Silver Spoon doesn't know what to do- just say no and put a stop to DT's bullying, but lose her best and only friend? Or should she just play along and let DT ruin the lives of three innocent fillies? Takes place right after Flight to the Finish.
Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon have been best friends since the beginning of first grade, when DT protected Silver from being bullied and they became friends because of it.
But over the years, Diamond has become a bully too, and Silver was afraid that she'd lose her only friend and become a social pariah if she tried to tell DT to stop. So to help her cover, she joined in on whatever tortures Diamond had planned for the CMC, but she always felt bad about it.
However, ever since they teased Scootaloo about her wings and lost the flag-carrying competition to the crusaders, she's been feeling worse and worse about what she and her friend are doing. Now she's torn; should she just say no and try to put a stop to DT's bullying, but risk losing it all? Or should she just play along and let Diamond set out to ruin the lives of three innocent fillies?
A third grade filly wearing a platinum tiara threw 6-year-old Silver Spoon's glasses across the schoolyard, smashing them to pieces. The metallic filly's eyes welled up with tears, and the older filly laughed.
"What, is the wittle first grade baby crying?" she cackled. "Isn't. That. Cute."
The filly pushed Silver down, face-planting her into the dirt. Silver Spoon was openly crying now, knowing no other way to express her feelings. This just made the mean filly laugh harder, and Silver cry louder.
"What, can't the mini nerd take a joke?" sneered the bully, leaning into Silver's tear-streaked face. Out of the blue, she spat at the gray foal, her saliva hitting Silver Spoon's forehead and dribbling down to her muzzle.
"Hey, leave her alone!"
A pink and purple filly ran up to the bully and pushed her down. The mean filly looked shocked that a six year old girl would dare to approach her, much less push her down. After a moment however, she pulled herself together and got up, only for the pink filly to push her down once more.
"Hey, what's your problem kid?!" demanded the bully.
"I could ask you the same thing!" said the pink and purple filly. "Why don't you go where you're wanted instead of here? It would make everypony happy!"
The mean filly's jaw dropped, but the pink girl wasn't done.
"You have no right to be treating her this way! If you don't have anything nice to say to her, then why don't you just shut your mouth and die in a hole?? If this is the way you treat everypony, then that would probably be for the greater good!"
"I-I... Shut up!" said the older girl. "Get lost, kid!"
"Come closer and make me, you good for nothing bully!"
The bully just sat there for a while, staring in disbelief at the furious pink filly. Eventually she got herself together and and started to stand up, but the pink filly just backed the bully into a tree, scowling. Out of nowhere, however, she gave the bully and evil smile, and the mean filly bolted, the tiara on her head falling off onto the ground.
The pink filly walked over to Silver Spoon, who was still sniffling from the beating.
"Hey, are you alright?" she asked, extending a hoof to help Silver up. Silver Spoon took it, wiping off her tear streaked face.
"T-thanks.." she said. "I-I-I'm Silver Spoon. W-what's y-y-your n-name?"
"Diamond." she said, giving Silver Spoon a warm smile. Suddenly she scowled. "What that girl was doing to you wasn't right, it was just plain mean!"
"Y-yeah..." said Silver, looking down at her hooves with a feeling of shame.
Diamond noticed this. "Don't feel bad! It's not your fault that some ponies are rotten meanies."
Silver Spoon looked up and gave a rather weak smile. "T-t-thank you..."
Diamond grinned. "Do you want to go play jump rope? It's no fun jumping by myself!"
Silver's smile faded. "I-I can't. T-that b-b-big filly s-smashed m-my glasses, a-and I c-can't see a-a-a thing w-without them."
Diamond thought about this for awhile, then brightened up when she had thought of something.
"I know!" she said. "Come with me, I can go buy you some new ones."
Silver gaped at Diamond's generosity. "Y-you mean it? G-glasses cost a l-lot of m-m-money..."
"Oh, that doesn't matter." said Diamond. "My daddy owns Barnyard Bargains, so my family is super rich. It won't hurt if I give you a little gift!"
Silver smiled, a real smile this time. "U-um... okay! L-let's g-go!"
Diamond and Silver walked across the schoolyard to where the pair of broken glasses and a gleaming platinum tiara sat. Silver picked up the sorry-looking frames and put them on, trying to see through the smashed lenses.
