//------------------------------// // Chapter 2: In Which a Single Filly Creates a Mountain of Chaos // Story: Diamonds in the Apple Tree // by Bionic Star //------------------------------// You really couldn't find a good pony to carry your luggage in Ponyville, Diamond Tiara soon found out. The filly turned to look at the stallion who was attempting to carry all seventeen suitcases, the majority of which were filled to their capacity. They all were stacked haphazardly on the poor pony’s back. “Hurry up!” She called, turning around with a harsh glare, “We got places to be and I don’t want to be late cause you were taking a break!” The stallion, who was obviously a servant of her father’s, nodded. Taking a deep breath, he heaved his back upwards and began to slowly trot alongside the pink filly, sweating profusely. The two were on their way towards the large estate that was known in the area as Sweet Apple Acres. The pair walked along the dirt path and made their way past the hoof painted fences, the soft flowing grass, and the seemingly endless amount of apple trees which gave off a sweet smell of apple crisp that seemed to permeate the air like a fragrance. The whole orchard held a distinctly country style that gave it a unique vibe against the almost medieval style thatched roofs of Ponyville. Diamond Tiara, in her arrogance, stuck her nose up in order to drown all the sights and smells out. She instead walked her way up stubbornly to the gate and opened it. The stallion behind her gave a sigh of relief when he saw they were nearing their destination. They walked past the large red barn and further towards the house that lay beyond it. They passed various animal coops, small crops and a variety of tools and other paraphernalia that Diamond didn’t care to bother make out. The pink filly gave one last glance around the farm before scoffing and trotting straight up to the door, waving her helper up with an impatient snort. “Come on, we don’t want to be late!” The stallion sighed and looked down at the ground, stumbling up the hill with the heavy suitcases in tow. Without waiting to see if he was alright, Diamond Tiara turned and knocked on the door. The sound of scuffling was heard as an orange mare opened up the door. She had a seston hat over her head and patches of white freckles on each cheek. Upon looking down at the filly, she blinked rapidly and asked, “Uh… hey there Diamond Tiara, what bring ya out here?” The filly turned her nose up at the distinct southern accent and pushed past Applejack, stepping into the room and announcing, “I have arrived Apples! I trust you’re going to make my stay as comfortable as possible.” Apple Bloom, who was sitting on the couch staring at a book titled Fifty Shades of Hay that she had found at school in Cheerilies’s backroom. It was a rather intriguing read, although she didn’t understand half of what they were really doing. She perked her head up and cocked her head, “Wait wha’?” Diamond Tiara turned to Applejack with an uptight look. “So where will I be staying?” “Hold it!” Apple Bloom gasped, tossing the book aside and leaping from the couch, turning to face Diamond, “Who said you’d be stayin’ here?” Applejack had a bead of sweat on her forehead now. “Uhm, Diamond Tiara, not be rude or anythin’, but uh what do ya mean-” “She’s finally arrived!” An older green mare walked down the stairs, hobbling on her shaky front hooves. “What’s going on here?” Apple Bloom whipped around, facing Granny Smith with a rather ferocious stare. “Oh I thought it’d be best to keep it a surprise!” Granny chuckled and walked over into the foyer, sitting down on her customary rocking chair. “You decided to keep my arrival a surprise? You didn’t even prepare for me? Hmphp!” Diamond huffed a little ludicrously. “O’course I did! It made it all the more interestin’ when you did finally get here!” Granny smiled before leaning back in the chair. “Fetch me a glass of water, will ya’ Apple Bloom?” Applejack shook her head and put a hoof on her forehead. “I can’t handle this right now. I’ll just go make the guest room.” “You mean you really didn’t have the room prepared for me yet?!” Diamond suddenly shot up, bumping into the stallion behind her. The stallion gave a small cry as he toppled backwards, spilling the multiple suitcases behind him. They rolled down the hill and ran right into the chicken coop, which busted a hole in the side. The chickens ran around, scaring the pigs in the other pens. As the pigs began their crying and thrashing in the mud, Winona turned and began to chase after the foul while barking, adding to the cacophony of sounds. Finally, the chickens ran into the apple trees, sending a flurry of feathers into the skies. Apple Bloom let out a