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// Story: A little loopy. 
// by FaelaArts 
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It all went perfectly to plan, almost too perfectly. Applebloom and Scootaloo agreed to blindly trust her as she managed to pull off the ‘Diamond Tiara teaches them about ritzy stuff, and Scootaloo learns about Cloud-boarding’ scenario. Too easily, they both gained their Marks, Diamond and Silver became their friends, and it was time for Sweetie to head home.

“See ya Scoots, bye Bloom.” Waving her two friends goodbye as she stood outside Diamond’s house, she watched them leave, and sighed. Diamond looked at this, and coughed, gaining Sweetie’s attention. Sitting down on the step, she motioned with her head to Silver, who stepped inside, and closed the door.

“So, why were you bored? Did you not like my games?” Watching Sweetie visibly cringe, Diamond knew she had hit the nail on the head. Watching Sweetie squirm slightly, there was a small moment when Diamond considered making a smart remark, and teasing Sweetie. Shaking her head, she discarded it quickly. When Sweetie didn’t answer, head bowed and mouth downturned, Diamond sighed.

“Too easy? Or was it not easy enough?” Raising an eyebrow, Diamond tried to pry the issue out. Rubbing the back of her neck, Sweetie glanced to Diamond, and looked away. Gazing upward, Diamond considered what words she could say to make Sweetie open up. There had to be something. Her father always said there were some.

“It scares me how close it mirrored the last time. It reminds me too much of how bad it got in there.” Sitting on her rump, Sweetie hugged her legs, and closed her eyes. Blinking, Diamond was confused as to what Sweetie meant by ‘last time’ but shook it off. Those were questions for another time.

“Jeez, that’s really rough. I can sympathise, my daddy likes to make me repeat every smart thing he says. ‘Repetition is the key to remembering,’ so he says.” Scowling, Diamond glared at the setting sun, before letting her expression relax. Glancing to Sweetie, she realised she now had Sweetie’s undivided attention.

“What do you do? How do you stop those feelings?” There was a hint of despair in Sweetie’s tone, and Diamond saw the hint of strong emotions threatening to break the dam, and scanned her memories. Biting her lip, she considered it seriously, frowning as she tried to pin down just why it didn’t bother her.

“I guess I just try not to think about it. I mean, if I let it get to me, I’d never be able to have any fun, as rare as that is.” Shrugging, Diamond didn’t think that was the whole truth, but it was the best she could come up with. Glancing to Sweetie, Diamond was pulled into a hug, and she blinked, eyes widening.

“...I can try. Maybe that’s the only way to handle some situations.” It didn’t sound very good for most problems, but ones that didn’t go away and didn’t cause any problems in the future? It might be best, at least in Sweetie’s view. As much as she wanted to let go of her past though, it continued to throb in the forefront of her mind.

“As much as I love hugs, could you let go of me?” After being released, Diamond stood, and gave Sweetie an encouraging smile, rubbing her leg as she looked away. This didn’t feel right, Sweetie should be confiding in her old friends, not her ex-enemy. Regardless, there wasn’t much Diamond could do about it, considering she had been the one to pry. So she tried to hide her grimace behind a smile.

“I’ll be going now, sorry for being such a bother.” Waving goodbye, Sweetie began to trot home, still preferring not to use magic unless necessary. Waving herself, Diamond waited until she was around the corner, and hugged herself.

“You weren’t a bother, no bother at all.” Smiling, she let her glee show, and shivered at both the cold and her emotions. Opening the door, she walked over to Silver, bringing her into a hug.

“Diamond? What’s wrong?” Concern painting her words, Silver was surprised as Diamond merely looked at her, and began to laugh.

“Nothing, nothing is wrong.” Once more bringing her friend into a hug, Diamond tried, and failed, to keep moisture from coming out her eyes.

“Everything is golden.”