//------------------------------// // Lessons From the CMC // Story: Change isn't so easy // by Grassy Blade //------------------------------// Diamond Tiara arrives at the CMC clubhouse. It was built into a tree, so it was also a treehouse. Diamond Tiara walked up the ramp and opened the door. The Cutie Mark Crusaders were there waiting. Applebloom was reading over something in a blue book, Scootaloo was taking out a jigsaw puzzle, and Sweetie Belle was dusting off the tables and chairs with her tail. "Oh, you're here!" said Sweetie Belle noticing the door opening. Scootaloo stopped flipping the puzzle pieces right side up to greet Diamond. "Glad you could make it!" she said going for a high hoof. Diamond Tiara saw this and happily accepted the gesture. "So what exactly are we going to be doing?" asked Diamond Tiara. "Well there's quite a few methods of helping struggling ponies make friends in this book!" said Applebloom pointing to the book on the desk. "I thought we could try out a few!" "Okay, where do we start?" asks Diamond. "I've been looking through it and I've decided to shorten it to 5 lessons." said Applebloom. "Alright, what's the first lesson?" asked Diamond. Lesson 1 First Impressions "The first lesson is first impressions!" said Applebloom. "First impressions are the most important thing when meeting a new friend! Says so in the book!" she says pointing to the book enthusiastically. "And what better practice would be as efficient as roleplaying?" said Scootaloo with enthusiasm. "What..." said Diamond Tiara confused. "You know, pretending that you're somepony else?" said Scootaloo clearing up her confusion. "Doesn't that seem rather silly?" asks Diamond Tiara. "Nah, It's totally fun!" said Scootaloo. "Yeah you should try it!!" said Sweetie Belle "Here I'll start... Hi I'm Sweetie Belle!" Diamond Tiara just gets even more confused. "Um... I know" she said. Applebloom facehoofs. "No no no. Diamond you're supposed to pretend that you don't know Sweetie Belle!" "Oh! Gotcha!" said Diamond Tiara with a wink. She understood now "Hi Sweetie Belle I'm Diamond Tiara." "Nice to meet you Diamond Tiara how are you?" Asks Sweetie Belle gesturing to the pink filly. "Oh I'm great. So lucky actually. My family is so rich that-" "Woah woah! Hold up!" interrupted Scootaloo rushing up to between them. "What? What's wrong?" Asked Diamond Tiara annoyed at her friend's interruption. "I'm carrying out a conversation here!" "Well yes, but you bragged about your family being super rich." says Scootaloo rolling her eyes. "And that's wrong how?" Asks Diamond Tiara "You want your friends to like you for you! Not just for your money!" Explains scootaloo poking Diamond Tiara hard in the chest. Diamond Tiara coughs a bit from the impact of her hoof. "Yeah I guess that makes sense." says Diamond Tiara with a short chuckle. "Alrighty then, Let's continue from that last line!" Says Scootaloo pumping her hoof in the air. Diamond Tiara clears her throat. "I'm great. I'm actually quite happy with my life." she said. "Really how so?" asks Sweetie Belle "Oh no reason! Well there is a reason but it's kind of embarrassing and pathetic..." replied Diamond. "Oh..." Replied Sweetie pretending to be saddened by what Diamond said. "Care to talk about it?" "Promise to not tell anyone?" Asked Diamond "Alright I won't tell a soul." said sweetie belle doing a gesture to zip her mouth shut. "Okay the thing is I used to be the biggest bully at our school..." said Diamond Tiara quite truthfully. She was putting her heart into this whole conversation. "Oh my." replies Sweetie Belle placing a hoof over her mouth in shock. "Yeah, I don't exactly have the best reputation..." Diamond Tiara replies hanging her head low. "I guess being a part of a rich family would do that to ya. I understand if you don't want to be friends now." Diamond Tiara was being quite sincere in this moment, falling out of her persona. "Are you kidding? Of course I'll be your friend!" says Sweetie Belle. "What? Really?" Asked Diamond pretending to be surprised. It did surprise her though that Sweetie Belle was going in this direction. Diamond Tiara found that role-play takes willpower to do things. And a positive response to her negative backstory certainly was a surprise. "Of course!" Says Sweetie Belle with enthusiasm. "It's all in the past right?" "Right." Says Diamond Tiara. "So it's not a big deal!" Said Sweetie. "So this means we're friends now?" Asks Diamond Tiara smiling a bit. "Yep!" Said Sweetie Belle with a cute wide grin. From her seat, Applebloom was writing down their dialogue. With her mouth obviously. Scootaloo clapped at the scene ending and spoke. "Okay that's a wrap! Good job both of you!" Sweetie Belle smiled. "Thanks scoots!" She said giving her friend a high hoof. "Thanks scoots..." Said Diamond Tiara shyly. She was quite confused on what she actually did. She decided not to question it though. The CMCs knew what they were doing right? "You've got everything right Applebloom?" Asks Scootaloo to her friend at the podium. Applebloom nods. "Mhm! It was real difficult to keep up with the alternatin, but I think I got it all written down." "Awesome!" Says scoots. Diamond Tiara then came up to the podium. "So how'd I do?" She asked. Applebloom flips through the pages going back and forth studying the conversation intently. "You did pretty alright there Diamond Tiara. Sure you made some slip ups, but with a little more practice I'm sure you'll be making tons of new friends!" Says Applebloom. "Wow thanks." Said Diamond Tiara blushing. She didn't expect them to be so proud. It's not even a real scenario. Would this training really help her be a better pony? Only time would tell. Meanwhile Silverspoon was At a neighboring park with the blue pegasus filly from yesterday. They walked around taking in the sights, the trees, the bees. Broken Glass glanced at Silverspoon who didn't look so thrille,d like she was distracted. "You still miss your friend?" Asks Broken Glass keeping her hooves to herself. Silverspoon jumps in surprise. "What! No why should I miss her? She hurt you where it hurts most!" Argued Silverspoon. "Yeah but, I've been through a lot more than just her words alone... Embarrassment, Accidents, I think I can get through it eventually." says Broken. "I guess you're right about that Broken, but surely you still believe she shouldn't be forgiven right?" asks Silverspoon "I don't know, I try not to think about things too much... I might break something if I get too emotional." Says Broken shaking. Silverspoon looked at Broken with empathy, confusion. "You don't hate her do you?" asks Silverspoon placing a hoof on her back. "No I don't hate anyone. If I did I might cause major damage to the school or something... What about you?" Broken Glass turned to Silverspoon hopeful. "Do you hate her?" Silverspoon bit her lip. "I don't know... She's always been like this. And ever since yesterday I thought we'd both change for the better." Said Silverspoon. Then she scowls. "But I guess it was too much for her huh?" Broken Glass wasn't so sure about that. "If she was really that bad then why was she talking to Applebloom and the others? Maybe you're wrong?" Wondered Broken Glass. "Maybe. I hope you're right. But I wouldn't hold my breath..." Says Silverspoon looking into the distance thinking about Diamond Tiara's smiling face. "Wouldn't hold my breath..." She repeated closing her eyes, a tear running down her face.