Tiara in the Rough

by Locomotion

Epilogue

After the excitement of the less-than-reputable Liberty Hall, Locomotion, Silver Spoon, Diamond Tiara, Lickety-Split, Button Mash and the Crusaders couldn't be gladder to be spending the rest of the day in the more relaxed atmosphere of the National Railway Museum. Annette enjoyed wandering around with Locomotion and learning about the various exhibits, and even Diamond Tiara had to agree that this place was one of the more interesting ones she had ever visited.

The star of the show, of course, was none other than the five-month-old “Princess Twilight Sparkle,” which took pride of place on the turntable in the main exhibition hall. Locomotion eagerly photographed the engine from various angles, and even managed to get a look inside the cab, something he hoped he would one day be doing in normal, everyday service. Well worth being dragged along against his will for this, he decided.

As time went by, Diamond Tiara gradually managed to rekindle her friendship with Silver Spoon and form new ones with the Crusaders. She was rather shy about it at first, but eventually warmed to them and began chattering away with Apple Bloom, Sweetie-Belle, Scootaloo, Rumble, Dinky, Tootsie Flute, Babs, Noi, Pipsqueak and Tornado Bolt as if there had never been any conflict between them at all. By the time evening drew in and the museum closed for the night, she felt greatly humbled to have made so many friends in such a short timespan, and after all of them had suffered so badly from her cruel, smarmy attitude.

“I don't know how to thank you guys,” she murmured as they hung out in Central Park. “One more day of being tormented by...well, by the whole of Liberty Hall, and I might have gone crazy...or worse.”

Silver Spoon shuddered. She didn't even want to think about what the pink-furred filly was implying. “Don't even go there, Diamond, please,” she pleaded. “It was bad enough being rejected, but if...if that had happened to you, I don't think I'd have been able to live with myself.”

“Well, it's good that you've learned your lesson,” mused Snowflake.

“Yeah, we may not have wanted to see you hurt, but we wouldn't want you going back to the way you used to be,” agreed Scootaloo. “Nopony likes a bully, you know.”

“Yeah, I know,” conceded Diamond Tiara gravely. “Nick Shilling and his gang made me realise that, and I'm really sorry.”

“Diamond, ya don't need ta keep apologisin' to us,” insisted Apple Bloom. “La'k Ah said earlier, we're prepared ta let bygones be bygones.”

“Yeah, Diamond, just be thankful you don't have to contend with all those no-good Liberty Hall students anymore,” quipped Locomotion. Then a broad smirk spread across his face; “But I should warn you, if any further offendit should come from you, then I'll have no alteratory but to baffle you with deep folly of the wordage incomprehensibole as a studeyho of the Unwinese brandit gobblyhoolihoodee.”

The pink filly grinned nervously in reply. Then her face fell as she turned back to her old friend; “Silver Spoon,” she ventured, “I'm sorry I overreacted when you came out of the closet with me.”

“What are you apologising for?” objected Silver Spoon, suddenly overcome with a strange feeling of regret. “I'm the one who should be sorry for freaking you out.”

“No, Silver, you shouldn't,” replied Diamond Tiara unhappily. “I should be saying sorry, particularly after punching you in the face.”

“Well, maybe,” said Silver Spoon doubtfully, “but I'm still sorry I caused you to lose control of yourself like that. If I hadn't, none of this would have happened.”

“Look, I'm the one who's sorry here,” argued Diamond Tiara. “I was the one who led you on, I was the one who took advantage of your feelings, I was the one who...”

“No, Diamond Tiara,” insisted Silver Spoon. “I should have tried to make you realise the error of your ways sooner than this – I'm sorry to have to break it to you, but I'm sorry, and that's the end of it.”

“Oh, you're sorry, are you?!” burst out Diamond Tiara in mock anger. “Well, I'm sorry you're sorry, because I'm going to make you so sorry you'll be sorry you ever were sorry...”

“WILL YOU GROW UP ALREADY?!?!” thundered Locomotion, exasperated.

