//------------------------------// // Chapter 14 // Story: Alula and Diamond Tiara's Adventures in Romance // by Yukito //------------------------------// This is so stupid. Why do I have to go to that dirty old farm anyway? Just because daddy wants to talk to that stupid, slow stallion about the upcoming parade, I still don’t see why I have to tag along with him. “Be careful sweetie,” daddy says. “Your face will freeze like that.” “Daddy, I wanted to go to the arcade.” “Then you should have thought about that before you broke your mother’s fine china.” I thought the hose would wash them faster… “Hey, at least I’m tagging along with you,” Silver Spoon says beside me. “And maybe we can pay that blank flank a visit while we’re there, too.” Well, I suppose that’s a good idea. I still haven’t got Apple Bloom back for her betrayal back when I was editor-in-chief. This will be the perfect chance to exact some payback. “And you won’t have to hold back since Alula’s not here.” Like I would ‘hold back’ anyway. Alula being at the dentist’s right now just means she won’t be pulling my leg, telling me that I’ve done enough and that we should leave the blank flanks alone. I only comply with her because otherwise she won’t stop mithering me. We continue to pass through the streets of Ponyville. There’s some kid playing with his toy train just ahead of us. I’m sure I’ve seen him before… Button Stash? Whoever he is, his train just burst into flames. It’s of no concern to me though, so I turn my head away and continue walking, leaving the edge of town and entering the farm area. Apple tree, apple tree, apple tree… Sheesh, variety much? Apples is literally the only thing they have here. Would it kill them to grow something else for once, like… I don’t know, a pumpkin or something? “G’mornin’ Mr. Rich.” Oh Celestia, here he comes. “Mornin’ girls.” “Good morning,” Silver says. I’d better say it too, or daddy will just bother me about it later. “Morning… Daddy, can Silver and I walk around the orchard while you two talk?” “… Fine, but stay on the orchard.” Yeah yeah. “And don’t go pulling any pranks on Granny Smith while she’s napping again.” Oh, don’t worry. We have bigger fish to fry. “We won’t,” I say as Silver and I take off down the dirt road. “So, where’s that blank flank going to be?” “If I had to hazard a guess… the barn.” Good enough for me. Breaking off into a gallop, I silently challenge Silver Spoon to a race. I hear her quick hoofsteps behind mine, which means she accepted my challenge. I am of course in the lea- What the what? When did she get so fast? I’m not going to let her beat me that easily! Gah! Stupid rock! Don’t the Apple family ever clean up their dirt roads? How inconsiderate! Okay, so we’re finally here. And I totally won that race. Now let’s go see if- Yes! She is here! And not just Apple Bloom, but the other Crusaders! Oh, this is going to be fun! What’s that thing behind them? Some kind of… giant… pumpkin… Don’t. Say. Anything. “As a member of the Cutie Mark Crusaders, you’ll be able to ride on it with us! It’d be totally fun!” the chicken says to… whoever this new filly is. Whatever, I don’t care who this one is. “More like funny…” Silver and I walk into the barn. “… Looking!” Oh those glares. That’s right, payback can be such a parasprite! “What is that thing, a giant orange?” … Eh, five out of ten, Silver Spoon. Probably should have given her some lines before we came in here. “It’s a pumpkin!” Apple Bloom says. “… More like a lamekin.” That’s how us pros do it, Silver… That filly has been staring for some time now. Okay, now I’m curious. “Who’s the new blank flank?” “She’s mah cousin, Babs.” Oh, she’s Apple Bloom’s cousin? I already don’t like her. “She’s from Manehatten.” There are Apples living in Manehatten? I thought there were all backwater farmers. “Manehatten huh? Well, I guess you have that going for you.” “Suppose you’re gonna join their little club?” Silver asks her. “What’s it called? The ‘Cutie Mark Crusaders’?” Whatever, she hasn’t wronged me… yet. “… More like the Cutie Mark Cry-babies.” … Well. This has taken a turn I wasn’t expecting. “Ooh, a big-city attitude. I like it!” This should be a good way to mess with that blank flank. Those blank flanks, I mean. “Oh yeah? Well there’s more where that came from.” Alright then, show me what you got… whatever your name was. “Check this out.” She knocks the wheel off the giant pumpkin. Okay, a six out of ten, I guess. I mean, they can just repair that easi- WAH! T-That thing just totally collapsed, and