After the events of "Crusaders Of The Lost Mark" Diamond Tiara becomes friendlier and finally accepts the CMC as her friends. All is well for her...except for the fact that her mother is beating her on the down low and her dad doesn't even care.
After the events of "Crusaders Of The Lost Mark" Diamond Tiara becomes friendlier and finally accepts the CMC as her friends. All is well for her...except for the fact that her mother is beating her on the down low and her dad doesn't even care. Before, they just were vocally abusive, but her mother is now physically abusive and her dad is negligent. During one of these beatings, Diamond Tiara gets hoofed in the face and the CMC, Silver Spoon, and everypony else notices.
What happens then? Does Diamond Tiara get justice, or will fate punish her for her wrong doings?
Diamond Tiara was so elated when everypony was finally playing with her at the playground. She had finally conquered the inner demons that her parents, two rich snobs, had drilled into her brain and did a generous act by gifting the playground to the school. Diamond Tiara decided to get some rest after playing with her new friends and sat down next to her best friend, and long time only friend, Silver Spoon. They were silent. Nearly a minute had passed and Diamond Tiara spoke up.
"I'm so sorry, Silver Spoon." Diamond Tiara was on the verge of tears as she said this, which shocked Silver Spoon.
Silver Spoon caught herself and looked at Diamond Tiara. "I'm sorry, too..."
Diamond Tiara immediately reacted. "What are you sorry for? You didn't do anything."
"Yes, I did. I didn't stop you from being mean. I just went along with you. That isn't what friends do. They're supposed to help each other become better, so I apologize for being a terrible friend." Silver Spoon and Diamond Tiara had tears in their eyes.
"We were both bad friends, but now we can be better than before. We can't deny the past, but we can make our present as good as possible." Diamond Tiara then put a hoof around Silver Spoon and she did the same back to her. The CMC came up to them and Scootaloo asked them something.
"We're getting ready to play Hoofball, are you girls going to join?" Scootaloo jumped the air and her wings hummed.
Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon nodded and raced off to play.
After school
Diamond Tiara was walking down the road with Silver Spoon and the CMC. They were making small talk about how the day had went. It was pretty awkward. Soon, the fork in the road appeared and the girls split apart. Diamond Tiara, Silver Spoon, and Sweetie Belle went together and Scootaloo and Apple Bloom went the other way. The first house to appear was Sweetie Belle's. They approached Carousel Boutique and Rarity was at the door. She was about to go in. Sweetie Belle then galloped to her shouting "WAIT FOR MEEE! BYE GIRLS!"
"Bye! See you tomorrow." Silver Spoon and Diamond Tiara said simultaneously. They continued on their way until Silver Spoon had to leave. The girls did their signature "Bump Bump Sugar Lump Rump" and went their separate ways. Diamond Tiara continued and had thoughts of what her mom would do after earlier today.
Mom has always been so controlling. She'll be super mad when I get home. I hate it when she shouts at me. Diamond Tiara thought this as she walked up and knocked on the door. When she opened the door, she was surprised to see her mother's expression. She had a smile on her face. A smile. Immediately Diamond Tiara was confused as her mother spoke.
"Hello there, darling. How was school? Have fun?" Spoiled Rich said. Diamond Tiara had her mouth agape as she her this.
"Ummm...It was good." Diamond Tiara half said, half whispered. She had been expecting a stern shouting in the face, but it never came. Spoiled Rich ushered her daughter inside and closed the door. Maybe she forgot? Diamond Tiara asked internally. Unfortunately, this was not the case.
Her mother's face changed the second the door closed. Instead of the light smile Spoiled Rich wore, her face was filled with anger and her eyes shot daggers at Diamond Tiara. If looks could kill, Diamond Tiara would've already been buried. She spoke in a shout. "DON'T YOU EVER DEFY ME AGAIN!!!" She threw up her hoof and slapped Diamond Tiara.
Diamond Tiara was shocked. Her mother had never struck her before. Diamond Tiara shouted back, but her voice was a whisper to her mothers as she said with teary eyes "No! I won't end up like you! I want to have friends!" Diamond Tiara was sobbing loudly.
Her mother retaliated with another slap and yelled. "GO TO YOUR ROOM! AND NO DINNER FOR YOU!" Spoiled Rich had a crazed look in her eye and Diamond Tiara was galloping upstairs in a flash. Diamond Tiara slammed the door closed and threw herself on her bed. She began to sob to herself.
Maybe this just for today. Maybe this will only last a short time. Diamond Tiara hopelessly thought to herself.
Sadly, what Diamond Tiara didn't know was that this first disciplinary action was the starting of a long chain of escalating beatings that she would have to endure to be the pony she had aspired to be. She wanted friends so badly, and she wasn't going to get any if she followed her mother's way of being. But Diamond Tiara constantly asked herself after a beating. Are friends really worth this pain?
