//------------------------------// // Chapter 10: The Reconciliation // Story: Tiara in the Rough // by Locomotion //------------------------------// It wasn't long before Stanley, Locomotion and the Crusaders reached the classroom in question. The red-furred unicorn was sorry to have to part with the Earth pony comedian so soon, but tried to remain positive all the same. “Deep joy and thankload for the guidey-hoover, Mr Unwinny,” he said. “I have much hopefold that we'll meet again, but farewellimost until that day comes abode.” “Cheerihocus, my childers, and good luck with Diamold Tiarsky,” replied Stanley as he turned and trotted back down the corridor. Sweetie-Belle peered doubtfully into the room. “Are you sure this is the right place?” she asked. “I can't see Diamond Tiara anywhere.” “This was where she was meant to be alright,” affirmed Locomotion. “He expressly told us 'lefty turmoil and p'topfa stairloders, then proceed along the hormone for abode fido dorms until, upon right rotatey, you reach the doorstab of Classrobe G-thrifty-fool' which, in Unwinese, means 'left turn, up the stairs, along the hallway, fifth door on your right – Classroom G53'. That's this very classroom right in front of us.” “Either that or your Unwinese dictionary is seriously out of date,” muttered Scootaloo. Locomotion snorted. “I don't need a dictionary! I can easily tell what he's saying, thank you so very much!” “Um...guys?” “Not just now, High Score. Now look, Scoot, I know Mr Unwinny's hard to read for some ponies, but that doesn't mean I've misinterpreted him, does it now? I mean, it could be that she's moved to a different room, or he might have been mistaken as to which way she went.” “Yeah, well, you're gonna have to keep guessing for the time being,” interrupted Babs. “Button says he needs the bathroom, so I'm just gonna go show him where it is. Be right back.” Lickety-Split sighed heavily as both Earth ponies headed back the way they came. “I don't know. Why couldn't he have gone when we were outside the cafeteria? That would have been a bit more convenient.” “Can't be helped,” said Tootsie Flute. “When you've got to go, you've got to go. Anyway, seeing as we're outside the classroom, why don't we just go in and look around?” “Ah...” Locomotion grinned awkwardly. “Wondered who would be the first to spot that one.” He tried the handle, wondering if it was locked; but he immediately got his answer when the door swung open with ease. Close to their target (they hoped), Silver Spoon, Lickety-Split and the remaining Crusaders filed into the classroom – but just as Locomotion was about to follow... “Hey, buster,” said a voice, “come over here a minute.” Locomotion looked over his shoulder to see a deep brown Earth pony colt standing nearby, trying to direct a controlling stare towards him. But the red-furred railway enthusiast refused to be cowed by his demeanour; “Not just now, guv'nor,” he replied bluntly, “I've got places I need to be.” “Yeah, and I've got a pony I need to go talk to. You seen a pink pony with a crown thingy for a Cutie Mark?” “Look, if you're so keen on finding this friend of yours, then why don't you go ask somepony else?” Locomotion wasn't normally so dismissive, even to strangers, but he had a nasty feeling about this one. Without a second thought, he marched into the classroom and began looking around, shutting the door behind him. “Any sign of her?” “See for yourself,” quipped Groovy Tango, cocking her head towards one of the desks near the front. Locomotion looked underneath the desk, and was so flabbergasted by what he saw that he began to think he might have gone crazy. It was Diamond Tiara alright, but not the one he was familiar with – far from the snobbish, rude, mean, inconsiderate, self-important filly he knew and loathed so bitterly, this Diamond Tiara was clearly nothing more than a scruffy, sobbing, shivering, timid, helpless, defenceless and thoroughly remorseful shadow of her old self. Her trademark tiara was missing from her head, her formerly well-brushed mane looked like it had been pulled and ruffled several times, and her eyes were so sore and swollen that it looked like she had been crying for hours. Most of the Crusaders were equally shocked when they saw the state Diamond Tiara was in. The Ponyville members had never seen her in such a tizzy before, and to see their expressions, it was as if they too thought they must be losing their minds. The Manehattan Crusaders, however, didn't know what to think – Babs hardly ever spoke of her, and so they weren't sure whether to feel relieved or startled. Silver Spoon cautiously approached, undeniably horrified that somepony had managed to strike such fear, such sorrow, such regret, such......sorrow into her one-time friend. “D...Diamond?” The pink-furred filly looked up, her eyes brimming once again. “Silver Spoon?” she asked in a weak, trepid sort of voice. “Is...is that you?” At last, Locomotion could no longer hold himself back. In the blink of an eye, he all but leaped across the room and grabbed her by the shoulders. “WHO ARE YOU?!? AND WHAT HAVE YOU DONE WITH DIAMOND TIARA?!?!” he screamed in a panicked tone. Had the pink filly been able, she would have curled into a ball; but Locomotion's grip on her withers prevented her from doing so. “But...I am Diamond Tiara!” she whimpered. “NO