“Sorry,” murmured the two fillies meekly.

“Seriously, though,” went on Diamond Tiara, “I think I'm beginning to feel the same way about you, Silver Spoon. I just wish I'd realised it sooner, because then I wouldn't have got myself into this muddle.”

Silver Spoon's heart skipped a beat. Even though her friendship with Diamond Tiara was making a healthy recovery, she had never expected her true feelings to be reciprocated. “You...really mean it?”

Diamond Tiara nodded, suppressing an awkward chuckle. “Kind of weird, isn't it – how I'd always imagined myself being married to some really rich stallion, and yet the only pony I can see myself with is a filly?”

“Not that strange,” smiled Silver Spoon softly. “So you really care for me that much, huh?”

“Yeah...” Diamond Tiara paused, gazing up at the night sky. “But Silver Spoon...”

“Yes, Diamond?”

“...can we please take it slowly? I'm still getting used to the idea of being a f...” Diamond Tiara broke off as Locomotion shot her a sidelong glance as if to say “Don't even think about it,” and quickly rethought her speech. “...um, of liking fillies,” she finished.

Silver Spoon smiled warmly and nuzzled against the side of her neck. “I'll take it whatever pace you want, Diamond Tiara – it's a promise.”

“Thanks, Silver Spoon – you're the best.” Diamond Tiara sighed happily and wrapped an arm around her friend turned sweetheart, enjoying the gentle breeze and the soft glow of the full moon. Things were definitely looking up for her right now, she thought contentedly – not only did she have Silver Spoon back in her life, but she also had the full support of the Cutie Mark Crusaders and at least three of their supporters. All she needed now was to be accepted back into Ponyville, and her life would be back to what it should have been.

And that was precisely what happened the following week. Filthy Rich wasn't pleased to see her back home so soon, but true to their word, Locomotion and the Crusaders put in a good word for her, and after hearing how deplorably she had been treated, he was so appalled with the students and faculty at Liberty Hall that he never once hesitated to sue the school. When Twilight caught wind of Diamond Tiara's mistreatment, she too ordered a full investigation to be carried out, which resulted in Principal Cinch being suspended and the school itself receiving a hefty fine for its sloppy record on student discipline. By then, Diamond Tiara had been accepted back into Ponyville School after Locomotion and some of the Crusaders had formed a deputation to apologise to Cheerilee on her behalf, and things were slowly returning to normal.

Diamond Tiara and the Cutie Mark Crusaders are now firm friends. She still pokes fun at them from time to time, but in much better humour than previously, and the Crusaders simply take it in their stride. Even when the old Diamond Tiara manages to shine through, it always turns out to be more of a blessing than a curse, and indeed there was one time, a few years later, when it led to Sweetie-Belle coming out of her shell and embracing a certain talent of hers – but that's another story.

As for Silver Spoon, she couldn't be any happier with how her life is going either. She was often to be seen helping some of them with whatever activities they think might gain them their Cutie Marks long after the fiasco at Liberty Hall School – even if only on an unofficial basis – and as a result of this, she is now considered an honorary member of the group. Her relationship with Diamond Tiara has since gone from strength to strength, and her friendship with the Crusaders opened up a rather more charitable side to her nature. Just three months after she and Diamond Tiara became an item, she was even good enough to buy her a brand new tiara to replace her old one even though it set her back nearly six-hundred bits!

That shows you, doesn't it?

Author's Note:

Final Unwinese translation:

“But I should warn you, if any further offendit should come from you, then I'll have no alteratory but to baffle you with deep folly of the wordage incomprehensibole as a studeyho of the Unwinese brandit gobblyhoolihoodee.”

But I should warn you, if you should make fun of us again, then I'll have no alternative but to baffle you with gobbledegook as a student of the Unwinese language."

Comments

[Frankie2]

This was definitely a nice story. Diamond Tiara got a taste of her own medicine, but far more than she deserved.

[Blast]