“Statue?” If Twilight had been surprised at the unexpected arrival of the wealthy stallion and his young daughter, she was positively perplexed now. “Which one? We have many scattered around the gardens of Canterlot, but none of them are for sale I’m afraid. Most are hundreds of years old, and are part of the heritage of this great nation…”
“You don’t understand, Princess Twilight.” Despite her determinedly serious expression, Diamond couldn’t help but grin slightly at the thought of travelling so many miles to bid on one of those mouldy old sculptures. “We’re not here to bid for anything, or hear a history lesson. I’m talking about the one with the bad guys inside.”
“Well, that one’s definitely not available for purchase. If anycreature with evil intent got ahold of it, and was somehow able to resurrect them, the consequences could be most… oh.” Twilight’s mouth finally caught up with her brain, and she looked down apologetically. “I’m sorry. You said you didn’t want to bid on anything today, and I didn’t hear you at first. I just have my mind on so many things right now, it’s like my head is ready to explode. Perhaps it would be better if I just let you speak, and I’ll listen.”
“A-Alright.” Diamond attempted to settle her frayed nerves before continuing. She knew Twilight might be a bit jittery at her upcoming coronation, but she’d no idea the alicorn would be this burned out. “Let me give you a bit of background information first. You see, for most of my life, I haven’t exactly been the best filly. I’ve teased others for their lack of Cutie Marks, helped spread scandalous gossip around town, blackmailed others to get what I want, turned a cousin against her own family and even teased a disabled filly about her handicap. That’s just a few of the many bad things I’ve done that I can name off the top of my head.”
“Oh but my precious jewel, you’re so much better now!” Filthy Rich didn’t enjoy hearing his child badmouth herself like that, and sauntered over to gently ruffle her mane. “If only you’d told me earlier what’d been going on at home in my absence, I would’ve cancelled every one of my business trips and really told your mother off…”
“Ddaadd!! I thought you promised me on the way here, you wouldn’t interrupt me! How would you like it if I walked in on one of your important meetings, and refused to shut up?” A blushing Diamond sidestepped her father’s cloying affections upon her head, and for the first time Twilight noticed the filly was missing her trademark tiara. “You’re talking about the past, and I’m here to discuss the future. Besides, it would be nice to keep some things ‘in the family’, don’t you think?”
“O-Oh, sorry sweetheart. It’s just I hate to hear my angel criticise herself in front of the Princess, when she’s made so much progress in the last year.” Filthy Rich returned to his original standing position, to give his daughter the floor. “Please, continue. You're doing an excellent job of explaining yourself so far. I couldn’t be more proud!”
“Also, for the record, please call me plain old ‘Twilight’. I’ve never been much one for formality, and it would make me feel much more comfortable.” The lavender alicorn informed the pair of her request with a friendly smile. Wow, it looks like the rumours were true. Diamond Tiara has really blossomed since we last crossed paths. Good for her!
“If that’s what you want, ‘Twilight’. Anyway, returning to what I was saying before…” Diamond acknowledged her host’s request with a nod, before trying to get the conversation back on track. “It’s safe to say, I haven’t been the most model of citizens for most of my life. I got better eventually, as my Daddy just announced to the entire hall. But if it hadn’t been for the help of others, mostly three fillies I’m sure you know very well, I never would’ve seen the error of my ways to live a better life. And now, I have the opportunity to do the same thing the Crusaders did for me. All I ask for is that chance…”
“Wait, I’m a bit puzzled here.” Spike had mostly been silent throughout the proceedings, as engrossed as he was in an epic comic strip struggle between The Masked Matter-Horn and Mane-iac. “How did this discussion about statues turn into a confessional, followed by you offering to be some kind of mentor? I mean, this is still better than the business-related stuff I expected when I heard who was coming, but still…”
“Spike!! If you’re going to butt in without warning, at least try making your input useful!” Twilight was noticeably irritated that while her own attempts at not cutting in were going well, others in the room kept letting the side down. “I must admit though, the question did cross my mind too. Although I’m extremely proud of all you’ve accomplished and admire your laudable goal of improving the lives of others, I don’t exactly see the connection either.”
This is it. No backing out now, Diamond. “I-I was thinking about helping Cozy Glow, Twilight.”
“What?!” Well, that simple enough statement really did let the cat amongst the pigeons. Aside from Twilight’s uncontrolled yell there, Spike dropped his comic book in shock and the guards stationed nearby glanced at each other with undisguised alarm.
