//------------------------------//
// Day 17: Justice and Revenge 
// Story: NaPoWriMo 2014: A Compilation of Pony Tales 
// by Fluttercheer 
//------------------------------//

	The schoolbell rang. It was the end of recess and the fillies and colts stopped their chatting and playing and hurried inside.
Dinky got off of the swing and joined her classmates. Having entered the classroom, she walked past the desks of Scootaloo and Apple Bloom, turned left and then right again, directly aiming at her desk. While on the way to it, she looked down at the pendant hanging down her neck. She lifted it up and opened it with one hoof. A small photo was inside. It showed her together with her mom Derpy, her big sister Sparkler and The Doctor. She smiled.
This day was one of the best days in her life. It was her birthday and they visited the famous amusement park in Baltimare on this day, a place Dinky really wished to visit back then. They were in a funhouse, let them become thrilled in a rollercoaster and getting scared in a ghost train that resembled a famous haunted building. And Dinky ate more ice cream than on any day before in her life. It was one of the few days all four of them could spend together and thus, very important to Dinky. Even an unexpected attack of some scary creatures the Doctor referred to as “Angels” could not change that. No, in fact, this exciting adventure made the day even better!
As she walked past Diamond Tiara's desk, the bully could catch a look of the photo in her hooves. Derpy's eyes were crossed like most of the time when the photo was made and as Diamond Tiara saw that, she grimaced, followed by a dismissive glance appearing in her eyes.
Dinky arrived at her desk and sat down. She reached into it and pulled out the materials for the next lesson, carefully arranging them on the table. Miss Cheerilee was not here yet as she was done with it, so she took out the pendant for a second time and looked at it again. Dwelling on the memories of that great day, another smile adorned her face. Suddenly, a shadow fell over the pendant. Dinky looked up surprised and saw Diamond Tiara standing in front of her desk.
“What's that pendant you're looking at the whole time?” Diamond Tiara snatched it out of her hooves.
“Hey, give it back!”, Dinky protested. “That's not yours!”
Diamond ignored her objection and carefully inspected the picture. Looking closely at the background of the picture, she could see that the picture was taken at an amusement park. “So that's what you're staring at”, Diamond Tiara began again. “Looks like you made a trip to an amusement park with your retarded mother”, Diamond Tiara said loud enough for the whole class to hear.
The other foals turned around to her, a shocked expression on their faces. They knew Diamond Tiara, so it was not a surprise for them that she would say something like this, but she had just reached a new level in her spitefulness.
Dinky's face, however, expressed deep anguish. How could she say this about her beloved mom? A second later, her anguish turned into anger. She would not allow her to talk about her mom like this! “My mom is always there for me and takes good care of me. She is not retarded!” Dinky reached out and yanked the precious pendant out of Diamond Tiara's hooves again.
Diamond Tiara grinned at her outburst. “Not retarded? Oh, please. Just look at her eyes. That dumb expression she has. That's always a sign of somepony being retarded. How can she even take care of you? It's a surprise that nopony takes care of her, in a home for the mentally disabled!”
This comment let explode something in Dinky. The usually so friendly and lovely filly lashed out and gave the vile classmate in front of her a resounding slap in the face. Diamond Tiara's head jerked to the side, a red imprint of Dinky's hoof displayed on her cheek. She put a hoof on the hurting spot and turned back at Dinky, a hateful expression in her eyes.
The fillies and colts staring at the scenery broke out in cheer after seeing this. It was not often that Diamond Tiara got a real comeuppance for what she did and even though it did not help to stop her bullying, it was delightful to see when it happened. And never before anypony in their class dared to give her a slap in the face. It was a sensation for the foals. “You're our hero, Dinky!”, a filly with a turquoise mane in the first row shouted out.
This one hit was not enough for Dinky to vent her anger about the insult of her mom. She was used to get bullied by Diamond Tiara here and there, being a blank flank like Apple Bloom, Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle, but this time she was going too far!
Dinky stood up and began to climb up her desk in her fury. She already had one hoof set on it, ready to jump at Diamond Tiara, as a voice interrupted her.
“Dinky, stop it and sit down!”, the voice said sternly.
Dinky stopped in her movement and looked to the entrance of the classroom, following the sound of the familiar voice, together with her other classmates. Only Diamond Tiara did not turn around.
Miss Cheerilee stood there. She just had entered the classroom soon enough to hear what Diamond Tiara said about Derpy and to witness Dinky's angry reaction on the insult of her mom. The stern voice of her teacher pulled Dinky out of her anger and she got down from the table, slowly taking seat again. Her eyes were shrunk small and a scared expression graced her face now. She feared that she would get a punishment now for reacting so aggressive.
A smug grin appeared on Diamond Tiara's face. She was insulting Dinky's mother and now Dinky was the one who got in trouble for it! Diamond Tiara felt good. But her moment of triumph did not last long and she was devastated by what Miss Cheerilee said next.
“Diamond Tiara, I expect you to stay here after your classmates have left. I want to talk to you after school.”
