The Best Laid Plans

by Telaros

Are Often The Most Unexpected

Filthy Rich reached out a hoof to retrieve the ornament on his daughter's head. "Diamond, sweetie, please. You have to return the tiara to Mr. Sterling. You can have anything else in the sto—" The stallion quickly retracted his hoof, barely avoiding his daughter's teeth by a hair's breadth.

"You promised I could have anything!"

"Diamond, I sai—" Filthy spoke, attempting to make another pass for the tiara, only to quickly abandon the idea upon his daughter's glare and bared teeth. She growled like a mad timberwolf protecting its cub. At this, Filthy Rich resigned with a sigh, his head held down in defeat. Turning to the shop owner, barely meeting his gaze, he cleared his throat.

"So, I don't suppose you'd cut me a deal? I'd be willing to throw in a fine 10% discount on all products at Barnyard Bargains, what'cha say?"

The store owner Mr. Sterling's expression was one of bemusement. It was clear to Filthy Rich this stallion would not be swayed by his suave business tactics. Especially if his words of it being the grey filly's first creation he deemed fit to showcase in his shop were true. The same young filly that was staring back at his daughter, no doubt scared silly or thinking his Diamond was crazy given the show she's been putting on for these ponies. The filly continued looking through the counter’s display glass, never once budging from her father's side behind the counter. Celestia knew what that filly must think of his little Diamond, much less what the stallion before him must think of Filthy himself.

S-She must really like it. Does she really like it that much? But daddy has, like, so many much better tiaras out front! Yet, she goes and chooses the one tiara I went and made? It's so bland! the grey filly thought to herself, still eyeing the pony across the display counter. A smile etching its way across the filly despite herself, the gears in her brain kicking into gear to best turn the situation to her favor.

"I apologize, Sir. As I've said, that tiara is simply just—" Mister Sterling was stopped in his talks by a gentle tug on his fetlock, his daughter tugging more insistently as he stared down at her, gesturing she'd like to whisper a message to him. The stallion excused himself to Mr. Rich to see to his daughter.

After a short, whispered exchange between the father and daughter, the stallion stood back up to address Filthy Rich. "It would seem the tiara is not as off-limits as I had wished it to be. But it is her creation, I suppose."

Filthy Rich raised a brow. He noticed Mr. Sterling's daughter out the corner of his eye as she made her way around the counter. Filthy gave an inquisitive glance toward the filly, noting she was making a beeline towards his little Diamond Tiara.

The grey filly stopped before the the defensive, snarling, pink filly, curiosity adorning her features as she perhaps pondered what she was up to. I got one chance at this, better make it count! Don't let her smell your fear, she thought. With renewed purpose, the grey filly set her plan into motion.

"Hi there! My name's Silver Spoon. What's yours?" Silver asked. The pink filly seeming to calm down, yet still kept her defensive posture as if anticipating some pony would snatch away her pretty tiara at any moment.

"Name's Diamond Tiara. Dad promised I could have anything for my birthday today. So, I wanted this tiara. It's really pretty, like me, you know?" Diamond said, the grey filly nodding in agreement. "It matches my name, too, of course. Isn't it funny? I think so. Me, Diamond Tiara, like totally trotting around town with a real diamond tiara on my head? Daddy always said I was his little princess. May as well look the part. So this"—Diamond pointed at the tiara adorning her mane—"It's perfect!"

Silver Spoon couldn't help but giggle at the silliness. Seems this filly really would be worth trying to bargain with. She had to admit, she could really see Diamond Tiara worthy of her first piece her daddy saw fit to flaunt around the store's main exhibit. Diamond's energy was pretty infectious. The more Diamond gushed and fought over the tiara, the more pride in having made the tiara Silver felt.

"But then he said I had to put it back. I'm not giving it back, you hear? So don't even ask!" Diamond said, putting a hoof over her head to protect the tiara and once again resuming her defensive posture.

"Well, why would I? It was meant to be, like, worn. Am I right? So, how about a trade then?" Silver Spoon said, her plan in full swing. She'd set the bait; there was no way the filly wouldn't bite.

