//------------------------------// // Chapter 11.5: A Fading Gem // Story: Dinky: A Filly That Is Loved // by vincent5000x //------------------------------// (~~~) That bitch is going to pay! Glittering Gem sat motionless as the medical pony carefully inspected her nose. Her calm and trusting demeanor showing the complete opposite of how she really felt. How dare she attack me! "It doesn't seem to be broken," the pony said, still staring at her nose with concern. With a final sigh, they used magic to carefully apply a bandage to her nose. "Just try to be careful now," they said with a small smile. "Ok?" "I will, thank you." Glittering Gem gave her own smile. After I get back at that bitch. Just then, Glittering Gem's lawyer walked in. She looked worn out and a little worried as she asked the medic to leave the room. "So, how did everything go," Glittering Gem asked as she removed the bandage on her nose. I don't need some horrid thing stuck to my fur. "Miss Gem, was the restraining order really necessary?" The lawyer walked over to a small table where several documents sat. "The likelihood of it even going through is slim to none." How dare she question my decisions! "I'm merely looking out for the foals safety," the unicorn said with an concerned tone. "You saw that pegasi's eyes. There is obviously something mentally wrong with her and I feel that this could. . .benefit the foal in the end. Wouldn't you agree?" "Miss Gem," her lawyer said rather sternly. "I may be your lawyer and inclined to prove you're innocent to the best of my abilities, but don't think I believe your innocent. You're the one that called for me specifically." Pompous ass. . . "Because you are one of the best." Glittering Gem continued, smiling as she made her way over to the table. "You may not believe my innocents now, but in time, everything will work itself out. Then we can all move on with our lives." "Tell that to the mare you just traumatized," the lawyer huffed. "I'm sorry?" Glittering Gem couldn't help but become intrigued by her lawyers statement. "Did something happen?" "Miss Hooves, the one caring for YOUR foal, seems to have suffered due to the restraining order." That was faster than I thought. "Oh dear," Glittering Gem said, hiding her smile with a look of concern. "What happened? Is she alright?" "What happens to her should be the least of your problems Miss Gem," the lawyer said as she finished packing her papers into a small briefcase. "There are a few things I need to take care of before you can leave. Or do you want to spend the next month in a jail cell?" How dare you speak to me like that! "Oh my, that would be a problem," Glittering Gem said, putting a hoof to her mouth. "Please, go 'work you magic' as they say." Glittering Gem made sure to give a well practiced chuckle and smile as she said this. The lawyer simply rolled her eyes as she left the room, taking her briefcase with her. The moment the door closed and Glittering Gem knew she was alone, the false smile she had turned into a scowl. "That pompous bitch," she said, bringing a hoof up to inspect her nose. she quickly put it back down as a jot of pain followed its soft touch. "How dare she do this to me." "Miss Gem?" a voice called from outside the door. "Are you ok in there?" "Just fine," the unicorn replied, re-applying her false smile. When she was sure nopony would enter, she went back to her rant. "They were supposed to come in before she attacked," she continued, talking more quietly. "But no matter, it still got me what I needed. All thats left is to leave this infernal place and I'll finally be able too..." "Miss Gem," her lawyer called, re-entering the room. Glittering Gem quickly looked towards the door with another false smile. Can't anypony get some privacy for once in their life! "While nothing can be done about tonight," the lawyer said, keeping herself just in the room's entrance. "The hearing to decide your court date is early tomorrow morning. So until that time, you are to stay in this room." "But where am I to sleep?" Looking around the small room, she couldn't help but notice a lack of a proper bed. "You can't possibly expect me to just sleep on the floor?" "We have a cot being brought over for you ma'am," a voice from outside the door replied. So they expect me to sleep like some kind of dog?! "Thank you very much," Glittering Gem replied to nopony in particular. "It was either here or in lock up," the lawyer said, a tone of annoyance mixed into her voice. "I'll be back at first light for the hearing. Try not to go crazy until then." What's that supposed to mean?! "I'll try my best," Glittering Gem chuckled, trying her best to hide her anger. Yet