//------------------------------// // Chapter 4 // Story: Farm Diamond // by iDeltaVelocity //------------------------------// Farm Diamond Chapter 4 ANOTHER DAY OF SCRUBBING debris out of her mane; first it was mud and dirt and now it was flour. She and Applebloom got what they needed. They had to buy another sack of flour from the salespony, and then afterwards they borrowed the cinnamon from Mr. and Mrs. Cake (although getting laughed at by their children and by some ponies in Sugarcube Corner was not something that Diamond Tiara enjoyed at all). Pinkie Pie came in and told them a near hour-long story of how she had to cover herself in flour repeatedly in order to get the Cake’s children to stop crying. But now, the filly was just glad to be back at Sweet Apple Acres, away from all the craziness, in her opinion, that was going on outside. Still, it was lonely here. There was no pony to talk to, or hang out with. She overheard Applebloom talking to Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle about going ahead with trying to get their Karaoke Singing cutie marks, and it was obvious that both Applejack and Big Macintosh would either be busy working in the farm or out in town selling apples. That left only one pony in the house… The last pony Diamond Tiara wanted to be stuck with was Granny Smith. She was still harbouring a deep hatred towards the senile old mare, significantly blaming her in unison with Applebloom for causing her humiliating punishment during Family Appreciation Day. The last she saw of the decrepit mare before heading to taking her shower was downstairs sleeping in her old rocking chair. Tiara noticed that she slept a lot during the day, but that was to be expected from a pony of her age. After drying off and placing back on her favoured tiara, she headed downstairs to see Granny Smith asleep, as usual, in front of the fireplace. There was not much a sleeping mare could provide that would interest her, though at that moment, she noticed something purple and shiny sitting atop the mantle. Pushing a nearby chair over, she moved closer to get a better look. It was a gem, and a beautifully crafted one at that. It must’ve been worth well over sixty-thousand carrots. At that, Diamond’s only thought was: Where did this old lady get something as priceless as this? “What? Who’s over there?” Diamond turned quickly to see Granny Smith awake from her nap. The olive green mare’s eyes lay on the pink filly. A smile on her face, she hopped off the rocking chair and staggered towards Diamond Tiara. “Like what you see?” “How did you get this? Or, who gave it to you?” asked the pink filly. Granny Smith gave a small chuckle. “Actually, little one, between you an’ me, I scammed that one off’a that little feller, Spike. You should’a seen the look on his face.” Hearing this had made Tiara’s jaw drop. “You mean that dragon living with Twilight? Are you serious? How’d you do it?” “You’re jus’ full’a questions this time, aren’t ya?” said Granny Smith. She looked down at Tiara. This must have been the only time the filly was really interested in something relating to the Apple Family, aside from her story about the founding of Ponyville. “When Applejack an’ her friends took that trip to the Crystal Empire, she told me Spike had volunteered to watch Winona and all them other critters. I saw him literally roll’n ‘em through town, strapped together like a giant ball. He bribed me to keep m’ah mouth shut, but not after the animals managed to escape and started run’n amuck. I’ve been keep’n that gem ever since.” Her story genuinely surprised Diamond. She never realised Granny Smith had such a mischievous side to her. You know what, I think I’m beginning to like this mare, she thought to herself. “So what’s your story?” asked Granny Smith. Diamond Tiara eyed the old mare. “What do you mean?” “Don’t act like you don’t know,” replied the olive green pony. “No, really, I don’t.” Whatever Granny Smith was getting at, Diamond Tiara could only expect it to be something either she doesn’t know, or something that she wouldn’t fully understand. Granny Smith chuckled, patting the young pink filly on the head. “Me an’ my family’s been travel’n all over Equestria since before your daddy was born. I can safely say that I’ve been to sorts of places: Hoofington, Baltimore, Vanhoover, Manehattan. And in those times, I’ve met all sorts of ponies.” She could have just ignored her and trotted away instead of listening to this mare, but something inside Diamond Tiara told her that whatever Granny Smith was going to be talking about, it was not going to be a typical “when I was about your age” tale that many other old ponies told. Granny Smith retired back to her rocking chair. Diamond Tiara, interested enough to hear what she was going to tell her, sat