Diamond Tiara looked at the silly looking filly with the giant nerdy glasses, it wasn't like Diamond had much worth trading, especially for a pretty and expensive-looking trinket. That's what her daddy's bits were for, after all. She may as well play along for now, but oh Celestia, those giant, round white glasses were really silly looking on Silver Spoon.

"Alright, so like, what would you like? My dad has lots of bits, so don't hold back! Just go ahead; name your price!" Filthy Rich was visibly sweating at the bold words coming from his daughter. Mr. Sterling merely flashed Filthy Rich with a knowing grin.

"Hmm, tempting. But nope. I don't want bits." An audible sigh of relief was heard upon the utterance of those last words leaving Silver Spoon's lips, much to the annoyance of Diamond Tiara.

Diamond’s face scrunched up and puffed her cheeks out and directed her utmost displeasure toward her father.

Clearing her throat and regaining Diamond's attention, Silver Spoon continued. "I'll trade you that tiara, if you promise to be my friend. For as long as you wear that tiara, you have to promise you'll be my friend!"

And with that, Silver Spoon's trap had sprung. There was no way that such a filly could resist such an offer. Her smarts had finally scored her a promising friend this day. Silver Spoon managed to catch a glimpse of her reflection off one of the display glass beside the wall, revealing a rather creepy smirk on her face. Acting swiftly, she quickly curved her lips into what she assumed was a proper, less creepy, lady-like smile before immediately refocusing her attention back on Diamond Tiara.

Hopefully Diamond Tiara didn't notice; creepy is not something I had planned in my list of Do's for First Impressions! Silver Spoon thought, the long, unanticipated silence causing her smile to become a bit crooked as the unease began to set in. What is going on? Is she seriously thinking it over? She must think I'm totally creepy! Wait, who even TRADES jewelry for FRIENDSHIPS!? What was I even thinking! Gosh, that really DOES sound stupid!

Diamond didn't respond. She merely took off the tiara and stared at the grey filly. I really am pathetic. Of course she'd give up the tiara if it meant she'd have to be friends with a four-eyes like me...

Without a word, Diamond Tiara placed the tiara upon Silver's head. She looked at Silver Spoon with the tiara, confusing the filly to no end. I-Is she saying "I don't need your dumb tiara."? I totally messed this up. No pony wants to be friends with a goofy looking pony like me. I should just—Wait, why did everything go so blurry?! Silver Spoon was squinting back in confusion.

Having removed Silver's glasses, and inspecting her glasses closer in her hooves, Diamond Tiara began placing the large, bulbous-looking, white glasses onto her own face. Peering through them revealed a world of giant blobs, reminding her of the funny mirrors found at a Fun House like the one they had at the Filly and Foal Fair. She looked around, stared at her father— what she assumed might be her father at least —and toward one of the full body mirrors on the wall. In the mirror Diamond Tiara could only see giants. She turned back in the direction of Silver Spoon, a now-giant, silvery blob for a filly as far as Diamond could make out.

Silver Spoon merely squinted back at Diamond Tiara. Only realizing now the pink filly was wearing her glasses. She could make out Diamond Tiara's face. To the best Silver could make out, Diamond’s eyes swirled about, crossed to the bridge of her snout.

Diamond Tiara tried to to refocus her vision. Silver Spoon let out a rather unlady-like snort as Diamond's eyes began to drift to the sides of her head. Diamond immediately removed the glasses and rubbed her eyes, attempting to rid herself of the discomfort.

"Whoa, I feel sick. How do you live with these things?" Diamond Tiara said, staring at the filly before her, adorned with the tiara she wanted so much. She placed the glasses back on Silver Spoon, who only continued giggling at what she could only assume was at her expense. The tiara really did look nice on Silver Spoon; the grey filly was pretty after all, just like herself, she thought.

"Well, it beats squinting all day," Silver Spoon said. Diamond Tiara approached Silver Spoon, leaning in and taking care not to displace a hair out of Silver Spoon's well-styled mane as she set the glasses proper upon their owner's face.

"You know, those glasses would look so much cuter in blue." Diamond Tiara, said. She continued to stare at Silver Spoon before having her attention pulled elsewhere in the store.

