“It’s not fair, Dad.”
Filthy Rich sighed, diverting his eyes towards the skyline of Manehattan. The cool night breeze tickled his fur, enticing him to stay silent and keep trotting along. But he knew his daughter would hate him for that. Grinding his hoof on the ground and clenching his teeth for just a second, he braced himself for the conversation ahead.
“Diamond Tiara… this has been difficult for me too, sweetie. I know you’re upset, but business in Ponyville just isn’t like it used to be. Look, I… I make mistakes too. Right now, what we need is the bits: bits for your education, for your mother’s health bills, for — ”
“I don’t care about your bits!” Diamond Tiara interrupted. “You were the richest pony in Ponyville; you could’ve made it work. I had to leave Silver Spoon, and Scootaloo, and Apple Bloom, and — ” Her voice suddenly grew quiet. “And it’s all your fault.”
“It is.” Filthy Rich was not a pony of excuses. “But I’m going to make it right. I didn’t leave Ponyville forever. I just need to get some things going here, and then we’re heading straight back. I still have a debt to pay to Granny Smith, after all.”
Diamond Tiara stopped, throwing her long-finished popsicle stick into a nearby trash can. Then, despite her glistening eyes, she did the best she could to turn and stare straight at her father. “Dad, tell me. How long is that gonna take? Five years? Ten years? By the time we come back, they’re all gonna be grown up. And sure, friendship is magic, but, well… magic doesn’t last forever either.”
Filthy Rich felt a little twinge in his gut from that one. “You know, Rarity is in Manehattan once a week or so, for her business. You can always talk to her about it, and ask her to take back letters to your friends. Plus, we can even ask her to bring Sweetie Belle sometimes!”
Diamond Tiara’s voice grew tense. “You didn’t answer the question, dad. How long?”
Filthy Rich sighed again, deeper and slower. “Two years, maybe three years. Four years tops,” he stated neutrally.
Diamond Tiara let out a bitter laugh. “You sound like you’re having a hard time believing yourself.”
“I have some starting capital,” Filthy Rich quickly responded. “And some friends in Canterlot who would be more than willing to give me a fresh start.”
“Dad, do you know how many ponies would dream of having enough bits for starting capital? Or how many would kill to have tea with Fancy Pants every other Saturday?”
“You don’t get it, Diamond,” Filthy Rich answered, his voice cracking. “All our bits are going towards starting capital. Just because I was once better off than the average pony doesn’t mean I can’t admit now to hard times. Believe me, sweetie. I don’t want to face my Canterlot friends right now, but it’s what I have to do for the family. And — ” He let out a hollow laugh. — “I can’t keep this title of ‘Failed Investor’ forever.”
Filthy Rich resumed his walk, looking away from Diamond Tiara as she followed behind, head hung low. Softly, he murmured, “Diamond, we can still buy you train tickets to Ponyville any time you want.”
“Uh huh,” Diamond Tiara scowled. “Because I’ll have plenty of time to visit. Especially with how in the next four years, I’m supposed to be the one to work my flank off and get accepted into Canterlot’s top university, then get the top grades in the class, then continue the family business. Something I wouldn’t have to do if I had stayed in Ponyville and just become like, town mayor or something.”
“You’d be surprised,” Filthy Rich responded. “And we’ve talked about this before, Diamond. Politics is a miserable endeavor. If you want to change the lives of the ponies you care about, then become a businesspony.”
There was another brief lull in the conversation as both ponies walked towards their new apartment, each giving the other occasional furtive glances. Finally, Diamond Tiara broke the silence.
“Maybe that’s what it’s like in Manehattan, but that’s not what it’s like in Ponyville. Sure, Twilight gets all the attention, but Mayor Mare really keeps the town going. And what about Miss Cheerilee? I don’t think there’s any filly that’s ever had a more inspirational teacher. I just want to be back in a place where everypony knows each other and looks out for one another. Things are different now, Dad. I’ve changed.”
“And therein lies the problem, Diamond. We are in Manehattan now, not Ponyville, as much as both of us might want to head back. Maybe I’m sad to be leaving old colleagues behind. But look — ” He gestured a hoof across the skyline. “Look how bright it is. That’s how bright your future is going to be, pumpkin. I promise you, your friends are not going to forget who you are. So when you go back, smarter and more talented than ever, you can put your skills to good use, and then you’ll be the helpful Ponyville mare you want to be.”
This time, it was Diamond Tiara’s turn to sigh. “I know, Dad. I just can’t help thinking that there’s something else out there that my cutie mark is telling me.” She pointed a hoof in between the apartment lights, towards an empty patch of sky. “Do you see that?”
Filthy Rich looked momentarily confused. “See what, sweetie?”
“The sky,” Diamond Tiara responded. “There’s nothing there. Beyond the neon and the hustle and bustle, Manehattan forgot about the night itself. It’s too bright to see the stars. Sometimes, the buildings are so tall they overshadow the moon itself. I miss that about Ponyville, y’know? Back when Silver Spoon and I would just picnic under the night sky, when the stars would sing us lullabies. It’s just not fair, Dad.”
Filthy Rich had nothing left to say after that. “I know, Diamond, it isn’t.”
They finally reached their apartment. Filthy Rich spoke up again. “Look, let’s talk about this some more tomorrow, okay? I think we both need some sleep. I’m… sorry, sweetie. I’m just doing what’s best for the family.” He held out his hooves for a hug.
Diamond Tiara accepted it. “I hope you are, dad.”
Both ponies held the hug for a while, both quietly hoping it would last forever. Then they went inside, and as sleep embraced Manehattan, the unseen stars sang of a hopeful future.