Diamond had Anna at a very young age. At only 21, she brought Anna into the world. She was engaged to Hilgard when she was 19, and the both of them were already on their way to opening shop in Cloudsdale before their official marriage. When Diamond figured out she was pregnant, the two of them were soon married despite the once planned long engagement, and continued work as usual after the festivities. Of course Hilgard had to help his wife, and mother-to-be, but it didn’t seem to slow down progress at all. The business had just about opened when Anna was born, and at the same time, their large house in the highest level of Cloudsdale was finished (funded by BMC of course). She was born healthy during the winter, and there’s no word to describe the pride Diamond and Hilgard had for their little pegasus daughter. Hilgard went to lead the branch of BMC, while Diamond stayed home and took care of their daughter for the first few months of her life. They’d switch on and off while Anna was still small enough to constantly need their attention, but it was fact that Diamond would be a big part of the company when she wasn't so held up. Hilgard's handling of the comapany reinforced Copper's thoughts on him. He was a great business pony and was totally capable.
There was no doubt celebration and glee over the birth of Anna. A new little Belle that had a claim to the business. At that time, there was a good chance this newborn baby would soon become the next face of the Cloudsdale branch of the BMC, but that was a long time to come. Hilgard and Diamond didn't focus on that though, a forced destiny was what hold them both down in their own lives. They were going to love and show affection, and let Annabella Alexandra Bella be the mare she wanted to be. There was no doubt that, even as a newborn, she was very pretty. Her blonde mane, golden coat, and deep blue eyes, all suggested the inner beauty she was soon to have. For the moment though, to these two ponies, she was the cutest thing in Equestria.
Annabella
“She’s precious,” Hilgard said, laying on the king size bed after a hard days work.
“She’s ours,” Diamond replied.
He chuckled at his wife, kissing her on the lips as they looked down at their newborn foal. Only a week old today, and she was doing well. Little Annabella, the new addition to the Belle family, was laid down on her parents bed in nothing but a very small diaper. She just got done a feeding and burping, now relaxed, the newborn stayed just barely awake on the softness of the bed, and the side of her mother. Diamond caressed her little blonde pegasus, sometimes running her hoof through her golden curls that she found so beautiful. The mother looked back at her husband, the father of her baby. He had gone to work today at the family business. It really showed something that after so much work, he still tried his best to be in the happiest mood possible for the little family in front of Diamond.
“Do you think I’m doing everything right? I wouldn’t want to be doing anything bad for her, there’s so many things to remember. She’s been crying so much and I have to wonder if I’m not doing something right,” Diamond suddenly said, looking up at her husband.
“No, no Diamond. All newborns cry, sometimes for your attention. She just wants to see you or be held by you. That’s how it was with my siblings…” Hilgard said to reassure her.
“There seems to be a formula now; a few diaper changes, a feeding, a burping, and maybe some cuddling… and she is at least happy most of time until she wants one of those things again, as you said. But what about when she’s older, and it’s not so simple? Messing up won’t result in crying, in could result in hurting her for life!”
Hilgard gave his wife a funny look, but then chuckled. He wrapped a wing around her, and the baby. Being this close he gave Diamond another kiss “We’ll learn and grow with her, but as parents. I’m sure everything will be alright. She’ll be a very smart, healthy, confident little filly, and even better adult… I’m sure of it. Our little Annabella…”
That little newborn was me. Back when things were all about me. I was a spoiled diva of a toddler and a newborn, but it had little to do with what came of me when I grew. It's almost opposites. It really shows you how much things can change, how much the society and environment around you can shape how you truly are at the end of everything. The problem is there is no end, at least, not while your living. You will always grow and change, from being a baby to a foal, a foal to a adult, and from a adult into a elder. It's the circle of things, I just wish sometimes ponies didn't change, like my parents. Thinking back how to used to be, not just my parents... but with everything.
Anna was a hoofull. What would later become a very proper, polite, friendly, and reserved mare, was a little diva as a baby. She’d always have to get her way, or she’d throw a tantrum. Anything from foal food, to diapers, she had to have a specific one or there’d be a problem. This made both of her parents see Anna as a lot of work, and not the easiest baby to care for. At the end of the day, after all the fighting to make Anna happy, she somehow was still very sweet and affectionate. She loved to cuddle, and be with her parents all the time. Diamond found herself fighting with Anna a lot, where she was just a little angel for Hilgard. She was truly a daddy’s girl.
She wasn’t spoiled, but instead particular. Anna was a little princess to the Belle’s during her babyhood, and was always given lots of attention. Somehow though, when she reached a older age, this seemed to fade.
Anna’s foalhood
Anna’s life until she was 5 was a life of luxury. Everything was handed to her, her parents were both rich, and she had a powerful family name. Her home was on one of the highest clouds of Cloudsdale, a large mansion that was built just for her family. It had a room for everything, large hallways, and expensive decorations. In the center of it was a large portrait of her, her mother, and her father, painted by a professional artist that always fascinated Anna. Though the house was so massive, Anna found herself alone most of the time. She stayed with her parents as much as she could, but they were just always busy with the business.
Anna had many maids take care of her while her parents were busy; they were all part of the staff that her parents hired to care for the house. The only problem was that they always rotated, but with this, each maid would teach Anna a different skill. There were maids specifically assigned to Anna to homeschool her a basic education. After she was done her schooling sessions, she got to know all the maids like they were her friends. There weren’t many in reality, since only 3 ponies lived in the big home, and they could only make so much of a mess. Anna learned the names of each maid, and when one went onto other things, she got to know the new maid that would take the empty spot. There were at least 20 maids in the house.
