//------------------------------// // 315. A Star is Born - Part 3 // Story: Blaze the Pony Tale // by Wolven5 //------------------------------// "The votes have been counted!" Cheerilee announced as everypony looked on expectantly, "The Student Pony President is..." Diamond Tiara held her head up high and had taken that first step of assumed victory- "Twinken!" "HUH?!" Diamond Tiara gaped in utter disbelief towards Twinken as everypony cheered and shouted congratulations. "Omigosh, Crusaders! Twinken won!" Apple Bloom beamed so brightly, feeling very proud of her brother. "And I couldn't have won without the support of my best friends, my fellow Cutie-Mark Crusaders," Twinken added. "Hey! Maybe we got cutie-marks for helping Twinken's campaign!" Sweetie Belle suggested but as always, the Crusaders' flanks were blank, which Diamond Tiara didn't hesitate to point out. "Guess you're not as good as you thought, Blank Flanks!" She then looked over to Cheerilee, "In fact, I demand a recount!" "Trust me, Diamond Tiara, Twinken is the winner," Cheerilee responded dryly. "Then you won't mind if I look for myself!" Diamond Tiara huffed as she stepped past Cheerilee to look at the ballot. "WHAAAAAATTTT?!?!?" She came back out, "ONE VOTE?! Silver Spoon!" She stepped over towards Silver Spoon, flabbergasting, "You didn't vote for me?!" "No, I didn't," Silver Spoon replied with a 'so there' attitude. "But- But you're my best friend!!" Diamond Tiara reminded her, with a sincere look of hurt in her eyes. "Am I? Because this whole time I kept trying to help you, but you kept telling me to be quiet, wouldn't listen to one helpful word I said, and honestly, you just kept treating me like dirt," Silver Spoon pointed out, "You could have won this election if you'd just listened to me. Wanna know how?" She raised her hoof before gently tapping Diamond Tiara under the chin and smarmily speaking in a hushed voice, "Sorry! I'm not allowed to speak." Diamond Tiara stood there in stunned daze before she growled while inhaling and then letting out such an angry SHRIEK and storming off. The Crusaders watched her leave before looking to Silver Spoon, "What? I'm done putting up with all her drama." The Crusaders shared a concerned look and Apple Bloom said, "Ah know Diamond Tiara's been pretty awful, but we should prob'ly make sure she's okay." "Yeah, she might not care about anypony else's feelings," Twinken added, "that doesn't mean we shouldn't care about hers." "Huh, you really a a bunch of bleeding hearts..." They looked over to a miffed-looking Hotshot, who was running his comb through his mohawked mane, looking oddly okay with losing. When he noticed their looking at him, he sighed, "What, expecting me to pout and throw a tantrum too?" "Well... you're taking your loss kinda well, Hotshot," Twinken pointed out. "Prob'y because I voted for you," Hotshot responded with a shrug. "Listen, I didn't really care about being Student Pony President either. I only volunteered because I wanted to win another competition. But it wasn't until I heard your speech that I figured out this wasn't a competition. It was to stand up and be a leader or... something." He strapped on his helmet and grabbed his skateboard, "Anyways, kudos to you, Mister President." As Hotshot zoomed off, the Crusaders shared a look of amazement before Twinken reminded them, "C'mon, Crusaders. Let's go find Diamond Tiara." Remembering the aversion ward his brother taught him, Twinken cast it upon himself and the rest of the Crusaders to make sure Diamond Tiara or anypony else would notice them following her, even if they were standing right behind her. As they followed her, they couldn't help but see how despondent Diamond Tiara was. For some reason, she looked miserable for something other than losing the election. Maybe it was the fact Silver Spoon basically turned against her, maybe it was the realization of what a bad friend she'd been to Silver Spoon? The answer made herself known as Diamond Tiara walked past a beauty parlor and out stepped her mother, Spoiled Rich, the head of school board for the Ponyville Schoolhouse. Like her husband and daughter, Spoiled Rich was an earth pony, and her coat was the color of strawberry milk, her mane was in an elaborate style, colored shades of magenta and dark heliotrope, her eyes were opal, she wore a soft blue blouse with a golden necklace, and her cutie-mark was a diamond ring giving off a sparkle. "Diamond Tiara!" The mentioned filly froze in terror as her mother approached her with an expression like she smelled some offensive odor, asking with a haughty tone, "Why are you making that face? That is not the face of a winner." "Because... I didn't win," Diamond Tiara answered hesitantly, peering at her mother nervously. "What? You