Silver Spoon was stumped. Tilting her head as she thought over how best to respond, she felt something shifting about on her head. Silver then notice she was still wearing the tiara her would-be friend had been so possessive over not mere moments ago. Wait, she never even answered my question! Silver thought, refocusing on the task at hoof.

However, before Silver Spoon could speak, the pink filly had gotten up all and briskly made her way toward the corner of the store.

Is this how making friends normally work, ‘cause I’m so confused right now. Maybe she’s not interested in my tiara after all, Silver thought.

Diamond Tiara moved to one of the racks showcasing an assortment of casual sunglasses. Rummaging and pulling out several glasses at a time. She eventually settled on several differently-styled, blue-framed pairs moments after.. Happy with her claim, she trotted back toward Silver Spoon. The mess of the rack and sunglasses strewn about the store’s floor eliciting a pained sigh from Mr. Sterling, to which Filthy Rich only returned a sheepish smile.

"Okay, follow me!" Diamond Tiara said. Though, she gave Silver Spoon no room to speak as she locked her foreleg to Silver's and dragged the filly closer to the full-sized body mirror on the store's wall. "Here, put these on!"

The glasses Diamond had picked out were rather large, no doubt since most of them were made with grown stallions and mares in mind. Though a couple apparently being more comically so, given Diamond Tiara's barely contained chortles.

But one pair in particular had silenced the pink filly’s laughter. Silver Spoon could feel the weight of the frames on her muzzle. This thing felt even bigger than the ones she was wearing. They even jiggled to the sides when she tilted her head too far. Having to readjust the glasses lest they fall off her face. There was no way she'd be caught wearing something this...

"They're perfect!" Diamond Tiara said, interrupting Silver Spoon's train of thought. "What do you think? Pretty snazzy, huh? I told you that you'd look good in blue."

Silver Spoon squinted the best she could. The frames still felt rather large she trotted closer to the mirror. She could see herself a bit better, and the color really did seem to blend well with her grey tones. As she felt the glasses, they did feel far less rotund in comparison to her own. But it just didn't fit tight enough on the side she had to readjust her glasses every time she tilted her head too much to one side.

"You so need to get these, you look so much cuter with these."

The comment made Silver Spoon blush. Before she knew it, her head felt a bit lighter. Looking back at the mirror, she saw the tiara was no longer adorning her mane, but instead resting back on Diamond’s own.

"Just like this looks best on me." Diamond Tiara said, posing as regally as she could before the mirror.

Silver Spoon looked surprised, but smiled back. "So does this mean you'll accept my trade?"

"Sorry, no deal."

The words crashed down on Silver Spoon. Shattering her moment of happiness. Both fathers looked on, confused and more than a bit disappointed.

"B-But why?" Silver Spoon had tried her best to stay calm and composed, but all that came out was a half-whimper, half-whine. It just didn't seem fair.

"Duh, geez. Are you really that dense?" Diamond Tiara said. Silver Spoon was starting to look upset so she clarified, having assumed the answer would be obvious. "You said we can only be friends as long as I wear this tiara, right?"

Silver nodded, as did the two stallions despite themselves.

"Well, I have no interest in things I can't keep. If we can't be friends all the time, then what's the point? Are you saying you'd only be my friend when I wear the tiara? That doesn't sound like a very good friend."

"No! That's not what I meant... Of course I want to be friends! No matter what! All the time friends. So won't you accept?"

“I'll accept then, if you promise me we'll be bestest friends. You have to promise that you'll be my friend no matter what! With or without the tiara on!"

"It's a promise!" Silver Spoon said.

"Good. Then it seems we have a deal. But remember, no backsies!" Diamond Tiara said, stretching a hoof and placing it onto Silver's muzzle.

Silver’s eyes went cross as she stared at the hoof booping her muzzle. She soon returned her gaze back to meet Diamond’s with a smile. "No backsies," Silver Spoon said, returning Diamond's gesture by placing her own hoof Diamond's muzzle. "Happy birthday, Diamond Tiara."

The two fillies soon fell into a fit of the giggles, each one moving their hoof now to cover up the other’s mouth from laughing out, playfully batting off the other’s hoof only to find another find a perch on their lips or muzzle once more.