is now rolling out of the barn! Rolling, rolling… aaaaand, SPLAT! “Looks like somepony’s pumpkin just got squashed.” … I take it back. I like this filly! “When ah tell Applejack-” “You’re gonna tell Applejack what?” Whoa! I-Is she going to get violent? “W-Well, y’know, uh-” “What’re you, a snitch?” Okay, you’re cool, I get it! “Come on…” Babs! That was her name! “… Babs! You should hang with us, you know, the cool ponies! Not these babies!” Don’t get me wrong! I just don’t want to be blamed if those stupid blank flanks suddenly get covered in bruises, that’s all! But anyway, this Babs filly… she might actually be fun to hang out with! “So, what’ve ya got to eat around here?” And she doesn’t have that stupid annoying accent, either! “You should totally visit Sugarcube Corner, they’ve got the best cupcakes in all of Equestria!” Wait… darn it, I forgot. “Except, I’m supposed to stay with my daddy today because I broke some stupid dishes.” “‘Stay with your daddy’? Why not just ditch him when he ain’t lookin’?” What? Ditch daddy when he isn’t- That’s insane! I couldn’t do that! I’d be grounded for months! “What he doesn’t know won’t hurt him after all!” “That’s-” “Diamond Tiara?” Uh-oh. I didn’t go outside of the orchard, did I? “There you are. We heard loud noises and-” “What in tarnation happened over here?!” the blank flank’s sister shouts. “Is that the pumpkin float we built for the parade?!” “Oh, we were just on our way to tell ya,” Babs says. “There was a little accident. The girls were showin’ me the float but they got a little too excited. Don’t be so hard on ‘em. They’ve volunteered to rebuild it from scratch, after all.” “… Well, it was their float in the first place, so as long as they’re takin’ responsibility… Anyway, ah’ve gotta get back ta harvestin’.” “So this is the cousin you were just telling me about?” Daddy asks. “I see you’ve met my daughter and her friend already. It’s a pleasure to meet you, Miss Seed. My name’s-” “Filthy Rich.” Babs knows my daddy? “Your face is known all over Manehatten. So you’re Diamond’s father? No wonder she’s so cool.” Is daddy blushing? “Ehem! Yes, well… Diamond, why don’t you go and show Miss Seed around the town?” Huh? But what about- “Don’t worry about your punishment. I’ll let it slide for now. It was only the cheap china, anyway.” No way! I’m out of having to follow daddy around to all these boring places all day?! “Thanks daddy!” I jump up to give my daddy a quick hug and then jump back down. “Alright then, let’s go! First stop: Sugarcube Corner!” “Just keep up the good brushing and I’m sure there’ll be no problems,” Miss Minuette says as I leave her office. “And try to cut down on the amount of sugary foods you eat.” “I will! Thanks Miss Minuette!” I turn to walk down the street. Well, that went better than I thought! Miss Minuette said my brushing was excellent and that my teeth are in perfect condition! So what should I do now? Oh, I know! Sugarcube Corner! “You have to wear uniforms to school?” Diamond’s voice detected! Seeking…. Seeking… Located! “That’s-” “DIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII-” I charge and jump forward to hug Diamond Tiara. I somehow fly past her side… I must have tripped or something. “… Hi Diamond!” I say as I pick myself up off of the floor. “Who’s this?” some filly I’ve never seen before asks from beside Diamond. “… This is Alula,” Diamond tells her. “Alula, this is Babs Seed. She’ll be hanging out with us for the following week.” “Oh? Cool!” I reach my hoof forward to shake hers, but she just ignores it and blows her fringe up. “Er, so… where are you from? I don’t think I’ve seen you around school before.” “Manehatten,” she says. Manehatten huh? … Now that I think about it, she looks kind of familiar. “You’re one of Diamond’s pals? Funny, you don’t look that cool.” “I, uh…” W-What? I don’t look cool? “S-Sorry?” “She’ll get there,” Diamond says. “Anyway, come on. Sugarcube Corner’s just around this corner.” Oh, they’re going to Sugarcube Corner too? What a nice coincidence! “So Babs, what’s school like in Manehatten?” I ask. I’m pretty curious. “Are the ponies there all ‘cool’?” “… The ponies there are lame,” she says. “Can’t stand any of ‘em. All just a buncha dweebs.” “Oh…” Well, that’s a little harsh. “Well, surely there must be some fun ponies there.” “Oh they’re fun, don’t get me wrong.” Oh? “When I put ‘em on the roundabout and spin it so fast they almost puke, or make ‘em so scared they almost pee themselves. The looks on their faces is just too much.” … Uh, yeah… I-If you say so. “Here we are!” We walk into Sugarcube Corner and look around. There are ponies sitting at every table… It must be a busy day today. “Darn it, it’s full!” “Guess we’ll have to come back later,” I suggest. “Or…” I turn to Babs, who’s approaching a table by the window, with three fillies sat at it. Dinky Doo, Berry Pinch, and Archer. “Hey kids, thanks for keepin’ our seats warm for us.” The three fillies look confused. “Huh?” Archer says. “What’re you-” Babs slams her hooves down on the table. “I said, thanks for keepin’ our seats warm.” The fillies look pretty scared, and I don’t think anypony else has noticed this yet. “Now hit the road. It’s the big fillies’ time to order up.” “L-Let’s go,” Dinky says to her friends. The other two nod and the three of them slowly slip past Babs, and then run out of the shop, leaving their half-finished milkshakes behind. “H-Hey-” I start. However, Diamond and Silver are already on their way to the table. “Wow, nice work!” Diamond says. “Best table here, too!” B-But, those fillies- “Ah, nothin’ to it,” Babs says. “Those babies just needed ta be shown who was boss, that’s all.” … Ah. Aaaaah. Now I know why she seems so familiar. She’s- “Alula,” Silver Spoon says. “C’mon, let’s order up already.” “… Diamond, Silver?” They both turn to face me. “Can I speak to you over here for a second?” They both look confused by my request, but still excuse themselves to speak to me in private. Babs offers to keep our seats warm. “What’s up?” Diamond asks after I get her out of hearing range from Babs. “Diamond, I don’t know about this filly.” I glance over at Babs, who’s firing spitballs at Snips and Snails. The two colts get up and leave the store. “She seems kinda… mean…” “Alula, don’t you know anything? That’s how things work in the big city!” Diamond says. “She’s not mean, she’s just tough, and doesn’t let anypony step all over her!” “… More like she’s the one stepping on others.” “What are you trying to say?” Silver asks. “Well, it’s just that… she reminds me of those ponies who bullied me before. You know, back when you saved me? Not just in looks, but in the way she acts, too. I’m telling you, she’s a bad pony, and I don’t feel comfortable hanging out with her.” The two of them exchange glances for a moment, and then turn back to me. “Then don’t,” Silver Spoon says. “She’s only here for the week. You don’t have to hang out with us if you don’t want to.” … W-What? “But we think she’s cool,” Diamond says. “So we’re going to keep hanging out with her, whether you’re there or not.” “G-Girls…” “So? Which is it?” Diamond asks. “You staying, or not? Our friend’s waiting for us over there.” … I-I can’t believe it. I have to chose between sticking with Diamond, or staying away from… from this mean filly, who reminds me so much of those awful bullies from two years back. “I… I can’t… I can’t stay with you if she’s around.” “Then I guess that’s it,” Silver Spoon sighs. “You’ll just have to find somepony else to hang out with for this week.” I turn to Diamond. “Di?” She simply turns her head away in silence. “… O-Okay then. I understand… I’ll be going now…” I walk past the two and leave the store, sparing one last glance at Babs Seed as I leave. I swear, she’s a bad influence. She’s going to corrupt Diamond and Silver. But… there’s nothing I can do. They want to hang out with her… What can I do to make them see what a mistake that is? Alula calls us over to speak to her in private just as we’re about to sit down. “You’ll have to excuse us,” I say to Babs. “Don’t worry ‘bout it. I’ll keep your seats warm for ya.” Silver and I walk over to Alula to find out what she wants. “What’s up?” I ask her. “Diamond, I don’t know about this filly.” Huh? “She seems kinda… mean…” What, the whole threatening face thing? Please, it’s just an act. “Alula, don’t you know anything? That’s how things work in the big city!” At least from what I’ve heard. “She’s not mean, she’s just tough, and doesn’t let anypony step all over her!” “… More like she’s the one stepping on others.” “What are you trying to say?” Silver asks. “Well, it’s just that… she reminds me of those ponies who bullied me before. You know, back when you saved me? Not just in looks, but in the way she acts, too. I’m telling you, she’s a bad pony, and I don’t feel comfortable hanging out with her.” The ponies who bullied her before? Oh yeah, that’s right. They were from Manehatten, too. Is that what this is? She doesn’t trust Babs just because of some jerks who happened to be from the same city? I exchange a quick glance with Silver Spoon. “Then don’t,” Silver says. “She’s only here for the week. You don’t have to hang out with us if you don’t want to.” Uh, yeah… She’s got a point there. “But we think she’s cool,” I add. “So we’re going to keep hanging out with her, whether you’re there or not.” Whether you’re there or not… “G-Girls…” “So? Which is it?” Obviously, she’s going to say she trusts me. She always does, after all. “You staying, or not? Our friend’s waiting for us over there.” What’s taking so long. Just say ‘I’ll stick with you, Di’, or whatever. “I… I can’t…” … What? “I can’t stay with you if she’s around.” She’s… not trusting me? “Then I guess that’s it,” Silver Spoon sighs. “You’ll just have to find somepony else to hang out with for this week.” Alula turns to look at me. “Di?” … Hey, you’re the one who made that choice, not me. “… O-Okay then. I understand… I’ll be going now…” Silver and I watch her leave the shop, and then walk on over to where Babs is sitting. “What was that all about?” Babs asks. “Oh, she had to leave,” Silver says. “Something about an important appointment she couldn’t miss.” “Oh well, no biggie,” Babs says with a shrug. “She didn’t seem that cool anyway.” “Hey,” Silver whispers to me. “Are you sure about this? Just letting Alula walk off like that?” Hmph. It’s no concern of mine. “We gave her the choice. She’s the one ditching us, not the other way around. What are we supposed to do, just abandon our new friend who’s only in town this week?” “Well, I guess, but…” “Besides, Babs is ten times cooler than Alula will ever be.” I grab the milkshake in front of me and bring it closer to myself. Wait, this was Dinky’s milkshake. Blech! That was close. What’s wrong with me? “So Babs, what would you like to do after this?” Babs taps her chin with her hoof and grins. “Well…” I’ve been watching them for the past few days now. Mostly all they’ve been doing is going around picking on the Crusaders. It’s true Diamond and Silver would tease them and call them names anyway, but never this much. And they never did the kinds of things they’ve been doing recently, like spitting seeds, stealing milkshakes, throwing apples, and at some points even threatening them to stay silent. Of course, it was mostly Babs doing all of this, but she’s somehow coaxed Diamond and Silver into following suit. I knew this would happen. Diamond’s very impressionable (it took weeks for her to get out of that ‘I’m a Pokémon master’ phase), and Silver sometimes get carried away, despite her smartness. I have to speak to them. I have to get them to realise what they’re doing and make them stop hanging out with that… that… Bad Seed! Ooh, nice one Alula! I’m going to file that under ‘my good ideas’. But there’s time for that later! I’ve got a fillyfriend and a friendly rival to save! Okay, good, they’re alone. Now’s my chance, while Babs is distracted… spraying the Crusaders with a hose. Just one of the things I guess I can bring up while I’m talking to them. I approach Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon as they’re laughing at the Crusaders’ misfortune. They notice me approaching and suddenly fall silent… Okay, this is awkward. Come on, Alula, say something! “Uh… hi.” “Oh, it’s you,” Diamond says. “Changed your mind, have you?” I’m sorry, Diamond. “No, I haven’t. I still say she’s a bad influence.” I point my hoof over to where Babs is still spraying the Crusaders with water. “Look at that. You two have never done anything like this before Babs showed up.” “We just never thought of it,” Diamond says with a shrug. That’s a lie. You come up with ways to bother Apple Bloom and her friends all the time, surely something like this would have crossed your mind. “We’re just having a little fun with our new friend. She’s only here for a week, and this is what she wants to do.” “Girls, please. Can’t you see that-” “Alula, stop it,” Silver says. “I know you don’t like her because she reminds you of those bullies from Manehatten, but she’s not like them. She’s just having a little fun, that’s all. She knows where the line is, and not to cross it.” Somehow, I find that hard to believe from what I’ve seen of her. “Look, she’ll only be here for a few more days,” Diamond says. “And we intend to enjoy that time with her while we can, so if you don’t mind, just leave us be already.” … I guess that’s it then. I’ve lost them. At least while Babs is here I have. “S-Sorry to bother you…” I turn around and walk away. While Babs is here, I don’t think I can get through to them. But maybe when Babs is gone… maybe then I’ll have a chance. I just hope that by then it isn’t too late. … … … What just happened? It’s all such a blur. Did Babs… Did Babs really just turn on us, in favour of those loser blank flanks? “Diamond?” Did Babs just… forget about all the fun we’ve had this past week? All the time we spent hanging out at the park, at my place, and walking around the town having fun. Did she forget all that? Or did it mean nothing to her in the first place? “Diamond.” “What?” My goodness, Silver Spoon, look at you. You’re a mess… I bet I look the same right now, huh? “Are you okay?” Okay? I just got betrayed by somepony I thought was my friend. I just got humiliated in front of those stupid loser blank flanks, and I’m going to need two showers to clean myself of all this mud and dirt! Do you think I’m okay?! “C-Come on, it isn’t that bad.” “How isn’t it? How isn’t that bad?! I thought she was our friend! I enjoyed spending time with her, and I even came out all this way just to see her off, and this is how she repays us?!” I splash a hoof into the mud below me, making things even worse. I’m not going to cry. Crying’s for babies, and I’m sure not one of those. “Hey.” Go away. I just want to be alone right now. “Hey.” I said go away Alu- Wait, Alula? I look up, and find a yellow hoof stretched towards me. “Here, take my hoof.” … What’s Alula doing here? I thought she had stopped hanging out with us ever since we started hanging out with Babs. “Why are you here?” “I came to talk to the two of you,” she says. “But now, I’m just trying to help you. Come on, I’ll let you use the shower at my house. It’s close by, after all.” … Alula, even after we shrugged you off like that. Even after we dumped you in favour of that… that rotten blank flank… you still want to… “Are you going to sit there all day?” she asks. “I think you look better with less mud, and more smiles.” I reach out and grab Alula’s hoof. She pulls me out of the mud and wraps her foreleg around me. Not one of those crushing, suffocating hugs that she usually gives me. This one’s more soft and gentle, but still tight enough that I can feel her warmth. “Sorry, Diamond. I tried to warn you, but-” “Just take me to your place. I need a shower.” Alula nods, and moves on to help Silver Spoon out of the mud. Alula, you might not be the coolest filly in town… or the richest, or the brightest, or the funniest… but you’re here, and you’re still willing to be our friend, despite all that’s happened. “Let’s go?” Alula asks as soon as Silver Spoon’s out of the mud. She looks at me with that same smile she always wears… No, it looks different. Brighter, and more… more… W-Why is my face heating up. “Diamond?” “Whuh? Uh, yeah…” Silver and I follow after Alula, walking quickly because we really need to wash all this mud off of our bodies. “… Alula?” “Yeah?” “Thanks… You’re a good friend…” She smiles again as she looks over her shoulder at me. Why does my chest suddenly feel funny? “Any time. I’ll always be there for you when you need me, Di.” Again, my face is warming up, and my chest feels tight, and… Oh no. I-It couldn’t be. “Silver,” Diamond whispers to me. “What?” I ask, perhaps sounding a little more annoyed than I meant to. I guess I’m still annoyed about the whole mud puddle thing. “I think… I think I have a crush on Alula.” “Well duh.” Congratulation, Diamond. Only took you a good year to figure it out. “What do you mean ‘well duh’?” Heh, she honestly had no idea. “Silver? Tell me!” “So when’s the wedding going to be?” I can’t help it. Diamond’s red face is just too cute to not tease. “S-Shut up! Forget what I said, it was just a joke!” “Diamond and Alula sittin’ in a tree,” I sing in a quiet voice. Diamond nudges my side, prompting me to laugh. So this is it… I knew there was no hope for me when I first noticed Diamond looking at Alula differently that one night, during her cute ceañera. That night, I realised that Diamond would only ever see me as her best friend… whilst Alula was destined to be something more. This will be the start of a beautiful romance. And I’ll back them every step of the way, so long as it makes Diamond Tiara happy. Well, I’ll still give it another one or two years. First I need to find a way to make Diamond actually confess her feelings to Alula herself. So for now, I guess the three of us are ‘just friends’, with Alula keeping up that strange delusion she has about being Diamond’s fillyfriend. Needless to say, the next year of school should be fun.