Diamond took one look at Silver and had to stifle a gag. With her tight braids and broken up eyewear, Silver Spoon was the paragon of shy nerd.
"Okay, you're coming to my house right now Silver Spoon." said Diamond, now very serious. "We are going to give you a complete makeover, head to hoof, got it?"
Silver frowned. "W-why? W-what's wrong with the way I-I am n-now?"
"Nothing! But I know some things that will make you look like a knock out. Come on, let's go!"
Diamond trotted briskly away, then stopped when Silver didn't follow. "Are you coming?"
Silver bent down and picked up the tiara that the mean filly had dropped when she ran away. "Only if I-I can g-give you a-a makeover, t-too." She set the crown atop Diamond's head, and somehow, it just looked right.
"Huh." said Diamond, staring at the tiara. "I like it. Thanks, Silver."
Silver thought about something for a moment. "I-I know! See those rhinestone diamonds in the crown?"
"Yeah..."
'W-well, your name is D-diamond, and this is a d-diamond tiara."
"So?"
"S-so we should a-add that o-onto your name! I-Instead of just p-plain Diamond, y-you can b-be D-diamond Tiara!"
Diamond's face broke out in a grin. "That's a great idea! Thanks! Now, let's go over to the opto... optomo... opti... eye doctor and get you some new glasses!"
"O-Okay, Diamond Tiara!"
And the two ran off the schoolyard, now best friends.
***
"...I just can't believe we lost that flag-carrying competition to those stupid cutie mark crybabies! It's so unfair!"
Silver snapped out of her trance. "Oh, yeah, we lost. Too bad, huh?"
Diamond gritted her teeth. "Oh, no no no no no! It's not just too bad, Silver Spoon. We need to make those blank-flanks pay for what they did."
"But what did they do? We just lost, it's not that big a deal."
Diamond snorted. "What did they do? Silver Spoon, those losers need to be set in their place, and I intend to do just that. Now, come on. Let's go teach them a lesson in respecting their superiors."
Diamond tromped off, but stopped when Silver Spoon didn't follow. "Well??! Are you coming or what???"
"...Y-yeah, I-I'm coming..." said Silver as she shuffled over to Diamond's side.
"Good! Now, let's go!"
Silver had to trot to keep up with Diamond, but she still had time to think.
"...so what we'll do is we'll target them one by one, until we've knocked them all down like bowling pins. Got it, Silver Spoon?"
Silver Spoon sat in Diamond Tiara's bedroom before school, absentmindedly listening to her friend's plan to get back at the crusaders. She wondered what had happened to the old Diamond Tiara, the Diamond that she would laugh and share secrets with, the Diamond who wouldn't care about losing some silly flag-waving contest.
"Huh? Oh yeah, sure, that's sounds good." said Silver, looking away. She wasn't really listening, but she didn't want Diamond to get angry and go to school without her.
"Alright then, let's start with the weakest one- Sweetie Belle." said Diamond smirking. "And I know exactly how to get to her. We'll try to get her alone, then start with the insults. Then we'll go on to physical contact, and end with a little surprise of mine. That crybaby will be so torn up, she'll probably try to go and die in a ditch!"
Silver cringed at her friend's hurtful words. She remembered when Diamond would never have dreamed of going through with something like this.
"Let’s go shopping, Silver Spoon!" even now, Diamond Tiara’s once kind and lighthearted voice echoed in Silver’s ears. "Like, hurry up you silly filly!" the sarcastic tone playful and full of fun.
But those words seemed foreign now, even to the point of being painful. Silver Spoon continued to listen to Diamond's cruel plans for the CMC, she tried to remember how Diamond had started to go wrong.
***
Eight-year-old Diamond Tiara buried her face in her hooves as she sat on her bed, Silver Spoon beside her. They were supposed to be having a sleepover, but that had been ruined when Diamond's parents started fighting again, shouting at the top of their lungs at each other downstairs.
"How can you say that?! I practically raised the kid!" screamed Diamond's mother.
"Said the woman who makes out with that one stallion every Friday night!" Filthy Rich shouted. "You don't deserve to be a mother!"