mean I hefted all these party supplies to celebrate nothing?!" Spoiled Rich pointed out the Rich Family servants taking away the mentioned party supplies, including a statue of Diamond Tiara that the butler had a miserable time moving. "I'm sorry, Mother," Diamond Tiara said miserably, "The class elected Twinken instead of me..." "Prince Midnight's younger brother? Ugh! I suppose that wouldn't be soooo bad if he wasn't a blank flank!" Spoiled Rich snubbed, "As a daughter of the Family Rich, you must always think of your social standing!" She made that apparent when she waved politely towards Fancy Pants and his very pregnant wife, Fleur Dis Lee. Once they had moved out of earshot, Spoiled Rich continued to admonish her daughter, "That starts here in Ponyville and reaches all over Equestria." She touched her hoof to her daughter's chin, making sure she was looking her in the eye, "Don't ever forget that, Diamond Tiara. EVER!!" The Crusaders all grimaced at the way Diamond Tiara flinched from her mother's irascible tone before the mare walked away, her nose up in the air. Their eyes went back to Diamond Tiara who walked up to a jewelry store where a large diamond was displayed in the window. [Diamond Tiara] If I'm a diamond then why do I feel so rough? I am strong as a stone, even that's not enough There's something jagged in me and I've made such mistakes I thought that diamonds were hard yet I feel I could break Would you believe... That I've always wished I could be somepony else? Yet I can't see... What I need to do to be the pony I want to be I've been told my whole life what to do, what to say Nopony showed me that there might be some better way And now I feel like I'm lost, I don't know what to do The ground is sinking away, I'm about to fall through Would you believe... That I've always wished I could be somepony else? Yet I can't see... What I need to do to be the pony I wanna be! Diamond Tiara walked without a destination in mind, never having felt so alone as she did now, unaware of the six eyes watching her. To be the pony I want to be... "Is it... weird that I feel bad for her?" Sweetie Belle asked her friends, all of whom had the same concerned and sympathetic looks on their faces as she. "If it is, then... I'm weird, too," Scootaloo replied after rubbing the back of her head. "With a mom like that, it's no wonder Diamond Tiara's the way she is!" Button Mash pointed out, "My mom never talks to me like that or makes me feel bad unless I actually did something bad." "She wants t' change, but, she duzen't know how," Apple Bloom brought up. "Seems like she could use a friend or two to help her figure it out," Rumble suggested. "Let's talk to her after school tomorrow," Twinken added and they all nodded in agreement. At that moment, Diamond Tiara continued to wander aimlessly, feeling sorry for herself. Why did it always turn out like this? She strove to be her mother's idea of a proud and dignified daughter of the Rich family, but it just seemed that no matter what she did or how hard she tried her mother always found some fault to point out, some mistake or flaw to admonish her over. The time she scored the highest in her class's math test? Her mother had belittled her signature. The time she modeled for a Filly's Jewelry line? Her mother was unimpressed with her poise. When she'd asked for a special doll for her sixth birthday? Her mother had instead gotten her crystal figurines she wasn't even allowed to touch, otherwise she'd break them. Her father was nicer to her, but Filthy Rich was always so busy and sometimes didn't come home for days. And the few times she worked up enough courage to try to talk to her father about her mother, Filthy Rich didn't really listen, telling her to listen to her mother and then try to placate her with some expensive gift. Just once, she wished her father would listen to her. Just once, she wished her mother would be proud of her! Her heart felt as though something were squeezing it, and began to feel the urge to cry- "OW!"/"Oof!" Diamond Tiara fell onto her side, her tiara slipping off, and she groaned, more in irritation than pain, as she sat up and rubbed her shoulder- "Oh, I'm so-so sorry! I should've been watching where I was going. Please, let me make it up to you." "You're darn right you should've- !" Diamond Tiara finally looked at who'd bumped into her and saw he was an earth pony colt, with a soft brown coat, a creamy white mane, arctic blue eyes glimmering apologetically, and his cutie-mark was a bowl of ice cream. He was a little older, a year or two, maybe. He held out his hoof, and she hesitantly accepted it, allowing him to help her up to her hooves. "Um... just... just be more careful, okay?" "Oh, uh- Your... crown?" the colt peered