Both fathers just stood back, staring down at their daughters as the two closed a deal on a brand new friendship.

"Well," Filthy Rich said, "I think we may be seeing more of each other in the future."

Mr. Sterling nodded. "I think you may be right about that."

Author's Note:

Bonus:

One trip to the Optometrists with her dad later that week...
"Are you sure these are the ones you want, Spoony?" asked Mr. Sterling.

Silver continued to look herself over in the mirror, modeling the new fitted glasses.

"You'd look good in blue."

"These make you look so cute!"

"Thanks, Dad. They're perfect!"

I guess, I can now say my yearly quota has been met. Maybe? Who knows.

Anyhow, a big thank you to HandSockz for being such an awesome fan of pony and best fillies. An all around awesome artist, for sharing the cuteness that is Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon with the world.Thank you for all the adorable art of Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon over the years. Here's to many more ponies to come, especially Best Fillies!

Be sure to check out their gallery. You'll actually find they draw more than just Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon. http://handsockz.deviantart.com/art/Grrr-549003338

Final Edit: A great many thanks to Bootsy Slickmane for pointing out errors and proving the final two quotes between Filthy and Mr. Sterling. And a big thank you to Mattricole for always being so supportive.

Huge thank you to Mudpony for the always thorough proofreader that he is. Just wish I could have done a better job honestly, but thanks for pushing me to want to do better! xD

You guys should check out their works!

I hope you all enjoyed this vignette into one of a bajillion fanon ways these two could have crossed paths. Hope you enjoy the story and the art. Take care everyone!

Comments

[Mattricole]

Shoulda sent me a gdocs, I could have fixed like, two mistakes!

Pretty good. Pretty cute.

[Bootsy Slickmane]

Gotta say, this is a cute take on both the tiara's origin and the first meeting of these two. Nice.

[TheFanficFanPony]

I love it! It's very cute and explains their origins perfectly.

[Telaros]

6262740 I gradually worked my way to gdocs. It's just that google really, really, hates Firefix and Adblock. Also, at the time of writing it, I never thought I'd go this far with it. And thanks, glad you actually enjoyed it!

6265091 I'm still surprised I pulled this entire story out of this one picture. Thanks for pointing out errors, I really appreciate the help. I honestly didn't think people would enjoy it this much. Goes to who I really am my own harshest critic.

6265152 Your passion is strong, I'm happy you found it so enjoyable.

[ferventwilight]

Wow! Such brilliant headcanon! I liked the part where Diamond was both friendly, but also got the best possible return for her investment, showing both kindness and being a brat in equal measures.

[Gleaming]

What can I say? It was a cute story with a side of an origin story of Diamond and Silver's friendship, only the best from you!

[nightwalker]

A nice little bit of origin story there. I thought that how you implied that DT was SS's first friend by SS's actions worked well. The rather feral DT at the beginning was... a little odd, but at least she returned to form soon enough.

[Diamond Sparkle]

How sweet those two are.

[Telaros]

First, I'd just like to say thanks to all of you who've read the story and took their time to comment on the story, and bothered using that green and red thumb-y thingy on the top right of the story. Thank you all, and especially for taking the time to comment and vote!

6265638 lol Thanks! I tried not to spill too much sugar into the mix. Not to mention I always forgot how much yeast you're supposed to put in. I'm just glad I got the frosting right. Glad you found it to your liking!

6266010 Wow. That was some compliment. I suppose I did try my best to make it as enjoyable as I could. Thank you for the compliment! I didn't think people would enjoy yet another origin story this much. I'm happy you enjoyed this take on their first meeting.

6266553 Thank you, I noticed you added it to your favorites. Happy to see you find it worthy of being among other fine fiction in your library. Thanks for reading, glad you enjoyed it!

6266039 Yeah, kids tend to be pretty feral from my experiences, though many appear docile, they can get pretty nasty or loud without rhyme or reason. As a child once myself who also grew up around many others in a decently large community, and would later go on to babysit some kids later in life, I can tell you that trust and how you word something matters a lot.

