"Diamond, Diamond."
A little pink-coated earth pony yawned as she stretched underneath a rather fancy canopy bed and gazed at the family's butler, an old purple earth pony with a set of white mane looking rather tired. The filly yawned, wanting to go back to sleep, and mumbled, "Give me five more minutes, Randolph."
Randolph gulped, looking abit worried as he replied, "Diamond, your mother instructed me to get you up for school."
The filly eyes lit up as she cried, "Oh yeah, today's the first day of school!"
Diamond Tiara then hopped over to her fancy bedroom with pristine white walls and pink carpet covered with simple fancy furniture. She was then escorted by her butler to her private bathroom, and assisted with giving her a short bubble bath, brushing her teeth, combing her mane and tail just like her mother's, and picking out a cute outfit, putting her into a pretty little light purple and white striped dress, then topping it off with a new pristine saddlebag with gems encrusted on it. Her mane was perfect, and her tail was combed out and wavy.
Walter then bowed and said, "Now you're prepared for school. I must take my leave."
"Ok, thank you, Randolph!" Diamond chirped and waved a hoof as he left. The filly stood in front of a massive mirror admiring her reflection, looking over her outfit and making sure it looked perfect for her first day of school. The little filly already met her new teacher, Cheerilee, earlier this week. She seemed so interesting she couldn't wait to see her again! Not only that, but she wanted to make so many new friends. Having only Silver Spoon, it's not that she didn't like her. But she was excited to meet other foals her age that her mom didn't pick out.
"Diamond!" her mother shouted.
The unicorn filly was so engrossed in her reflection, looking over her outfit and mane, that she didn't hear her mother.
"Diamond, you answer me this instant!"
The filly squeaked as she realized her mother's voice and cried, "Yes, Mom!"
Diamond ran to her door and opened it, revealing an angry, older, pink-coated mare with a set of stern teal-blue eyes walking into the room. Diamond's mom continued to glare at her as she trotted around her and snapped, "Diamond, why are you not answering me? I called you multiple times!"
The filly subconsciously bent her head down and whispered, "Sorry, Mom, I was just getting ready for school."
"And are you ready for your first day of school?"
She then started to hop up and down, unable to contain her excitement, and squealed, "Yeah, I'm so excited!"
Spoiled Rich started to get irritated as she snapped, "Stop bouncing like an idiot and sit down. And it's yes, mother."
Diamond stopped, quickly sat on a nearby chair, bowed her head, and whispered, "Sorry, yes, mother."
"That's Better now that I know it's your first day of school, but there are some things we need to discuss."
“Yes…mother…”
"Now, I expect you to be on your best behavior and make eye contact with the teacher. Try to raise your hoof as often as possible. I'm not raising an imbecile."
"I will, Mother."
"As you're there, I expect you to get top marks in class. There will be punishment if you don't."
"Yes, mother."
"You know that at school, every one of your other classmates is beneath us, and you will not befriend them, understand?"
Diamond paused, her heart clenched in her chest upon hearing her mom tell her she couldn't make friends. She really was hoping to be able to, so she tried to protest, "Yes, Mother, but I was looking forward to making new frien-"
"But nothing! You are a Rich, not some common riffraff; whatever you do reflects on us and myself, so if you befriend common ponies?"
Diamond Tiara looked up, confused, wondering why she couldn't make friends. Spoiled stood over her and shouted, "Stop standing there gawking like a backwater foal! If you befriend common ponies?"
"No, I won't," The filly bowed and quivered as she whispered, "It makes you look bad."
"Not me, the family! Your father, the butler."
"His name is Randolph."
"Whatever, you understand your actions at school will reflect the family and yourself. You are a Rich, so remember that and make sure everypony else does, too."
Diamond didn't fully believe her, but she wanted to please her and show her she was worthy of being her daughter, so she put the idea of making friends out of her mind. But then she thought about Silver Spoon and saw she'd be going to school with her. She looked up at her mom's glaring eyes and asked, "What about Silver Spoon?"
Spoiled smirked, then said, "Yes, you can be friends with her, but remember, she will always be yours. You will also ensure she is beneath you, but keep her close."
The filly didn't understand but couldn't disobey, "Yes, mother."
"Do not disappoint me. I am doing this for your own good. One day, you'll thank me for this."
"I understand,"
"Now say I love you."
"I…I love you," she hugged her mother as she patted her daughter on the head. "Now, come down for breakfast; the butler made some excellent omelets. Also, he has your lunch packed and ready."
"Thank you, mother." Diamond then trotted after her, picking her head up like her mom, remembering that she was Rich and that she had to act like one, forgetting all about meeting new friends. All she wanted was for her mom to be proud of her.
