//------------------------------// // Contact // Story: Mission Impossible: Diamond Dancer's Dilema // by RarityEQM //------------------------------// Sweetie Belle gave a gentle sigh, imagining a sweet summer breeze that would gently ripple past. It would be a warm sunny summer afternoon. The sort of comforting summer afternoon where fillyhood memories were etched out and to be cherished forever in time. The kind that lazy, gentle summer's afternoon that - "Snails I swear if you don't hurry up with that pool I'm going to make you eat your own tail!!" - didn't resemble this one at all. She sighed again casting a wary glance across the playground. There, Diamond Tiara helped 'supervise' Snips and Snails who were disastrously trying to inflate a filly pool at the bottom of the slide. Next to her, laying out on her back and drinking a lemonade was Silver Spoon, who lazily watched the antics of Diamond Tiara's minions. Diamond Tiara had an amusing (but insane) idea to turn the playground into some sort of water park. If Sweetie had to guess, she imagined Diamond Tiara had asked to go one, got turned down and decided she'd build her own; Which consisted of dragging in an inflatable swimming pool and stuffing it under the slide. "Ok, Snips the wrap the hose around the ladder, so it goes down the slide and into the- ...the pool is upside down you guys." Diamond Tiara sighed quietly glancing at Silver spoon for ideas. "Good help is so hard to find these days. " Silver murmured taking a sip of her lemonade as the two boys tried to 'fix' the pool. Snips was trying to turn it over while Snails tried to turn it the other way. Deflating it crossed neither of their minds. In the process the pool somehow trapped Snips underneath it with the hose wrapped around Snails like a rope. Not to far from them, Apple Bloom and Scootaloo were idly spinning about the merry-go-round complaining about summer boredom. Not content with spinning in circles, Sweetie had set herself up on the swingset, rocking back and forth in the lazy afternoon. She originally had been bored too, but not now. Now she was fixated on the new filly that was slowly wandering over to them from across the playground. She was small and thin, with strange blotches all over her body. Frankly, she looked sick, but if she was out and about instead of being home in bed, Sweetie figured she couldn't be. She looked as if she were trying to edge closer, but at the same time keep herself as far away as possible. She edged herself around a tree and peered past it at the playground. Sweetie offered a smile and a little wave of her hoof, but the instant they made eye contact, the mystery filly ducked back behind the tree. Weird. Well, it would be weird if Sweetie didn't live in Ponyville, where monster attacks and magic incidents were the norm. A shy filly hiding behind a tree wasn't particularly interesting, but the fact that'd she'd never seen the girl before caught Sweetie's attention. She knew most of the colts and fillies around town, and this one was definitely new. "Hey, you guys...?" she chirped quietly... *<>*<>*<>*<>*<>*<>*<>*<>*<>*<>*<>*<>* Diamond Dancer quietly peered out at the playground from behind the tree. This was simple. This was incredibly simple. All she had to do, was walk up to them, and start talking. That's it. Just tell one of her stories. How about the time she met the Wonderbolts? Yeah everypony liked the Wonderbolts! Just talk about how cool Fleet Foot is, and you're set. This was easy! Deep breaths. You got this. You're totally- "HI!" barked a cheerful voice behind Diamond Dancer, which sent her rocketing into the air. That was twice somepony had managed to sneak up on her in one day! Slowly, Diamond twisted around to eye the culprit who had managed surprise her. She was about Diamond Dancer's size with bright white fur and a mane full of pink and purple curls. She looked non-threatening enough and she was offering a brilliant smile that put Diamond slightly at ease. See?! She's not making fun of you! You got this! "Uh...Hi," Diamond Dancer mumbled sheepishly, glancing down at her hooves shyly. Did making friends always feel this awkward? How did ponies do this? What was she supposed to say? What did normal fillies talk about? Before she could dwell on the moment any longer, however, Sweetie took the reigns on the conversation. "I'm Sweetie Belle! Are you new in town? I've never seen you around here before!" She announced with that same bright smile she had before. Diamond Dancer bit her lower lip. She'd been in town for almost a year since she made the trek to