//------------------------------//
// Ametrine  
// Story: Ultimate Selfishness 
// by Arcanum -Phantasy 
//------------------------------//

	Ametrine 


"Wow," Scootaloo said, slack-jawed after hearing Applebloom's retelling of last night's events. "I knew Diamond had problems, but man."
Sweetie Belle shivered.
"If I was having those kind of dreams every night, I'd probably throw myself off of a cliff too," Sweetie said sadly.
The three of them sat somberly under the shade of one of the playground's trees. It was a few minutes after Ms. Cheerily had let the foals under her care out for recess. It was a beautiful day that normally gave the CMC plenty of encouragement to do something that made most of the residents of Ponyville walk on eggshells. However, the trio had much more important matters to attend to.
"So, what do ya think we should do?" Applebloom asked.
"Aside from keeping an eye on her, I can't think of anything," Scootaloo sighed, scratching her head.
"I don't think this is something that can be taken care of overnight," Sweetie added.
"Ah know that much," Applebloom groaned, resting her head on the grass. "But Ah can't just leave her like this."
The three fillies sat there in silence, carefully thinking about what they should do next. After a few minutes, Applebloom broke the silence with a dejected sigh.
"For now, Ah guess all we can do is help her get back on her hooves and make sure she doesn't hurt herself."
Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo nodded in agreement.
"And if that don't work," She smirked, "We'll sick Pinkie Pie on her."
At that moment, the bell signaling the end of recess rang, summoning the foals back into their lessons. As the three fillies returned to the classroom, a grey earth pony stallion stepped out of the shadows. He watched the foals with a cold smile, like a cat closing in on a cornered mouse. A small rustling from inside one of his saddlebags drew his attention away form the school grounds. A soft chuckle escaped his muzzle.
You're restless. Don't worry my friend. A royal feast awaits you.  



*** 



Diamond Tiara laughed as Granny Smith told her about some of the crazy things that happened on the farm recently, most notably of how Spike tried to "help" Applejack after she saved him from a pack of Timber Wolves. The two of them spent the whole morning talking and enjoying some of Granny Smith's famous baked goods topped with freshly squeezed apple juice. Even though it wasn't anything special, talking with the elderly mare under the warm summer sun made her feel the best she had in days. She felt lighter, like a load of bricks was lifted off her back. Every so often, Applejack or Big Mac would take a break from applebucking to join in on the conversation. All the while, a feeling began to build up within her. One that was both alien and familier at the same time.
What is this? she thought, placing a hoof over her heart
"You okay little one?" Granny asked, pulling Diamond out of her revelry.
"Ah! Y-Yes Mrs. Smith," she squeaked, taking a sip of apple juice.
Granny Smith chuckled.
"No need ta' be so formal dearie. Jus' Granny's fine."
"O-Okey....."
Granny looked her over.
"If yah have anything you want to get off yer chest, everypony here is willing to listen."
Diamond thought for a minute, then with a sigh, she faced the elderly pony and started talking. She told her about the dreams she'd been having for the past few days. Then she talked about her thoughts leading up to her suicide attempt the day before, shocking herself by how ludicrous said thoughts were now that she was in a more stable mindset. As she talked, she could feel more and more of her pain start to fade away,only to be replaced with that pleasant feeling from before. All the while, Granny Smith sat and listened, not once interrupting or judging her. Eventually, Diamond came to the topic that filled her with something worse than the pain of loss; the agony of regret.
"I hate you. That was the last thing I said to him," Diamond said, eyes starting to tear-up. "Why did I have to say that? Why did we have to have a fight that day? Why........?"
Finally, Granny Smith spoke.
"It's not yer fault young'un. Anger makes us say things we don't mean."
"But," Diamond whimpered. "Daddy left thinking I hated him!"
At that, Granny Smith rose from her seat and hobbled over to the empty seat next to Diamond. With a warm smile, the elderly mare embraced the fragile filly.
"If time's ever taught me anythin'," she cooed. "It's that nopony really hates their kin. We may fight, swear, and even curse each other when our kettles start a boilin', but in the end we still love them."
She raised Diamond's face towards her own.
"And if I know yer pa like I think I do," she continued. "I know he loved ya with all his heart, all the way to the end."
With that, the two sat in silence, wrapped in the warmth of there embrace and warm summer sun.