"That's a dirty lie!!! Comet is just a friend from work, and you know it!"
"If you define 'friend' as somepony who you sleep with every other weekend, then he must be a very good friend!!!"
"You're just jealous that I actually have a social life instead of being caught up in that 'virginity' nonsense!"
Rich went deadly silent. "So it's true, then. You are cheating on me."
"Fine, so I've kissed the man and spent the night with him a few times. That does not count as cheating!"
"Think of the example you're setting for Diamond!"
"Compared to you, I'm a saint!"
"Don't start making jokes, Spoiled."
"Wha-(sputter)- That's it, Rich! I don't need to take this! I'm going to Canterlot, where I actually have half a chance of getting somewhere in life instead of playing the 'little wife' figure you want me to be!"
"Fine, then! Leave! See if I care! And while we're at it, why not make it official? We're through, Spoiled! You can stop calling yourself Mrs. Filthy Rich from now on!"
"Good! Now maybe I'll actually have some freedom!"
"Freedom to sleep with any stallion that walks by, no doubt!"
"Oooh!!!That's it, Rich!!! I'm leaving, and Diamond is coming with me!"
"You try it and I'll have you arrested for kidnapping, and don't you dare think I'm bluffing!"
"You can't do that! She happens to be my daughter too, you know! I can't get arrested for taking Diamond from a place where she'll never be happy! Suri was never happy here, and you know full well that you're the reason she moved to Manehatten!"
"Suri left to start a business! And Diamond already is happy!"
"Says you! I'm going to walk up those stairs right now and take her with me!"
"Oh, why don't you just grow up, Ms. Dazzle?!"
"Miss Dazzle? Since when have you ever called me by my maiden name???"
"Since now, when I've stopped putting up with your lunacy! I can't stand being around you anymore! Now, get out of my house before I arrest you for trespassing!!!"
Diamond burst into another flood of tears. Silver Spoon had known that Diamond's parents fought a lot, but she had never dreamed it was this bad.
"Fine by me! Don't bother dropping by if you ever come to Canterlot!"
"Leave, Spoiled!"
Silver heard the door slam. Diamond's mother was gone, and her best friend had been reduced to tears.
"D-diamond? A-are you okay?" asked Silver Spoon tentatively.
Diamond turned to Silver, wet tears streaming from her red and puffy eyes.
"J-just b-b-be there... please, Silver Spoon... j-just be there..." Diamond collapsed into Silver's arms, sobbing all over the metallic filly's hide.
***
Silver Spoon shook her head, snapping out of her memoir. She stared at Diamond, who was sitting and giggling over her master plan to get back at the crusaders.
Silver felt sick. How could somepony, who knew how bad it felt to feel helpless, relish the sight of making others feel the same?
"Hey Silver! Are you asleep, or just stupid? Come on, we have to get to school and start on the plan! Get a move on!"
Diamond trotted briskly away, as if expecting Silver Spoon to follow after her. Silver did, the sick feeling in her stomach only growing worse with every step.
"Hey guys." said Sweetie Belle, running up to her friends.
"Hey." said Apple Bloom and Scootaloo in unison.
"I'm really sorry, but I can't walk home with you this week." said Sweetie, looking a little disappointed.
"What? Why not?" asked Apple Bloom, confused.
"Because some filly our age ordered a dozen custom dresses and Rarity needs me to model. They want the dresses done by Friday, so I have to hurry to the boutique and start, okay?" said Sweetie.
"That's cool. We can just do our crusading during lunch and recess instead this week." said Scootaloo, putting on her helmet and hopping aboard her scooter. "See you later, Sweetie Belle."
"Bye guys. I'll see you tomorrow."
"Okay. Later, Sweetie." said Apple Bloom as she got on the scooter. She and Scootaloo sped off towards Sweet Apple Acres, knocking down several townsfolk along the way.
Sweetie Belle giggled a little, then went on her way to the Carousal Boutique. On the way, she passed Sugarcube Corner and wished that he could buy herself a milkshake. That is, until she peeked inside and saw Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon sipping on sodas and gossiping. Diamond looked up from her soda and pointed at Sweetie Belle.
"Eeep!" squeaked Sweetie, darting away from the window. She quickly raced away, not wanting a confrontation.
