it was okay if she wasn't going too far. Plus, if I needed something, I could ask the staff for what I wanted.
When the nurse moved away, however, I didn’t see Scootaloo, Sweetie Belle, Apple Bloom or even Dinky, or any of my friends from school. Instead, the pony that walked in was Silver Spoon. At once I cowered behind Mama, not wanting more of the teasing I was so used to receiving from her and Diamond Tiara.
Mama seemed to sense this, but, for some reason, she gave Silver Spoon an even look as she asked, “Why are you here, filly? What reason do you have for seeing my daughter?”
Silver Spoon kept her head down, not meeting Mama’s eyes. “I... I’m here to apologize."
Mama's expression became soft and nodded, then turned to me. “Stellar, I have something to take care of. I will be heading for Canterlot for a few hours. Are you alright with staying here by yourself?”
I didn't want her to go, but nodded.
Mama smiled, came down and nuzzled me, then teleported away, leaving me alone with Silver Spoon.
For several moments we just stayed in silence, neither of us wanting to say anything.
Finally, Silver Spoon was the one who broke the silence.
“Um... how are you healing up?”
I blinked, then looked away. “I’m okay. It’s taking a while, but the doctors say my wings and horn should be back in half a year or so.”
“Oh,” she said, nodding. “That’s good.”
“Yeah.”
We return to being silent.
After what felt like hours Silver Spoon looked at me, deep shame on her face. “Princess, I’m... I’m sorry for everything. I... I wish I could take back... I...”
“It’s... okay.”
Silver Spoon stopped, her mouth hanging slightly open.
I looked to her, tears in my eyes. “If not for everything, Moonie wouldn’t have turned good. She... she may not have acted like it, but... I know she was becoming good.”
Silver Spoon cocked an eyebrow. “Moonie? Who’re you talking about?”
“You know her by another name,” I whispered, closing my eyes. “Nightmare Moon. She disappear to save me after... well, after.”
Silver Spoon gasped and I heard her take a step back. “You mean, she was still inside you this whole time?”
I sighed, shaking my head. I explained to her what Mama and the others had told me, about how my spirit had been so pure and innocent that it had trapped the vengeful being Moonie had been at the time, keeping her within me, then how, when I was being held captive by Alchemist, who I, like everypony else at the time, had thought was Blueblood, her cage broke due to my sadness, how she eventually found she couldn’t stand my suffering at Alchemist’s hooves and how she helped me hold out until Mama, Twilight and the guards had found me.
“Wow,” Silver said, looking down. “So, in the end, Nightmare Moon— I mean, Moonie, turned out to be a good guy.”
I nodded, wiping the tears that had formed in my eyes from thinking about those times away with a hoof.
“Listen,” Silver said, sighing as she glanced over her shoulder. “I was wondering if, even though we've never been... well, close... can we be friends?”
I blink, my jaw dropping.
"I... I'm sick of all the teasing," Silver said, shaking her head. "Diamond wasn't at school today and, with her not around, I found out just how much the others don't like us. I want to start over."
“I don’t know...” I said, scuffing the sheets with a hoof. “I mean... well...”
“Please, Princess?” Silver asked, looking at me with eyes that, if they weren’t hers, I’d had said were pleading. “I know I don't have any right, but... please?”
I keep my eyes down, then looked back at Silver Spoon, then down at the sheets, thinking.
After a few minutes, I answered quietly, “Okay.”