YOU'RE NOT!!” hollered Locomotion hysterically. “THIS IS NOT HOW THE REAL DIAMOND TIARA BEHAVES!!!” “LOCO, STOP IT!!” burst out Tootsie Flute sharply, yanking the red-furred colt away from the traumatised filly and forcefully turning him round to look at her. “Look, I know the last thing you were expecting was to see her all tearful and everything, but yelling in her face isn't going to get us anywhere! Can't you see the poor filly's scared to death?!” “What?! Diamond Tiara, scared to...how is that even flipping possible?!” blustered Locomotion, still noticeably freaked out. “I don't know – but I'm hoping we're going to find out. Now for ponies' sake, calm down and stop shouting!” Locomotion did as he was told; but so stunned were the other ponies that the room fell awkwardly silent as a result. It was Diamond Tiara herself who spoke first; “What are you guys doing here?” “We could ask you the same thing, Diamond,” commented Dinky. “Why are you hiding away under a desk in some random classroom? Shouldn't you be out and about?” “Yeah, Diamond, why aren't you out picking on other ponies like you should be?” added Tornado Bolt, rather unkindly. Silver Spoon shot an angry look at the purple-maned Pegasus; but before she could reply, she was interrupted by a distraught sob as Diamond Tiara began to cry again. “I'm sorry, everypony!” she wailed out loud. “I'm really, really sorry! You were right all along! You and so many other ponies back home could have been friends with me, and all I've ever done is mess them about because I think I'm better! But I'm not – I'm nothing but a worthless bully! None of you deserve me as a so-called friend!” and she buried her face in her hooves, too distressed to carry on. This filled the other fillies and colts with a deep sorrow like they had never previously felt towards her, and Silver Spoon in particular was so dismayed by Diamond Tiara's diminished self-esteem that it made her heart bleed. Choking back a sob of her own, she wordlessly leaned forward and rested both her front hooves on the pink filly's shoulders, mentally bracing herself for another sucker-punch should she not want her personal space invaded. But this time, Diamond Tiara didn't react anywhere near as violently as the last time they had spoken. The moment she felt Silver Spoon's gentle hooves against her withers, she turned and flung her arms around her barrel, her body convulsing as she buried her face in the grey filly's chest and cried her eyes out. The rest of the group looked on sympathetically, and even Locomotion couldn't help shedding a small tear as he watched the heart-wrenching scene play out in front of him. After what felt like ages, the sobbing ebbed away into tiny sniffles, and Diamond Tiara slowly pulled back for air, gazing remorsefully into Silver Spoon's eyes. “Silver Spoon...I don't get it,” she faltered. “Why are you here? After how I treated you when...when I found out...” Silver Spoon smiled emotionally, running a hoof along the pink filly's back in an attempt to soothe her. “I could never get over you, Diamond,” she whispered. “You had meant so much to me since we first met, and I didn't want our friendship to end. I don't even care that you punched me in the face – I know it might feel a bit awkward, but all I ever want is for us to get back together again.” “Why?” objected Diamond Tiara pathetically. “I've been nothing but cruel all my life. I don't deserve any friends.” “Not even after showing us remorse?” Silver Spoon's smile faded slightly, but still showed deep concern for the filly of her affections. Diamond Tiara morosely shook her head in response. “None of what I said and did to you or the Cutie Mark Crusaders was justified. You all have every right to hate me...maybe even beat me up on the spot.” She stared down at the floor, her eyes beginning to water again. This wasn't what Silver Spoon wanted to hear. Assuming a commanding demeanour for once, she forcefully lifted the upset filly's face to meet her gaze. “Diamond Tiara, I'm not letting you put yourself down like this!” she said sternly. “I may not exactly have been 'popular' with Loco and the Crusaders, but after I made an effort to apologise and attone for everything I'd done to them in the past, they forgave me and became my new friends. They were willing to give me a chance to show I could be nice to them, and it'll probably be the same with you – you've just got to show them care and respect. That's what real friendship is all about.” She turned to the other fillies and colts, including Babs and Button Mash who had just returned from the latter's toilet break; “Right, guys?” A series of nods greeted this, and Apple Bloom stepped up to her former nemesis. “Ah got somethin' to tell ya, Diamond – y'all 'ave been nothin' short of a conceited pain in the neck, paricularly with me an' Sweetie-Belle an' Scoot, an' it's a wonder this din' happen sooner! Ah probably needn't tell ya how much we loathe an' despise y'all; Ah, for one, would be mo' than happy ta beat y'all to a jelly fo' all the hurtful things you've done an' said – an' ya know what...” Diamond Tiara hung her head with guilt, silently accepting her fate. “...that ain't gonna happen.” This took Diamond Tiara quite aback, to say the least. Had Apple Bloom really just let her off the hook? “We all know what you've been