//------------------------------//
// Learning the Error of Ones Way 
// Story: Learning the Error of One's Way 
// by Scribe of the Damned 
//------------------------------//

	
Learning the Error of Ones Way

 
Everypony thinks I have the easy life. Sure, I can get anything I ask for, anything from some extra bits to spend to the latest fashions thanks to my rich dad.
 
I have a very good friend too… well, I did until she and her family moved to Manehattan because of her dad’s new job.
 
Since she moved I have been all alone. You see, after she moved, I was left with no friends. None of the fillies and colts from school like me very much, and I really don’t know why. I mean, sure, I tease them a bit, but it’s all in good fun, right?
 
I still have my dad to talk to, though he’s always in business meetings with “important ponies” about the family store franchise, so he isn’t around that much. Sure, he’s there on my birthday or on family appreciation day at school, but I really just wish he was around more.
 
My name is Diamond Tiara, and while my life is easy, it’s also very lonely.
 
“Miss Tiara, it is time to get up for school. Breakfast will be ready shortly, so please hurry.” The butler called from the door.
 
Sigh. I guess I might as well get up; it’s not like he’ll let me stay in bed all day. “Alright, alright, I’m up,” I haughtily answered back, showing that I was annoyed with him waking me up very clear.
 
“Very well, miss.” The butler bowed upon hearing me and turned to leave my room, slowly closing the door behind him.
 
“Wait,” I called out to him before he closed the door. “Will my dad be joining us today?”
 
“No, I’m afraid he has already left for the day, and he won’t be home until late tonight.” The butler answered. “Do you require anything else?”
 
“No, that will be all.”
 
“Very well.” The butler said as he closed the door behind him.
 
Diamond Tiara sighed. Of course Dad wouldn’t be around for breakfast; he never is. Why do I even bother to ask every morning if he will be there when I know the answer? Anyway I better get ready for school I guess.
 
Moving the blanket off and getting out of bed, I did my daily routine for the day, and then went down for breakfast. It was a meal of toast with some zap apple jam, milk, and a carrot muffin. I ate my meal in silence. Pushing the empty plate away from me, I grabbed my saddlebags and made my way towards the front door.
 
“Walking to school again? I have the carriage ready if you want it to take you there.” The butler called out as I stood in the open doorway.
 
I shook my head. “Not today, I feel like walking again.”
 
“Very well. Have a safe trip, miss.” He bowed before returning to his duties in the house.
 
I have grown fonder of walking lately. Riding the carriage hasn’t been the same since Silver Spoon moved to Manehatten. I miss her a lot; she was really my only friend, and we used to ride to school every morning talking about what the latest fashion was or what we were going to do after school. But after she left, it just didn’t feel the same, so I began to walk to school instead.
 
After about ten minutes of walking, I arrived at the schoolhouse and walked in, my head hanging low, ready to endure another day of loneliness. Glancing up, I looked over towards where the three fillies that I used to tease were laughing with each other. They were probably talking about what they were all going to do next to try and get their cutie marks. Not that I cared of course, they’re just a bunch of babies that can’t take a joke or two.
 
I can’t believe I have to go to school with these ponies... Sometimes I wish I lived somewhere else so I wouldn’t have to see them.
 
As the day went on, I tried to listen to Miss Cheerilee go on about something, but my thoughts were elsewhere.
 
Why can’t the day be over so I can just go home?
 
Why, so you can be all alone again?
 
Well, at least I wouldn’t have to be here with these stupid ponies.
 
But is it really that bad? At least hear you can talk to somepony who isn’t the butler for a change.
 
I guess, but none of them like me... I just made a few jokes about them, and they hate me for some silly reason. Ugh! They’re just a bunch of babies.
 
Well... Maybe if you see why they didn’t like your jokes, then maybe you could fix that.
 
Fix it? But I didn’t do anything! They’re the ones wh-
 
“Diamond Tiara, would you care to answer the question?” Miss Cheerilee spoke, tapping her hoof on the floor as she waited for her student to speak.
 
“Huh?” I responded, breaking out of my train of thought. “Ummm... 42?”
 
The class burst out laughing, and I couldn’t help but blush madly as I lowered myself in my seat, trying to make myself as small as possible.
 
