//------------------------------// // S1E2b Diamond Hatch // Story: Creator Hatch // by Josh Crapo //------------------------------// So, it seems that Our Town is just like Ponyville. Three different kinds of ponies. The only difference is that these ponies are authentic as none of the eyes glow green at any point. This is completely undiscovered territory, so of course the ponies here are authentic. Suddenly, I see Brown coming from the caves. “Ar- ar- ar- ar- ar-!” I gasp. “Brown? What’re you doing here alone? Where’s Catcher?” Brown barks one more time. “That’s it. We have no time to lose. We’ve got to get that filly before the changelings do. And I might know where she went. Somewhere only she could think to hide.” And with that, Brown and I run to the cave in search for Catcher. -=- I look past Our Town and see Diamond Tiara and Gac enter the area leading to the cave. “Yes, Gac. You’re doing great. Diamond Tiara will be a great start to the hive. With this new hive, Gac and I will feed on love we have never had in our old hive. Diamond Tiara is not part of Our Town. She’s just from Ponyville, a place I have NO relevance to! I must blend in as Diamond Tiara from now until our hive is at a sustainable status. For the first time, Gac, you have made my mission just that much easier.” So, I change into Diamond Tiara and walk down the valley and hide in the rocks for about a minute. When I come into Our Town, people recognize me as who I’m disguised as. “Ah! Diamond Tiara! I thought you went with Brown!” “Well, it was a quick search, Double Diamond. It was just to see if Catcher was at the front of the cave. Brown went searching into the caves without me.” Suddenly, Party Favor joins the conversation. “Hey Diamond Tiara, can I see you in the bakery basement?” Right, Party Favor is rather suspicious about me. And he must’ve seen the real Diamond Tiara in the surrounding area that led to the new hive. “Okay, Party Favor. I’ll be there. Bring all your tools.” Suddenly, Party Favor and Double Diamond get confused. “I read some book moons ago. I don’t remember the title.” Party Favor laughs. “Oh. Okay. I see. Just come down when you’re ready then. Okay?” “Alright.” I wave goodbye to Party Favor as he goes into the bakery past the tables. -=- As I enter the basement, I get something weird about the area. It’s like Party Favor intentionally left the lights low. Suddenly, I perk up from hanging my head in front of me. “There you are. Glad you could make it. I just have one question. Are you the real Diamond Tiara?” I snort in amusement. “That’s a weird question.” “Just answer it, okay?” “Yes. I am. I mean, why would I end up here in this desert-like area if I was trying to vacate to Rainbow Falls?” I’m going to have to be careful on names. I almost said Gac in front of Diamond Tiara instead of Brown. “Wait. Catcher never told you about Our Town’s history?” “She never mentioned it.” “Oh, come on! There has to be something that you don’t know. Where were you before Rainbow Falls?” “Ponyville. Everyone there’s been replaced there.” “Everyone?!? Even the Princess of Friendship?!?” “Yes! Even her! Alright? I don’t want to talk about it.” “Well, I could understand that if you were the real Diamond Tiara. But-” “Look. Party Favor, was it? I’d love to talk to you about what goes on in my life, but I have to get back to Rainbow Falls,the last remaining open place with authentic ponies, just to have a normal life again.” “Very well then. It seems that you have convinced me, ‘Diamond Tiara’. Good luck on your journey.” -=- That night, I sleep near the top of the mountain, seeing a view from Rainbow Falls and Our Town to the east coast and this crystal looking place with surrounding tundra. Looking at Our Town, one by one the lights turn off. Finally, when the last one shuts off, I drop to the cave entrance I was in front of earlier after Party Favor’s interrogation. Entering the cave, I see Gac near the top of the ceiling with a cocoon containing Diamond Tiara, who looks like she was asleep while it happened. “Gac. I’m impressed. How’d you do that?” “I made a chrysalis.” “I see that. But no one ever taught you that before.” Gac starts whimpering. “I hope I did it right.” “Well, it turns out you did do it correctly. Now, we just have the ponies of Our Town to worry about, especially Party Favor.” “What’s he doin’?” “Interrogation. When I posed as Diamond Tiara, Party Favor decided to have me meet with him in the bakery basement, and try to find out the truth of what’s going on. It’s a good thing I talked to Diamond Tiara, or else I would’ve been found out. Now when we go in as Catcher and Brown, beware of Party Favor. That pony is smart, so keep your eyes peeled for the all blue stallion. Tomorrow, we finally break Party Favor.” “Oooh!” “Yes. Oooh indeed.”