Dinky let out the breath she was holding. Her fear was unnecessary as apparently, her teacher made the right decision and saw who the real troublemaker here was.
The bully, though, couldn't believe it and turned round. Despite the cruel insult she just made, she felt completely in the right. She was going to protest, but the stern expression in her teacher's face showed that she was adamant and dead set in her decision. Diamond Tiara renounced of an answer. She gave Dinky a last, hateful look, that was replied by the blonde filly with a smug smile, and then returned to her desk and took seat unwillingly.
As she saw that Diamond Tiara sat at her place, Cheerilee began with her lesson.
When the rest of the lessons had passed by and the schoolbell rang for the last time on this day, the students took down their pencils and began to pack their things.
Diamond Tiara did so as well. Still feeling in the right, she was not willing to realize that she had done something wrong. As she had packed everything, she slowly trotted forward. Taking a look at the blackboard, she saw that Miss Cheerilee was still busy with cleaning it. She took that chance and quickly proceeded to the classroom door. Miss Cheerilee was not even paying attention, so who should stop her from leaving? She would just trot out of the classroom. She hasn't done anything bad, after all, and was just saying the truth.
The answer on her question came quickly. As she neared the exit, Dinky stepped in front of her and blocked her way. A determined expression was on her face. After what she said about her mom, she would not let her leave like that. Diamond Tiara wiggled herself around Dinky, but the one moment she lost was already enough to prevent her escape.
“Diamond Tiara, haven't you forgot something?”, Miss Cheerilee asked her firmly.
Diamond Tiara clenched her teeth in anger. A happy expression on her face, Dinky stuck out her tongue at her, then she went her way. The bully just stood there for a moment, thinking on it if she should just leave anyway. But her confidence was depleted now. She hesitantly turned around and walked over to Miss Cheerilee's desk, her nose arrogantly raised upwards.
Miss Cheerilee had taken seat behind her desk in the meanwhile. “Is there anything you want to explain about what happened today, Diamond Tiara?” Miss Cheerilee quickly came down to business.
Diamond Tiara pondered about her possibilities. She was used to just get away with the things she did to others, but now she had to get her head out of the rope somehow. Maybe she should just lying? Miss Cheerilee most likely heard everything she said about Derpy, but she did not see what happened before. She could make it look like Dinky insulted her dad first. Her confidence returned. She looked up to her teacher. “Yes, I have”, she began. “I was just answering to what Dinky said about my dad in the same way.”
Miss Cheerilee raised an eyebrow. “So, this means Dinky insulted your dad first and you snapped back at her?”
“Yes, that's all that happened.”
Miss Cheerilee sighed. “Diamond Tiara, I already talked with Dinky about what happened. She said you just came to her and began with the insults. Without a reason.”
“Then she's lying! I was just defending my dad, nothing more!”
But Miss Cheerilee was unimpressed. “Diamond Tiara, it's not the first time that you insult others without a reason. Your classmates told me about it. I trust their words and Dinky's words more than your own.”
Seeing that her excuse was useless, Diamond Tiara began to become angry. “They're just lying too! I never did anything of what those little–“
“Diamond Tiara”, her teacher interrupted her firmly. “I will talk to your dad about this. And tomorrow, you will apology to Dinky. I watched what you did long enough now.”
Diamond Tiara realized that she had no chance. For once, she had to face consequences and this was already bugging her.
“Go home now”, Miss Cheerilee resumed. “We continue this tomorrow.” Diamond Tiara frowned but did not say anything anymore. She trotted out of the classroom and left the school.
Cheerilee's talk with her dad, that happened on the same day, went not well for her. As her dad heard about what happened, he understood, and he agreed with Miss Cheerilee in every aspect. It resulted in it that she was grounded for two weeks and, worst of all, he cut her weekly pocket money for one long month! Diamond Tiara protested, of course, but it was useless. Her father's decision was set. And Diamond Tiara's anger was unbelievingly big. How could Miss Cheerilee and her dad doing this to her, for just saying the truth about such a useless member of their society? Despite the harsh punishment, Diamond Tiara did not understand.
At the next day in school, Miss Cheerilee forced her to apologize to Dinky. She protested, trying again to make a point in her favor, but as Miss Cheerilee threatened her with detention if she shouldn't do it, she gave in. She pressed out a careless “I'm sorry” and shook Dinky's hoof. Of course she only did it to avoid getting even more punishment, but it didn't matter to her. Miss Cheerilee did not realize this anyway.
These thoughts rushed through her head as she went back to her seat and sat down. And the next time she would be more careful. Miss Cheerilee could not punish her for something that did not happen on the schoolground. Nopony could, in fact, as long as there wasn't any proof for what she did. She looked over to Dinky. A devilish grin appeared on her face. Not even for the revenge she had planned.....