“No, Diamond Tiara, I asked you what the capital of Equestria is.” Miss Cheerilee said disappointingly, “Please and try and pay attention.”
 
The rest of the day was uneventful after that, my conversation with myself forgotten. After school, I grabbed my saddlebags and made to leave when a voice called out to me.
 
“Hey! Wait up!” The voice called out in a familiar yet very annoying country accent.
 
I turned my head to see who had called out to me, and I saw Apple Bloom was heading toward me, followed by Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle, and they sure didn’t look too happy.
 
Great, just what I need right now... Ugh, the Cutie Mark Crusaders...
 
As they approached, my thoughts from earlier surfaced.
 
Maybe this is your chance! You really could use someone to talk too. They could tell you about your jokes and why nopony likes them.
 
Maybe... But does it have to be them? They’re just so annoying.
 
Are they, or are you just jealous of them?
 
Me? Jealous of them? Why would I be jealous of them? What do they have that I don’t?
 
Friends.
 
I tried to think of a counter argument for that thought but couldn’t think of anything. As I quickly lost myself in thought, they caught up to me.
 
“Hi, Diamond Tiara.” Apple Bloom spoke up first.
 
“Yes, what do you want?” I replied coldly.
 
“Well... I just wanted to ask if you’re okay. I mean, me and the girls have noticed that you seem all down in the dumps ever since Silver Spoon moved, and I was just wondering how you were holding up, is all?” Apple Bloom explained, shifting in place.
 
“Well, I can tell you with one hundred percent certainty that I’m fine.” I just lost my one and only friend. “And I don’t need somepony like you asking me if I’m okay.” I snapped back at her.
 
“Hey, don’t talk like that to her; she was only trying to help!” Scootaloo angrily spoke up, stomping her front hooves on the ground for emphasis.
 
“Well, I didn’t ask for your help, now did I? If you’ll excuse me, I have to get going.” I said. I turned away from them with my head held high as I walked away.
 
Well that went over well.
 
I didn’t ask for their help. I walked slowly towards home as I continued to argue with my inner thoughts.
 
Well, maybe you should have heard them out before you snapped at them. They didn’t do anything wrong to you.
 
Well they…. I mean… Yeah, I guess I could have listened to them instead of acting like that. I sighed loudly as I turned the corner, my home in sight. Maybe I can talk to them the next time I see them or maybe – Before I could finish my thought I ran into something.
 
“Ahh!” I yelled bounced off whatever it was and landed on the ground.
 
“Oh! I’m so sorry, I didn’t see you there,” A mare’s voice called out, “Are you all right?”
 
“I would be if you watched where you wer-“ I started to yell at who I had run into, but as I looked up, I immediately recognized who it was and I shut up quick.
 
Princess Twilight Sparkle knelt down in front of me with a concerned look on her face. She wore a tiara on her head that rested behind her horn. She extended one of her wings to help me up off the ground, dusting my flank off in the process.
 
“Oh Princess Twilight Sparkle!” I said.  “I’m really sorry I ran into you; I was just thinking about something, and I kinda stopped paying attention to where I was going...”
 
“Oh, it’s quite alright, I was just the same when I was about your age!” Twilight replied with a slight chuckle as she tucked her wing back to her side, “I’m sorry if I hurt you at all.”
 
“No, I’m fine. But don’t worry about me, Princess, are you okay?” I asked.
 
“I’m fine, and please, just call me Twilight!” She said, “I may be an alicorn now but I still want to be treated the same as you or any other pony would be.”
 
I was surprised that she had said that.
 
 I thought royalty always wanted to be called by their titles when addressed, but here is Twilight Sparkle the Princess of the Magic of Friendship telling-. My train of thought stopped when I realised who Twilight was.
 
“Um, is everything okay?” Twilight asked looking worried.
 
“Oh, I’m fine. But I was wonder if I could talk to you about something?” I asked. “If you aren’t busy, that is,” I quickly added.
 
“Sure, I don’t have anything too pressing at the moment to attend to. So, tell me, what do you have on your mind?”  Twilight asked.
 
“Umm…” I hesitated before continuing, my head hung low, “You see, my friend Silver Spoon moved to Manehatten a little while ago and I really, really miss having her around...” I said, my eyes starting to water as I remembered some of the good times Silver Spoon and I had shared.
 