The beatings left marks, but that was a problem that make up could fix. Diamond Tiara applied make up to her face, hind left hoof, and left shoulder. Diamond Tiara had been silent about the beatings to her friends. She was a Diamond, she couldn't show weakness. She stepped out of her room and saw her father. Filthy Rich used to be so affectionate to Diamond Tiara, but had recently become more engrossed in his work, and money, and gave Diamond Tiara less attention and care. "Hey daddy." Diamond Tiara said depressingly. Of course, her father didn't notice her tone.
"Hello, Diamond Tiara. How are you? Ready for school?" Filthy Rich said and before she could respond he said "You should get going it is late." Diamond Tiara let her head hang low.
"Okay. Of course you care too much about yourself to listen." Diamond Tiara said the last part to herself. She stopped at the door and put on her mask of happiness to hide her depression. She had been beaten numerous times these last few weeks. She was depressed, but she hid it. Her friends didn't need to worry about her. She stepped out and began to gallop to school.
Recess
Diamond Tiara was at the playground she helped her fix. Her hoof was damaged from the most recent beating and decided to sit out today. Ms. Cheerilee approached the filly and sat next to her. "Are you okay?" Diamond Tiara jumped at the sudden voice, but fixed herself quickly.
Diamond Tiara feigned happiness and said. "I'm fine, Ms. Cheerilee!" Diamond Tiara even smiled to get Ms. Cheerilee off of her back.
"Okay." Ms. Cheerilee said and Diamond Tiara sighed. Ms. Cheerilee left, but had her wits on her. That filly is hiding something. Perhaps her friends know something. Ms. Cheerilee approached the CMC and Silver Spoon. Cheerilee then spoke to them. "Hello fillies."
"Hi Ms. Cheerilee!" The fillies squeaked.
"I have to ask you about Diamond Tiara." Cheerilee pointed at the pony mentioned, who was moping alone. "Do you know what has been bothering her?" The four fillies began to converse among themselves. They were confused from the sound of it.
Finally, Silver Spoon spoke up. "We don't know. We have noticed that she hasn't been happy for a long time. She's been pretending to be."
Scootaloo then continued their collective train of thought. "I think something's wrong with her."
Apple Bloom then added her input. "Yea. She always seems distant."
Then Sweetie finished their thoughts. "She's also wearing make up constantly. It's weird."
Ms. Cheerilee then began to formulate ideas in her head and said. "Please try to help her. Also, try to see if you can find out what is wrong." The fillies nodded. "Thank you." She trotted away and the fillies began to speak amongst themselves.
"So we agreed that we will help, but how do we get her to talk? We can't leave her hanging." Silver Spoon said.
"Let's approach her and ask. She hasn't been honest with us and honesty is important." Scootaloo said.
"Yeah, but that ain't too kind." Apple Bloom interjected.
"It isn't, but I want to see her smile, for real, again." Sweetie Belle said.
They all nodded in agreement and decided they would approach their friend and get the truth. No matter what.
...
Diamond Tiara was alone, until she was approached by her friends. She put on her emotional mask and said. "Hi!" Her mask wasn't enough this time.
Silver Spoon spoke. "Diamond Tiara, we're worried about you. We know something is bothering you."
"I'm fine. Nothing is bothering me." Diamond Tiara almost faltered in her words.
"Stop lying to us." Scootaloo said.
"What do you mean? I'm not lying." Not even Diamond Tiara believed herself. Her mask was cracking. Meanwhile everypony was going inside for some reason.
"We know it ain't kind to do this to you, but you need our help." Apple Bloom said.
"We want you to smile again. Please." Sweetie Belle begged Diamond Tiara.
"We are not going to leave you alone during this! We can help." Silver Spoon shouted.
Then the mask broke. "NO YOU CAN'T!" Diamond Tiara shouted as a downpour started. Then she whispered to herself. "She won't let you." Ms. Cheerilee approached and Diamond Tiara heard gasps. My makeup! She thought as discolored patches appeared on her body. Immediately she began galloping away. Cheerilee then got to the fillies.
"Follow her. Make sure she's okay." Cheerilee said and was greeted by four nods. The fillies raced after their friend and followed her to her house. They went to a window and peered inside.
...
"What are you doing back already?" Spoiled Rich questioned her daughter.
"Well, umm..." Diamond Tiara was at a loss for words.
Spoiled Rich then noticed the bruises and prepared to add more. "YOU SHOWED THEM, DIDN'T YOU!?" She was seething with rage.
"No, I-" Diamond Tiara attempted to speak, but it was too late. A hoof connected to her face and her mother was unleashing her rage on the little filly. Each hit was accompanied with a sob, grunt, or plea for help, but Spoiled Rich was oblivious to them. That, and the four fillies watching in horror.