Diamond woke up jolted awake by a train. The little pink filly realized she had fallen asleep, then looked out her window, eyes glazed over from being tired from last night. Everything was a blur, from her trying to stop Pipp from being school president to the Cutie Mark Crusaders convincing her that she was wrong, her finding out her Cutie Mark standing up to her mom, but everything felt so wrong. She groaned, looking over the stuffy uniform, then looked down and saw her suitcase packed with some minor personal items she could take. Diamond realized that she was leaving all that behind: her mom, school, and her new friends, Silver Spoon…she closed her coat around her, feeling something shift beneath her back and ache, wanting to break free. "Remember, if you show anypony, I'll make you regret it! We will reveal you at the right time, but when I say so, understand?" Diamond shivered hearing her mother's threat, wondering what she would do? Her mother was powerful and could pull some strings. Maybe have her sent to a rock farm or banished from Equestria!? She knew that standing up to her mom was the right thing to do. Every time she was insulted or belittled, all of it hurt but it made her stronger. Maybe this was all a test she had to pass; if she endured her, she could endure anything.
Then Diamond groaned, rubbing her horn jutting up from her forehead as it throbbed, probably primarily due to her still not really knowing how to use it. But she had to learn quickly, seeing that her mother pulled strings to make it look like she was born a unicorn in her paperwork. Celestia knows she'll look like a baby in front of her classmates at this boarding school, Coldstone Academy if she can't use it. Diamond wiped the tears from her eyes and focused on the outside. Then, she thought about all the times she belittled the Cutie Mark Crusaders, made fun of them, told lies about them, and tricked Scootaloo into being insecure about her wings. Tears filled her eyes again, feeling the heavy weight of guilt coming over her. She threw her head down, feeling this ache in her heart as she cried to herself, "I… I'm so sorry for everything." she then balled into her hooves and curled up, wishing she could disappear.
Diamond Tiara was groaning as she woke up the next morning. She still couldn't believe everything that had happened the previous day. It felt like a dream; finally, standing up to her mother was thrilling but scary at the same time. That was the first time she ever fought back against her, and it was, and now everything hurt her head and back. She groaned slowly, getting up and feeling pain all over her body and shaking from the fear and pain. Diamond Tiara then slowly got out of bed, crossed her room, and went to a mirror, the same one she looked into at herself when she first went to school. She blinked as she rubbed her head, seeing a horn protruding from it, then threw her wings out…wings!? She gave the pink feathery appendages a few flaps; being surprised at what she was seeing, she couldn't help but squeal, "I'm an ali-"
"Diamond Tiara!"
The filly squeaked and then turned to face her mother in the doorway. "Mother."
The mare slammed a bag on the ground, and her eyes widened.
The filly turned to face her and cried, "Mother."
"Diamond yo…. You're."
Despite everything that happened yesterday, Diamond was so thrilled to see she had been gifted a set of wings and a horn that she shouted, "I'm an alicorn! Can you believe it!"
Spoiled's demeanor did not change as she scowled, "Alicorn, or not behave yourself!"
The filly paused, and just like when she was a little filly, she meekly but with a hint of anger replied, "Yes, mother."
"Don't think being an alicorn will get you out of trouble! Humiliating me in front of the entire school and your teacher!"
"Mom, I-!"
"No buts, I am sending you to boarding school."
Diamond's eyes widened, and she shouted, "Boarding scho- Mom!"
Spoiled then slapped her across the face with a crack with the sting of the hoof hitting Diamond as she cried and winced in pain as the mare snapped, "Quiet now! I will not hear another word!"
Diamond bit down her tongue and looked down, fearing what her mother would do if she did anything else, and waited as Spoiled trotted around looking her over her, "An alicorn, If you think this new body of yours is going to change my mind it won't."
"You can't stop me, but I can just run away!" Diamond cried.
Spoiled took her daughter's face and had her look right into her mom's eyes as she shouted, "I can! I am your mother! Everything you are, everything you have is because of me! You think you won by turning everyone against me! If you want me as an enemy, now I am!"
With tears in her eyes, Diamond Tiara wanted to just run away and hide but somehow mustered the courage to shout, "We'll just have to see what Dad has to say about this! He won't just let you send me away!"
"Your father isn't here, and when he does return from his trip, I'm sure he'll agree that bullying your poor classmates and running that horrible gossip column is so unbehaving of a filly like yourself. I'll make sure to have him see you in a different light as an unruly spoiled brat who needs to learn some humility and discipline."
Diamond paused, her heart thumping. She knew full well her mom had done this in the past to make her look worse than she was. She even used that same tactic against the Cutie Mark Crusaders and other foals. At this point, there really wasn't much she could do but cry, "This is unfair. You can't do this."
Spoiled slammed a hoof onto the ground, making her bow, and then she shouted, "Diamond! You may be an alicorn! Hell, you can be Princess Celestia's descendant. I don't know how or why, but you don't deserve it; you're not becoming a princess, and your behavior is unchecked. We can't hide that horn, but you will hide your wings."
"Seriously!?"
"You will do as I say. We can bind your wings to your sides and make you wear a coat."
"Why would I let you do that!?"
"Listen, you're on thin ice as it is, and remember, if you show anypony, I'll make you regret it! We will reveal you at the right time, but when I say so, understand?
Diamond bowed her head and nodded. Completely scared of what her mother could do, she wanted to fight back, run away, and do anything, but all she could do was shake uncontrollably as she muttered, "Yes, mother."
