//------------------------------// // Act 1 // Story: Princess Diamond Tiara // by ABagOVicodin //------------------------------// Diamond Tiara wasn’t sure if she was in heaven, but this definitely felt close. She outstretched a hoof and it was softly taken within another pair of hooves. She felt the pair of hooves slowly circle around her own, kneading the flesh and massaging away Diamond’s stress. She had needed a massage for a while now, considering she had gotten 36 presents for today instead of last year’s 37. The tantrum that ensued had worn her out, so now it was nice to relax. Diamond opened an eye to see Twilight sitting up while her masseuse worked on her legs, writing upon a scroll. Diamond’s eye twitched. Twilight would dare waste part of a massage instead of enjoying it like a normal pony? “And she calls herself a princess.” Diamond sighed in relaxation, a little louder than was needed to get Twilight’s attention. “Something the matter, Diamond Tiara?” Twilight asked as she smiled lightly, looking over at her. “Do you not like massages?” Diamond asked as she rolled onto her side and pointed her other hoof out, which her masseuse began to work. Twilight blinked, before she giggled and shook her head. Diamond noticed that Twilight enjoyed laying down a little more than usual. Along with that, there were large bags underneath her eyes. Perhaps it was good that Twilight was getting a makeover. Going to an announcement looking like she currently did? Talk about a faux paus. “No, I just have a lot that I need to write down. I kind of saved all the planning for the Grand Equestria Pony Summit for now. I have all the guests coming, I just have to prepare the room.” Twilight blushed a little bit in embarrassment. “Not exactly the way a Princess acts, huh?” Diamond Tiara scoffed. “As if! You could probably show the workers a scribble on a piece of paper and they would listen to you. That’s one of the great things about being a Princess.” Diamond closed her eyes and laid her head down, letting the masseuse continue her job while Twilight replied, seeming perturbed. “Um… not exactly.” Twilight continued to write in her scroll as she spoke. “Princess Celestia gave me the honor of helping prepare this Summit, and I want to make sure that I get it right the first time.” Diamond opened one eye as Twilight yawned and messed up one of the words that she wrote. She scribbled over the word and continued. “Are you tired, Twilight?” Diamond asked as she closed the eye. Twilight paused, before she sighed and nodded. “Yes, a little bit. Some of the guests wanted to meet with me early in the morning so that they could prepare for the Summit, so I had to get up early to come to Canterlot.” Twilight yawned again. “But it’s fine. All we have to do is get our makeovers and outfits and I can take a small nap before the Summit starts.” Diamond Tiara sat up, interrupting the masseuse as she gasped. “Are we going to get new outfits in Canterlot!” she asked. Twilight blinked. “Um… yes?” Diamond grinned from ear to ear as she stood up on the massage table, but upon realizing that she was with a Princess, she coughed on her hoof and stuck it out for the masseuse to massage again. “Of course we are. What doesn’t say ‘Canterlot’ more than a new outfit for this Summit?” “Actually, I was just planning on making some alterations to my Gala dress and wearing that to the Summit. I don’t want to get a whole new outfit just for one event.” Once again, Diamond gasped. “Are you kidding? That’s the entire purpose of an outfit!” Diamond said as she jumped back up, scaring the masseuse as they pulled back. She stood on the bed and pointed at Twilight. “We don’t even wear clothes outside of parties and events and you want to reuse a dress? Not while I’m your assistant!” Diamond hopped off of the bed and pulled Twilight off of hers, leading the both of them to the exit. “Come on, we are going to need some extra time if we want to rock that Summit! This is our time to shine just as much as theirs!” Twilight levitated her things along with her as the two ponies headed towards the Canterlot Salon. “But, this isn’t about us,” Twilight mumbled. ~~~ “I don’t know, doesn’t this feel a little too… shiny?” Twilight turned to face Diamond, dressed from head to toe in a dress that seemed to have more gems than actual fabric. She