SPOILERS Review to the one-shot "How Would They Know" by Kori Kitsune

I know that this isn't the only POV of a bully story with Diamond Tiara, I feel that this one had the most potential to be great, but due to many shortcomings due to writing choices this one just ends up being mixed feelings in a bag of watered down cheese.

The mood of this was obviously about making the reader feel sorry for Diamond and it does this very well...in the second half of the story. It wasn't until the Cutie Mark Crusaders actually refuse to play with the bully filly and the thoughts that she has afterwards, did I feel so much sadness and pity for her. This is due to us getting a run down of Diamond's normal day coming home from school to an empty house as her dad is at work. This wouldn't of gotten to the reader by itself, but Kori adds on to it that her father had left barely any bits for a minimal dinner. At this time, I felt pity for Diamond and anger at her dad for being so irresponsible, but these emotions were quickly lost with what happens next. Diamond goes to Sugarcube Corner to buy her dinner but finds out that she is one bit short of getting what she wanted. The CMC just happen to be there and Sweetie Belle gives Diamond a bit so she could eat. This was the part of huge possibilities for character development, but Diamond thinks that Sweetie was making fun of her for not having anything. This is where my pity gets turned off until later. One of the big hooks was lost for a huge chunk of the middle, and for that, the overall mood of the story was mediocre until the last third of the story.

When I began reading this, I was expecting major character development from Diamond because that would've made the ride so sweet to see the bully change and be good to foals for once, but it barely happens other than the ending when Applebloom was talking to Diamond and the true self comes out. The story begins with a spoiled filly with little attention given to her by her father, to a spoiled filly with little attention given to her by her father and now is given a chance with Applebloom and possible the other CMC, but this isn't enough to really call a change. For character, I give it little to nothing.

The biggest downfall of what should've been a very well done story was the fact that it presents a reason behind why Diamond bullies, but it never adds on to this reason. We only get that Diamond is lonely and is acting out because of it, but where was it going? I would've liked to see how Diamond fared with the CMC, and then I would've really have been pulled in if I had kept reading passed the middle part of the provided story. For plot and story: barely any at all.

For these reasons, I have to give this one-shot a thumbs down. It was a great idea that had the writing issues that prevented it from really shining.