“As you know, my dad runs Barn Yard Bargains, so that means that he’s always busy with business meetings. He isn’t around much, and it’s been that way for as long I can remember. So when I met Silver Spoon for the first time in school, I felt really happy! She was somepony I could talk to, make jokes with, and play with. Somepony that would be there for me when I needed them, somepony to keep me from being alone, you know?”
 
Taking a deep breath, I continued, saying, “But since she moved I don’t have anypony to talk to or play with anymore! None of the fillies and colts at school want to be around me...”
 
Twilight looked on, listening to me as I went on. I could feel my eyes tear up as I continued, but I held them back. “Silver Spoon was my only friend; I don’t want to be alone again. I want to make friends but I don’t know what I’m doing wrong,” I looked up to Twilight, tears falling down my face. “Please, Twilight. Please show me what I’m doing wrong and help me make friends.”
 
Twilight stood still, not saying anything for a few moments while I started to cry like a foal in front of her.  Great she probably thinks I’m a baby and won’t help me now. But I don’t want to be alone, I just don’t. I want somepony to-.
 
It was then I felt something soft but strong wrap around me, snapping me out of my thoughts. I looked to see what it was and saw Twilight had wrapped her wings around me into a hug. It felt nice, all warm and soft. It made me feel for a moment that I wasn’t alone and that somepony was there for me.
 
 “It’s going to be okay,” she said softly as she held me tightly. “I’ll help you…”
 
 When I heard her say that I felt joy spread throughout me. I started to cry again as I returned the hug. “Thank you!” I cried out, “Thank you so much, this means so much to me.”
 
“It’s okay; I’m always there to help those who need me.” Twilight said as she held the hug.
 
After a few minutes I stopped crying and released Twilight from my hug. I walked ahead head of her a little bit before turning around to face her again. “So what’s first?” I asked. “What do I need to do to make my classmates like me?”
 
“Well, first we need to pinpoint the reason why they don’t like you. You said something about jokes?” Twilight asked.
 
“Yes, Silver Spoon and I used to make jokes about other ponies, and we thought they were pretty funny. I don’t know why, but nopony else liked them. Though lately, I have been getting some thoughts in my head.”
 
“Oh, what kind of thoughts?”
 
“Like maybe I should be nicer to everypony at school, and if I was, maybe I wouldn’t be alone.”
 
“Hmmm, maybe it’s your heart telling you that your jokes aren’t as harmless as you think they are.”
 
“What do you mean?”
 
“I mean that some of the jokes you say aren’t very nice things to say to other ponies. I have heard a few of them from the Cutie Mark Crusaders and those didn’t seem to be jokes at all, rather it seemed that they were very spiteful and mean things to say.”
 
“Really? But I was just having fun.”
 
“While telling a joke is okay, telling one to make fun of somepony isn’t okay. How would you like it if somepony made fun of you if you didn’t have your cutie mark yet and then rubbed it in that they have theirs?”
 
I thought about what Twilight said, trying to think about if somepony did make fun of me if I didn’t have my cutie mark. Well, I was worried about not having it when some of the others in class started to get theirs. I used to think that I wouldn’t get mine, and that they would tease me about it, just like I-
 
Then I suddenly realised what I had been doing wrong. I had been doing to others what I feared that they would do to me. I felt awful, I mean how could’ve I been so blinded to what I was doing to others with my ‘jokes’. No, I knew why I hadn’t seen it, I was just acting like a spoiled brat flaunting what I had in everypony’s face, whether it was money, anything expensive I owned, even my cutie mark, and I didn’t care. I didn’t care if anypony’s feels were hurt as long as they knew what I had and they didn’t.
 
I lowered my head, my ears flattened against the sides of my head as I spoke. “You’re right Twilight, it isn’t right to make fun of others. I never knew how I was making everypony feel when I said those things. I made fun of my classmates for things that they couldn’t help, like for example, the Cutie Mark Crusaders. They haven’t gotten their cutie marks yet, and I teased them for it and their efforts in trying to get them, especially when I was in their situation not too long ago.”

“I’m glad you realise that,” Twilight spoke softly. “Now, what should you do to make things right?”
 