Even Diamond’s own father, who’d only been told by his child that she ‘needed to discuss a matter of the utmost importance’ with Princess Twilight looked gobsmacked. He’d expected the pink filly to offer to be one of the flower girls at the coronation, maybe even ask to sing as she had such a good voice.
Not… this.
Having already anticipated this kind of stunned reaction, Diamond wasted no more time in adding a few more reasons to why she felt she could succeed where a thousand court-appointed psychiatrists had failed.
“You know, I actually went up to Tartarus to see Cozy Glow once, before all visiting rights were restricted. Although, when you compare what we both did wrong in our lives, her offences are a little… worse, I think even in that short meeting I was able to kind of ‘get’ her. That lust for power, attempting to weaponise friendship for her own selfish purposes: I tried doing the same thing with my leadership Cutie Mark not so long ago. Only when I discovered my true purpose and all the good I could do with it did I ever think of changing my ways. In my opinion, right now Cozy is very muddled about what her destiny could be and how to best use her talents not just to make herself happy, but others as well. N-Naturally, she has to actually learn to care for them first, but I truly believe if I spent a lot of time with her…”
“No.”
If Twilight’s last single-word sentence had been shouted so loud the entire palace roof shook, this one was uttered with complete clarity and clear certainty. The future ruler stared Diamond’s diminutive form down to such an extent that the filly began feeling even smaller in the presence of the much taller alicorn.
“I appreciate your noble intentions coming here today Diamond Tiara, and nopony wants to reform and redeem evil beings more than me. But one brief encounter in Tartarus long ago cannot possibly prepare you for the levels of malice and manipulation this misleadingly innocent filly will throw at you. She’ll stop at nothing to achieve her goal of conquering Equestria, and if this means draining others of their magic or even killing them, I would not put it past her. We’ve heard a thousand different versions of her ‘tragic’ past, from being accidentally dropped from Cloudsdale to her parents dying in a tragic lightning storm. None of these tall tales have held up to close scrutiny, and if she can’t even be honest about who she is to us, what makes you think you can change her entire personality? Also, and I don’t want to seem rude, but you are still a mere filly yourself.”
“Now wait just a darn minute here!!” Despite his earlier vow. Filthy Rich couldn’t just stand by and allow the value of his most precious gem be called into question. Even by a Princess. “I can see why you’d be upset at my daughter springing this surprise on you at such a stressful time, and I’ll be having words later about her inappropriate conduct. But you can’t just dismiss her on account of her age! Diamond has already come with me to Barnyard Bargains for work experience, where she’s already proven herself a natural-born leader. You should see her motivate the staff as she tours the shelves with me: even the laziest of slackers ups their game considerably when she passes by issuing instructions! Why, she does such a good job the thought crossed my mind to pull her out of school to give her my foremare’s job! Naturally, that idea was quickly quashed. A foal needs their education.”
“Mr Filthy. While I can see the close bond you and your daughter clearly share, I don’t see how it pertains to helping Cozy undergo a total character reassessment.” Twilight turned her attention to the stallion, not knowing that the way she’d addressed him was unlikely to win his favour. “Besides, even if I did think there was the tiniest chance she could be reformed, there’s still the small matter of her punishment. She nearly destroyed everything Equestria stands for… twice. What am I supposed to do… set her free to come and live in your mansion? I bet you have a pool, don’t you? Wouldn’t that be true justice: a pony who almost caused the devastation of society gets to lounge in the water on an air-bed all day. Does any part of that sentence sound fair to you, Diamond?”
“Y-Yes, we have a pool. B-But…” The first signs of desperation began to show on the pink filly’s face, as she struggled to counter the salient points Twilight made. “She wouldn’t be allowed to use it, not at first anyway. You see, we have this room deep underground: a ‘bunker’, if you like. It was built as part of the mansion by my grandfather Stinkin’ Rich, or so Daddy tells me. There were a lot of earthquakes in those days, or something. Anyway, I kind of thought she could stay down there. It’s practically inescapable, but has plenty of air for her to breathe. I mean, anything’s got to be better than keeping her as a stone statue forever. Are you really telling me, there’s no chance somepony so young is incapable of getting better someday? It just seems so… c-cruel, that’s all.”