again, the lawyer rolled her eyes as she left the room. You're so lucky I have bigger fish to fry! (~~~) "Do you understand the conditions Miss Gem," the judge asked in a stern tone. Of course I do you degenerate! You've repeated them three times already! "Yes sir," Glittering Gem replied from her chair. "Check in every six hours, random drug tests, random searches and I can't leave the city. Anything else?" "Yes Miss Gem," the judge said, clearing his throat. "If you are found anywhere near Miss Hooves or the foal in question, your bail will be revoked and you will spend the next month in jail before you case goes to court. Understood?" How dare you tell me what I can and can't do! "Yes, I do," Glittering Gem said, hiding her frustration with a smile. "Court adjourned," the judge said, beating his gavel once. "Well atleast thats over with," Glittering Gem said to her lawyer. She merely shook her head, a look of defeat and annoyance on her face. "It'll be over when you're behind bar's Miss Gem," a voice from the back seats huffed. Tuning to look, Glittering Gem wasn't surprised to see the pony that had arrested her walking over, the same look the lawyer had, displayed clearly on her face. "Officer?" Glittering Gem couldn't help but smile as she tried her best to look innocent. "Are you saying that I'm guilty? I thought I was innocent until proven guilty." "And I'm a dragon dung," Miranda Case nearly yelled in return. "I don't know how you did it, but I swear to Celestia herself, if your late for even one of your check-in's, you'll be in a jail cell faster than you can blink." "There is no need to worry officer," Glittering Gem said, nearly pushing Miranda out of the way as she walked towards the exit. "I wouldn't dream of missing a check-in." (~~~) "You can't expect me to stay here?!" "It was one of the only places I could find for you Miss Gem," her lawyer said. "And will you please take those things off, there's no need to hide your appearance anymore." "Only when you can assure me that there are no paparazzi," Glittering Gem said, looking over the large black sunglasses she was wearing. "Then at least take off the hat," the lawyer said, pointing one of her hooves at Glittering Gem's large sunhat. "I will once we're inside," Glittering Gem replied as the two walked into the hotel lobby. It wasn't the best the city had to offer, but it was far from the worst. "So what's this hotels rating?" "Three stars, and its close enough to where you have to check-in that it should only be a five minute walk," her lawyer said quickly. Only three?! "Well, thank you either way," Glittering Gem thanked. "I can take it from here." "Are you sure?" her lawyer asked with a puzzled look. "I haven't even told you what room you're in?" "I'll ask the clerk," Gem replied giving a large grin. "Now, I have taken up most of your morning and I'm sure you have other . . . lawyer like things to do." "Yes well, you know how to get ahold of me incase of emergency, correct?" With a reassuring nod of her head, Glittering Gem watched as her lawyer walked out of the hotel lobby and out into the streets. The moment she was gone from sight, Glittering Gem walked back outside. How dare they put me in a three star hotel! Walking Down the streets, Glittering Gem made sure to keep her eyes and ears open for the gray pagasi. She was glad that Nopony recognized her, knowing that it would only make things harder for her. First I find that bitch of a mare, then I can figure out what to do to her. "Please Derpy, we have to hurry." Glittering Gem froze when she heard the word "Derpy". That's that bitch of a mare's name! Quickly looking down the street, she was shocked to see the same gray pegasi from the other day just a few buildings down. "Theres that Bitch," Glittering Gem whispered to herself. She looked exactly as she remembered, except for the way her eyes looked. Weren't they misaligned yesterday? Glittering Gem watched as the gray pegasi walked past her, a empty red wagon close behind. She couldn't have hoped for a better set of circumstances. Not only had the mare not recognized her, but she was obviously on her way to somewhere important. This is just too easy. (~~~) So this is where she lives? Glittering Gem watched as the gray pagasi and a oranged earth pony rushed into the small house. She couldn't hold back her devilish smile as she read "Hooves Family" on the mailbox. "This is just too perfect," Glittering Gem told herself as she walked to the front of the house. "All I have to do now is get a little info and I can finally get back at that..." "Glittering Gem?!" Glittering Gem silently cursed the pony who had just yelled her name, praying that nopony