goin' through,” put in Babs. “Snowflake 'n' my sis have seen first-hoof what the students in this place are like, so you have my sympathy.” “Mine too,” agreed Snowflake. “I know it's probably a bit early for us to forgive you,” added Sweetie-Belle kindly, “but we'll be happy to give you a chance to redeem yourself.” “You might have been a right thorn in our sides, particularly after getting your Cutie Mark,” finished Locomotion grudgingly, “but I suppose every rose has its thorn.” Diamond Tiara was deeply touched by their meaningful words. They may not have fully accepted this change in her personality, but as she gazed at each and every one of the Crusaders and their friends, she could detect the faintest hint of compassion in their expressions. With a half-stifled sob, she smiled warmly at them. “Thank you, everypony,” she stammered. “I...I don't know how you could find it in your hearts to allow me this chance, but thank you.” “That's alright,” replied Silver Spoon with a small smile of her own. “Now what say we get you out of this place? We can take you to see the Statue of Liberty, if you like.” “What about Bridleway?” squeaked Sweetie-Belle excitedly. “There might be some really cool musical up there!” “No, no, no,” retorted Perry, “the Hooflyn Bridge is where we want to go. You get a great view of Manehattan from there.” “Darn right!” agreed Groovy Tango. Scootaloo snorted dismissively. “Don't count on it! The Empire State Building gives a far better view than that great chunk of...” “Now hold on just a minute, everypony,” interrupted Locomotion, “what in the hay are we arguing about here? You promised me a visit to the National Railway Museum first – surely that's where we should be going right now. And don't you start getting any cheeky ideas, Apple Bloom,” he added sternly, shooting a deadpan glance towards the yellow farm filly. “You expressly told me that I'd be able to go there and see 'Princess Twilight Sparkle' if I agreed to come as a moderator.” Apple Bloom chuckled. “Ah never said Ah didn't.” “Princess Twilight's here?!” Diamond Tiara perked up. “What's she doing in a railway museum? Doesn't she have royal duties to be dealing with?” “No, silly!” laughed Lickety-Split. “Loco's talking about a new class of engine that recently came into service. That's why he tagged along – one of them is on display here in Manehattan, and he's anxious to go see her.” “You don't mind, do you?” asked Dinky tentatively. “We know you're not very much into trains, but we did promise.” Diamond Tiara smiled ruefully. “No, I'm okay with that,” she conceded. “Anything's better than being stuck in a classroom and hiding away from all those other students.” “Good, then let's...” but Babs never finished. Just as she turned to open the door, they were startled by loud shouts from the other side. Looking into the hallway, the brown filly was shocked and baffled to see a mob of militant ponies gathered outside. “What in the hay's goin' on?!” Diamond Tiara stood up and gazed out of the window, only to recoil in alarm. “Oh no!” she cried. “It's them!” “Them?” “Nick Shilling and his gang! They've come to get me!” Snowflake's eyes widened. “The same Nick Shilling who bullied me back when I was studying here?!” “I wouldn't know,” whimpered Diamond Tiara, “but I don't want to find out either.” “But...I don't understand!” protested Locomotion, confused. “How did they know where you were?!” That was when Button Mash realised something so grim that he began to cringe with dread. “Gulp,” he muttered nervously. “Severe gulp!” “What's wrong, High Score?” asked Scootaloo, perplexed. “You know when I went to take that bathroom break?” The other fillies and colts nodded. Button Mash took a deep breath and let it all out in one go; “When I got went inside, there was this brown pony with a weird symbol on his flanks who asked me if I knew a pink filly with a tiara for a Cutie Mark 'cause he wanted go talk to her about something, and I said I did, so he asked me where I could find her, and I said she was probably here in Classroom G53, and then he just chuckled and walked off, and...THAT'S THE SAME COLT!!” “YOU DID WHAT?!” shrieked Silver Spoon in horror. “I CONFESS! I'M GUILTY!!” Slowly, almost intimidatingly, Locomotion turned around and directed a penetrating death-glare towards Button Mash, who froze over in terror as he prepared for the worst. But instead of the furious thumping he was expecting, the irate unicorn uttered three sullen, angry words laced with venom; “You stupid colt!” “Nice going, High Score!” snapped Rumble. “Now what are we gonna do?!” Groovy Tango began to panic. “I'm getting out of here! Where's the fire escape?!” “There isn't one,” replied Snowflake tersely. “We're gonna have to try and bluff our way out.” “Yes, but how?!” wailed Annette. The seventeen ponies dithered, trying their hardest to formulate a hasty plan. Then Locomotion suddenly remembered; “Babs, you know what you said about the really posh ones? How they thought of us country ponies as idiotic rednecks?” “Uh...yeah?” affirmed Babs. “Where are you going with this?” “I think I might be able to play them at their own game,” answered Locomotion. “It's crazy, but it might yet work.” “How are you gonna do that?” Locomotion smirked boldly as he marched towards the door. “By doing what I do best,” he stated grimly.