I looked up to her; I knew deep down what I had to do. “I need to apologise for what I did. But I don’t know who I should go to-” I paused for a moment as I remembered my argument with Apple Bloom and the others earlier today. “I think I should go and talk to the Cutie Mark Crusaders first and apologise to them. I kinda got into a small argument with Apple Bloom after school when she and her two friends asked me if I was doing okay.”
 
I looked up to the sky and saw the sun was on its way down. “I think I should get going if I want to find them before it gets dark. Thank you for helping me with my problem, I just hope they will listen to me and accept my apology.”
 
“You’re welcome, and if I know those girls, I’m pretty sure they’ll forgive you.” Twilight said. “You’ll most likely find them at their clubhouse over at Sweet Apple Acres; just ask Applejack or Big Mac to show you where it is when you get there.”
 
“Okay, I will, and thank you again.” I ran off toward the farm only stopping to wave Twilight goodbye before continuing on.
 
I arrived at the farm sometime later, out of breath from galloping most of the way there. Some of the other ponies gave me strange looks as I ran across town, but I paid them no attention; I wanted to get to the farm before dark.
 
The sun was getting close to the horizon by the time I got there. As I made my way towards the farmhouse I heard somepony call out to me, “Diamond Tiara? What are you doing here?”
 
I turned toward where the voice was coming from and found who I came to see. I just stood there, looking at the Cutie Mark Crusaders, unable to speak. Apple Bloom and Sweetie Bell looked concerned while Scootaloo didn’t look very happy to see me.
 
The silence had lasted for only a few moments, but it felt like forever. Apple Bloom spoke up, breaking me out of my reverie. “Anypony in there?” She waved a foreleg in front of my muzzle to get my attention. “What brings you around here?”
 
“Yeah, why are you here?” Scootaloo spoke up. “Are you here to make fun of us again, or are you going to yell at Apple Bloom some more? ‘Cuz if that’s why, then you can just leave!” She yelled at me.
 
My ears flattened against my head when she yelled at me, not that I didn’t deserve it. “No, I’m not here to make fun of any of you, and I’m not here to yell at Apple Bloom.”
 
“Then why are you here?” Scootaloo demanded.
 
Well...it’s now or never. I took a deep breath as I gathered up the courage to say what I had come to say. “I want to say that I’m sorry. I’m sorry for making fun of you guys for not having your cutie marks and rubbing it in that I have mine. I was acting like a spoiled brat that was showing off what I had while making fun of you for what you didn’t have.”
 
“You gotta be kidding me!” Scootaloo said. “Why should we believe you, or for that matter, accept your apology? You always made fun of us for our ‘blank flanks’ every chance you got and now you’re saying that you’re sorry?”
 
“Scootaloo! Enough!” Apple Bloom snapped at Scootaloo. “She came all this way to apologise to us. I don’t think she is trying to pull the wool over our eyes.
 
“Yeah, let’s hear her out before we decide on anything,” Sweetie Belle said.
 
“But- She- Alright, fine, let’s her out.” Sitting down, Scootaloo crossed her forelegs, blowing her mane out of her face with a huff.
 
Apple Bloom looked back to me. “So... You came to say you’re sorry for making fun of us? Scootaloo is right, why the sudden change of heart?”
 
“Well... I have been thinking about a lot lately ever since Silver Spoon moved. I was trying to figure out why no one liked me, I guessed it was my ‘jokes’ I told, but I didn’t know why. Then I ran into Twilight earlier today and she helped me realise that I was hurting everypony’s feelings, and that I should apologise to everypony.”
 
“I came here first because of what happened earlier when I yelled at you when you were only trying to help me, and for that, I’m very sorry. I was just upset because I don’t have any other friends other than Silver Spoon. When I saw you coming towards me with your friends I got jealous of you because you have friends, and I don’t.” I lowered my head as I continued, “All I have now is my dad, but he is always busy; I’m just so alone now. I just want some friends who will be there for me when nopony else is. I’m not asking any of you to be my friend, after the way I have treated you, I know don’t deserve your friendship.” I looked back up to them.  “All I ask is if you can forgive me for what I have done to you, and whether or not you accept my apology, I promise that I will never say any of those things ever again.”
 