inside that house had heard it. Turning, she was surprised to see a dark blue pegasi running up to her, a giant smile on her face. "I just knew it was you," the pagasi said with a giant smile. "I just knew that damn Ditzy was lying." Why is this pony talking to me?! "Look, I'll sign whatever you want, just make it quick and leave." As if on cue, the pagasi produced a pen and photograph out of her saddlebags. Glittering Gem couldn't help but recognize the photo from a event she had attended over a year ago. "So who am I making this out to," Gem questioned, levitating the picture and pen with her magic. Even as she did this, she kept her eyes on the house for any signs of movement. "Shooting Star, Miss Gem," the pegasi chirped, her smile only growing. "Shooting Star?" Glittering Gem couldn't help but feel as if she had heard that name before. Suddenly, she remembered an old pile of fan mail she had and how some of them were signed with the pagasi's name. "Yes ma'am," Shooting Star said with a blush. "I'm a huge fan of yours." 'Well its good to see that somepony around here actually has taste," Glittering Gem said with a smile. As she finished writing an all too common quote and a simple signature on the photo, Glittering Gem realized something. "You said something about a ditzy lying about something?" Glittering Gem began, floating the photo and pen back into the pagasi's waiting hooves. "Who lied about what now?" "She lied about you being attacked and sent to a hospital," Shooting Star said as she glanced over at the Hooves family house. "I checked at the hospital and everything but when you werent there, I knew she had to be lying. I came to give that bitch a piece of my mind." "This bitch wouldn't happen to be gray with bubbles for a cutie mark would she?" Glittering Gem asked, noticing where the pegasi was staring. "How did you," Shooting Star began, only to be interrupted by Glittering Gem's raised hoof. "Not here," she quickly said. Quickly moving to the side of the house, Glittering Gem made sure that nopony else had noticed them. "Lets just say I have a hoof to pick with her too." "I knew she was hiding something!" Shooting Star yelled. Again, Glittering Gem was happy nopony had heard the yell. "So what's the plan?" "What?" Glittering Gem said, confused by Shooting Star's response. "The plan," Shooting star repeated. "You obviously have a masterful plan at getting back at the wall eyed dunce." "I will," Glittering Gem replied. "But first," she stopped for a moment and looked towards Shooting Star. "I'm going to need some help." "Whatever you need Miss Gem," Shooting Star said with a smile. This just cant get any easier. (~~~) The next week went by slowly, but Glittering Gem didn't care. With Shooting Star's help, she learned everything she needed to about Derpy. Everything from her work schedule, her friends, family, to the simple fact that her favorite treat is muffins. But the thing that confused her the most, was the fact that she was always with the foal. Except for the first day, the foal was always with the wall eyed mare. "Why does she always have the foal with her," Glittering Gem asked her companion as she peeked behind a tree. Derpy and the foal had been sitting in a sandbox making sand castles for the past hour. "Doesn't she have better things to do than waste her time on that foal?" "An outcast like her?" Shooting Star quickly glanced over herself. "As if." "Well, I guess thats to be expected of a nopony," Glittering Gem said, her gaze still fixed on the two ponies in the sandbox. She couldn't help but notice how tired the two of them looked. "It looks like they haven't been sleeping well." It was at this point that Glittering Gem noticed the foal looking at her. She didn't bother hiding, having been noticed by the foal plenty of times throughout the week. Its not like she can warn anypony. "I wouldn't know anything about that," Shooting Star responded. "So how much longer are we going to watch them?" Shooting Star asked, drawing Glittering Gem's attention. "Do you have what you need to put the plan into action or what?" "Calm yourself my young companion," Glittering Gem said as she looked towards Shooting Star. "I believe I have what I need. We'll start next thing tomorrow morning." "But are you sure that it'll work out like you say its going to?" Shooting Star questioned as Glittering Gem made her way out of the park. "Do you doubt me Miss Star?" Glittering Gem continued. "Its just that," Shooting Star hesitated for a moment, looking back into the park. "This could. . .could. . ." "Don't worry Miss Star," Glittering Gem said with a smile. "Everything that happens to her, is exactly what she deserves."