//------------------------------//
// The Talking 
// Story: Shine Like A Diamond 
// by MASTERMIND360 
//------------------------------//

"So wait, yer' saying that yer' the role model for Diamond Tiara? The Diamond Tiara?" Applejack asked Sunset, while she's half disgust for her sister's bully being in her presence while half concern for her friend for who she's assigning too. 

Sunset and Diamond were in the hallway with RD, AJ and Rarity alongside they're sisters, (well at least to Scootalo as Rainbow always sees her as her own little sister), and yes, Scootalo alongside her friends were glaring at Diamond Tiara for not only that stunt she pulled on them yesterday, but also because the things she did in the past, it's no wonder Silver Spoon cut ties with her for who knows how long since then. 

Sunset notices their expressions they were given her so she needed to at least talk them out first, "Look, girls, I get that all of you were feeling this way for what Diamond did," Sunset reasoned. "But trust me, I've been where she was, and you girls helped me change, and I'm doing the same for her."

Applejack sighs in response, "Sunset, ah' understand but unlike you, Diamond...she's... she's too much of a headache to tolerate with no matter how many times ah' lectured her for bullying mah' sister and her friends." 

"And when she says headache," Scootalo added. "I'd say that she's so toxic to tolerate with than we could ever bare!"

Upon hearing Scootalo calling her that, Diamond turned her attention from her cellphone and to Scootalo's eyes with anger. "Toxic huh?!" The rich girl spat at her. "Why you little-!" 

But before she could charged towards Scootalo, Sunset firmly grabbed her shoulders while Rainbow Dash shield the young daredevil and give the rich girl the deadliest glare she could ever muster. 

"Diamond Tiara," Sunset told her strictly. Really strict. Truth to be told, as much as she wants to help her, she never even intended to be this strict, meaning that she had to be cold, and meaning that she had to be a bit mean but she's not going to sugarcoat her bad actions. "Violence doesn't solve anything! It could get you a lot of trouble than you're in right now, young lady!" 

"And what about you?!" Diamond asked them, slapping Sunset's off of her shoulders and glared at her. "You used to be bully! And then you said that violence can't solve anything!" 

"Well, unlike you, young lady," Sunset replied coldly. "When I was stilll a bully, I pretty much harassed and blackmail everyone but violence is the least of my intentions! Now calm down this instant, Tiara!" 

Diamond Tiara knew she had no choice but to listen to Sunset, even if she can get away with like normal, there's too many students and so does Sunset, her friends, and the crusaders and they're likely going to snitch on her to Principal Celestia. So despite being unhappy for this, she just take a few deep breaths until she was finally calm. But still being stubborn and miserable for this. 

Sunset's strict demeanor change to a warm smile. "Now that's better," she turned to her friends and the crusaders. "Okay, what you girls said was true but like I just said, trust me, I can deal with her. You'll see."

Her friends truly trusted her but they're still uncertain and concerned for her. So Rarity asked, "I really hope you know what you're doing, darling."

"Don't worry about me," Sunset assured her again. "It has to take time."

"Wait till you had enough with her shenanigans," Rainbow warned her. "Now matter how hard those lectures I gave her for messing with scoots, she just doesn't care! And... I know that you used to be a bully like her but her, damn, she's like a pain in the heart!" 

"Rainbow Dash!" Sunset suddenly scolded her, then calm down. "Look, I get that you girls can't tolerate with her much longer, and if we had it my way, I'd rather keep my mouth shut other than calling her names even if it's true or not, for as long as it sill mean." 

Rainbow Dash sighs and nodded, knowing that Sunset was right. And soon, the bell rings, signaling everyone that is lunch time.

"Look, I'll see you girls after lunch," Sunset said and turned to leave with Diamond Tiara closed behind. The girls just stayed and stared at the two girls walking to the cafeteria. 

"Ah' just hope Sunset knows what she's doing," Apple bloom said. "Seems like she's our last hope to get Diamond to settle down."

"Ah' know what you mean," Applejack replied. "But we all know who Sunset was and how she used to be. We just gotta have faith in her, and yet, despite seeing how much of a headache she was, Sunset still seem determined to teach Diamond the true meaning of Friendship." The others agreed and made their way to the same lunch area.





Inside the cafeteria, Sunset steps a bit forwad as it was her turn to get her lunch from Granny Smith, while Diamond Tiara had took her lunch first and was sitting alone in a table. Sunset frowned at the sight of the lonely girl sitting by herself, just barely eat her food. This takes her back to that day, 3 days after the Fall Formal where she was sitting at that table, that same very table Diamond sat now, where she was alone, ignoring the cold stares and whispers from other students but that didn't matter when her friends joined her, giving her company. So Sunset decided to do the same for Diamond. 

She sat beside Diamond and lay her food tray on the table beside Diamond's. DT just ignores her, just eating her friend, expressionless. So Sunset decided to cheer her up a bit, to ligthen up the mood. Usually, this was Pinkie Pie always do but Sunset has got to do it herself. 

"Look..." She started. "I know you're very miserable about this right now, but you don't have to be miserable anymore because there's more to life than being rich and all, there's another way. And I'm gonna show it to you." 

Diamond Tiara put down her fork and slowly glared at the older girl. "Why do you care? You're just like a person who was willing to drop a few coins on a charity case like me hoisted by this stupid program." 

Sunset was taken back by this but still keeps her cool. Her therapy for her anger totally paid off. 

"Listen when I say this again," Sunset repeated. "The reason I volunteered this program is because I figured I can teach the youngsters the true meaning of Friendship, showing them the right path like my friends did to me. Now that's why I want to help you, Diamond Tiara."