Ponyville. Working the night shift and sleeping during the day didn't give much time for socializing. What was she supposed to do? Tell the filly that she was new in town? Diamond Dancer didn't want the first thing out of her mouth to be a lie to this potential new friend. But the truth? I just need to make friends with you for the afternoon, then you'll never see me again. Ugh. No. "I'm Diamond Dancah, And uh, no not new, just, uh, don't get out much, I sleep during da day. " She chuckled nervously and Sweetie Belle tilted her head in confusion while one eyebrow slowly raised over her forehead. "Wow that's...weird. Uh, I mean, uh do you want to come swimming with us?" She asked with an awkward grin, gesturing over towards the slide where the 'pool' was fleeing from an angry Diamond Tiara. Sweetie Belle's grin doubled in size and she coughed. "Uh, I meant hang out on the swings? The pool is, um...closed. " Sweetie corrected with her very best squee. Diamond Dancer released the breath she'd been holding and gently nodded her head with a slow smile creeping across her muzzle. That actually sounded like fun. *<>*<>*<>*<>*<>*<>*<>*<>* It was only a short trek from the tree to the playground with Sweetie in the lead, humming happily as she walked along. Diamond, swallowed the bubbling panic that was rising in her throat and marched along behind Sweetie Belle as confidently as possible. Up until this point, she never realized just how shy she felt around other ponies her age and it was only getting worse the closer they got to the others. Then again, she'd been okay talking with Sweetie Belle, This was just a slightly bigger challenge. Two instead of one. She just hoped they were as nice as Sweetie Belle. "This is Diamond Dancer. " Sweetie Belle explained, gesturing to the quiet filly behind her. "She sleeps during the day. Diamond, this is Scootaloo and Apple Bloom. We're the Cutie Mark Crusaders!" Sweetie announced proudly. Scootaloo tilted her head to one side curiously, standing up with her hooves on the bars of the Merry-go-round. "You sleep during the day? What are you, a batpony?" She snickered quietly. Diamond Dancer quickly shook her head as if worried they might get the wrong impression, but Scootaloo's lips twisted into a warm grin when she caught sight of Diamond's dismay. "Aww, don't mind Scoots, she's jus' kiddin'" The other girl interjected. Apple Bloom. Diamond Dancer slowly sat down adjacent from them with a wry grin, and a silence spread through the conversation like a virus. "So, uh, you sleep during the day? That's... different. Why are you awake now?" Apple Bloom asked softly. Diamond Dancer rubbed the back of her head nervously. "I uhh wanted to see da town during da day? Heh...It's a lot more busy den I thought it'd be." Diamond Dancer sputtered the first thing that came to mind. That was a true enough answer. Sure. Of course she couldn't explain the mission; that would just make it seem like she was using them, and that was no way to treat anypony especially somepony you wanted to be your friend. She waggled a hoof dismissively and forced an awkward smile. "So, really, what's up with sleeping during the day, is that just like, your thing, or is there a special reason behind it? Cause I know what I said before, but if you were half bat pony or something, that'd be totally awesome!" Scootaloo piped brightly. Diamond Dancer shook her head again and ruffled her wings to display her feathers. One or two of them drifted lazily to the ground and it forced a gasp from Diamond Dancer. It was an obvious sign of illness in a pegasus and that was a conversation Diamond Dancer most certainly did not want to have. Originally she had decided not to mention Princess Luna at all but now seemed like a great time to bring her up, if it distracted them from noticing her feathers. "W-Well, yeah, I mean, I work for Princess Luna, and she's up all night, so, I gotta be too. "She said smartly. There wasn't any way to hide the pride in her voice, so she wore it openly, puffing out her chest a little. The reaction was immediate, as she knew it would be. The three now all had eyes on her. "Whoa!" "You work for princess Luna?!" "Awesome!" "Yeah! I totally woyk for da Princess! I'm a membah' of da Night Court! I'm go on super dangerous missions, n' stuff! I outrank all the other guards in the castle! Whenever she needs somedin' done, she calls on me!" Diamond said somewhat smugly. Those were true statements. All of them, except maybe her importance to princess Luna. And it's not like any of the guards cared what she had to say, but