Even though Twilight maintained a stern expression, a slight pang of regret did appear in the form of an arched eyebrow. “Nopony wants to petrify another lifeform, especially one as young as Cozy Glow. And I’ll admit, when she worked with me at the School Of Friendship she did show herself to be quite the eager and efficient helper. But it was all a means to an end to gain power over us all, and that’s what makes her so dangerous. She had me and every other creature fooled, and if you want to know ‘cruel’, just ask my friend Starlight Glimmer what Cozy did to her the second I left them alone together. No, I’m sorry but any further discussion of this matter would be a waste of time for both of us. Your request is summarily denied. Please have a safe trip home, and do come back for the celebrations commencing a week from today.”
Before Twilight could trot back to Rarity’s delicate administrations however, Diamond wasn’t quite done yet. Being a master at reading body language (it helped her guide others into making the ‘right’ decision), she sensed a level of hesitancy in the alicorn’s otherwise firm refusal, and she was determined to push her further on it.
It’s not like she had many other cards to play, anyway.
“You haven’t properly answered my questions yet, Twilight. Did you think turning her to stone was the right thing to do? And, do you believe it’s impossible for her to improve in any way? If you answer ‘yes’ and ‘no’ in that order, I’ll leave this second and not come back. So, could you tell me please? I know you’ll be honest, because that’s exactly the Element you were preaching about when me and Daddy first came in…”
Diamond’s desperation had made her a bit arrogant, especially in the presence of a Princess. Again, the whole room (guards included) gaped at Twilight to see her delayed response to such ‘obstinance’...
...And her reaction was somewhat of a revelation.
“You know what, Diamond? I am starting to see what your father means when he says there’s more to you than meets the eye. Not many other creatures would dare speak to me the way you just have... and I kind of like it! Such stubborn talk helps keep me grounded, and stops me thinking I’m more important than I am. I should never forget I’m here to serve everycreature, not the other way round. So to reward you for your forthrightness: No, turning her to stone wouldn’t have been my first choice. It was Discord, together with Luna and Celestia’s help that made her petrification happen, not me. And while Cozy Glow might be one of the most hopeless cases I’ve ever encountered when it comes to reformation, I never give up on anycreature no matter how hard it may get. It’s just... I kind of reached my wit’s end with her.”
“...That’s why I think I should be allowed to give it a try! I really believe we’re not that much different, so if anypony can get through to her… wait. Did you just say, the weird guy who made it rain chocolate from the sky and turned the clouds to cotton candy decided her permanent fate?! I-I don’t know what to say to that.” Diamond was sorely tempted to say that’s nuts, but wisely decided she’d been given enough royal leeway already. “A-Anyway, that just proves my point even more! If we don’t try to help her now, we’ll never know the kind of mare she could’ve grown into if we just gave up on her! Please? Won’t you at least consider it? A fresh approach from a pony who won’t quit, her very very last chance?”
A million and one emotions flickered across Twilight’s face just then. It’s hard to describe that kind of look, unless you’ve actually seen it in the flesh.
She glanced over at Spike, who simply shrugged his shoulders and buried himself back into his comic. It was a bit early for him to start his new job, and he intended to make the most of this ‘rest’ period.
She then turned her attention to Filthy Rich, who seemed understandably flustered at the prospect of his potential new house guest. This was his daughter’s plan, he was just the chaperone. She’d grown up far too quickly for him to keep pace, and although proud as punch he was very disorientated right now.
That trait of wanting stuff without asking first? She gets that from her mother. He thought sadly, knowing that no matter how much she’d matured they’d always be a bit of Spoiled in her genes.
Still, as visibly bewildered as the tycoon was right now, it was as nothing compared to Twilight’s turbulent thoughts. And the more she pondered on everything, the more flummoxed and lost she seemed to become, until…
“I-I want some time to think. I can’t decide anything right now, and I certainly don’t believe I can do it on my own. There’s a waiting room to your left there with plenty of old magazines to read. If you want to sit inside, I’ll get back to you as soon as I can. Come, Spike. You’re going to have just as much a say in this as everypony else. I need to summon the rest of our friends, but first time for a lie-down…”
Twilight left at that juncture, still in a daze with her faithful dragon companion flapping close behind.
This left the great hall empty, apart from some very nice murals, a smattering of guards…
...And an irate father frowning at his sheepish daughter, ready to begin the mother of all interrogations.
“Well, Diamond Dazzle Tiara? What do you have to say for yourself? I’m waiting…”