Sweetie Belle's chest still hurt. The fact that it was Diamond Tiara who delivered the blow did nothing to ease her distress. I need to know why she did that. Why would she attack me like that? She's never done that before… The trouble was s"e hadn't seen Diamond all day. It was almost three o"clock and the magenta filly was nowhere in sight.
Buck it all, Sweetie thought, she's not here. So much for that confrontation… She plodded along an empty hallway, not paying much attention to where she was going. I wonder if Mr. Bramble will notice if I skip study hall. The late bell was moments from ringing when Sweets ran into something hard.
"Oof!" said a familiar voice.
She fell on her rump, issuing a similar gasp then looked into who she had plowed into.
"Stitches?" she questions, blushing.
"Sweetie Belle… W-what are you doing here?"
Getting up with a groan, she says, "I was looking for Diamond Tiara. Hey, you haven't seen you, have you?"
"Yeah, actually," the scarlet colt said, "I was just talking to her."
"Really?" Sweets asks.
Stitches nods, "Yep. She was- I can't really explain what she was on; her behavior was- off."
"How do you mean?"
"She-" Stitches starts, "S-she… Well, she was more- aggressive than usual. She kept making suggestive hints and- she was getting really touchy with me…"
"What?!"
"I know, right? It was like she was high or something. Then she tells me, "I know a place where you and I can have a fun time." I ask her what she's talking about. She smiles; it's a psychotic kinda smile… then she pushes her plot in my face! 'I'll let you rut me until we're both exhausted!' I ran the hay away from that."
"There's no way she can be in estrus," Sweets comments.
"That's what I thought," Stitches replies, "She's- seriously starting to scare me."
"Just starting?" Sweets quips, "Stitches, I don"t understand why you're friendly with her, especially after this stunt."
"I've been wondering myself," Stitches says, "since Nightmare Night. I mean, she's nice enough to me, but she seems decidedly antagonistic to you and the other Crusaders. Her mood swings are making me lose my patience…"
"How do you mean?"
"Well," the colt starts, "I keep thinking we can be really good friends, best friends, even. But she, when she acts like this or when she"s berating you, I saw things about her that I"m not comfortable with. I just don"t know what to do with her."
"Maybe you should cut your losses," the prima donna said, "I'm not saying that out of spite. I know exactly what you mean. I would've liked to be friends with her, too. She just- She made that very difficult."
Stitches nods, "It's a wonder she was ever popular."
Sweets confirms, "No kidding. I don"t wanna say it was because she was rich. My family may not be wealthy, but we do okay. And I know Princess Twilight; she and her husband are very well off but you wouldn't know it for how kind they both are. So, maybe she's cruel because of something we don't usually see. I dunno…"
Stitches dully nods, "I guess bullies can from anywhere. Rich or poor, old or young, from small villages or large metropolises, anyone can become a bully. I was just hoping that I could see better in Diamond…"
"Same here, Stitches. I know Scoots is never gonna forgive her, but I would like to."
Speaking of the Devil… Wracked by sobs and looking haphazard, Diamond Tiara walks in on Sweetie Belle and Stitchen Time as they converse. They drop into a wretched silence. It's Diamond that breaks the silence.
"Already starting the rumor mill, Sweetie Butt?"
The prima donna shakes her head, saying, "I don't start rumors. I don't even like hearing them. So you can stop being a prissy filly about it all."
Dee Tee dismisses Sweets words. Her eyes are streaming but her voice is filled with hate and something else. Bitterness, maybe…?
"Oh, spare me! You take everything I ever had and now you"re gonna drag me through the mud; talk about adding insult to injury!"
"Diamond," retorts Stitches, "that's unfair. Sweetie Belle wants to be friends with you like I am. Why aren't you giving her the chance to be so?"
Dee Tee gives Stitches a scathing look, filled with reproach that looks alien, even on Diamond Tiara.
"Come on, Diamond," Sweetie says, "I don't wanna fight with you."
"Well, maybe I do!" Diamond huffs.
"That's enough!" Stitches commands, "Diamond, stop it! Why can't you be at least a little more receptive to Sweetie Belle? She doesn't hate you-!"
"Stitches…" Diamond cries.
"He's right," Sweetie replies, "I don't hate you. Tartarus, I don't even know why you started ranking on my friends and I in the first place. In a couple years none of this well really matter. So, can we bury this hatchet, huh?"
"Come on, Diamond," Stitches implores, "She has no enmity towards you."
Stitches puts a foreleg on Sweetie Belle"s neck and smiles. The blush that forms on Sweetie"s face does something to Diamond…
"Well, what if- I- do?!"
For the second time that week, Diamond turns on hoof and bucks. This time, she connects with Sweetie Belle's muzzle. She flies back as Stitches gets pushed away. Blood flies while Sweetie Belle falls to the ground. Diamond wears a sneer that quickly fades to shame. She looks at Stitches and the anguished face he makes is enough to break her.
"WHAT THE BUCK, DIAMOND TIARA?!"
Stitches goes to Sweets side, cradling her head in his fetlocks. The tears in his eyes spill over in torrents. His eyes narrow and his teeth are set; she has never seen Stitches mad before and Diamond now figures she never wants to again.
"What is your problem?! Sweetie was trying to extend an olive branch to you and you shoot her down! That is- That's not right. You know, maybe Silver was right; you can"t buy class."
"Stitches, I…"
"Oh, go swimming in a cesspool, Diamond. As of now, you and I are not, nor ever will be, friends!"
Sweets stirs from all the yelling.
"Ow… My node- I wonder if Twilight can fix it magically… I don't think Rarity knows any healing spells…"
"Let's go. I"m taking you to the nurse's office."
Stitches helps Sweetie Belle to stand. Her nose is leaking a sieve; she wobbles on all four hooves. Stitches puts a protective foreleg around her neck. He gives her a caring look before shooting a glance at Diamond. In his face is uttermost disdain.
Diamond Tiara gallops away, crying all the way. My life is over… She runs until her strength fails her. She runs until she can no longer see Stitchen Time's livid face; she lost her one chance to find happiness. I wish I was dead…!
She eventually finds a shady alcove on the far end of the school. The place has seen years of neglect from the grounds keeping team, so the grass here is wild, untamed by any form of civilization. Here she hides, hoping the world will end. She has no will left to face her fellow students let alone her mother.
If the Crusaders don't kill me, my mother will certainly try.
Enshrouded in her conclave, Diamond is wracked by more than ignominy. She feels a wrath, so deep and burning it seems to consume her. She likes it; it gives her a sense of purpose. Stepping away from her sanctuary, she tilts her head skyward, defiant to the last.
"As Celestia as my witness, if I can't have Stitchen Time, then nopony will!"