Spoiled stood up and snapped, "Now pack a suitcase you're leaving tonight," then, the mare walked out and slammed the door behind her. As Diamond rubbed her bruised cheek with tears welling up, she looked into her reflection. She was thrilled to see she became an alicorn, but now all she felt was shame and regret, not knowing why. After all these years, Diamond finally stood up to her mother, but in return, she was being sent away against her will, and she could do nothing. The filly cried out and slammed a hoof into the mirror, cracking it into several shards; she then looked at the shattered reflection, wondering who she was, why she was given this gift, and wondered if she even deserved it.
The train finally stopped, and Diamond woke up again from another dream. As the train screeched to a halt, she wiped her eyes, trying to make sure it didn't look like she was crying, and got off. Diamond then pulled her jacket around her, ensuring nopony could see her other new appendages except her horn. She then pulled her saddle bag around her and followed a group of ponies out of the train. It was a dark overcast with a bit of frost forming on the platform. She shivered to clench the coat close to her chest and saw an old grey pony earth pony with her white hair tied in a tight bun and purple eyes glaring at her as she asked, "Diamond Tiara, I presume?"
The filly let out a breath as she whispered, "Yes, that's me."
"Good evening; I am Mrs. Hardwood, your instructor at Coldstone Academy."
"It's nice to meet you, Mrs. Hardwood," Diamond mumbled as she bowed again.
"Young fillies should curtsey, not bow; we'll work on that later. Now come with me."
Diamond rolled her eyes as only old ladies think fillies still curtsied. But she was too tired and aching to fight, so she was led to a carriage, which two stallions led, assisted on, and then rode off down relatively vacant fields spotted with trees and permafrost covering the landscape being relatively close to the North. By the time they came to the school, it looked like some old mansion. It looked ancient, with grey stone and an Iron sign overhead reading "Coldstone Acadamy." The trees surrounding it looked pretty, along with some well-cut shrubbery. The entire courtyard looked clean and to the point; it had no soul. Diamond was then escorted up the steps as Mrs Hardwood continued talking, "Now your mother told me that you have a coat condition, and you must always wear a jacket."
Diamond clenched her teeth, but remembering the threat, she whispered, "Y…yes… that's true."
"Well, that won't be an issue as it does get cold up here even in the summer," she was then escorted through the corridors filled with portraits of fillies; it was an etiquette school about learning to be a noble mare. She will be here for a whole year. Will she have to hide herself for that long? Can she risk disobeying her mother? They eventually came down to a room and opened it, revealing a pristine carpet with light pink walls and two beds; on one of the beds, a white-coated pegasus filly with bright blue eyes was lying down reading a book. Upon the two entering her room, she jumped up and performed a curtsey as she replied, "Good evening, Mrs. Hardwood."
"Snowdrop, this is your new roommate. I informed you about Diamond Tiara. Today is your free day to relax after your long trip, but tomorrow starts your classes. We have breakfast at seven AM sharp, so make sure you get a good night's rest and have your uniform ready for tomorrow's dinner at Seven PM; we are quite punctual here."
"Yes, Mrs. Hardwood," the two fillies chimed. As Mrs. Hardwood left, Snowdrop's cheerful demeanor instantly turned sour. She rolled her eyes and complained, "Ugh, why did I get stuck babysitting the newbie?"
Diamond eyed her new roommate, who she already didn't like one bit, and then snapped back, "You don't have to babysit me. I can take care of myself."
"Well, I heard about your "skin condition." You better not get your dandruff on my uniforms; I just have them cleaned."
She returned to reading her book as Diamond placed her suitcase under her bed. Looking worried, she asked," Um, aren't you supposed to show me around?"
"Why would I do that? If you're not a baby, do it yourself."
Diamond was appalled by her and, now getting really angry, snapped, "How dar-"
Snowdrop got up and shouted, "No, how dare you! I'm your elder here! If you want, I can tell Mrs. Hardwood about how rude and brutish you are!"
Diamond paused, fearing she would not only make a bad impression on Mrs. Hardwood but also report back to her mother; Celestia knew what she would do to her and cried, "What, no, please, I'm sorry!"
Snowdrop smirked, seeing she won, then said, "If you're sorry, leave me alone. Don't talk to me; for all I care, we can act like we don't exist."
She then flew off to her bed and went back to reading her book. Diamond stood there heaving in anger, thinking that her old self would find a way to get back at this filly. The truth was Snowdrop reminded her of her old self, and it made her feel queasy. She didn't know what else to do but shouted, "Fine, I'll just go take a bath!"
She then went to the bathroom and slammed the door; then slowly took off her coat, took the massive rubber band off her wings, and unfurled them. She winced, feeling the pain of them being bound for so long. She then flapped them a few times, still not used to her appendages and wobbling about as they put her off balance. The filly then went about and prepared the water; luckily, it was hot and steamy, and then she poured some soap until a froth of bath bubbles formed on the top. The little filly then plopped herself in and sighed, feeling the warm water come over her small, cold body. She lay there looking at the ceiling tiles, thinking to herself, one year of this…she needed to get through one year and somehow talk to her father without her mother present; remember, if you reveal them…she felt a deep rage swelling in her as she growled, "Yes Mother I'll behave for now, but the second I'm out of here I'm going to tell father what you did to me! I'll get through this!"