The next day, Miss Cheerilee stands in front of her students. She sits behind her desk in silence. There is no hiding it. Something is definitely wrong. The students pick up on her unhappy mood almost immediately. Usually she'd prance inside the classroom eager to help her students learn. Not today. She walks to her desk without even greeting them.
“Aren’t you going to take attendance?” Sweetie Belle asks staring at the blank chalk board.
“No, Sweetie Belle. We won’t be having class today.” Cheerilee says holding back her tears. She needs to stay strong in front of her students. Controlling her emotions would be the adult thing to do in this situation, but it's not always easy being a grown up. Even at her lowest point she must always set a good example. Even when the pressure is eating her alive.
“Awesome!” Scootaloo says flying a few feet off the ground. Her tiny wings could only keep her up for about ten seconds. She looks at her undeveloped wings and sighs.
“What’s going on?” Apple Bloom asks.
“I’m not sure you are all old enough to understand, but as a teacher I need to let you know the truth. There’s no easy way to say this, but I thought it would be best if we could all get through this together. I’m afraid I have some very bad news. One of your classmates has fallen down the stairs in a horrible accident.” Miss Cheerilee pauses. Silver Spoon turns to the empty seat beside her.
“Diamond Tiara!” Silver Spoon gasps frantically searching around the room. She hopes that she just went to the bathroom or to go sharpen her pencil, but that doesn't seem to be the case.
“We’ll make her some get well cards. She’ll be so surprised when she comes back.” Sweetie Belle says opening her crayon box with her magic.
“I’m afraid Diamond Tiara won’t be coming back. She was taken to the hospital, but it was too late.” Miss Cheerilee says. Sweetie Belle drops the crayon box. All of the crayons roll across the floor.
“What?” Scootaloo whispers sinking down into her seat. 'How could this happen' She thinks to herself. Just yesterday she was enjoying herself at the playground and now she's never going to go to recess again.
“No… She can’t be dead. She just can’t.” Silver Spoon cries. Cheerilee somberly lays the crown down on her desk. Everypony stops what they are doing and watches Cheerilee speak.
“This ain’t fair. We were just startin’ to get to know more about her.” Apple Bloom sniffles wiping her eye with her hoof.
“In this tough time we should come together as a class and remember the good times we’ve had together. It’s always heartbreaking when somepony so young passes away. We will always miss having Diamond Tiara around, but if she were here she wouldn’t want us to be sad.” Miss Cheerilee says trying to stay professional. She stares at the sad faces around the room. She dismisses the class and looks through all of Diamond Tiara’s old projects. Her show and tell project about her father was always Cheerilee’s favorite. She thinks about how lonely Filthy Rich and Spoiled Rich must be in that enormous mansion.
Later that day, many ponies attend the wake. The church is full of colorful flowers. The sound of ponies crying drowns out the sound of the rain pouring outside. Every pony lines up to see the casket. The casket is kept closed because of how badly mangled her body is. Finally, it is Sweetie Belle’s turn. She is wearing a black dress Rarity made for her at the very last minute.
“I’d give my new cutie mark away forever just so you can be alive.” Sweetie Belle weeps. Sweetie Belle gives her condolence to Filthy Rich. He believes that if he’d have been home, Diamond Tiara would still be alive. He spent so much time working that he hardly got to see the poor little filly. If he’d have known the last time he’d ever get to see her was when he dropped her off at school yesterday morning, he would have said a lot more than ‘I love you. Have fun at school.’ She’d probably say something along the lines of ‘Daddy, you’re embarrassing me.’ He wouldn’t mind. He would just laugh. He doubts that he’ll ever laugh again now that his little diamond isn’t shining into his life.
Sweetie Belle stops in her tracks when she sees Spoiled Rich. Rarity stands behind her curious as to why she is holding up the line.
“Darling, you need to give your condolence to her mother too.” Rarity says somewhat impatiently.
“She scares me. She gets angry and yells a lot.” Sweetie Belle whispers.