"Hey, Sweetie Belle!"
Too late.
Sweetie turned around tentatively, afraid of the abuse that was sure to come. But to her surprise, Diamond was smiling, and not in a mean way.
"We want to talk to you." said Diamond. "Nothing bad. It's just... something private, that's all."
Sweetie Belle looked at the two skeptically. Diamond was smiling at her in a perfectly friendly way, but Silver's expression looked a little nervous. Maybe they were just trying to be nice.
"Um... okay, I guess..." said Sweetie Belle.
"Come on, it's better if we tell you somewhere private."
Diamond led Sweetie over to the school's vacant playground, over by the hopscotch area. Once Diamond had made sure that nopony was around, she nodded to Silver, who pushed Sweetie Belle down onto the asphalt. Hard.
"Ow!" squealed Sweetie Belle, scraping her hoofs as she fell. Pain shot up her left foreleg and tears filled her eyes. "Hey, what gives?"
Diamond's friendly smile had disappeared, replaced by a malicious smirk. Her eyes had transformed into icy blue slits, scanning Sweetie Belle for signs of weakness. There was quite a bit.
"Well, well, well, what do we have here?" asked Diamond, not waiting for an answer. "A naive little foal who never learns? Please, even I thought you would have more sense than to follow us here, alone. But no, your 'sweet' and 'forgiving' nature made you absolutely blind, didn't it?" Diamond said the words 'sweet' and 'forgiving' as if they were filthy swear words instead of virtues.
To appease Diamond, Silver Spoon stared down at the fallen Sweetie Belle with facade of disgust, when really she only felt guilt. She knew that what she and Diamond were doing was wrong, but she was too scared to say anything to Diamond that might anger her.
Tears streamed out of Sweetie Belle's glittering green eyes. "W-why are y-you doing this?" she asked, her voice quavering.
Diamond sneered. "Geez Squeaky Belle, you're even more clueless than I thought. Don't you get it? This your punishment."
"Punishment for what?" said Sweetie, shakily standing back up.
"Don't play dumb." DT snarled, leaning in close to Sweetie Belle's face. "You didn't really care about winning that flag-carrying competition. You just hate to see me beat you at something, you stupid, nerdy blank-flank!" she screeched, slapping Sweetie Belle across the face.
Sweetie Belle yelped as Diamond's hoof collided with her face, toppling back from the blow. She gazed back up at Diamond's hateful expression, tears now freely streaming down her face.
But Diamond wasn't done.
Standing over Sweetie Belle's dirty and beaten body, Diamond kicked her as hard as she could, right in the side. Sweetie gasped as the wind was knocked out of her, and tried desperately to crawl away. But Diamond was too fast for her, trotting ahead and stopping in front of her. Shouting insults left and right, Diamond continued to slap, kick, or otherwise beat the tar out of the helpless Sweetie Belle. When Diamond Tiara had finally seemed to have gotten her fill of torment, she squatted down to Sweetie Belle's level and smiled evilly before spitting on her muzzle with relish.
Silver Spoon looked away; it hurt to watch this torture. Closing her eyes, she tried to shut out the cruelty before her, but she couldn't. Sweetie Belle's pain and Diamond's heartless persecution were too graphic to ignore. Finally, she couldn't take it anymore.
"Stop, Diamond, stop! You're out of control!" shouted Silver, pushing Diamond away before she could hurt Sweetie Belle any longer. Diamond turned to Silver, her expression wild and full of hatred. Silver Spoon backed away, afraid of her best friend's reaction to her intervention.
"Like, what the heck, Silver Spoon?!" shouted Diamond. "Why in Equestria did you push me away like that?? I was just getting started!"
When Silver didn't answer, Diamond just got even more angry. "Answer me!"
"Because... because..." started Silver, desperately trying to think of an explanation.
"Well?!"
"Because... you're overdoing it!" said Silver hurriedly. "Uh... if you hurt her too much, then somepony's bound to notice! We'll like, get in huge trouble or something!"
Diamond thought this over for a moment. "Fine, I guess you're right." she said. Silver Spoon gave a breath of relief.
"But let me finish."
Silver Spoon whirled around, horrified. What was Diamond going to do now?