squeal. “Mah chickens!” She sprang towards the doorway and pushed Diamond out of the way, running over to the shed and grabbing a bucket. “Hey!” Diamond protested, falling down onto her rear end, “Someone shut all those animals up! They’re way too loud!” Granny gave a chuckle in the rocking chair, watching Apple Bloom chase the chickens around in a futile race alongside Winona to get them back into the coop. Applejack, who had just returned to the scene, turned to look at Granny with a look of half confusion and half disappointment. The elder burst into full on laughter, “What? That’s funny!” It was then they heard the sound of the entire chicken coop collapsing under the pressure of the suitcases. When they fell to the ground each container burst open do to their nearly overloaded capacity. They sent their contents spilling all over the farm. The remaining animals let out their cries as one chicken ran towards the house. The chicken knocked into the stallion’s head, sending him face first into a mud puddle. The hose nearby burst and showered him in water just to emphasize the point. It was at that moment that Big Mac decided to walk into the room. He stared at Diamond Tiara, then to the chickens, to the laughing Granny Smith, then looked at the commotion outside. “Eeyup.” He sighed, slowly backing up the stairs without even being noticed. ~ “There’s yer bed, yer dresser, and pretty much everythin’ else you’re gonna need!” Granny smiled cheerfully, sitting outside the room that Diamond Tiara now stood in. With a critical eye, the filly looked over the walls. The green painting was tacky, and that bed had to be dangerous to sleep on by this point. The entire place smelled like a mixture of apple fragrance and farm smell, which she was sure by this point she despised. “Well, I suppose it’ll do.” She looked at the massive pile of stained suitcases that she’d managed to recover from the fiasco. “Ya’ sure you got… everythin’ ya need?” Applejack poked her head in, raising an eyebrow at the outrageous amount of suitcases. She muttered, “You and Rarity should go on a trip together.” “Other than the suitcase that contained my most valuable dress!” Diamond Tiara whipped around, frowning. “That stallion couldn’t at least get that one out of the mud?!” Grannie looked to her granddaughter and she gave a low chuckle. Applejack did likewise, smiling a bit. “What’s so funny?!” She made a mixture between a pout and frown. The two began to laugh harder, which annoyed Diamond. She growled. “What’s so funny?!” “Fer starters, yer face!” Grannie giggled, “It looks like ya just ate a lemon!” Diamond turned around to stare at the mirror, blushing instantly. She rolled her eyes to try and pass it off as a joke, then corrected it into a scowl. “Plus, that suitcase wasn’t in the mud at all,” Applejack pointed a hoof at the window, “Take a gander.” The window gave her a full view of the front of the Apple Farm, facing roughly eastward. She poked her head out and looked over towards the chicken coop, now complete reduced to little more than a few makeshift boards slapped haphazardly to make walls. Just outside the ruins of the chicken coop, she saw that her suitcase was opened up. A lone chicken has curled it into a ball and was sitting inside on top of the dress. She watched in horror as suddenly the chicken gave a squawk and laid an egg right on top of the priceless fabric. “MY DRESS!!” She yelled, loud enough that Applejack had to cover her ears. The pink filly whipped around and she spat, “Why is there a chicken laying eggs in my dress?!” “Cause you left it out there.” Apple Bloom suddenly trotted in, a small smile on her face. She chuckled. “You learn pretty quickly that if you leave anything by the chickens, they’ll nest in it.” Diamond’s face went completely red. She looked around in anger, trying to place the source of her frustration. She gave up with a huff and flopped on top of the bed, groaning. Granny turned to Applejack and she spoke slowly, “I think we should leave her alone for right now…” Diamond only gave a small muttered curse into the pillows. Despite the profanity, Granny slowly inched both Apple Bloom and Applejack away from the room. She whispered quietly as they were about to shut the door, “Welcome to the family Tiara.” Diamond only gave a tiny groan and flopped so she lay on her back, looking up at the ceiling. The sound of the door closing resonated in her mind. How’d she end up out here? Why was she laying in a bed that obviously wasn’t even velvet? Why were there chickens nesting in her dresses? Why did her daddy do this to her? “Daddy… please come back soon…” Diamond looked at the pillows and sighed, laying her head against them. “Don’t leave me here daddy… I miss you…”