“Don’t worry, dear. We’ll go together.” Rarity says nudging her forward. Spoiled Rich is actually feeling somewhat guilty for what she’s done. As each person passes she wonders if they can see right through her. The fake crying seems to be working. Real tears would make her make up run all over the place. She’s never seen Filthy Rich so upset before. Even when she used all the money on his credit card he wasn’t this bothered. He hasn’t spoken since he heard the news. Pipsqueak approaches her. She recognizes him from when he asked for money at the school board meeting. He was the little runt who beat her daughter at the election.
“I’m really sorry about what happened.” Pipsqueak says politely. Spoiled Rich turns her nose in the air. She didn’t need pity from a little termite like him. He awkwardly goes back to his seat.
“I see your point. That was quite rude.” Rarity whispers to Sweetie Belle.
“Maybe she’s just sad.” Sweetie Belle says trying to see the good in everypony. Sweetie Belle let Rarity do most of the talking when they spoke to Spoiled Rich. Rarity tries to stay on her good side by complimenting her outfit.
"Not everypony could be as caring as you are, Sweetie Belle." Rarity says.
Rarity and Sweetie Belle eavesdrop for a little longer. She hears Spoiled Rich talking to her husband about filing a lawsuit on the ponies who built the stairs. She tells him that she always thought those stairs were unsafe. She didn't seem outwardly sympathetic that he lost his pride and joy.
Apple Bloom is next. Her heart sinks when she sees the casket. “Ah don’t know if you could hear me, but if ya can, could ya say hi to mom and dad for me?” Apple Bloom asks saying a small prayer in her head.
“Ah’m sure she could hear ya loud and clear, Sugarcube.” Applejack says. Apple Bloom isn’t used to seeing her sister without her hat on. She even sleeps with it on sometimes. She even wore it a couple times at Cadence’s wedding, but she would never have the audacity to wear the hat at a wake.
Scootaloo reaches the front of the line. Her primary objective is to not cry in front of Rainbow Dash. She is afraid that Rainbow Dash won't think she's sShe is failing miserably. Especially after hearing Apple Bloom talking in front of the casket.
“I’m sorry I got mad at you and tried to run you over with my scooter… and…” Scootaloo pauses trying to come up with the right thing to say. She hides her face from Rainbow Dash. She doesn't want Rainbow Dash to think she's weak for crying over her fallen friend.
“Are you going to be okay, Scoots?” Rainbow Dash asks nudging her with her wing. Scootaloo loses the last shred of her composure and throws herself on the ground.
“No. I can’t take this anymore. I want to go home.” Scootaloo cries loudly.
“Oh, ok. I’m totally cool with that.” Rainbow Dash says remembering how she felt when she had to say goodbye to Tank for the winter. The only difference is that Tank came back in the spring.
“Before we go, can I ask you something?” Scootaloo sniffles.
“Sure. What is it, kid?” Rainbow Dash says.
“Do you think Diamond Tiara will go to heaven?” Scootaloo asks. Diamond Tiara did change her ways, but it was only for a day. She spent years and years being a bully, but if Scootaloo and her friends were willing to forgive her, so should whoever lets people into heaven.
“I’m sure she will.” Rainbow Dash says reassuringly, although even she isn’t certain what happens after death.
“So that would make her an angel, right?” Scootaloo asks.
“Yeah, I guess so.” Rainbow Dash says.
“Do you think if I die and I become an angel, I’ll be able to fly too?” Scootaloo asks.
“I don’t see why not, but hopefully we have a long time before we have to worry about that. I don’t really know the answers to all of these questions. You’re probably better off talking to Twilight about them.” Rainbow Dash says. She was never really the religious type of pony. She would never be able to sit through all of the masses.
Silver Spoon is the last pony in line. Her glasses are all fogged up from the tears drizzling down her face. “Remember the time we went for milkshakes and Pinkie Pie was throwing that huge party? That was the first time I heard you sing. You have a lovely voice. I bet you’re singing with the angels right now.” Silver Spoon says looking back at Scootaloo. She is on Rainbow Dash’s shoulders on her way out the door. By the end of the ceremony, there isn’t a dry eye in the funeral home.