looked like a geode that had been cracked open, and Diamond Tiara held a hoof over her eyes, blocking out the shining rays of purple light. “It’s… perfect!” she said. “Are you sure? Twilight asked as she turned to the salespony, who straightened his tie and cleared his throat. “How much for this dress?” “1,200 bits, Princess,” the pony replied, in a stereotypical Prench accent. “But now that I think about it, if the Princess is wearing it, then perhaps I can foot the bill just this once.” Twilight’s eyes widened, and she immediately started to undress. “Absolutely not,” Twilight replied as she levitated the dress over to one of the racks. “Aww, why not?” Diamond asked as she posed in front of a mirror, clad in a white and light purple dress that matched her tail. Diamonds and amethysts accentuated her collar, and she leaned her head back to let the gems reflect light right into the salespony’s eyes. He shielded his eyes and walked backwards, only to trip over a coat rack and fall within the confines of one of the clearance racks. “The best outfits are always the ones that cause harm. Emotional or otherwise,” Diamond added with a smirk as she straightened her head. “I am not going to take a 1,200 bit dress for free,” Twilight replied simply as she levitated her saddlebag onto her back. “Do you have anything a little more… subtle?” Diamond Tiara rolled her eyes as the salespony came out of the clearance rack. “Of course, Princess,” he replied as he directed Twilight to the clearance rack behind her. “What a waste,” Diamond Tiara said as she grabbed a nearby brush and brushed her mane back, looking like the royalty that Twilight was clearly lacking. “It’s not an outfit if everypony doesn’t wish they were you.” After a few minutes of admiring herself in the mirror, Diamond turned around to see Twilight staring down at her, wearing absolutely nothing. “Diamond, let’s go. I don’t think I need a new outfit for this Summit.” “Suit yourself. How much for this outfit?” Diamond asked the salespony. She flashed the brightest smile that she could, almost giving the amethyst dress a run for its money. “600 bits,” the salespony asked with a straight face, not missing a beat. Diamond Tiara giggled before she jerked her head in Twilight’s direction. “No seriously, how much?” The salespony looked to Twilight, then back to Diamond. “599 bits.” Diamond gasped. “But, you were going to give her a 1,200 bit dress! I’m with her!” Twilight bit her lip and looked away, avoiding Diamond’s stare for help as the salespony shrugged. “You’re not a princess. She is.” Diamond’s blood boiled as she opened her mouth to say something, but Twilight looked back to her with a stern gaze, and she laughed nervously. “Fine. I didn’t want your dress anyway.” Diamond peeled off the dress, throwing it in the salespony’s face as she walked outside. “Thank you, come again,” Diamond heard the salespony say as she slammed the door behind her. Twilight teleported in front of her and began to walk with Diamond, adopting a stern voice. “Diamond, you are not acting on your best behavior, and you promised your father that you would,” Twilight said as she stumbled a bit, still trying to stay awake. Diamond sighed, thinking of her father and her promise. “You’re right. I just can’t believe that you get all these favors just because you are a princess, and you don’t take any of them. That’s like leaving free money on the table!” Diamond thought of the dress she left behind, and ran a hoof through her hair in frustration. “What kind of pony does that!” “Me, I guess?” Twilight walked ahead of Diamond as the two ponies started up a spiral staircase, leading to the room that Twilight was renting for the day. “Diamond, I have to admit, I’m not appreciating your behavior today. I thought that you would be excited about taking me to find a new outfit, but it seems like you just wanted to get one for yourself.” “Nuh uh!” Diamond shook her head and looked side to side as she tried to think of an answer. “I just… thought that you looked so… nice in that dress that you didn’t need my help.” Twilight smiled. “Really?” Diamond smiled as well, her cheeks hurting from how much she was faking it. “Yeaaaah,” she said. “You looked like… the shiniest diamond in the mine! I’d love to have you in my tiara.” Twilight’s face turned red and she continued