//------------------------------// // Cutiemarks and Assignments // Story: Tiaras and Parasols // by Starpony999 //------------------------------// Diamond Tiara was your average filly. However, she had some notable exceptional aspects. For one, she was the first in her class to earn her cutiemark: a trio of diamonds. She was also the only unicorn in a family of earth ponies. A rich, influential family. In fact, her father was actually running for mayor next year. One might think a pony of that standing would be snooty, stuck up, or at least proud of her family. Ms. Tiara, however, was a shy, timid pony in the classroom. Mrs. Cherilee recalled the one day, at the beginning of the year, when Diamond Tiara was a chatterbox. It was the day the pink fully earned her cutiemark. She was even talking to the pegasus Silver Spoon, somepony most of the fillies avoided. The next day, the unicorn was as quiet as can be. Cherilee never managed to find out why the filly was so quiet, but she guessed it had something to do with the gray pegasus. Mrs. Cherilee hoped today's assignment would help Diamond and the other shy colts and fillies in her classes. "Today, we're going to learn about putting your skills to use!" The magenta mare proclaimed as cheerily as her name. "As you know, each and every pony has a special talent which is displayed by their cutie mark." A couple of quiet groans were made at the mention of something they had not acquired yet. Their teacher ignored them. "But a special talent is not something that comes with your cutiemark. It is something you already possess but have yet to discover. Furthermore, while your special talent is what you excel at, it is not something you are instantly good at. You might be better than the average pony, but your special talent is something you need to work hard at, striving towards being the best at what you do. "There are others who have the same talent as you, but might look like they have it all figured out. Don't be discouraged, they have worked at their special talent longer than you have, so they have more practice. If you practice your special talent yourself, you'll eventually be just as good as them, if not better! That's why, for this week's assignment, I want you to partner up in groups of two. You don't need to have the same special talent, but that might help. Your assignment is to find ponies in Ponyville who have a similar special talent, or who you look up to. Find out what it is they do that makes them good at their job. You and your partner are to give a presentation to the class on your findings on Friday. "I also have a list of ponies who have agreed to take on an intern or two for more in-depth study, if this sounds like something you want to do more with." The bell rang, and most of the fillies and colts began to get out of their chairs. "Have a good week my little ponies!" Cherilee called over the rising conversations. "Working in pairs?" A pink unicorn filly muttered, watching as all the other fillies and colts paired up. AppleBloom partnered with Twist (those two were inseparable), Silver Spoon with Scootaloo, and Snips with Snails. By the time Diamond Tiara managed to get out of her seat, there was only one filly, besides herself, without a partner. Di didn't know this filly all that well. While Diamond sat at the back of the class, this filly was at the front. Mustering up as much courage as she could, Diamond approached the snow-white filly. "H-hi." The pink pony greeted. "I'm, uh, Diamond Tiara." She pushed a loose piece of purple and white hair behind her ear. "Would you, um, like to be, uh, my partner?" The filly stared at her like she had grown a second head. "I know who you are." Diamond shrank back, unsure of how to respond. "There really is no pony else left to partner up with anyways." The filly shook her head. "Fine. This shouldn't be too hard. My name is Sweetie Belle. Do you have to be anywhere after school?" Diamond shook her head. "Great, let's get a head start then. Come on." "Well, who should we visit first?" Sweetie Belle asked as the duo trotted through Ponyville. Diamond Tiara shrugged, not daring to answer in fear of rejection. Sweetie Belle gave her fellow unicorn an odd look. This couldn't possibly be the same pony who had taunted her at the beginning of the year. "Well, we could visit my sister. I mean, I look up to her, she is my older sister after all, even if she is a little different." "Different?" Diamond couldn't help but ask. She immediately covered her mouth with her hoof in regret. Sweetie didn't notice. "Yeah, my mother, father, and I are all unicorns. However, my sister was born an earth pony and nopony knows why." "Oh." That sounded a lot like her own situation, Diamond thought. Only difference was that she was born a unicorn to a family of earth ponies. Pure blood earth ponies. "So, I guess we should turn here then." They were at the one road that went straight from one side of the town to the other. Being one of the shyest ponies in town, Rarity tended to stay out of town in a little cottage in the woods. Sweetie Belle knew that her sister wasn't fond of the woods, but, in her sister's words, 'at least they didn't silently judge her'. "I guess so." It didn't take long before they reached the cottage. It wasn't anything like the typical Ponyville house. The main color was a bluish-white instead of the traditional beige, and the trimmings were mauve, a lighter purple than the traditional palatinate. The roof itself seemed to be composed of a combination of ribbons and hay, like the bird nests made during winter wrap-up. While Sweetie went up to the door to knock, Diamond stayed behind on the bridge just outside, admiring the way the colors of nature blended to create such beauty. She loved how seeing how everything fit together. She wished she was an earth pony. Then maybe she could put together something as beautiful as this. "Di!" Sweetie called from the house, waving her forehoof to help get the pink filly's attention. "Come on!" Diamond snapped out of her daydreaming and galloped toward the door. "I'm so sorry." She whispered, head down. "Nothing to be sorry about, dear." A quiet, regal-like voice spoke. Out from behind a couch rose a full-grown mare. She was snow-white like Sweetie Belle, but her mane style and hair color differed. It was a deep purple and had only a slight curl to it. "It's always a good idea to stop and smell the roses....or take in the beauty of nature." The pink unicorn looked up into the blue eyes of the older earth pony. "Hello." She managed to say, although it was considerably quiet. With the shyest mare in Ponyville, however, it was the perfect volume. "Hello. I'm Rarity, Sweetie's sister." She greeted. "I'm Diamond Tiara." Sweetie tried not to roll her eyes at the shy ponies' interaction. She didn't succeed. "Hey, sis. We got a school assignment for this week today. We're supposed to find out how ponies we look up to do their job." "Well I'm flattered, but I'm not sure how I can show you my job. The next animal event is the petting zoo, and that's not 'til next week." "Maybe you could tell us how you got your cutiemark?" Sweetie asked, pointing to the blue butterfly-note on her sister's flank/ "Well I suppose so, if you both want to hear it. But I'm sure you've heard it a hundred times already." "Actually...." Sweetie Belle sighed. "I haven't." She prayed she wouldn't regret this decision. "Oh? I can't believe I've never told you!"