Eventually, the beating stopped and a whimper was all that was left. Spoiled Rich spoke. "First, you disobeyed me for friends and now this. You little brat."
Then a faint voice arose. "I told you. I want to be generous and I want friends! I DON'T care what you say." Diamond Tiara ended it shouting.
She received a slap. "Go to your room! I DON'T WANT TO SEE YOUR FACE AGAIN!" Diamond Tiara got up and limped to her room and the watching fillies left.
...
"We need to tell Ms. Cheerilee, she'll know what to do." Scootaloo said. The fillies nodded and went back to school.
Four sets of hooves galloping in the rain was the only indication Cheerilee received of the return of the four fillies she had sent to check on Diamond Tiara. She opened the door for the fillies and asked. "What did you fillies find out about what Diamond Tiara has been going through?" She looked at at Silver Spoon, but the pause and look that Silver Spoon gave told Cheerilee that she probably didn't want to know, but she needed to.
Finally, after a half minute of an awkward situation, Silver Spoon decided to talk. She told Cheerilee of all that the group had seen trying not to leave out a single detail. Cheerilee's face switched emotions from sad to angry to furious as the story progressed. Cheerilee had never shown such a face of anger before the fillies, but nopony, and she meant nopony, would ever hurt one of her students-not even said student's parents. She would get this corrected, but not by violence. Cheerilee didn't believe in violence unless it was against a monster who tried to destroy Equestria. Cheerilee would go for the lawful, and correct, way of solving problems...and three key witnesses were in front of her. With the addition of Diamond Tiara, that made five-if she wanted to speak about the matter, which would be crucial to the case-that is. Cheerilee decided to inhale and exhale a couple of times to calm down before speaking to the fillies.
"I am beginning to make a plan to help Diamond Tiara, but I will need your help." Cheerilee said.
"I'll do anything for my friends!" Silver Spoon said while turning to her friends. "You in?"
"Well, ah course we'll help!" Apple Bloom answered.
"Why would we not?" Scootaloo said.
"Yeah, me too!" Sweetie Belle answered.
With that, the fillies and Cheerilee decided to help their friend from the clutches of her mother.
...
Cheerilee and the fillies waited for Diamond Tiara at the front of the school. They waited and waited in silence until said filly trotted to them.
"Hey there." Diamond Tiara spoke in a cheery way, as if the events of the day before never happened. This facade angered Scootaloo, but she kept it under wraps.
"Hey." Scootaloo said as she held herself from bursting out. Sweetie Belle noticed this and decided to speak up.
"Diamond Tiara, we need to talk... all of us." Sweetie Belle said.
"About what?" Diamond Tiara faked.
"Ya can drop thah act. We know." Apple Bloom said.
Diamond Tiara started sweating. (Don't even ask me how that's possible with fur) Her friends knew, but she continued faking. "You know what, exactly?"
Scootaloo wasn't pleased with Diamond Tiara's performance. "You can stop lying to us!" Scootaloo got in Diamond Tiara's face, but immediately backed away again. "Sorry." Cheerilee then stepped up and looked into Diamond Tiara's eyes.
"We know about how your mother has been hitting you." Cheerilee whispered.
"What?! What could possibly possess you to believe that?" Diamond Tiara sounded angry, but the look on her face betrayed her words.
"We've noticed many things. Your limp, the bruises from yesterday, and..." Cheerilee paused. "Silver Spoon, Apple Bloom, Scootaloo, and Sweetie Belle witnessed one of these beatings take place." Just like that, the floodgates opened and Diamond Tiara was bawling her eyes out. Cheerilee comforted the filly and said "Don't worry. I have a plan that can stop this from happening. If you help that is." Diamond Tiara tried to talk, but a sob came out instead, so she simply nodded.
Diamond Tiara would get away from her mother's clutches, no matter what...
...
The courtroom was in silence. Time had stopped. The case against Spoiled Rich had gone on without a hitch. All evidence was presented and it seemed as if Spoiled Rich was going to jail for her actions. Then the judge, Mayor Mare, spoke. "Is the jury teady to give a verdict?" Only a few seconds had gone by before the reply came. All the while Spoiled Rich had a smirk on her face. Then one of the jury ponies stood up.
"Yes, your honor." She paused. "We of the jury find the defendant..."
This is it. The moment of truth. Diamond Tiara thought. The seconds felt like hours because of her anxiety. Finally she would be freed.
Diamond Tiara ran out the courtroom with tears in her eyes and a broken heart. She didn't hear her friends' cries behind her, she just wanted to run. Diamond Tiara wasn't known for being fast and her friends caught up to her soon. They got to her and got her to stop. Diamond Tiara looked at her teacher. "I thought you said that would work." Diamond Tiara moped.