When Anna was 6, her family went through a struggle that she’d never forget. Her parents became more distant and cold after her 6th birthday, and little Anna didn’t know why. She actually thought maybe it was her, but in reality, the company had found itself in financial trouble. She found her parents were harder at work, nearly never around. When Anna tried to go in their offices, she was usually shooed away. They did come together at dinner time, but even then, they talked more of the financial burdens and troubles. Everytime Anna tried to talk about something new and interesting for her as a 6 year old, her parents nodded their heads and said ‘that’s great honey’.
One night, while Anna laid in her big room, her parents fought downstairs while she cried. They yelled about something she didn’t understand, all she knew is that they fired half of the staff at the house. They were all friends with Anna, and while she tried to confront her parents about it, they were already in middle of a yelling match about the business. She pulled and pulled on Diamond’s leg for her attention, but instead got a slap and was told to go to her room. This infuriated Hilgard, who yelled at Diamond about what their family had come to when Anna had gone to bed, sobbing in her bedroom.
Annabella
I remember their faces, each one. They all had really pretty, warm smiles that shined when I did something nice, helpful, or when I just pleased them. It made me feel so good inside, but there was also an opposite scowl when I did something bad, that made me feel a deep guilt. Each one of them were special to me and taught me something, but they'd all eventually leave, but soon be replaced. A new face, a new personality, that I either liked or hated. I got to know every maid, old or new, and was okay with the cycle of things. This time though, it wasn't a cycle though, almost all the maids were thrown away... and this time there wasn't going to be a replacement. That’s at least how I saw it at the day and age, they took my best friends and threw them on the street. Neither of my parents would listen to me when I tried to just say something about it, or ask just to understand why. I know the cold truth now, and that was we couldn't afford it. At one time I thought we sat on mountains of money, but it seemed it was starting to slowly dwindle without me being aware of it.
I cried for atleast an hour before finally I fell asleep. Each maid I didn't see everyday, cooking me breakfast, or ironing my dad's suits, maybe even helping my mom organize her closet full of dresses, felt like a hole in my heart. It may seem a bit odd, but they were my only friends. I lost a lot of friends that night, and my world became a lot more empty.
Hilgard and Diamond came to a agreement over the company. The stress was obviously getting to Diamond's head, so much so that she would slap her 6 year old daughter the way she did. The whole incident was swept under a rug, and they turned over a new leaf. Diamond would stay home and care for Anna, and also help keep the mansion in order with how many less maids there were, while Hilgard took full control. He'd hire a few assistants to help him get the branch under control, all of who worked for the official Belle Mining Company in Canterlot. Diamond liked the idea, but decided to do some work at home. To keep the amount she had balanced, so that she could handle her new responsibilities as well, Diamond invited her sister Linear to Cloudsdale.
Linear was Diamond's older sister, who didn't get the honor of running the branch of the business Diamond did. She didn't want to because of her personality. She was rather shy, reserved, and was low in self confidence. Linear was always more of the egg head, who had the brains to run a business, but not the courage. The poor mare was also the middle child, and being a pegasus, but not fulfilling her dad's destiny, she was outcasted. That didn't stop her from living a very happy life though.
Linear moved to Manehattan, where she met a stallion who'd she fall in love with. Linear took up being a math teacher, and on a career day, a police officer (or a guard, as most ponies know them) appeared to show up to talk to the foals of her class. After leaving, Linear showed interest in him and he noticed. Being such a cute little mare, the stallion got in contact with her since they were close to the same age. His name was High Honor, who's name made it obvious he was a very moral, honorable, and respectful police officer. He knew that Linear was shy and reserved, and it just made him love her more and interested in her. Eventually the two of them opened up to each other, not much later they started dating. It was a great relationship that had a lot of potential, and did turn into something big. High Honor dated Linear for 3 years before proposing.
After getting married and having two foals, Scrawl and Summer, Linear's husband died from a accident. There was a robbery, and Honor was attacked when he was the first to show up on the scene. Since then, Linear kept herself even more reserved and introverted, only caring for her children. Diamond kept in contact with Linear, because they held a close bond even though they were so different. Linear lost her job, and Diamond was there to bring her in. She offered her a job managing the finances of the branch, and to also be Diamond's assistant with the work she planned to do at home. Linear agreed, and moved in with her two children. She had the name, and her skills with numbers would definitely prove to help. Of course Linear would have to learn the more financial aspects of things instead of just being good with numbers.
The house was surely big enough, but little Anna wasn't sure how she liked 2 other foals in the home. Summer was a baby at the time, only a toddler, where Scrawl was a year younger than Anna (Anna was 7 when Linear moved in). He was pretty hyper due to his ADHD, and would get on her nerves sometimes. Anna was very quiet and focused more on her talents than she was on making friends with her cousin, but Scrawl still looked up to Anna and followed her around. He and Summer would sleep in the room next to Anna, and between their crying or jumping around, she'd constantly not get any sleep. She missed her maids, they'd teach her things. Scrawl would constantly talk Anna's ear off or want to play with her, while Summer would constantly whine and cry. Summer also had a attitude for a 2 year old, which was even more irritating to Anna. While Anna wasn't very happy with Diamond's choice, atleast she was much happier and the house wasn't as quiet. She also found she liked Linear a lot, and that her aunt would be the reason why she got her cutie mark.