on. “Thank you, Diamond Tiara. That was really nice of you.” Diamond Tiara pretended to gag as Twilight reached the top of the staircase and unlocked the door to her room, letting the door open. Diamond walked inside with Twilight, ignoring the boring egghead decorations as she sat down on a small cot near her bed, one that was probably put together at the last minute. Twilight laid down on her bed, face down as she sighed. “Diamond Tiara, I’m going to try and take a small nap before I help prepare for the Summit.” Twilight sat up, staring at Diamond with a serious expression. “Since we skipped the makeovers and half of the massage, I have some extra time. Can I trust you to behave while I sleep?” Diamond sighed. “Yes, Princess Twilight,” she said as she laid back against her pillow. “I’m not a filly anymore, Twilight. I’m a young mare, and I’d like to be treated as such.” Diamond heard Twilight murmur something, and Diamond had a feeling she knew what it was, but she didn’t say anything else about it. Twilight laid her head back down. “I’ll just nap for a little—” Twilight was out like a light. Diamond Tiara smirked as she slowly snuck out of her cot and walked over to the door. She opened it slowly and snuck out, closing it behind her. She snickered evilly, but a pony behind her spoke. “Excuse me, can I speak with Princess Twilight?” Diamond Tiara turned around. The griffin in front of her was wearing what looked to be a chef’s outfit, complete with the gigantic mushroom shaped hat and apron. His fur was a dark and light gray, accentuated with a red bandana and yellow talons. Diamond immediately knew who he was. “Gustave le Grand, it’s been a while,” Diamond said as she crossed her forelegs, leaning against the door. Gustave met Diamond’s eyes and he flinched. “Oh, it’s you. What are you doing here?” Gustave asked with mild annoyance. “Now, is that any way to talk to Princess Twilight’s assistant?” Diamond asked, feigning surprise. “Don’t tell me you’re still mad about last time?” Gustave’s eyes widened and he laughed nervously. “Princess Twilight’s assistant, eh?” he asked as he pulled at his bandana, a nervous habit. “My apologies, Miss Tiara, but can I please speak with Princess Twilight? It’s urgent.” “I didn’t think that would work. Perhaps I should milk it a little more?” “If it’s regarding the Summit, then I can help you.” Diamond looked at her hoof. “Since I’m Twilight’s assistant, I know practically everything there is to know about it. You wouldn’t want to wake up Princess Twilight for something as simple as this, would you?” “I wouldn’t call this simple,” Gustave replied as he stepped towards the door. “I need to know which food would be best served for the Summit. I’ve had all sorts of hays fermenting and waiting to be made into hors d'oeuvres, but I don’t know what would be best!” “Oh for the love of,” Diamond Tiara rolled her eyes. “And you call yourself a chef?” She leaned off of the door and pointed in the direction of the Summit. “You want to bother Princess Twilight with your inability to make simple decisions? Why did she even hire you if you can’t figure that out?” Diamond asked. Gustave looked away. “Well… a chef usually makes what he is told to make,” he replied. “Well fine, then make a cracker platter, some crostini, and small sandwiches.” Diamond’s mouth watered at the idea of shoving all those high quality snacks into her mouth. She gulped and cleared her throat. “Princess Twilight deems it so.” Gustave raised an eyebrow. “Are you sure that’s what she wanted?” Diamond Tiara frowned. “Are you sure that you should be asking any more questions? You got your order, step on it!” Diamond yelled. “Or I’ll tell Princess Twilight that you’re wasting time! Good luck trying to get work from the Princesses again if you think I’m joking!” Gustave whimpered and spread his wings. “Y… yes Diamond Tiara! I’ll get the hors d'oeuvres ready right now!” Gustave flew off of the staircase and back towards the Summit, flapping like a chicken with its head cut off. Diamond Tiara snickered as she looked back towards the door, and then began to descend the staircase back towards Canterlot. “That felt good. Just like back at home, everyone listens to you if you are the Princess.” Diamond clicked her forehooves together as she smiled innocently. “Hmm, I wonder who else needs my help?”