//------------------------------//
// Episode 18: Changing for the Better 
// Story: Elements of Heroism: Season 5 
// by Bahamut0 
//------------------------------//

Narico hummed to himself as he took a sip of his soda. Seeing the CMC get so excited about events in their school really made him miss being his true age. Though he had an adult changeling's body, he was still a child. Both in heart and at mind. His interest then piqued when he caught the girls mentioning Diamond Tiara. "She's STILL causing everyone so much trouble? I thought for sure Ms. Cheerilee would have kicked her out by now!"

"No such luck Narico." Scootaloo said with a sigh. "Diamond's family is super rich AND influential. The slightest wrong move against them, and your life is essentially over. Why do you think I've avoided socking it to her when she really deserves it?"

Sweetiebelle sighed. "It's hopeless. She'll just win class president. AGAIN."

"No." Narico said as he set his soda down. "That spoiled brat's been making trouble for far too long. She's made everyone so miserable! Especially you three! I don't know about you, but I'm not gonna stand for her treating everyone like dirt! If there's any time to make a stand, it's now!"

Applebloom tilted her head in confusion. "But Narico, what can we do? Diamond's unbreakable!"

Narico slowly smiled. "I never thought there'd come a day when I'd have to make use of my old observation training. Until today. We need to know our enemy. That's the first part to toppling Tiara. C'mon!" And with that, Narico and the CMC began to tail Diamond Tiara. "Keep out of her sight, and don't draw any attention to yourselves!"

"Please! Diamond's stuck in her own perfect little world!" Scootaloo snickered! "Chances are she won't even notice us spying on her long enough to teach her a lesson!"

Narico nodded. "All the same, better safe than sorry. Now try to keep quiet." The group took care to stay out of Diamond Tiara's sight, and eventually arrived at her home. "Alright. Here we are. Now we just need to get a good view of what's going on inside."

"I don't think we'll need to! Look!" Sweetiebelle whispered as she pointed to the front door opening. "I think that's Diamond Tiara's mom."

Scootaloo was about to make snide remark when the whole group witnessed Spoiled Rich berating Diamond about the class president election! She was treating Diamond way worse than Diamond had been to any of them! "Guys?"

"Yeah?" Applebloom asked.

Scootaloo gulped. "Is it...wrong that I actually feel sorry for Diamond Tiara?"

Narico narrowed his eyes, and buzzed his wings angrily. "It's not Diamond Tiara who's needs a lesson..." He growled. "But she still needs to learn there's a better way. There's one ultimate way to defeat your enemy: Make them your friend." Narico then saw Diamond Tiara leaving. "And I think now's our chance." The group then approached Diamond Tiara as they saw her sit on a bench and sulk.

"Hiya Diamond!" Applebloom greeted with a warm smile.

Diamond Tiara nearly jumped five feet in the air before putting her usual bully persona back on. "What do you losers want? Here to finally sick your pet changeling on me? Or are you here to-?!" Diamond Tiara was caught by surprise when the CMC gave her a big hug. "Wh-What are you losers doing?!"

"Hugging you dummy!" Scootaloo said with a smirk. "What's it look like?"

Diamond Tiara was in complete shock. "....WHY?"

"Because you need someone to be nice to you without being scared." Sweetiebelle said matter-of-factly. "Plus, I don't think your mom hugs you enough."

Diamond Tiara gave a defeated sigh. "You saw that, huh?"

"Sure did. No wonder you were so rotten." Applebloom said in a caring tone. "Why don't ya just tell yer dad about how awful yer mom's treatin' ya?"

Diamond Tiara shook her head. "None of you would understand..."

"Hey! We understand enough to know that's not how family should treat each other!" Scootaloo interrupted. "And if you can't talk to your family, you can always turn to your friends. Right now? I'd say you really need some."

Diamond Tiara began to cry. "Why? Why are you being so nice to me when I've been so awful to all of you?"

"Because it's not completely your fault." Narico answered as he knelt down to their level. "And because everyone's got the capacity for change. Whether for good or bad. Now I've got an important question for you. Which was are YOU going to change?"

Diamond Tiara blinked before heading back into her house and confronting her mother. "Mother. I'm going to be dropping out of the class president election." At hearing this, Spoiled Rich was outraged. And Diamond just stood still with a calm expression. Long enough for her father to notice Spoiled screaming at their daughter.

"Spoiled?" Filthy Rich said in a cross tone. "We're done. I didn't want to believe Diamond Tiara was ever as bad a girl as Ms. Cheerilee said she was. But now that I know it's true. And you're the one responsible. She was perfect just the way she was."

Spoiled Rich was in shock. "But...but I-!"

"Save it." Filthy Rich said sternly. "We're done. You'd best pack your things and get to the courthouse. Before I've half a mind to report you for abuse." And from then on, that was the last anyone ever saw of Spoiled Rich. The next day, Diamond Tiara stood at the school house, and waited for the CMC. Narico smiled at how much happier the girls seemed. So much so that he was soon enveloped in a flash of green fire! Narico grinned as he practiced his shape shifting.

"Changing for the better it is." Narico said with a smile as he flew off.