As school was over on this day, Dinky quickly packed her things. She did it faster than usually because Sparkler and she wanted to watch a movie in cinema this afternoon and she had some homework to get done before this. As she rushed out of the classroom she noticed that Diamond Tiara's desk was already empty, despite that all other students were still there. Apparently, Diamond Tiara felt so embarrassed that Miss Cheerilee called her out in front of everypony in the class today that she quickly left. At least that's what Dinky thought.
As she was galloping through the streets, her thoughts were already on her planned visit of the cinema today. It was the premiere of the very first Daring Do movie! Everypony wanted to see it and all tickets were sold out by now. She and Sparkler literally got tickets in the last minute. The only sad thing about it was that her mom couldn't come with them, because of her work. But spending some time with her big sister again made her happy enough already. She only needed to get her homework done before they headed to the cinema, so that she could enjoy the movie without having to think about it to finish her homework afterwards and then–
Suddenly, her thoughts were interrupted, because something grabbed her at her mane and dragged her into a bush she was just galloping past. It happened so fast that Dinky couldn't even react. With a loud thump she landed on the ground behind the bush, as the grip around her mane was loosened. “Ouch.....”, she said, as she was slowly rising up and rubbing her hurting head. “What was this?”, she asked a little dizzy as she opened her eyes.
“What you deserve”, somepony in front of her answered her question. It was Diamond Tiara.
“Diamond Tiara?!”, Dinky exclaimed. “Do you still not have enough?”, she asked her.
“I have enough”, the cruel filly answered. “I have enough of it that I get in trouble because of your fault!”
Dinky couldn't believe it. Diamond Tiara was really blaming her for what happened! “This isn't my fault! If you wouldn't have said all those things about my mommy you would have never got any punishment!”, Dinky replied furiously.
“Those things?”, Diamond Tiara asked. “Like that your mom is so clumsy and retarded that she can't get the easiest things done without destroying anything?”
Dinky saw red again. “I told you to stop saying this!” She proceeded towards Diamond Tiara to finish what she began yesterday before Miss Cheerilee stopped her, but suddenly, somepony grabbed her from behind.
The tight clutch around her neck of the hooves of the pony behind her made it impossible for Dinky to move forward.
“Good, Silver Spoon”, Diamond Tiara said. “Just hold her like this. I'm doing the rest.”
Dinky tried to break free, but Silver Spoon's grasp was too strong. She was surprised about it that a filly her age could have such strength.
A menacingly, and somewhat satisfied, look on her face, Diamond Tiara walked up to the helpless filly. With one fast movement, she ripped off the necklace with the pendant that was hanging around Dinky's neck. “Let's take another look at that pathetic photo!” Diamond Tiara snickered viciously. She opened the pendant and saw the photo again. “It does not look any less pathetic than yesterday. Or what do you say, Silver Spoon?” She hold the open pendant in her direction and showed her the photo.
“Can't get anymore pathetic!”, she agreed with her bully friend.
Now she hold the photo in front of Dinky's face. “And what do you say about it?”, she asked her.
“It's not pathetic!”, Dinky answered obviously, snapping at Diamond Tiara.
“Well, that's sad”, she answered cynically. “Silver and I think it's pathetic, so you're outvoted.” The expression in her face turned from spiteful to outright cruel suddenly.
Dinky noticed it and knew it couldn't mean something good. “What are you going to do?”
“I will just help you to get rid of unnecessary ballast. Nopony needs a pathetic photo. It just takes up space that could be filled with things that are not pathetic.” With these words, she ripped out the photo of the pendant and without hesitation, she ripped it apart in tiny pieces.
“NO! STOP!”, Dinky cried into her face, but it was too late. The photo was nothing more than tiny fragments now.
Dinky's heart sank. Tears appeared in her eyes. “Why have you done this? It was the only one! And it was the only souvenir I had from our trip.....” The little unicorn began to sob.
“This is what happens when you mess with me”, the bully replied mercilessly. She held a hoof in front of her eyes and blew the pieces of the former beautiful photo into her face. Some pieces of it got stuck in the tears that were flowing down Dinky's face now.
“I guess that makes up for what you did and we're even”, Diamond Tiara said and began to trot past her. But then, she stopped suddenly and faced Dinky again. “No, just almost”, she said. She reached back with her hoof and gave Dinky the same sort of resounding slap that she gave her yesterday. A loud whimper of pain escaped Dinky's face as Diamond Tiara's hoof hit her. “So, now we're even.”
She trotted up to Silver Spoon and gave her a sign, then she made her way out of the bush that had to serve to hide her cruel act. Silver Spoon released the grasp around Dinky. She gave her a strong push from behind and the crying filly landed face forward in the dirt, besides the rest of her beloved family photo.
Dinky tried to get up, but she couldn't. Seeing how the photo she loved so much became destroyed had robbed her off of every strength. And so she just lied there, crying without hesitation into the dirty ground.
Taking a last look at Dinky through the branches of the bush Diamond Tiara said: “Better don't come into my way anymore. You will regret it, because I will destroy more things that you love.” Then she finally trotted away, satisfiedly leaving the desperated, little filly crying behind the bush.....