on the floor like a curious young child. “You see,” Granny Smith started, “Like I told you, I’ve met a whole bunch’a ponies in m’ah travels throughout Equestria, and lemme tell you, there were some of the nicest ponies you’ll ever meet, and then there are those who you would jus’ wanna bash upside the head. Yes, I’ve met a few of those before.” Those few sentences were nearly putting Diamond Tiara to sleep. Maybe I should’ve gotten away while I could, she thought. “One’a those stingy, snobby, stuck-up ponies I ran into was jus’ like you, attitude and all,” Granny Smith retorted. Her statement drew up a questionable glance from Tiara as she continued on with her tale. My family and I were plum tuckered out from travel’n so much. Back then, I couldn’t remember the last time we stopped and took a breather. The bright sun was normally scorching hot, especially around in the summertime, and we hated whenever the winter seasons came hop’n around. Rain, snow, sleet, and everyth’n in-between; it was definitely not fun for us, not one bit. You see, we’d been look’n for a place to settle down for months. Not many places around the Kingdom were suitable enough for us “nomads” as they called us to stay for long. You wouldn’t begin to imagine how relieved I was when we found a place where we could finally stop with all the travel’n for a while. Don’t get me wrong, I did like see’n all that Equestria had to offer, but trotting all those miles can really do a number of a poor girl’s hooves. “Is there a point to this story?” Tiara asked, increasingly impatient. “Hold your horses, girl. I’m get’n to it!” replied Granny Smith. “Now, where was I again?” The place we decided to finally stop and rest for a bit was at Fillydelphia. It was a marvelous place back then. You wouldn’t find another city like it anywhere else in Equestria, believe me. The scenery it provided was stunning; always made me wish we could have jus’ there the rest of our lives, but I guess fate had other plans for us settlers. Ponies there were nice as could be, except for that one I still remember. My Dad gave me some bits so that I could run into town and pick up a few things for supper. It wasn’t all that difficult search’n for everyth’n. They really had everyth’n you needed. Why, one would call Fillydelphia the Ponyville of that time period. After I’d collected enough of the ingredients my Mom asked for, and I was headed back to my family, I came across a small grumpy-lookn colt jus’ sit’n on a bench. Looked like he wanted to be left along, too, but be’n the sweet mare I was, I decided to go over an’ have a little chat, to keep him company. I’d asked him what was wrong, and do you know what he said to me at that moment? Diamond Tiara eyed the old mare. “Get lost?” “How’d you know?” “Lucky guess, I suppose…” Something has got to be up with that colt, I thought. Never in my life had I seen such a long face. Well, except for that one time Grandpa Tart got swindled outta his lucky hat while we were visit’n Los Pegasus. But I supposed, back then, at least, I should mind my business. After our dinner, I decided to go out for a trot through town. There was still so much to see, after all, an’ I knew we wouldn’t be stay’n for long. The streets in Fillydelphia were quiet at this time of night, except for cats have’n hissy fits in the alleyways. Eventually I arrived at a bridge that was built above a small river splitt’n the town in half. The moon’s reflection shone brightly in the water. In the silence of the night, I heard what seemed like sniffl’n and turned my head to see the same colt I met earlier there as well. I was looking up at the sky. I knew he was think’n ‘bout someth’n, otherwise he wouldn’t be out here. I trotted over to him. “You all right?” I asked. He took one look at me and glared. “What do you want?” “I just asked you a question,” I asked. “Why do you care? You don’t know me.” I sat down right beside him. “No, I don’t. But that doesn’t mean I can’t ask you what’s bother’n you, can it?” He looked as if he was about to reply to me, but stopped himself. I was sure, though, that it was someth’n less than nice. He didn’t look at me, but replied: “Do you have a family?” “Oh no, I’m so sorry,” I said, not really sure of what he was get’n at. The colt looked at me. “No, no, it’s not like that, it’s just…” “Just what?” I asked. “How close are with your family?” “We’re as close as a three beans in a pod,” I answered. Though, with that, he looked at me rather confused. “What’s that supposed to mean?” “It means we’re close. Why do you ask?” The colt sighed. “My family is not really that close like yours is. I wish we were, though. My Mom and Dad are always working. I can’t really remember the last time we actually spent time together.” “All a foal ever wants is to be with his