"Well..." Cheerilee stopped herself for a second. "I thought it would work."
Diamond Tiara lowered her head and stared at the ground. Silver Spoon started to get mad. "Can't we try again and bring her to court?" Silver Spoon half asked and shouted.
"No, we can't. Equestrian court doesn't allow double jeopardy. That's why when somepony is declared not guilty they can't be brought back to court for the same crime." Cheerilee explained.
This got Silver Spoon even more angry. "So, there's nothing we can do?!"
"All we can do is support Diamond Tiara from now on." Sweetie Belle told her.
"One thang ah don't get is how she got away with this." Apple Bloom thought out-loud.
This is when the pieces fit together. "She must've paid off the judge and jury! That explains how we lost with our mountain of evidence." Scootaloo said.
Silver Spoon lit up. "Then we can get her for that!" She spoke up, but was shot down by Diamond Tiara.
"She'll just rig that court too." Diamond Tiara said in a depressive tone. The fillies looked defeated. There was nothing they could do.
Cheerilee decided to try to cheer them up. "She'll get what's coming to her, eventually."
Diamond Tiara looked her in the eyes. "How come she can't pay now? Shouldn't I try to get her back?"
Cheerilee debated against herself for an answer. "You shouldn't hold grudges."
Diamond Tiara raised her voice slightly in anger. "Why not!?"
"Because holding a grudge lets that pony have power over you, making you weak to them, and to make it through this ordeal you need to be strong." Cheerilee motioned to the fillies for a group hug and they did.
"Thank you for trying to help, Ms. Cheerilee." Diamond Tiara said.
"You're welcome Diamond Tiara." Cheerilee smiled, and so did Diamond Tiara.
...
"Are yah sure about this?" Apple Bloom asked Diamond Tiara as they all stood near Diamond Tiara's house.
Diamond Tiara nodded. "Yes. I need to confront my mother, alone, but can one of you all stay here?"
Cheerilee was the first to answer. "Of course, we're here for you." Silver Spoon put a hoof on Diamond Tiara and hugged her. "I'll stay here you fillies go home and sleep." The fillies whined, but eventually agreed.
Diamond Tiara turned and took a deep breath. She went up to her house's door and knocked. Her mother answered the door. "I wondered when you would get here."
"Hello." Diamond Tiara said in a little more than a whisper. She started to go inside, but was stopped by her mother's hoof.
"What do you think you're doing?" Spoiled Rich said in her high class accent.
"Walking to my room." Diamond Tiara said.
"Your room? I paid for everything in this house, so it is my room."
"But I sleep there!" Diamond Tiara said.
"No you don't. That room was for my daughter. My loyal, responsible, obedient daughter. I don't recognize you as her. You are nothing, but a insignificant, despicable, little brat who deserves nothing I gave her." Spoiled Rich raised her head high. "You don't live here anymore. You are not my daughter and you do not deserve this roof over your head.I thought I could smack my daughter back out, but I was wrong. As of today, you are somepony else's problem. I disown you from here forth. Now get out of my face." Spoiled Rich slammed the door.
Diamond Tiara was shocked as she turned around. She paced forward 5 steps and then broke down sobbing. Cheerilee saw this and began a gallop to her. Cheerilee picked up Diamond Tiara slightly and said. "What happened?"
Through sobs Diamond Tiara cried. "I'm homeless now. Nopony cares about me. Not even my mother does." Diamond Tiara sobbed and shook her head. "She disowned me."
Cheerilee hugged the filly and rocked back and forth slightly. "Your mother is an idiot for not caring about you. You are an adorable little filly. Never let anypony tell you otherwise."
"But nopony wants me around." The filly sobbed into her teacher's mane.
"Yes they do. Your friends do, I do. There are ponies who care for you focus on that, not on those who don't." Cheerilee pulled back and looked the filly in the eyes.
"But I have nothing anymore, not even a house, who will I stay with?" Diamond Tiara sniffed.
"You can stay with me." Cheerilee hugged her again.
"I... I can?"
"Yes, and I promise to treat you like a mother should." They held the hug for a little longer and went to Cheerilee's home in the moonlight.
Three weeks later
Fancy Pants and Fleur-de-lis were trotting along in ponyville. They were gossiping. Fancy Pants then said "Fleur, did you hear about what happened to 'Rich's Barnyard Bargains?'"
"No, I didn't. What happened?" Fleur-de-lis told Fancy Pants with a look of intrigue.
"It turns out that the building burned down due to an unsafe environment and all of their employees sued. Now, the Rich's are in massive debt and they will likely lose everything." He said, but his tone showed he didn't care.
"Tragic." Fleur-de-lis said, but you could tell she didn't care.