down on Diamond Tiara's tiara, and she groaned to herself to see it had gotten rather dirty. "Again, I'm so sorry, but... lemme make it up to you. Follow me, and we can get your crown thing cleaned up." The colt sounded a little earnest but he was being so nice. Sighing, Diamond Tiara picked up her tiara and said, "Sure..." "Cool," the colt started leading her down the street before peering over his shoulder and saying, "Oh, by the way! My name's Lickety Split. You're, uh... Diamond Tiara, right?" "That's me," Diamond Tiara answered with a shrug. "If you don't mind me saying, Diamond Tiara, you look kinda down," Lickety Split commented before smiling, "Nothing a little ice cream won't help!" "Ice cream?" echoed Diamond Tiara, honestly finding the idea appealing. Lickety Split led Diamond Tiara to a little ice cream parlor, the sign reading 'Sweet Licks', and he held the door open for her, saying, "After you." She entered and found the ice cream parlor was nice and homey-looking, with soft comfortable chairs and tables, a glass counter that displayed what flavors were available, glass jars filled with different toppings, a fancy-looking blender for milkshakes, and at the register was a big and tall earth pony stallion, just a little on the portly side, wearing a white shirt and apron colored with pastel blue, yellow, and pink, along with a deli hat. "Hey there, son! Who's your friend?" "Hi, Dad," Lickety Split walked up to the counter, "This is Diamond Tiara, I... kinda bumped into her and now her crown's dirty. Would it be okay if we gave her something sweet as an apology and I clean her crown in the back?" "Sure, champ, go right ahead," the stallion gestured Lickety Split through the door next to the counter before looking to Diamond Tiara, "What can I get'cha, lil' miss? Whatever you, want, it's on the house!" "Um..." Diamond Tiara felt hesitant but her eyes wandered to the menu and she saw a number of delicious-looking ice cream dishes, milkshakes, frozen yogurts, sundaes, it all looked so good! "Well... I guess that strawberry shortcake sundae looks good." "Coming right up! Go ahead and have a seat," the stallion got to work while Diamond Tiara took a seat by the window. Having time to herself again, Diamond Tiara reflected on the day. She'd made her speech, boasted her superiority, promised favors to some of her classmates, her silence to those with problems they didn't want others to know about, she'd showed ambition, determination, everything her mother drilled her to be. Hotshot's speech had just been him blowing hot air about himself, promising awesome tricks and dumb stuff to do with his skateboard. And Twinken... he'd said he hadn't prepared a speech, but he'd given one that won over the entire class! Even her so-called best friend, Silver Spoon! But then... she thought and then accepted, she hadn't been a good friend to Silver for the last few days. Thinking back on Twinken, the things he'd said, she hated to admit, but she could tell they came from the heart. Twinken hadn't promised anything, boasted about himself, not even using the fact that his brother is a prince. He'd just been honest, and humble, and sincere. As she thought, the words Twinken used in his speech began to cross her mind in a slow and methodical way. As they did, she began to see that the words he used were words that came across as humble and showed him as one for the class and he'd take them into consideration. The words and their meanings seemed similar to her father's words of humble and loving manner. As it clicked, she looked up to see....Lickety Split return with her tiara and the sundae she'd ordered. "There ya go, all nice and clean," Lickety Split set the tiara on the table and then the sundae right in front of Diamond Tiara, "and this, nice and cold. Enjoy." Diamond Tiara looked at her tiara and was relieved to see it was clean and pristine, and then at the sundae. The angel food cake looked soft and sweet, with three scoops of vanilla fudge ripple, and the perfect amount of strawberry sauce, all served in a cocktail-like glass with a dollop of whipped cream on top. Diamond Tiara couldn't deny it - It looked delicious! "...Thank you," Diamond Tiara said curtly before she took the spoon that came with it and began to eat. Thought the first bite of the sundae she set in her mouth gave an explosion of delicious flavor! It was sweet but not too sweet, the fudge ripple, the strawberry sauce, the whipped cream, and the angel food cake, it all meshed together so well yet each was distinct enough for her to taste them and identify them on her tongue, that she couldn't help but smile a little and softly utter, "Mmm...!" Lickety Split smiled, glad to see Diamond Tiara was enjoying it, and he couldn't help but notice that