Diamond didn't say anything, but slowly turned her attention back to her food and continue eating. Though barely and slowly. As she was eating, Sunset realized that Diamond did have a friend with her; Silver Spoon, of course she also know her as well.

"Didn't you have a friend?" Sunset asked her as Diamond stopepd eating. "Silver Spoon, where is she?" 

"She cut ties with me," Diamond answered, still not looking back to Sunset. "Like not too long ago. Why do you ask?" 

Sunset hesitate a bit to answer but said, "I just... a bit curious and whatever happened between you two that made her want to cut ties with you... I'd believe that she may did for a reason."

Then finally, Diamond turned to her. "Then what makes you think that Silver only denounce me for a reason?" 

Sunset shrugged, "Well, according to what they told me about you, I could guess that Silver can't sugarcoat your past mistakes anymore." Then what caught her attention is seeing Silver Spoon talking and laughing with Lyra a few rows away from them. "And from the looks of it, she's seem like she's already change since she cut ties with you." 

However, this only makes Diamond a bit more jealous and a bit betrayed but with Sunset and everyone in the same room as her, she'd rather keep her mouth shut. The last thing she needs is a detention if not suspension. 

"But I know you can do that too," Sunset told her. "It's not too late to change, Diamond Tiara. You can atone your mistakes, help people who still needs to be helped, understand what Friendship truly means. And knowing you actually, you don't seem to understand the true meaning of that and you must have seen Silver Spoon more of your personal business partner other than your real friend. Silver could've had saw you as her true friend but as you showed your true colors, her real friend is nowhere to be seen. So she must've felt betrayed and had to cut you out of her life..."

"But still, she betrayed me!" Diamond protested.

"Well, you were the first one who betrayed her," Sunset countered sternly. "She sees you as her only friend but you don't see her the way she sees you! And when you become incredibly a parasite to everyone here, Silver Spoon realizes that you right now, is not the you she see believes you are." Sunset's face soften when she sees Diamond a bit hurt in her own way, making her a bit guilty. "Look... I'm sorry but it's the truth and it had to be told in the harsh way. But you can still make up for it, prove to everyone that you changed and prove how genuine and regretful you are to Silver Spoon." 

"But why would I do that if I am already much of a jerk to everyone here?" Diamond asked.

"Everyone deserves a second chance," Sunset told her. "A second chance they don't deserved but they had that chance. And you had given that second chance now, Diamond Tiara." 

Diamond just sighs, grumbling the fact that she had to be lectured by a senior student like Sunset, so not wanting to talk more about this topic anymore; she decided to begrudgingly changed the subject.

"Enough about me," Diamond said, changing the subject. "What about you?"

Sunset knew she was trying to change the subject but decided to answer her anyway, "Well... I was just like you, sure I was a bully but I was also alone."

"And then you gave yourself in to those girls you called friends?" Diamond bluntly asked her which makes Sunset feeling offended when she mentioned her friends that way. 

"Yes, and I don't appreciated that way you talked about my friends, Tiara," Sunset said sternly. "So what else do want to know about me?" 

"Oh you know..." Diamond replied, still glaring at her. "Just still can't believe that I find it rediculous that everyone suddenly forgives you for everything you've done and the Fall Formal." 

Even after everything I've been through together with my friends, there's still someone who's still very resentful towards me? Sunset thought.

"I could tell that you still hated me for that," Sunset clarified.

"Yeah, of course I do!" Diamond argued, though it's not loud to attract everyone's attention. "How can everyone suddenly forgives you for everything you've done and especially that Fall Formal?! This is what is also eating me in the inside! Not only I get in trouble for bullying, losing Silver Spoon, but also because I get to be lectured by The Sunset Shimmer who was once a school bully, turned into a demon and then few months later, you were forgiven!" 

"You know that was pretty hypocritical on that bully part when you're also a bully yourself," Sunset countered again. "But yeah, I can see why you still hated me. You hated me for not only being a bully but also turning into a demon while you're still a bully like you are now, and don't forget, we never interact with each other before, so consider this our first time." 

Diamond was hesitated to answer, "I supposed you're right..." 

"And also, it's okay if you still held a bit of grudge but just to remind you," Sunset reminded her, "I'm not that person anymore, Diamond. And everything I did in the past was in the past, I fixed all my mistakes, learned The Magic of Friendship, reconcile with my old teacher, and finally move on to improve for the better. So it's not the point to look back now if you want to continue living. If you trust me, I'll give you a second chance to change your ways and don't worry about doing all that alone, I'll be with you in every step in the way." 

So then, after 10 seconds of waiting, Diamond Tiara finally answered. "You know what? I'll think about it, but only because you made me to!" 

"Diamond Tiara," Sunset said, shaking her head. "I'm not forcing you to. I just want you to take this second chance I'm giving you so you'll fix your past mistakes and make it up to everone you've hurt."

"And what if I say no?" Diamond asked with a cheeky grin. Sunset responded with a stern glare, this cause Diamond to grumble again but she had to. "Fine. But only for your own sake, Sunset Shimmer." She turned her attention back to her food.

"Do I have to spell that out to you again, young lady?" Sunset asked her in a very strict tone. 

"Nope," Diamond replied, still not bothering to look back at her as she chew her food. 

Sunset knew that Diamond is still unwillingly to take this chance she's offering her. And it's also getting hard for her as well, so before she gives her a head start, she must have Diamond Tiara realizes her past actions soon enough. So, without any words she could come up with to reason with her, Sunset starts to eat her food before it gets cold. 

They may be right about what they said about her, but I'm not giving up. Not now. I am helping Diamond Tiara to change no matter how hard she's trying to make.