Diamond Tiara picked up the bruised and battered Sweetie Belle, who now had a black eye, a cut lip, and light purple bruises all over her body. Leaning in close to Sweetie's face again, Diamond smiled her terrifying grin, the one that Silver hated.
"Rarity sure won't be happy about you being such a hot mess right now, would she?" sneered Diamond. "Especially with my custom dresses needing to be finished by Friday and everything." Diamond started walking towards Silver Spoon, sashaying arrogantly away.
"Oh!" said Diamond, stopping for a moment. "And one more thing."
Quick as a flash, Diamond Tiara had picked Sweetie Belle up again, her expression cruel and full of hate.
"I will be very upset if anypony finds out about our little run-in, mmkay hon?" said Diamond, her voice dripping with sarcasm. "So I wouldn't suggest tattling about anything, if you know what I mean."
Sweetie Belle looked scared for a moment, then attempted to put on a brave face. "O-Oh yeah? Or w-what?"
Diamond snickered nastily. "Or I might have to spread a few, ah, secrets around the class. Like the embarrassing pictures of you that I've been having Featherweight take all year. Or maybe I should start a little rumor about the Button Mash doodles in your notebook, hmm?"
Sweetie's already pale face turned paler. "N-no! I-I promise I won't tell! Just d-don't do anything e-else, okay?"
"Fair enough." Diamond dropped Sweetie Belle onto the asphalt, adding another scrape to Sweetie's collection of injuries. "Now go run home with your tail tucked between your legs, like a good little loser, alright hon?"
That was enough for Sweetie Belle. Limping a little from her wounds, Sweetie ran away as fast as she could, her cheeks flushed with humiliation. Diamond laughed and pointed at the sight of the beaten and mortified filly, making Silver cringe uncomfortably.
"C'mon Silver, let's get out of here. This place reeks of 'essence of blank-flank'." Diamond giggled at her own joke in a malicious way.
As they walked home together, Silver stayed silent, not sure of what to say after seeing her best friend hurt somepony so badly. She had never seen Diamond so crazy and out of control before, like a wild animal hungry for blood had overtaken her body.
"H-Hey, DT," said Silver, turning to Diamond.
"Yeah?"
"D-do you think you were a little... I dunno... harsh today? I mean, just pushing a pony down is one thing, giving them a full-on beating like that... it seemed a little... you know... over the top."
Diamond's face turned red with anger. "So what?? The stupid loser had it coming to her anyway, you know. What, so you're taking her side now or something???"
Silver went pale. "N-n-no! O-of course not, Di! I j-j-just thought t-that m-m-maybe we w-were, y-ya know, j-just a little t-t-too heavy on the b-b-beatings, t-t-that's all!" Sweat trickled down Silver's brow. Please, please don't let Tiara be mad at me... she thought.
Diamond scowled. "You know, Silvy, I don't think you were being completely truthful with me before when you told me why you told me to stop beating up Sweetie Belle." Diamond's already narrow eyes turned to slits. "I think you just didn't want me to have fun, hmm?"
"N-n-no! N-n-nothing l-like t-that, D-diamond! O-o-of c-course I-I w-w-want y-you t-t-to h-have f-f-fun!" Silver's voice was shaking uncontrollably now; it was all she could do not to wail like a foal.
'I also notice that you didn't help me punish Sweetie Belle like, at all, did you? In fact, I was the only one who did anything."
"I-I-I'm s-sorry, D-d-d-diamond! P-please b-believe me!" Silver Spoon burst out crying, throwing herself on Diamond's hoofs and begging for forgiveness.
Diamond stared down at her lackey with disgust. Pushing Silver to the side a little with her hoof, she began to back away slightly. When Silver noticed this, a fresh wave of tears exploded within her.
I never should have stopped her... thought Silver Spoon regretfully. It wasn't worth it... it just wasn't worth fighting my best friend over!
"Get up, Silver Spoon."
Silver's head shot up hopefully. Diamond Tiara was staring down at her, looking agitated and bored.
"Well, are you going to get up or are you just going to stay here and blubber like a foal?! I can walk home by myself, if you prefer."
Silver stood up instantaneously, wiping away the barrage of tears on her face. Diamond gave a strange little smile that made Silver feel a bit nervous, but she ignored that. The joy of her best friend forgiving her was a better feeling than anything else in the world.