Big and vague promises will only lead to a child feeling betrayed or unloved or just confused if you go and promise one thing but don't follow through. Not to mention you're forming how they'll percieve concepts like a "promise" early on in life that can have negative impacts in the future when it comes to trusting other people.

Fathers really should be more mindful with how they word their promises to their kids, while they might forget the reason or what the promise was down the line, they'll always carry that emotional feeling of those promises even if they can't recall the promise. Diamond, here, seems to be experiencing her first such conflicting emotion toward a promise from a very important figure in her life: Her father.

Well, the story is left open to interpretations and this picture's "grrr" and posture just sprung all this reasoning that sompony was likely trying to take her tiara away. So, this story happened. I'm glad you enjoyed it. Some of my favorite moments are Diamond Tiara growling, whimpering, and overall throwing a bit of a tantrum despite trying to be cool all the time.

And as far as spoilers go, you have a sharp eye! Again, thanks for the comment. It's always good to hear from you, I've oftened wondered if you or your friend would be releasing any new stories or chapters to that one existing story.

[QueenMoriarty]

Awesome, a Silver Spoon origin story!

[Vi]

Huh. For a second there, I thought you had posted your entry from the Writeoff Association early, but it looks like your title matching this month's prompt is just a happy coincidence.

Anyways, this was an interesting take on the start of their friendship! Nice work.

[Telaros]

6268634 haha, gotta love those. Sadly, no. It's hard for me to keep up with those what with time and such. Pretty sure I'd have to write something new to boot given you're supposed to stay anonymous until post event? But I would love to see what comes of it given my story happens to share the same name as the latest prompt I suppose. lol

Best of luck to all who enter! In the end, readers always prosper.

[nightwalker]

6267365
You're quite welcome.

As to myself and Wargame releasing something new... well, we're working on it. We certainly want to do it, and have a decent idea (and a start) on where it'll go, just need to actually buckle down and do it! Annoyingly, the chapter after that one is pretty much written and would be able to go up pretty quick once we get chapter 4 out of the way.

As for work I'm actually doing, that can be being seen on Actually, I'm Dead.

[hawthornbunny]

Silver Spoon managed to catch a glimpse of her reflection off one of the display glass beside the wall, revealing a rather creepy smirk on her face.

IT'S NOT

CREEPY

Silver Spoon was squinting back in confusion.

hnnnnnnng

Silver’s eyes went cross as she stared at the hoof booping her muzzle.

hnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnng oh my gosh this is so cute I love it. ^.^ A great little one-shot that's well written and super adorable all the way through. I love that Silvy is trying to pull off the kind of scheme that Diamond is a natural at, which might have worked if not for her target being, well, Diamond. I imagine that Diamond saw it and realized that Spoony's got ambitions, which is something Di totally gets, so of course the two would become fast friends.

[Wise Cracker]

Well... that was... something.

Deer Lords of the Tundra, why did I read this now?

It's too soon to be getting cute-induced cardiac arrests. If this keeps up, I won't survive the Christmas dinners.

*ahem* Seriously, though, lovely story, and nice touch adding the awkwardness of their fathers being present. If there's one thing I kind of might have tweaked, it's a mention of cutie marks. Presumably, Diamond doesn't have hers yet, but Silver Spoon did get hers already.

That's all, though. Very cute and heartwarming overall.

[ServingSpoon]

This was totes adorbs! And Silver Spoon what a smooth negotiator. Though i think most would agree Diamond got the better end of the bargain. Not because of what's on her head but because she got Silver Spoon's undying loyalty in the trade!

[Yellow Gate]

Yikes, that was an unexpectedly amazing backstory for Diamond Tiara's Tiara... I mean I feel like you completely nailed her personality better than I ever could, and she is one of my favorite characters. I could totally see this as canon in the actual show just due to its sheer adorableness factor alone.

I had once thought about writing a backstory for DT's Tiara, but backed out on it due to writers block and inconsistencies in my writing. But after reading yours, anything I could've came up with would've been inadequate, lol. Not to mention Silver Spoon, I've always had difficultly in actualization a solid personality for that filly do to her irrelevance in most episodes that even involved those two fillies. But you managed to give her a insecure, careful, and calculated personality akin to Twilight; Which to me is right in every way.