Finished with what I had to say, I waited for it to sink in. A tense minute passed by in silence before Apple Bloom spoke. “Well... I’m not sure about you two, but I think she is telling the truth.” She walked up to me and extended a hoof to me. “I accept your apology; we all make mistakes from time to time, and it takes a real pony to owe up to them.”
 
I shook her hoof, relieved that she had accepted my apology. Then Sweetie Belle was the next to walk up.
 
“If Apple Bloom says things are okay, then I forgive you too. I hope we can put the past behind us and just be friends.”
 
Friends? After what I had done to them, they want to be friends with me? I thought to myself, tears welling up in my eyes as I heard their acceptance.
 
Then after a moment, Scootaloo got up from where she was sitting and walked over to me until our foreheads were pressed together. “If you ever go back on your word and start making fun of anypony again I will buck you into next week! Got it?”
 
Feeling intimidated under her gaze I simply nodded. “Great! Now put ‘er there!” She backed up a bit and held out her hoof which I shook quickly, glad that they had all accepted my apology.
 
“Well... I guess this means that there is only one thing left to do.” Apple Bloom said.
 
“What would that be?” I asked.
 
“Group hug!” The three of them yelled. In a flash I was surrounded by a blur of yellow, white, and orange, trapped in a tight hug.
 
I didn’t say anything at first, caught off guard by the hug. After a moment I returned it. “Thank you so much, I don’t know what to say.”
 
“No need to worry, it’s what friends do,” Apple Bloom said.
 
“You really mean it? You really want to be my friend even after how I treated all of you?”
 
“Of course we do. I mean, you’re a nice pony when you’re not being mean,” Sweetie Belle said. “I think you just need somepony to show you how to be kind to others, and I think we can help you with that.”
                    
“Yeah, I guess we can help you and stuff, oh darn it I’m not good with this sappy stuff. Look, we are friends now, so don’t worry about it, okay? Scootaloo asked.     
 
 We separated from our hug as a couple of voices called out.
 
“Apple Bloom! Time to come in for dinner.”
 
“Sweetie, it’s time to go home.”
 
“Looks like it’s time go.” Apple Bloom said as she looked over to Applejack, noticing that Rarity was standing next to her.
 
“Yeah, I better get going too. I’ll see you guys later.” Sweetie said as she and Apple Bloom made their way to the farmhouse, leaving me with Scootaloo.
 
“Well I guess I better get going, too. Rainbow said she was going to pick me up over by the library to take me to her place for the night.” Scootaloo said as she made her way to the farmhouse as well before looking back to me. “Come with me, I’ll give you a ride home on my scooter before I go.”
 
I followed her to the farmhouse, she grabbed her scooter which was leaned up against it. She handed me a helmet. “Here, put this on.”
 
“But it will ruin my mane, and what about my tiara?” I cried out.
  
“Look if you want to ride you’re going to have to wear it, nopony rides with me unless they wear one.” Scootaloo said slightly annoyed. “Besides, you can fix your mane when you get home and you can put your tiara beside you in the wagon.”
 
“Okay fine, I’ll wear it.” I took the helmet from Scootaloo. Taking my tiara off, I put the helmet on and placed my tiara in the wagon. Making sure it was on securely, I hopped in.
 
“You ready back there?” Scootaloo looked back as she got on her scooter.
 
“Yeah, ready when you are!” I answered back. “And thanks!”
 
“Don’t worry about it; it’s what friends are for.” Scootaloo said.
 
“I meant for everything today.”
 
“Oh well, like we said you just need somepony to show you how to be nice to others, so we’re cool. Now hang on, we are going to have to go fast if we are going to make it to your place before dark.”
 
I smiled when she said that. I still thought I was dreaming, just earlier today I was all alone because I couldn’t be nice to others, and now I had friend who forgave me for being mean to them.
 
I was pulled out of my thoughts as we took off all of a sudden. I fell back into the wagon letting out a squeak as Scootaloo sped up.
 
She let out a laugh when she heard me. “Told you to hold on.”
 
“Well I didn’t think you would go that fast!” I yelled back to her trying to sound angry but failing as I chuckled. I sat back up and looked around at the scenery whipping past us.
 
After a few moments of silence a thought came into my mind. “So do you live with Rainbow or something?”
 
“Nah, I’m just spending a couple of months there while my mom is out of town.” Scootaloo answered back, keep her gaze on the road.
 