That night when everypony is asleep, Apple Bloom goes off on her own into The Everfree Forest. She knows the forest like the back of her hoof. It always looks gloomy and scary when it’s raining at night. Lucky for her even the Timber Wolves are asleep.
“Zecora, are you awake?” Apple Bloom asks.
“What are you doing out in the dark? Oh, I see you have gotten your cutie mark.” Zecora yawns.
“That ain’t what Ah came here for. Ah just need somepony to talk to right now.” Apple Bloom says shaking the rain out of her coat.
“Isn’t it past your bed time? I’m so tired I can hardly rhyme.” Zecora says rubbing her tired eyes with her hoof.
“Ah can’t sleep. Mah friend just died and ah don’t understand why. Ah just want some answers.” Apple Bloom asks.
“If getting answers is what you seek, I have a spell that’s quite unique.” Zecora says.
“A spell? What kind of spell?” Apple Bloom asks.
“It is a spell to contact spirits of the dead. You can find the truth and what was left unsaid.” Zecora says letting her inside the tent. She starts tossing ingredients into her brew. Thick green smoke fills the room. “Now say the name of whom you wish to see. Then I will use my potion set her free.” Zecora says stirring the liquid in the pot.
“Diamond Tiara.” Apple Bloom says staring at the bubbling concoction in the pot.
“The spell I casted is not meant to last. So say what you must and say it fast.” Zecora says putting in the final ingredient. A blinding light shines into the tent. It is even brighter than Celestia’s glorious sunsets. Diamond Tiara appears in the tent. Her body is transparent and floating into the air.
"Apple Bloom? What’s happening? Who is this scary zebra? Why are you all wet?” Diamond Tiara asks.
“Ah had Zecora send you here because ah wanted to see you again.” Apple Bloom says.
“Apple Bloom you have to listen to me. My death was no accident. My mother threw me down the stairs and beat me to death. She was angry because she didn’t like my new friends.” Diamond Tiara says.
“This is all mah fault, ain’t it?” Apple Bloom asks being overwhelmed by her own guilt.
“No. Not at all. If it weren’t for you I would have never changed my ways. I would have been a lonely nasty pony with no friends for the rest of my life.” Diamond Tiara says.
“Ah can’t believe your mother would do somethin’ like that.” Apple Bloom says angrily.
“Neither will anypony else. Which is why I want you to give a message to my father.” Diamond Tiara says. Zecora gives Diamond Tiara a quill. She scribbles down words on the back of one of Zecora’s old recipes.
“We’re going to really miss you. It won’t be the same at school without you there.” Apple Bloom says.
“Don’t worry. I’ll always be watching over you. Oh, and by the way I did tell your parents you said hello. They were telling me how proud of you they were for getting your cutie mark and helping me turn a new leaf.” Diamond Tiara says. She looks down at herself. She is already fading away and five minutes hasn’t even gone by yet.
“Ah wish ya didn’t have to go. I finally got to understand you and now you're gone.” Apple Bloom sniffles hugging Diamond Tiara.
"I know, but you have to move on. Life is too short to get upset about things beyond your control." Diamond Tiara says.
"In a way Ah kinda wish you still a bully. It would be a lot easier to say goodbye that way." Apple Bloom says.
“Can I ask you to do one more thing?” Diamond Tiara asks.
“Ah’ll do anything.” Apple Bloom says.
“Tell everypony I’m in a better place, they don’t have to feel sad for me anymore, and I'm sorry for all the pain I might have caused them when I was dead or alive.” Diamond Tiara says.
“Ah’ll tell em’. Goodbye, Diamond Tiara.” Apple Bloom says trying to hug her but her front legs go through her see through body.
“Later, loser.” Diamond Tiara say giving a wink to make sure Apple Bloom knows she's joking. For the first time since she found out about her death, Apple Bloom smiles. It feels good to laugh after all of the sadness going on in Ponyville. On her way home, Apple Bloom tries to devise a plan to get the message to Filthy Rich without his wife finding out.