Mom and Dad.” “Sometimes I wonder if they really love me.” “Now don’t say that.” I wrapped a hoof around him. “I’m sure they love you very much. You jus’ have a very hard time see’n that. Listen; don’t let those kinds of thoughts get into your head.” He looked up at me, hopeful. “Are you… positive?” “Of course I am! No pony’s as positive I am!” My sudden burst of energy at that moment managed to draw up a smile from the foal. I smiled in return and placed a hoof on his shoulder. “Believe me, kid. Now, please, go back to home. I’m pretty sure your parents are worried sick about you.” He nodded. Then, he gave me a hug before trotting off. I knew I’d helped that colt out. “What happened to him?” asked Tiara. “I saw him again two days later. I’ll be darned if he wasn’t the happiest I’ve seen him since we first met. Guess he finally got the quality time he yearned for with his parents. But I must say, he sounded almost like somepony I know.” Diamond tilted her head. “Who?” “The pony I jus’ told a story to,” replied Granny Smith. She learned forward in her rocking chair. “I’ve heard it all, ya know: You an’ that Silver Spoon friend’a yours tease’n m’ah granddaughter and her friends, and anypony else who doesn’t fit your definition of a ‘popular pony’. But I don’t hate you. No, in fact, I jus’ think you’re use’n that as a shield to cover some issues you must be feel’n. An’ believe me; I know it when I see it.” Had this mare really compared Tiara to the colt in her story? Diamond felt a few tears well up in her eyes. She turned and wiped them away. Now that she thought about it, she and the colt did sound alike. They were both rotten, rude, mean, and hated just about everyone that came within vicinity. Tiara thought it over again; of course, it sounded just like her, though she refused to admit it. She didn’t have any problems with her life . . . right? “Stupid old mare,” she sneered below her voice; “There’s no way I—” She turned around only to see Granny Smith asleep in her rocking chair, snoring and generally out cold. Tiara couldn’t help but think about her story again, about the colt she met and managed to befriend, despite him acting like a complete jerk. Perhaps—and this was just a small possibility, in Diamond Tiara’s defence—Granny Smith was right about comparing them. Now that she thought about it, there were some things in her life that she was not proud, things that she wished she could forget. But these problems were too horrible in her mind to simply ignore like they were nothing. If anything, they had been the very reason for her acting like she did. Her musing was interrupted when a knock came from the front door. She opened it, and to Diamond Tiara’s disbelief, there stood the gray earth pony filly wearing her trademark glasses. “Silver Spoon!” She pulled her in for a hug. “Your pony pox! They’re finally gone!” “I know, I’m happy, too,” replied Silver Spoon, “I was getting tired of being stuck in bed all day.” “How’d you know I was out here?” asked Tiara. “Your Dad told my parents where you were before he left to… wherever it is he went. But the question I wanna ask if why you’re out here. You wouldn’t be caught dead in Sweet Apple Acres unless you’re Dad brought you here.” Tiara sighed. She loved her father—truly; she admired him and what he accomplished—but sometimes he could be a real pain; though even she knew he meant well. She contemplated telling Silver Spoon about her situation. She is my best friend, she thought. We tell each other everything. “Alright, but promise that you won’t tell another living soul.” Silver nodded. “Don’t worry; I promise.” Diamond Tiara breathed in and exhaled. “My Dad’s gone bankrupt.” Silver Spoon’s mouth was agape. “Whoa... Are you serious? How?” Tiara sighed. “I wish I wasn’t. My Dad made some bad investments; and by that, I mean most of he invested in was counterfeit. So now he’s up in Manehattan with Mister Banks trying to fix it. The reason I’m here was because he wanted me to learn ‘humility’.” Tiara rolled her eyes at the word. “They keep trying to get me to get along with that blank-flank, Applebloom.” “Must be torture,” said Silver Spoon. “You have no idea what I’ve been through,” said Diamond Tiara, “I’m just relieved we get to take a break from all the work. My legs have been aching since we bucked apples out of those trees.” “How many’d you get?” Zero… Diamond Tiara said in her mind. “I got lots. I lost count.” She trotted past Silver Spoon. “Come on. How about we go for a trot through town?” Silver Spoon smiled, gladly accepting the offer. “Sure.” To Diamond Tiara’s relief, there was no pony laughing at her. She figured it was because she wasn’t covered in flour like before; but she still expected at least half of them to recognise her, despite not being painted white. As they