“Where did your mom go?” I asked her.
 
“She is part of the royal guard. She comes home for a few weeks when she is on leave, but when she is away I usually stay over at Apple Bloom’s or Sweetie Belle’s. This time Rainbow said she would look after me, saying that she wanted to help me with my flight training.
 
“I didn’t know your mom was in the guard.” I said.
 
“Yeah well, it’s something I only tell my friends.” She said as she took a turn sharply.
 
I held on as we turned. “Warn me when you do that!” I yelled to her.
 
“Sorry.”
 
“It’s fine. Anyway doesn’t it get lonely when your mom is away?”
 
“Yeah, it does sometimes, but I have my friends by my side. I’m not totally alone, but I do miss her when she’s away.” Scootaloo said.
 
“I know that feeling I wish my dad wasn’t way so much. It’s so lonely at the house while he is gone, but now that I have friends it won’t be so bad.” I said.
 
“Yeah, it helps, but nothing can replace you parents when you need them.” Scootaloo said.
 
A few moments later, we had arrived at my house. Scootaloo came to a stop right in front of the main gate and looked back to me. “Last stop, everypony off.”
 
We both giggled when she said that as I took off my helmet and got out of the wagon.
 
“Don’t forget you tiara.” Scootaloo said as she grabbed it, holding it out to me.
 
“Oh, thank you.” I grabbed it from her and put it on my head. “I guess with our conversation I forgot about it.”
 
“No problem.” Scootaloo looked out to the horizon, watching as the moon slowly rose into the night sky. “Well, I better get going before Rainbow gets worried. I’ll see you at school in the morning.” She waved to me as she hopped on her scooter.
 
“Okay, I’ll see you later.” I waved to her as she took off down the road. I stood there until she was out of sight before turning to go inside.
 
As I walked inside, I called out to the butler “I’m home, Vincent. Is dinner ready?”
 
“Ah miss, glad to see that you have returned. Yes, dinner is ready for you in the dining room. You seem to be in brighter spirits than this morning, did you have a good day at school?
 
“Well, no, not really, but after school I was able to make some friends. So I would say today was a great day, and I think only one thing could make it better.”
 
“Would I be that one thing that would make your day better?” A deep, familiar voice called out from the dining room, a voice I hadn’t heard in a while.
 
“Dad? Is that you?!” I asked as I ran into the dining room. Sure enough there he was standing there.
 
“Sure, sweetheart, now come here so your old father can give you a hug,” he said.
 
I didn’t miss a beat as I ran up to him and hugged him with all the strength I had. “Oh Dad I missed you sooo much. I’ve been really lonely here without you.”
 
“I know sweetheart, I’m sorry I haven’t been around that much lately, but I intend to make up for that. Tell you what: for the next month it will just be you and me. No meetings for me to run off to, just us. Now, let’s eat while you tell me about your new friends.”
 
We both sat down at the table as I told him all about Apple Bloom, Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo. As I talked a thought came to mind.
 
“Umm dad?”
 
“Yes, Diamond?”
 
“Would it be alright if I invited over my friends tomorrow? I know you said it was going to be just us but I would love to have them over too.
 
“But of course, sweetheart! They can come over and play. I can even plan something for all of us do together. But for now, it’s time for bed, you have to go to school in the morning”
 
“Thank you, Dad.” I quickly finished my dinner and went off to bed, but not before giving my dad one more hug. “I love you, Dad. I’m so happy you’re home.”
 
“I love you too.” He said. “Now off to bed with you.”
 
“Okay, good night.” I said I made my way to the stairs.
 
“Good night, sweetheart.”
 
As I made my way to my room all I could think was how this was the best day ever. I had made new friends and I was going to hang out with them tomorrow, and on top of that, my dad was home and was going to be spending a lot of time with me.
 
I can’t wait until tomorrow; it’s going to be so much fun. I thought to myself as I climbed into bed. I guess I’m going to have to apologise to everyone else at school too. But with my new friends by my side, I know I can do it.
 
As I closed my eyes I thought about how much Twilight had helped me today. Without her, I wouldn’t have made friends with the Cutie Mark Crusaders, or even realised how much of a jerk I was being.
 
I’m going to have to thank her when I see her again. With that last thought I fell asleep.