whatever walls she'd put up around herself were beginning to crack open. "So Diamond Tiara, that sundae helping you feel better?" "...Mm-hmm, it..." Diamond Tiara paused before giving a small smile to Lickety Split, "Thank you." "Well, you looked like you could use it," Lickety Split said with a friendly shrug, "Y'know, when something's botherin' ya, it always helps to talk to somepony about it. You don't have to, if you don't wanna." ... ... ... "Well, I got some chores I should do, so..." Lickety Split made a show of beginning to leave, which caused Diamond Tiara to drop her spoon. "Wait!" Smiling, but making sure she didn't see it, Lickety Split got back into his chair and gave Diamond Tiara a patient smile. "I... I...!" Diamond Tiara took a deep breath and finally choked it out, "Mymother'sangryatme!" "Uh... say that again? A little slower this time," Lickety Split suggested. Huffing, Diamond Tiara finally got it out, clearly this time, "My mother's angry at me, because... I didn't become Student Pony President of my class." "Well, I guess that can be a little disappointing," Lickety Split shrugged, "but it's not the end of the world!" "Ugh, maybe not the world, but my mother would say it might be for my 'standing in society'," Diamond Tiara rolled her eyes. "I do everything she tells me to do, and it's never enough for her! No matter how hard I work, no matter how good I do, she always finds something to point out and make me feel like dirt... "Then there's my daddy. He buys me whatever I want, but sometimes... sometimes I just want him to listen! But nooo! Every time I try to talk to him about Mother, he's always 'listen to your mother, princess' and gets me something so I can't complain, or- Or... Then I found out that my best friend didn't vote for me, and... I can't blame her because I was being such an awful friend to her lately." "It's okay," Lickety Split assured, "There is always a tomorrow." "I don't even know if she'll speak to me again..." Diamond Tiara whimpered, not wanting to cry, but now that she was unloading the tears were beginning to well up in her eyes. "Don't worry about it. Let the rest of today play out," Lickety Split said gently as he reached over and touched his hoof to Diamond Tiara's, which caused her to take on just the faintest red around her pink face. "I get things are hard, and you feel like a failure. But Diamond Tiara, you're only a failure if you don't get right back up and keep moving forward and continue to try your best. You'll have good days and you'll have bad days, But if you ever have another bad day and you don't know who to talk to, you're always welcome here." "Wow... Thank you, Lickety Split," Diamond Tiara smiled with deepest appreciation when she noticed the clock on the wall and saw the time! "Uh-oh! I have to go home, I have an etiquette lesson I cannot be late for!" Diamond Tiara took a few more bites of her sundae, and then wiped her mouth clean with a napkin from the dispenser. She moved for the door but then paused and looked back at Lickety Split, who was giving her an encouraging smile. "Thank you." "Come back anytime," Lickety Split smiled and waved, and Diamond Tiara blushed again before hurrying home. Faerie Tail and Twinken gazed up at the Castle of Friendship, its crystalline features reflecting the fading twilight of dusk, giving it an eerie beauty. Not long after Twinken and Apple Bloom went home after seeing Diamond Tiara getting read the riot act from her mother, a note had arrived from Princess Luna, informing them Midnight was back and that the two of them would be expecting Faerie Tail and Twinken at the castle to discuss his new powers. Twinken touched the talisman hanging around his neck, the only thing protecting his mind from picking up the thoughts of any around him. Then, he looked up at his mother and he didn't have to read her mind to know that she was deeply concerned for him. He touched her hoof, and smiled up warmly at her, trying to put on a brave face. It helped, because she smiled back and then gave him a loving hug. Finally, she knocked on the door and moments later, Midnight opened it. "Mom, little brother, thank you for coming." He invited them inside, saying, "Follow me. Princess Luna is already waiting in the council room." Entering the council room, they saw Princess Luna sitting in Twilight's throne, and she said, "Faerie Tail, Twinken, my pupil, I am pleased to see you both, and now that Midnight is here, we can discuss Twinken's new powers in fuller detail." "Have a seat wherever you like," Midnight invited, as he took his own throne. Twinken sat in Cheese Sandwich's throne, which was to the left of Twilight's, and Faerie Tail sat in Pinkie's, which was to the left of Cheese's. "Would anypony like