Good writing Teraros, hope you come out with more to read soon!

[Telaros]

9136694
Heh, wow. That's quite the compliment. Thank you!

I did once have plans to write more fictions, though most of my old original note pads went poof with my harddrive before I started messing with gdocs. Life is just complicated though and over time it became harder to find the time and privacy to let loose and write without distractions. I only regret not writing more so now given all that's happened in the past few years. I truly feel I've let my friends and community group down by caving into anxieties and distractions.

But yes, I always enjoyed these two the most. They're so unexplored in the show yet you see so much of their mannerisms in the background that it kinda helped build the sort of image I have for them. I tend take the mannerisms and inflections they use on the show to build my own take on these girls' lives outside of the classroom or those off days where they're not bored off their flanks to stalk the CMC to see what trouble those fillies would get into.

I never saw them as truly malicious, just bratty and overly entitled with how they view society and how so many adults make cutie marks sound like the be all end all. Combine that with being born into money on both ends, in the end they're still foals that only translate the grownup stuff down into kid logic which often times have no grey areas, it's almost always self-serving black and white logic. Like how a kid will continue to make up rules in a game until it favors them to win. ;3

Silver Spoon is a lot of fun for me. I don't know why so many write her as such a hopeless spinless filly whose so repressed by Diamond all the time. She's her own filly, and clapping at something that you thought was pretty cool wasn't a sort of "I HAVE BROKEN AWAY FROM DIAMOND'S CONTROL!" moment. Even Diamond Tiara was left mouth agape at the story in Family Appreciation Day, deciding that given her own friend was won over by that crazy pony who hops over watering pales that she'd just let this one go and just put her head down in defeat.

But, like most kids when they see a wounded animal, (lol cause kids are basically just that) Apple Bloom can't sit still and let moping Diamond's lay, she had to rub in the salt to the woulds which caused Diamond to lash out. Making Diamond immediately regret her outburst given the reaction from the class. Something she knew would end up getting her in deep trouble now after the fact.

The show has a lot of blink and you miss it moments.

Apple Bloom and Diamond Tiara have had quite the history of back and forths. It's a shame there weren't that many episodes with the gang to show off more rivalry moments or cool adventure stuff like they have had in the comics. But yes, apologies for the lengthy reply. I personally think you've done marvels with your older Diamond Tiara. And that Rumble and Rainbow Dash and Scoots have a lot of genuine character in them.

Thanks for reading, and more so for sharing your thoughts. Man, I so wish I could have at least written more with these two. I always felt I had to champion more for Silver Spoon than Diamond Tiara given how abused in literature she tends to end up, not like how Diamond is portrayed in anti-Diamond fics but more treating her like she has no character, no right to be a proper character. Not many truly explores her and it's always been a contention I've had with this fandom. She's shown plenty of initiative in the show, even if it's not what people would deem as enough to warrant her having a personality all her own.

If you love someone, you gotta love them for who they are. It's easy to love the good, but you can't have it without the bad. But with real love you can often help them become a better person.

God, I talk too much.

Thanks for the comment!

[Yellow Gate]

9136823
You didn't talk to much; to frank you've really inspired me to get off my ass an get back into full swing with my writing. Your insight into Diamond and Sliver is truly inspiring, not to mention your knowledge on childlike behaviors that make kids what they really are. (I'd almost think you got a little rugrat!)

But onto a more pressing issue...

I did once have plans to write more fictions

That almost sounds like you have no intention of continuing to write, which would be a crime all in it's own. Maybe I'm being selfish, I have only read two out of your seven stories. But it eats me up when I see good writers put up their pens, or keyboards in most cases.

[Telaros]

9136877
I'm afraid that's a rather complicated issue to talk about on this story's thread. But it's not that I decided one day I found it unfun or simply got 'too lazy' to do. It's certainly not for lack of ideas, no less. Just a culmination of things in my life I've had bearing down on me that I've not worked out yet. Things have improved, but not to where I feel I have the peace of mind to write.

If you want the long version I can PM you the rest. It's not something I'm ashamed of by any means that I couldn't post it here, just that I don't want to flood an E rated story no less with my personal life.