***
Silver Spoon lay awake in bed that night, smiling up at her ceiling. After they had walked to Silver's house together, Diamond Tiara had told her that she needed to go someplace else for what she said was "an urgent appointment". For a moment Silver Spoon pondered on what that appointment might be, but she dismissed it as unimportant for the moment.
But the voice of reason in the back of her mind kept nagging at her about Diamond's interrogation earlier that day. Diamond seemed pretty angry, and Silver knew that she had acted pathetic. But she couldn't help it; the thought of her best and only friend abandoning her was horrible, and she was willing to do anything to preserve their friendship. Be reasonable, Silver Spoon, she thought, turning over in bed. If she doesn't want to be around me for whatever reason, it's probably my fault anyway. If she's starting to get bored with me, then that means that it's up to me to put in the effort now.
After all, she told herself, yawning. Diamond and I are best friends, just like we've always been... and always will be.
Silver Spoon trudged to school alone that day, hanging her head. It appeared that Diamond Tiara had been a lot angrier than Silver had anticipated; Silver had waited for 15 minutes in front of Diamond's house before the butler had come out to tell her that Diamond had already left for school. It was strange; Diamond hated school, and had only ever gone early when she and Silver were working on their class's open house project together last year.
When Silver had arrived and stepped into the schoolyard, she began her search for Diamond. Maybe she had come in for before-school tutoring, or perhaps she had left her homework at school and needed to get it done. Yes, there couldn't possibly be any other reason for Diamond to go to school early without telling Silver about it.
The bell hadn't rung yet, so Silver Spoon knew that she still had time to locate Diamond. After searching around the playground for a while, she finally found Diamond sitting under a shady tree- with two other fillies from class.
Silver's eyes went wide. I-It's probably not what it looks like, she tried convincing herself. M-Maybe Di's just giving them a hard time because of their manestyles or something...
Silver crept behind a bush placed near the tree, well within earshot of Diamond and the two other fillies, whom she recognized as Aquamarine and Coronet. Making sure to be as quiet as possible, Silver Spoon heard every word of her friend's conversation with the intruders.
"-so like, I was just thinking to myself the other day about how cool you two are!" gushed Diamond. "And plus I've kinda gotten bored with having just one close friend, and since, like, you are the coolest fillies in class- next to me, of course- I've made the decision to allow you into a newly formed and very exclusive little clique of mine. So what do you say? Care to join?"
Both fillies were speechless for a moment until Coronet spoke up.
"So let me get this straight," said Coronet slowly, unsure of what she was hearing. "You, Diamond Tiara, the richest and most popular filly in class, want us to be your close friends??"
"That's what I said."
Both Coronet's and Aqua's jaws dropped. They looked at Diamond, then at each other, and then at Diamond again. Every time, their smiles grew and their expressions happier.
"We accept!" squeaked Coronet, nodding her head rapidly.
"Yeah, let's do it!"
"Good." said Diamond smugly. "Now, if your really are going to be committed to this, however, we do have to make a few changes, starting with your looks."
The filly's smiles began to waver a bit. "W-what do you mean?" asked Aqua, confused.
"Well," said Diamond, giving a flip of her mane. "If you're going to hang out with me, you can't look like just anypony. You have to look absolutely fabulous, just like me!"
Aqua and Coronet's smiles brightened again. "So you mean like, a makeover?" asked Coronet, grinning from ear to ear.
"Oh, I'll do better than that, hon. By the time I'm finished with you, you'll not only look as amazing as me, but you'll talk, act, and even flirt as well as your's truly!"
"Flirt? L-like with colts?" asked Aqua in disbelief. "OMC! Do you think I could score a date with First Base that way? He's sooo cute."
"Forget just dating- You two will be going steady within a month if you follow my lead." said Diamond. "Meet me at my house after school for the makeovers. But for now, I scored you two some very special seats in class so that everypony will know what's going on."
Right on cue, the school bell rang and students started filing inside for class. Silver was startled and nearly fell out of the bush.
"C'mon girls. Let's go show everypony who the cool fillies in town are now. Our public awaits!" Diamond, Aqua, and Coronet sauntered off to the classroom, the latter two both giggling excitedly.