there wasn't any reason they needed to know that. "The pool is ready!" Chimed a sing song voice. " Oh, who's this? And, geez, what happened to your face?" Diamond Dancer lifted herself up onto her hind legs, resting her front hooves on the merry -go-round. Approaching them was a smaller pink filly wearing some sort of spiky-hat-princessy-thing. One that Diamond Dancer forgot the name of. "Diamond Tiara, meet Diamond Dancer. Diamond Dancer works for the Princess, she's in the Night Court!" Apple Bloom answered cheerfully. Even though Diamond Dancer didn't know either of them very well, she could feel a strong sense of animosity between the two. She offered "Other Diamond" a nervous smile and the pink pony sneered in return. "Well we obviously can't have two Diamond's running around. That'll get confusing fast. So I'll be Diamond Tiara, you be....Dee-dee. "Diamond Tiara demanded. Scootaloo tilted her head and looked like she were about to object. Why did Diamond Dancer have to change her name to Dee-Dee, why didn't they call Diamond Tiara DT? But Diamond, err, Dee-Dee was quick to smile and nod her head. As far as she was concerned, as long as the conversation wasn't about her disfigurement she could care less what they called her. "Dat totally woyks for me!" She said almost instantly and hopped off the merry-go-round and turned towards the slide where Diamond had approached them from. The pink filly however, took a step to the side, standing in Dee-Dee's path. "Hold on, I didn't say YOU could come swimming with us." Diamond snapped. This time, Scootaloo leapt up to her hooves with a snarl etched over her features and her ears splayed back. "Hey, not cool! Why can't she come swimming with us? " She demanded. Diamond crossed her arms, and shot a glance at the 'other Diamond' and gave a haughty snort. "Because we don't know anything about her, or where she came from, or what that gunk all over her face is? What if it's contagious. " Diamond Tiara snapped defensively. Sweetie Belle sighed and rested a hoof on Diamond's shoulder. She could almost see where she was coming from, it was a stretch, but she could almost see it. Still she smiled at Dee-Dee and gestured to her. "So, let's find out! We know she works for the princess and she's on the Night Court-" Sweetie explained before Diamond Tiara scrunched up her nose, and interjected with a groan. "How do we know she's really on the Night Court? She says she knows the princess, but come on, why would Luna pick her? She can't be any older than the rest of us. And how do we really know she works for Luna? I've certainly never seen her around here before!" Diamond pointed out. Sweetie Belle winced when she noticed the fur on the back of Diamond's neck starting to heckle up in growing aggravation. "Or, she just wanted to hang out and make new friends." Apple Bloom added with a quick smile. Dee-Dee Immediately liked Apple Bloom. "Yeah, lay off her, let's go swimming already," Scootaloo begged, rolling onto her back on the Merry-go-round letting her head dangle off the edge. "That's what I said five minutes ago! What's the holdup?!" A new voice rang out. Another silver filly appeared. She had long, alabaster and silver hair, which was tied in am intricate braid and dipped down over her shoulder. She marched up and sat impatiently next to Diamond Tiara, glaring directly at Dee-Dee behind the stupidly cute blue glasses that she wore."And who's this?" She added with a snort. Diamond Tiara birthed a wiiiiiide grin at the sight of Silver Spoon, and pointed her hoof at Dee-Dee. "Hey Silver. This is Dee-Dee, she works for the princess, and she's in the Night Court. Aren't you, Dee-Dee?" Diamond Tiara snickered in a mocking tone. Dee-Dee's ears splayed on either side of her head and she gave a quiet huff of irritation. "I yam so in da Night Court! I'm Luna's number one, and I do go on dangerous missions! I beat up a pack of timberwolves once, zombies, demons, and even a dragon!" Diamond barked. The stories were all true if exaggerated. In some cases immensely but true. "Who cares, let's go swimminnnnnnng!" Silver Spoon whined while impatiently prancing in place. Dee-Dee couldn't help but grin. It was the first time she appreciated somepony saying "Who cares" about her life. The pretty filly strolled up to Dee-Dee and gave her a glance over before shrugging her shoulders. "I care! I don't make friends with liars. " Diamond snorted. Silver Spoon's jaw dropped open and she turned towards Diamond with an incredulous look. "You lie all of the time." Silver Spoon exclaimed forcing Scootaloo into a soft snicker. "That's different! I never claimed to have beaten up a timber wolf, or a dragon that's just crazy." Diamond growled shaking her head and leveling her eyes at Dee-Dee. "Crazy, but true! I'm a Servant of Shadow!" Dee-Dee snapped with an angry growl. Diamond Tiara's lips twisted into a sinister grin, and slowly, she started to circle the new girl. "Uh huh. On the Night Court, AND you beat up a dragon, ANNND you're a Servant of Shadow. You must be Equestira's very best soldier. Which is weird, since I don't remember a statue of you anywhere. What day is your holiday on? I mean surely Celestia must have honored you with a national day in your name, right?" Diamond asked, staring at Dee-Dee the entire time. She didn't dare drop eye contact, and Dee-Dee stared right back. "Foyst of all, Da Servants of Shadow ARE da Night Court. Dare da same ding just different names. Secondly. I ain't got no holiday or nothin. I don't hang out with Celestia, and Luna doesn't really do da holiday ding. But it's kay. I don't mind. "Dee-Dee explained. Diamond Tiara wrinkled her nose. She was getting tired of this. "Oh come on. Look at her! She doesn't work for Luna. Hooves up, who believes any of this?!" Diamond snapped, glancing around the group of six. Not a single hoof raised up and Diamond smi- Damn it Sweetie Belle Standing next to Dee-Dee, Sweetie Belle had timidly risen a hoof. She shot Dee-Dee a warm smile and drew in a deep breath turning to look at her friends. She made eye-contact with Apple Bloom, who slowly raised her hoof as well. Cutimark Crusaders forever, right?" The two glanced over at Scootaloo, who already had her arm pitched towards the sky. Right! Diamond gave a miserable groan. Didn't they understand she was trying to protect them? Why did she look so weird and where had she come from to think any pony would believe her outlandish tails? Diamond decided to crush this rumor before it started. "Oh yeah? Prove it; Spend the night in The Castle of the Two Sisters." Diamond snickered, glaring at Dee-Dee. It was absolutely insane, and she knew it. It was Timberwolf season soon and there were documented reports of full grown stallions wandering in and never returning. She grinned sharply and waited for Dee-Dee to come up with a reason why she couldn't go. "Accepted. Dis is easy street! I meet at dat castle all da time ta get missions from Luna. I can totally spend da night dare!" Dee-Dee grinned smugly crossing her arms. Scootaloo frowned. "No way, that's crazy! That's way to dangerous!" She growled glancing at Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle, who both nodded in agreement. Diamond grinned her favorite little sinister grin. "Oh, but it shouldn't be a problem for a Servant of Shadow. You guys have all these secret special abilities right? Like blending into shadows themselves and disappearing? I mean, You know what? Since you all believe her, you should go to, to make sure she stays the night. I know a pony like Apple Bloom, who is sister to the ELEMENT OF HONESTY, would never lie to us. You do that and you can totally swim with us. " Diamond paused, glancing at Dee-Dee pleadingly. This was getting out of hoof. Back down stupid! But Dee-Dee didn't budge, glaring at Diamond quietly. One hundred percent mission success rate. She had to accept or fail Luna's mission. There wasn't really a choice in the matter. Dee-Dee nodded her head again and forced a smile. "Ha- piece of cake!" Dee-Dee chided while the Cutie Mark Crusaders seemed slightly less that reassured. They stared at each other for a second, before Diamond nodded her head. "...........o-kay then...last chance to back out..." Diamond offered. Dee-Dee didn't move, although Sweetie Belle looked like she were ready to cry. "Humph! Come on' Silver, let's go swimming and leave them to discuss what they'll put on their tombstones." Diamond snarled angrily. "Finally!" Silver Spoon snapped, and turned sharply on her hooves towards the slide where Snips and Snails were lazily floating around. "Ya'll... Ya'll know whatcher doin' right? You got a plan?" Apple Bloom asked nervously, scuffling a hoof into the dirt. Dee-Dee turned and flashed her best smile. "Absolutely! I yam one hundred poycent confident!" She spit each lie out like poison. Scootaloo looked unconvinced, and Sweetie Belle was staring at her hooves. "S-So meet me outside da forest at eight okay, bye!" Dee-Dee squealed, quickly turning and racing towards her home without the barest hint of anything resembling a plan. She really hoped this new friendship wouldn't end up tragic. She really really hoped.