Ribbons and diamonds, bows and frills, the very best in the way of cakes and wines; the room to the untrained eye was heaven itself. To Diamond Tiara, it was just another of her mother’s parties.
The young filly found herself pushed to a corner again. Smiling and being proper again. Getting her cheeks pinched and dress scrutinized again.
Before the Cutie Mark Crusaders had gotten their marks, she hadn’t really minded these things; she loved the attention. However, now, since she had gained so much respect among the school children, she saw how empty they really were.
Diamond still wasn’t trusted among them, but she was permitted to play with some. It was her play equipment after all.
She shook herself, cringing. That was her old self. The self nopony wanted to be around. The pony that was voted out of office. The pony her one and only friend, Silver Spoon, voted out of office. That thought crushed the pink filly’s very soul. She glanced back at her Cutie Mark, the namesake tiara that she had always worn emblazed on her flank.
She thought back to all the harsh words she’d ever used, the snide remarks, the outright rudeness she’d shown to—well, everypony. Even Ms. Cheerilee hadn’t been free from her self-righteousness.
Diamond then wrapped herself in a shroud of pride and joined the party, hoping nopony would call attention to her old self. The party was her mother’s—just some simple social event to help bring her family up in the world, finish some deals, and strengthen some relations with other business ponies all across Equestria.
“My my!” Fancy Pants, a large white unicorn with a monocle squinted in place in his right eye, said, “Your daughter is looking lovelier every year.”
Spoiled Rich, Diamond’s mother smiled smugly. “Thank you,” she said in a sickly sweet tone.
Diamond Tiara shivered as she made her way to another corner of the room.
“Diamond dear!”
It was a couple, one of the family's acquaintances, but at that moment, she’d forgotten their names. Diamond Tiara took a deep breath, hoping they’d not pick up on her lapse of memory, “Good evening! I’m glad you could make it!”
“Glad we could make it!” the wife, a yellow mare, giggled, “Isn’t she such a doll!”
“Indeed, dear, indeed! A doll of the highest price,” the husband, a blue stallion stated.
They moved on into the crowd, now ignoring the small, pink filly. Diamond let out the breath she’d been holding. “Thank goodness!” she sighed.
Her eyes glazed through the crowd. Was there any pony her mother hadn’t invited? Then, her breath caught. Prince Blueblood! Of all the ponies in Equestria to show up.
It wasn’t as if she didn’t like him, he just—well, he was... odd. Diamond meant that in a loose sense. He wasn’t normal. He screamed at dirt. He hid behind mares. And when called upon to escort a lady, somehow the event turned upside down and backwards.
Princess Cadance had once come to one of the Rich family’s parties, and for some reason or another, Prince Blueblood had been the one to escort her. Diamond hadn’t even been five at the time, so the details of the event were fuzzy in her mind, but somehow by the end of the evening, Cadance was covered in frosting, a drink, and streamers- while Prince Blueblood was as clean, and proper as ever. However, their behavior had been the exact opposite that entire evening.
Hastily, Diamond looked for a place where she could get above the rest of the crowd. She needed to see how her mother would react to his presence in their home. Glancing around, she remembered the wide stairs. She quickly ascended to the upper floor and looked out over the sea of ponies.
Suddenly she found she had to sit down quickly—Prince Blueblood was making a beeline for her mother. Spoiled had not seen him yet, but it was a matter of—now she had. Diamond Tiara held her breath, leaning farther over the edge to listen.
“You! You! You sniveling coward!” Diamond was blown backwards by the force of her mother’s words.
The hum of the room immediately stopped. “Prince, or no prince, you are not, will not, and never will be welcome at one of my par—get your hooves off me!”
The prince looked down at her with disdain. “I’m the prince of Equestria. I’ve every right to attend any function I wish.”
She gulped. He had more gumption than Diamond had previously given him credit for. “You don’t think—” she whispered to herself.
“Get. Out. Of. Myyyyy—” The mare suddenly fainted.
Trembling, Diamond Tiara thundered down the steps. “MOM!” she cried.
Somehow, the sea of ponies parted to allow the pink filly through. Spoiled was clammy and pale as a sheet.
“Don’t just stand there!” Fancy Pants cried, “Somepony get a doctor!”
The world around her churned, but to Diamond Tiara, nothing moved.