Silver Spoon's chest felt tight, and her throat wanted to close off. Was Diamond... replacing her???
***
When Silver walked into the classroom and to her seat, she was shocked to find Diamond sitting in the middle of the third row with Aquamarine and Coronet each by her side, Aqua looking comfortable in Silver Spoon's seat. The three were giggling and whispering to each other, stealing glances at various classmates.
Silver trotted over to Aqua angrily. "Hey, that's my seat you're in! Get out, loser!" Usually when she spoke like this in front of Diamond, she felt guilty afterward, but seeing as this was one of the girls who was trying to steal Diamond from her, she felt that this filly deserved her harsh words.
Instead of laughing at this like she usually would, Diamond's expression darkened. "Hey, don't talk to my friend like that!" she scolded. "I wanted Aqua to sit here, Silver Spoon, so I moved your stuff to the desk in front of me. I'm sure you don't mind, right?" she said, gritting her teeth.
Silver backed away, feeling slightly afraid. She knew from experience that when Diamond talked like that, she meant business. Begrudgingly, she dropped her saddlebags under the seat of the middle second row desk and sat down. She could hear the trio's hushed whispers from behind her, and was able to make out some of the conversation.
"Can you believe her?"
"That was so rude!"
"How could she call you a loser, Aqua?"
"I know, right?"
Cheerilee walked into the room. "Good morning, boys and girls!"
"Good morning, Miss Cheerilee." said the class in unison.
"Let's get started, shall we? Now, if you'll open your spelling books the page I assigned yesterday, we'll turn in the homework then move on to the test."
Working on autopilot, Silver passed her spelling page to Cheerilee, who was walking down each aisle to pick up the papers. After she finished and had returned to her desk, Cheerilee picked up a sheet of paper with spelling words on it.
"Class, if you will please take out a sheet of notebook paper, we can begin the test." After everyone was ready, Cheerilee started listing off the spelling words.
"First word- Explanation. Please give me an Explanation. Explanation..."
***
A+ Well Done!
The school day was over, and Cheerilee was passing out the graded spelling tests. Silver smiled at her perfect score; her schoolwork was something she took special pride in, and she hadn't gotten anything less than a B+ in her life. Diamond wasn't quite as skilled; she copied Silver's work for everything except math, where she was even better than Silver Spoon.
Silver gathered her books and papers together neatly in her saddlebags, which she slung over her back after she was done. Looking around, she saw that Diamond already left with her new friends, the same as lunch earlier.
Walking home, she passed by the road that lead to Diamond's house. Thinking that this may be an opportunity to eavesdrop some more, Silver Spoon followed the threesome unnoticed, making sure to stay within earshot.
"-because that brand of lipgloss looks amazing, right? Do you think that their Papaya Blitz flavor is any good, Diamond?"
"It's really just not for me, you know? I way preferred the Strawberry Surprise."
"The Watermelon Wonderland flavor is my favorite!"
This conversation carried on until they reached Diamond Tiara's mansion, where the Prench maid let the three girls inside, giggling to each other as they ran up the stairs to Diamond's room. Quick as a flash, Silver darted to the closing door, still making sure not to be seen. Before the maid closed the door, Silver stopped it with her hoof.
"Se il vous plaît laissez-moi entrer , Dentelle volantée," pleaded Silver in Prench, knowing the maid couldn't speak very much Equestrian. "Erm... Diamant m'a invité , je étais juste rattrape."
The maid looked at Silver inquisitively, then sighed. "Tout droit , Mlle Silver Spoon , vous pouvez entrer. Les filles sont toutes dans la chambre de Mlle diamant Tiara . Maintenant , scoot ! Je dois encore trois chambres à nettoyer dès aujourd'hui!"
Silver smiled. "Merci , Dentelle ! Vous avez aucune idée de combien cela est important !"
Silver ran up the humongous spiral stairway to the long upstairs hall. Sandwiched between three bathrooms, five empty guestrooms and an office area was Diamond's bedroom, easily the biggest one in the upstairs. Ducking into the bathroom next to Diamond's room, Silver grabbed a water glass off the sink and held it between her ear and the wall. The voices were a bit muffled, but audible none the less.
"OMC, