While Rainbow Dash and Star Shine were spending their lunchtime with Twilight Sparkle and Pinkie Pie, Scootaloo was spending hers with her fellow Crusaders and working up the courage to ask Diamond Tiara to go on a Crusade with them some time. She slapped herself on the cheeks to psych herself up and walked over to Diamond Tiara who was, as usual, with Silver Spoon.
“Hey Diamond Tiara, could I talk to you for a second?” Scootaloo asked nervously. She decided to just get it over with and out of the way. Diamond Tiara looked across at her and smiled. Scootaloo might have been willing to let bygones be bygones but that smile still made her uneasy.
“Actually I was just about to ask you that myself.” Diamond Tiara replied. Scootaloo was more than a little surprised.
“You wanted to talk to me?” she asked. Diamond Tiara nodded and stood up. She started walking towards the school and after a few steps turned around and motioned for Scootaloo to follow her.
“It’s something a bit personal, so can you come with me so we can talk in private?” Diamond Tiara asked nervously. Scootaloo was worried about being alone with Diamond Tiara but followed along out of curiosity and to give her the benefit of the doubt. If she wanted to show Diamond Tiara she was welcome then she could hardly show a lack of trust now. Diamond Tiara walked a little further. When she stopped Scootaloo looked back to where they were and saw that Silver Spoon had gone across to the rest of the Crusaders. They were watching Scootaloo and Diamond tiara carefully. They were out of earshot but not out of sight.
“So what’s the matter?” Scootaloo asked as herself and Diamond Tiara sat down next to the school building.
“Well first off I was just wondering why Star Shine came with you to school. I thought he only picked you up didn’t he?” Diamond Tiara asked. She was playing with her forelegs sheepishly and when it came to Star Shine she didn’t have to entirely fake that. She hadn’t really talked to him but their small meeting had more of an effect on her than she liked to think about.
“Oh, yeah he usually only picks me up now. He’s been teaching a foal up in Canterlot and he leaves early in the morning. He had to go see Twilight today though so he left later.” Scootaloo explained. She peered into the classroom they were sat by to look at the clock. “He’s probably with Twilight right now.” she added when she saw the time.
“So when will he be back?” Diamond Tiara asked as Scootaloo lowered herself back ont the ground. Scootaloo raised her shoulders in a very small shrug.
“I don’t know actually. He’ll be staying up there all day until we meet him later.” Scootaloo replied. Diamond Tiara’s eyes lit up a little.
“You’re going to Canterlot? What for?” Diamond Tiara asked. She had to hear the information from Scootaloo even though she knew the answer. It would raise suspicion if she knew something she shouldn’t.
“Oh right I never told you.” Scootaloo replied nervously. “I’m going to Canterlot to have dinner with Rainbow Dash and Star Shine.” she added.
“Ooh, like a family meal?” Diamond Tiara asked merrily. Scootaloo giggled and buried her face in her hooves.
“It’s not like that really…” Scootaloo said, slightly embarrassed. She had began to feel about it like that. She was still slightly embarrassed to think about it like that and wasn’t sure how Star Shine or Rainbow Dash would react if they knew that’s how she felt.
“Oh don’t worry, I know it’s NOTHING like that.” Diamond Tiara replied, grinning. Her voice sounded off to Scootaloo and that got her attention. For the past week Diamond Tiara had been speaking in such a simpering and sweet manner and this time she was back to how she used to sound. She said “nothing” so sardonically and stressed it so much it unnerved Scootaloo.
“What...what do you mean?” Scootaloo asked. She wanted to back away slowly. She almost did before she caught herself. She was getting scared and didn’t realise how just a tone of voice could do that.
“Tell me something, you’re going to Canterlot no matter what, right?” Diamond Tiara asked, still grinning. Scootaloo realised what it was about that grin that unnerved her. It was the smile Diamond Tiara wore when she was teasing her and the other Crusaders.
“I guess so...we can’t leave Star Shine there alone…” Scootaloo replied. She gulped as Diamond Tiara advanced on her.
“Good...good. If that’s the case then there’s something I have to tell you.” Diamond Tiara said. Scootaloo was practically cowering on the ground at this point. “I KNOW this is going to be nothing like a family meal. Rainbow Dash and Star Shine are nothing like your family and they never will be. I know about your real family. I’ve met your dad actually. Away on business? I didn’t realise he owned a bar. He spends enough time in one and gives them enough money he might as well be. The pathetic drunk couldn’t handle losing your mother, just like you couldn’t handle losing them. You might think that you have something nice with Rainbow and Star Shine but you don’t. Your parents didn’t want you and neither do they. You don’t think Star Shine actually likes you do you? He’s going to leave as soon as you fly. Oh that’s right, I know you can’t fly. If you’re going to shout it out for the whole school to hear then I’m going to hear. You’re nothing but a broken down, useless, worthless little chic-” Diamond Tiara didn’t get a chance to finish what she was saying. At first Scootaloo was scared about what Diamond Tiara might have said. The more Diamond Tiara talked the less afraid Scootaloo got and the angrier she became. As soon as Diamond Tiara began to say the word “chicken” Scootaloo lost it and pounced on her. Diamond Tiara found herself flat on her back with Scootaloo over her, glaring at her and panting through gritted teeth. Far from being afraid, Diamond Tiara was still smirking. “Hit me. I dare you to hit me you chicken. Come on, do it. I know you want to.” Diamond Tiara said before making chicken noises at Scootaloo. Scootaloo wanted to let it slide and rise above it but that was the last straw. She totally lost control. She didn’t even see Diamond Tiara in front of her anymore and saw instead the laughing face of her father and she gave in to the taunts. She brought her hoof down and struck Diamond Tiara in the face.
“SCOOTALOO! HOW DARE YOU DO THAT!” shrieked a voice from across the playground that brought Scootaloo back to her senses. Scootaloo looked down and saw that Diamond Tiara was no longer laughing or taunting her but instead was crying as blood trickled down her face from her nose. Scootaloo looked around and saw that the eyes of everypony on the playground were on her and Cheerilee was marching towards her and she did not look happy. Silver Spoon and the Crusaders hadn’t been able to hear what was said between Scootaloo and Diamond Tiara and all they really saw was Scootaloo jump on top of her. As soon as that happened they ran off to get Cheerilee. They thought something might happen but nopony actually thought Scootaloo would strike Diamond Tiara like that. Silver Spoon ran past Cheerilee to Diamond Tiara as Scootaloo approached Cheerliee slowly with her head to the ground. She was in more trouble than she had ever been in before and knew it. Rainbow Dash would cancel the dinner, Star Shine would be so mad at her he’d probably leave before she could fly, and he’d just leave and never come back with nothing keeping him in Ponyville. Even if Rainbow Dash chose to stay with Scootaloo Star Shine would probably not want to stay with Rainbow Dash anymore with such a violent filly there too. Scootaloo would be in the way. She’d be a burden. Just like she was before. Just like she knew she always had been.
“Are you okay?” Silver Spoon asked worriedly, checking Diamond Tiara for any more injuries other than her fairly obvious bloody nose.
“I’m better than okay. That was perfect.” Diamond Tiara replied quietly. She didn’t want Cheerilee to hear after everything that had just happened. Diamond Tiara managed to smile despite the pain she was in.
“You wanted her to-” Silver Spoon began before Diamond Tiara put a hoof on her muzzle and shook her head, silencing her. She didn’t want Silver Spoon to ruin everything either. She also wanted to hear Cheerilee telling Scootaloo off.
“My office. Now.” was all Cheerilee said when Scootaloo reached her. As Scootaloo made her way inside the school Cheerilee made her way over to Diamond Tiara. “Are you okay?” she asked, checking Diamond Tiara over much the same way that Silver Spoon had.
“I will be Miss Cheerilee. I don’t know what happened. I thought..I thought...I thought she liked me now.” Diamond Tiara replied, tearing up and crying fully as she finished.
“It’ll be alright.” Cheerilee replied soothingly, nuzzling Diamond Tiara and helping her back to her hooves. “Can you take care of her while I talk to Scootaloo?” Cheerilee asked Silver Spoon. Silver Spoon nodded and Diamond Tiara leaned against her for extra support and sympathy. “Try and enjoy the rest of your lunch break girls.” Cheerilee said before turning around and heading into the school.
“We will Miss Cheerilee.” Diamond Tiara called out sweetly. “And thank you for stopping her before she really hurt me.” she added for good measure. As soon as Cheerilee entered the school and closed the door behind her everypony on the playground gathered around Diamond Tiara and started talking. “Thank you for your concern everypony but I want to just spend some time on my own right now. I’ll tell you everything soon, but right now I want to be on my own.” Diamond Tiara said, raising her voice to be heard. Diamond Tiara limped off with Silver Spoon next to her. The crowd parted to let her through and they watched her in silence. When she was a short distance away they all started talking amongst themselves. Diamond Tiara smiled as snippets of conversation reached her ears. Everything was falling into place perfectly. Even if she couldn’t get into Rainbow Dash’s house, and even if Rainbow Dash did cancel the trip to Canterlot, Diamond Tiara had more than enough on Scootaloo to do something with. The entire school had seen Scootaloo attack her. There was no way out of this for Scootaloo.