aimlessly wandered through town, Diamond told Silver Spoon about her various endeavors with Applebloom over these past few days. Silver Spoon listened attentively to what she was being told, from her being covered in flour by Hopper, to the difficult, grueling work—in her definition—at Sweet Apple Acres. It was still a wonder how Diamond Tiara managed to keep her sanity amidst everything that had happened so far. The fillies eventually entered Sugarcube Corner and took a seat after asking for an order of cupcakes. There were still snickers and chuckles from some of the ponies in the store, though she couldn’t determine if they were laughing at each other or if they remembered her as the one who was covered in flour. Obviously the Cakes’ children knew who she was, as indicated when Pound Cake pointed at her, saying her name in whatever gibberish foals spoke. Diamond looked away and ignored them. “How long is your Dad supposed to be in Manehattan?” asked Silver. “Two weeks, at the most,” said Tiara; “probably more if he can’t find a way to fix things in time. I’m afraid this is gonna stick with us for a while.” “Surely, you must have something left, right?” Silver Spoon always tried to search for the bright side of things. It was that quality that Diamond Tiara liked about her friend the most. Unfortunately, it wasn’t enough. Tiara shook her head. “Most of our bank accounts are either frozen or have already had the money pulled out. This is the probably the worst thing I’ve been through in my life.” “That’s not the only thing that’s bad,” said Silver Spoon. She looked behind Diamond Tiara to see the Cutie Mark Crusaders entering the building. Scootaloo was coughing like she’d been choking on something. “I told you not to sing that too high,” said Sweetie Belle. Scootaloo coughed again before replying in a raspy tone, “Then why didn’t you sing? You seem to know a lot about it.” “You know I don’t like to sing!” Sweetie Belle defended herself. “Girls,” Applebloom intervened, “There’s no use in argue’n, especially when Scootaloo’s voice is shot.” Diamond Tiara scoffed, arrogantly, “Told you you’d be no good at karaoke. But I guess three blank-flanks like you had to learn the hard way.” Her comment earned a laugh from Silver Spoon. Though it put a slight strain on her scratchy throat, Scootaloo couldn’t help but growl. “Well, if it isn’t Diamond Tiara’s mindless crony.” “What did you say, chicken!” Silver Spoon snapped back. Sweetie Belle gave a quick counter. “At least Scootaloo’s not a stuck-up brat like you two!” Her defence earned an agreement from the orange pegasus. Another riot had nearly broken out between the five fillies, until Pinkie Pie suddenly appeared amidst a pile of colourful confetti from behind the table. Her surprise entrance, again, caught Diamond and Silver off-guard as the two fillies fell from their chairs. “Really? Again?” Diamond Tiara got up to her hooves, rubbing a sore spot on her head. “Why do you keep doing that?” Pinkie Pie giggled. “I told you before, silly filly: Surprises make the best kind of entrance!” “Could you do it a little less?” asked Silver Spoon. Pinkie shook her head. “Nope, but what you five friends need to stop doing immediately is—” “I already told you, we are not friends!” Diamond Tiara interrupted. The pink pony, however, didn’t look too convinced. “Sure~ you’re not.” “We shouldn’t be fight’n, anyway,” said Applebloom. “We already promised Applejack we’d try to tolerate each other. Isn’t that right, Diamond?” Tiara opened her mouth; she wanted to say something, but no words came out. She could only settle for crossing her hooves and pouting. She hated the fact that Applebloom could hold that against her whenever she wanted. Silver looked at her friend. “What is she talking?” “Me and Diamond made a promise to Applejack that we wouldn’t get into a fight at all while she was stay’n with us,” said Applebloom, “That also includes no insults or name call’n.” The explanation left a smug look on the earth pony’s face. She had the upper advantage if confrontations arose between her and Diamond Tiara, and she knew it. Pinkie Pie broke the ensuing silence. “So, now that you girls aren’t fighting, is there anything I can get ya?” “We need some ice cream for Scootaloo’s throat,” said Sweetie Belle. “Diamond and I already ordered some cupcakes,” Silver explained. “Oh, those were yours, weren’t they? I thought the Cakes had left me a little snack for all my babysitting Pound Cake and Pumpkin Cake last night.” Pinkie Pie licked her lips, remembering the delicious flavour of the pastries. Diamond Tiara face-hoofed. Between being held down by Applebloom, and her friends and Granny Smith’s story, this was officially one of the worse days the pink filly had experienced in her life. “Just… get us another.”