refreshments?" Midnight offered with a forced smile, trying to ease the tension. "No, thank you," Twinken replied, and Faerie Tail politely shook her head no. "Then let's get started," Princess Luna decided, "So that the two of you know, I have already informed Midnight about the new development on Twinken's new powers and how it's evident he has gained the physical traits of a lunar pony." "You said that..." Faerie Tail spoke up, "that Twinken will now develop an appetite for meat. Should we be concerned?" "Not at all," Midnight answered his mother, "Do you remember back then after I became an alicorn, Mom? I also unlocked my lunar pony heritage, which included my diet for meat. Princess Celestia arranged for meat to be provided for me back then, and these days I get my meat through private channels, mostly from the Griffon Kingdom, occasionally from the Lunar Pony colony out on the Shetland Isles. "I can still recall how it disturbed you back then... and I'm sorry for that." "No! No, son!" Faerie Tail got up and went over to Midnight, placing a hoof on his cheek, "...I could never fault you for something that is a part of your nature! Because... you get that nature from me." Midnight touched his mother's hoof, cherishing her touch. A touch he had been robbed of for over ten years, and said, "We'll get through this, just as we did back then." Faerie Tail nodded and sat back down, reaching over to stroke Twinken's mane, the little colt still looking nervous. So Luna moved things along. "Midnight or I can provide Twinken with meat, once he begins to hunger for it. I recommend Midnight that you help Twinken through this transition." "I already planned to," Midnight replied while giving an encouraging wink to Twinken, which helped the colt feel a little better. "But back on track, his powers. From what you informed me, Luna, Twinken has developed some degree of Telepathy." "You said you had a theory regarding that, Princess," Faerie Tail added. "I do, and my theory, everypony," Luna declared, "is that Twinken is a natural Telepath." "...Those are rare," Midnight looked in awe. "Natural telepath? Wh-what does that mean?" Twinken asked, a little afraid of what he was going to hear. "Ordinarily, my pupil, Telepathy is a magical art that only Beta-level unicorns and above are capable of learning, though it's not unheard of for Gamma-level Unicorns to possibly learn a minute form of Telepathy," Luna explained, "In any case, it is a learned magical skill, that takes years of practice. The power to perceive and even control others' thoughts. "What you have experienced is its raw and basic form, the power to hear stray thoughts around you, without knowing how to tune them out so that they don't overwhelm your mind. Let us be grateful that is all you have experienced, at least... for now." "For now?" Twinken echoed, not liking the sound of that. "Twinken, your power has only begun to sprout, and in time it will grow," Luna explained heavily, "and not even the talisman I have given you will be enough to protect your mind. Nor the minds of those around you. As a matter of fact, I am afraid that in time I will have to ask for the talisman back." Twinken shrank back in his seat, holding the talisman against his chest, looking more and more afraid. "I understand that you are scared, young one," Luna said gently, "but you must understand. Your power must be allowed to bloom, and so you must learn to control it. Relying on the talisman is a crutch, especially if and when your power grows too strong for it to handle. Furthermore, as you have learned that the power of Dreamwalking is a responsibility so too is Telepathy. "There have been a regrettable number of telepaths in the past who abused this power and caused no small amount of harm. They were dealt with and made examples of, both before and after my millennia-long banishment. But know that we are here for you, to guide you, to teach you how to use this power and to use it responsibly. Even your brother can help you this time." Twinken looked from his teacher to his brother, who smiled with a nod, "I'm not a natural telepath, but I am learned somewhat in wielding telepathic powers. In Luna's absence, I can teach you what I know and help you in case something goes wrong." "Can you... I dunno, teach me how to not hear what everypony around me is thinking?" Twinken didn't want to give up the talisman, but what his teacher had said made sense. Eventually, it wouldn't help, so it was better to get learning. "Oh that's easy, you just need an earworm!" Midnight replied, but then he saw the weirded-out looks on his brother and mother's faces and chuckled, "It's not an actual worm; it's just a little catchy music or song that gets stuck in your head even after it's no longer playing! With