//------------------------------// // A Grave Truth // Story: Diamond Tiara The Not So Friendly Ghost // by SuperPinkBrony12 //------------------------------// "Blank Flank", that's all she ever seemed to say to them. "Blank flank this.", and "Blank flank that.", and "Hey blank flank.", and "What sort of lame-o scheme are you trying now blank flank?" That word seemed to play over and over again like a broken record. Day in and day out without stopping. The Cutie Mark Crusaders were sick of hearing it. And they were sick of the very pony who constantly used it on them, Diamond Tiara. That snobbish little filly never seemed to have anything better to do then pick on them and call them names. Sure they tried to ignore her and tried to tell the adults, but nothing ever seemed to work. No matter how many times she got caught Diamond Tiara kept picking on them. And all because she had a cutie mark and they didn't. And so it was that the three fillies were sulking in their clubhouse, complaining about her. But this time it was different. Diamond Tiara had made fun of them, but not just for not having cutie marks, no this time she had done something even worse. She had made fun of Sweetie Belle for not being able to use magic and Scootaloo for not being able to fly. Even though they tried to deflect her attacks by saying there were a lot of colts and fillies their age that couldn't do either of those things Diamond Tiara had persisted. And worst of all she seemed to have completly gotten away with it. Diamond Tiara had crossed the line. And the Cutie Mark Crusaders weren't just going to take her insults lying down. They knew that something would have to be done. But none of them knew what that something was. "I swear I've had it up to here with Diamond Tiara." Apple Bloom said "I'm sick and tired of her insults, and I'm sick and tired of being made fun of. I swear one of these days I just want to, to, push her off a cliff or something!" "To be honest I'm feeling rather conflicted about how to deal with her." Scootaloo said "I mean half of me wants to smack her right in the face the next time she smiles. And my other half wants to crash into her with my scooter, and smear her precious little coat with tire tracks." "Well I can't say I don't want to do something to Diamond Tiara." Sweetie Belle said shyly, she really wasn't one for fighting "But I don't think my ideas go beyond anything other then just tripping her in the hallway when she's not looking." "Yeah but if we attack her we'll just get ourselves in trouble." Apple Bloom said "And even if we don't Silver Spoon's likely going to hate us, not that it really matters." "I just wish we had some way to catch her in the act." Scootaloo said "Find some way to prove she's bullying us so the adults will actually believe us for a change." "But how can we do that?" Sweetie Belle asked. "I don't really know." Scootaloo said "But we're not leaving this clubhouse until we decide just how we're going to teach Diamond Tiara a lesson. We need to show her that we're not babies and that she can't just push us around." "I couldn't have put it better myself Scootaloo." Apple Bloom said. "Oh and we can't forget about her father Mr. Rich." Scootaloo said "We need to make sure he sees firsthoof just how evil his 'precious little filly' is." "I'd almost forgotten about him." Apple Bloom said "And if I'm not mistaken I believe he's here right now." "What?!" Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle asked. "There he is!" Apple Bloom said, pointing out the clubhouse window. Sure enough Filthy Rich was making his way through the orchards of Sweet Apple Acres. But he didn't look like he was here to discuss business. In fact he hardly even looked like himself. His mane and tail were completly messy, almost as if he hadn't bothered to groom them. His eyes had bags underneath them, as if though he hadn't slept a wink in days. He wasn't even smiling, he looked rather glum. Were it not for his cutie mark the CMC would never have guessed that it was him. "He's not looking so good." Sweetie Belle said. "I know." Scootaloo said "He looks like he's about ready to pass out." "What do you think he's doing here Apple Bloom?" Sweetie Belle asked. "I don't know." Apple Bloom said. Filthy Rich slowly trotted up to the entrance of the house adjacent to the barn. He knocked on the door. There was no reply. He waited for a little bit, then knocked again. Again there was no reply. He looked at the door just to make sure that he hadn't potentially missed a note. There was nothing there. The stallion sighed "Guess no one's around." he said to himself and trotted sadly away "I was really hoping someone could help me out. I really don't know what I'm suppose to do. But who else can I turn to? I doubt any of my other business partners would believe me if I told them the truth about Diamond Tiara." Those last few words did not go unnoticed by the CMC, who had followed him out of curiosity. Needless to say they started to suspect something. "Just what was that all about?" Sweetie Belle whispered. "Your guess is as good as mine." Apple Bloom whispered back. "Shh. He's doing something." Scootaloo said. Filthy Rich looked out at the clock tower in the distance. "I guess I have time to visit her really quick." he said. The CMC could've sworn they saw a faint tear form in his eye. He trotted out of Sweet Apple Acres, but he wasn't headed back into town. "Where's he going?" Sweetie Belle asked. "Well there's only one way to find out." Scootaloo said, racing over to her parked scooter. "Hop in girls." Sweetie Belle and Apple Bloom jumped into the attached wagon and put their helmets, as did Scootaloo. The three fillies then took off, trying to tail Filthy Rich without being seen. To their surprise Filthy Rich's journey took him to a remote location near the outskirts of town. He stopped in front of a gate. The sign above it read Ponyville Cemetery: The Final Resting Place for the Dearly Departed. The CMC had never been to this place before. Filthy Rich pushed open the gate and went inside. The CMC were close behind. After a few minute of searching Filthy Rich stopped in front of a tombstone. The CMC didn't get a chance to see what was engraved on it as they were forced to hide behind a nearby tree to avoid detection. "What's he doing here?" Sweetie Belle asked, shivering slightly "And why did it be a graveyard of all places?" "Don't tell me you're scared." Scootaloo said. "I'm not scared." Sweetie Belle said "It's just chilly around here, that's all." "Sure, sure whatever." Scootaloo said. "Shh, quiet girls or he'll hear us." Apple Bloom said "Now if you don't mind I think he's about to say something." And she was right. Filthy Rich looked at the tombstone and said "If only I knew why you're still around. I can't keep this charade up for much longer. It's driving me to an early grave." He shed a few tears and then trotted away. The CMC emerged from behind the tree. "What was he talking about? And what does he mean by charade?" Sweetie Belle asked. "I wanna know what's eating him." Scootaloo said "It takes a lot to make a grown stallion cry. Right Apple Bloom?" Apple Bloom didn't reply. "Apple Bloom?" Scootaloo asked, Apple Bloom said nothing. "Is something wrong Apple Bloom?" Scootaloo asked. "Look." was all Apple Bloom said. Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle did so. What they saw shocked them. There, engraved on the tombstone was an inscription, it read: Diamond Dazzle Tiara A jewel taken before her time. Born year 994 of Luna's banishment. Died year 3 of Luna's return.