//------------------------------//
// Epilogue-Breaking the Cycle 
// Story: His Greatest Treasure 
// by RoyalBardofCanterlot 
//------------------------------//

Diamond wandered happily through the rows of apple trees. The air was sweet with the scent of the succulent fruit. All around her leafy, green branches swayed. Juicy, red apples hung from the trees, tempting her with the promise of their delightful taste dancing on her tongue. She licked her lips, which tasted like apples due to the lunch she had shared with her very special friend. Sunlight shimmered on the rough bark of the trees which enveloped her like the embrace of her lover. It was beautiful, all so beautiful. A poet she had once read wrote that love made all things beautiful. Diamond agreed.

She whistled as she continued to slowly trot, the tall grass tickling her bare hooves. The high branches shaded her from the fierce heat of the summer sun. She paused and sat down near the gnarled roots of a particularly ancient tree. Silvery lichen and emerald moss ran up the tree's trunk. Patches of moss held the soil together. Apple Bloom had explained to her how everything in nature served a purpose. Moss held the soil together. Fungi broke down dying plants. Lichen helped prevent erosion. Nature was a cycle, an endless circle of death and renewal. 

A tree fell in the forest and became a nursery for new seeds. The seasons followed one another. New plants grew from rot and decay. One generation followed another. Foals became mares. At her age she could be called a mare. The pink-coated mare rose up and stretched. A yellow-coated, red-maned mare trotted into the grove, smiling at Diamond and giving her a nuzzle. Diamond returned it, brushing her lips over the other mare's lips. She tasted like sweat, having just completed her daily task. The taste was intoxicating.

Bloom gave her another kiss and drew apart. "You ready Diamond?"

Diamond sighed. "Do I have to?"

Bloom chuckled. "You don't have to do a darned thing you silly filly. We can go down to the swimmin' hole and spend the rest of the day there.  But I got a feelin' you and her got some unresolved business."

"Yeah, we do."

"So, what's it going to be? Swimmin' hole or talkin' things through with your mama? Her shifts ending soon and she'll be out of here. She's only got one more month of community service. Time sure does fly doesn't it?"

Diamond nodded. "Yeah. It sure does."

Bloom leaned into her. "I'll be right here. Whatever you decide."

"Where will she be?"

"West orchard."

"Lead the way."

She followed her marefriend. She would follow her anywhere. They wandered through the seemingly endless rows of trees until they reached a clearing. In the distance a pink mare could be seen. Her mane and tail were still a vibrant shade of purple. If one liked older mares, she could be seen as attractive. Her muscles had become toned, particularly her back and legs. She wore an expression of great concentration on her face as she turned and slammed her back legs into the tree. A rain of red apples fell into the waiting basket. She moved onto another tree, bucking it as well.

Bloom rubbed Diamond's withers. "Go on. Your choice."

"I know you want me to do it."

Bloom shook her head. "It ain't about what I want, Diamond. It's about you always cryin' about her when you've had too much cider. It's gettin' on my nerves."

Diamond chuckled at the obvious good natured teasing.

Spoiled noticed the two, but said nothing. 

"It's been five years since we last spoke. She had supervised visitation rights. Our relationship sort of went from freezing, Northern wasteland to just cool then back to freezing wasteland when I started dating you."

Bloom frowned. Diamond tickled her side, eliciting a squeal. "Don't you dare feel guilty about that."

Spoiled trotted over to them. Diamond felt her back stiffen. Spoiled addressed Apple Bloom. "Applebloom, I am done for the day. Good afternoon and I'll see you tomorrow."

"See ya tomorrow."

She began to walk away.

"Wait."

Spoiled stopped. "Yes, Diamond?"

"Mom, can we talk?"

Spoiled walked back and stood to face her daughter. "I was under the impression you didn't want to speak to me."

"Yeah, you probably got that from how I haven't said one word to you in five years."

"That is how I arrived at the conclusion, yes."

That condescending tone grated on her. Spoiled looked away. "What is it you wanted to say?"

"You know me and Bloom have been dating for a long time. I've discussed things with Dad. He approves and Granny Smith approves. We're getting married-"

"I know, Diamond. Your father still talks to me on occasion. It is a rather momentous event and he felt I should know." Her eyes moved from Bloom to Diamond. "If you're debating about inviting me to the ceremony, I assure you I will not act as my own mother did."

"Would you want to come?" Diamond asked.

"Of course. I wouldn't miss my daughter's wedding. Do you want my blessing?"

Diamond sighed. "It'd mean a lot to Bloom. She's a stickler for tradition."

"Blame my upbringing though we're gettin' married with or without it."

Spoiled nodded. "I can see how happy she makes you. You positively glow with the radiance of being in love. You might not believe me, but I do wish for your happiness. So yes, I give my blessing."

"Mom..."

"There's a condition."

Diamond's shoulder sagged. "Of course there is."

"Are you marrying Apple Bloom just to anger me?"

"No, of course I'm not!" She spat, placing her foreleg around Bloom and drawing her close. "I love Apple Bloom more than I've ever loved another Pony!"

"Good. I'm glad."

"There's more. Me and Apple Bloom plan on having foals. With Unicorn magic we can merge our DNA. One of us will bear the foal, we haven't decided who yet. Soon, I'm going to be a parent." She paused, drawing strength from her lover's presence and her own supply of confidence. "Look, Mom, you might not realize this. I don't think you can, but you were an awful mom."

"I know."

Diamond gaped. "You do?"

Spoiled looked her straight in the eye. "Yes, Diamond. I do know. My therapist helped me to realize just how many things were wrong with my way of thinking. I'm a narcissist. I can't help being that. Much of it is because of my own mother. You...you wouldn't believe how I was treated by her."

"No, I would."

"I was never that bad to you."

"No, you were."

"She was worse."

"I don't know if that's possible."

"It is, I assure you."

Diamond breathed. "We'll be arguing all day if we keep going. That's what I wanted to talk to you about. I'm going to be a better mom than you were. I'm going to be a better mom than Grandma was."

Spoiled snorted. "You already are better than her."

"I know your mom abused you and you abused me. That ends here. It ends with me." She stomped her hoof. "This cycle has to end and I'll be the one to end it."

Spoiled closed her eyes. She smiled when she opened them. "I know you'll be the one. I want you to." She gulped. "You have to."

It surprised Diamond when she embraced Spoiled. It surprised her more when Spoiled returned the embrace. Apple Bloom trotted a respectful distance away. Mother and daughter only left the embrace after several minutes had passed. 

Spoiled wiped away Diamond's tears before wiping away her own. "Good luck, Diamond."

"Thank you. I have to go now. I have a wedding to plan."

"Of course, my dear."

Together, leaning into each other, Diamond and Apple Bloom walked off into town.