that filling up your head, it drowns out stray thoughts your telepathy might pick up from those around you." "So I just need some annoying song or music stuck in my head?" Twinken deadpanned, "Yeah... I'm not altogether sure if that's better." "Try your favorite song," Luna suggested. "I, being a classical music....fan, if you will, I let classical music fill my head, to block out unwanted thoughts if ever my own telepathic abilities got out of hoof. It's simpler then listening to some cheesy song or some little foal's song from some kind of children's puppet show." "I guess that makes more sense," Twinken gave it a thought... before he said, "Okay, I wanna try." "Very well. When you're ready, take off the talisman," Luna instructed, "The three of us will think your name and you tell us whether or not it's working. Even if you think you hear us, concentrate on the song, let it fill you." Twinken nodded, closed his eyes, and concentrated. For a few long moments there was silence, all eyes on the colt. Then he began to bob his head just a bit, hum a little, and finally he levitated the talisman and took it off while gesturing with his hoof to everypony to go ahead. Luna thought, My pupil, I am thinking of you. Can you hear my thoughts? Midnight thought, Hey, little brother! I'm thinking of a hundred-hoof tall green penguin! Faerie Tail thought, Twinken, sweetheart, if you can hear what I'm thinking, know that we'll help you get through this! Twinken growled to himself, for even though he kept focusing on the tune in his head he could hear their thoughts, even if they weren't as loud. Still, that didn't stop him from giving his brother the stink eye while subtly shaking his head. "Midnight? Stick to friendship problems, cuz'... I don't think creative writing's your thing." "Huh! I'll have you know I've written and published a few novels under a pen name!" Midnight responded, acting just a tad pouty. "And one of them made it onto Canterlot's Top Ten Reading List in the Canterlot Gazette!" "Really?" Twinken and Faerie Tail and Luna all looked at Midnight, who sulked. "Okay, maybe it was more like an... honorable mention," he admitted. They all chuckled softly in a good natured kind of way, and Luna asked, "So, how did it feel, Twinken? Given your words, I take it you still heard what we were thinking." "I did, but... this time, it was more... muted?" Twinken tried to explain, "Also, I actually heard Midnight's thoughts a little more clearly than yours or Mom's." "Hmm, not quite there yet, but it's progress," Luna nodded, "You can put the talisman back on." Twinken did so, and Luna said, "Well then, Twinken, now that you have the basic idea, I want you to practice using an earworm to tune out others' thoughts every day. Also, keep this in mind. Your new power is instinctive, meaning it responds to how you feel. If you stay calm, focused, and keep your thoughts centered, you can keep control over your power. But if you let your mind wander, if you grow nervous, anxious, scared, your power will become harder to control. "In other words, just keep a calm and cool head, and you should be fine." Twinken nodded solemnly, and Luna said, "Very good. Faerie Tail, you can take Twinken home now. I think we could all use a good night's sleep." "Thank you very much, Princess Luna," Faerie Tail got up and Twinken went over to give Luna and Midnight each a hug. After they left, Luna looked to Midnight, "A natural Telepath... I haven't encountered one since before I became Nightmare Moon, but I am sure there have been others since then." "There have, and a few did terrible things with their power," Midnight confirmed, "made all the wrong choices..." "This is my doing..." Luna looked despondent, "I unlocked his bloodline and brought out his potential for Dreamwalking. I should've considered this might happen, and now I've burdened him yet again." "Is it possible he would've developed Telepathy without you?" questioned Midnight, "As the Prench say, C'est la vie. Now, we just both need to make sure he gets the guidance he needs. But just between you and me, Luna... how long can Twinken rely on the talisman?" "I can't be sure," Luna sighed, "Natural Telepaths are always the most powerful. Maybe not at first, but Twinken's power will grow, and for his sake as well as the sake of those around him, he must learn control it..." "What do you want to do in regards to Twinken's instruction?" asked Midnight. Luna considered before deciding, "For now, I shall continue to provide him guidance in the dream realm, and I would like for you to use that Midnight Hour you have with him and the colts to give him hooves-on experience in the waking world. In time, we will have to put your brother to the test, in his ability and his willpower."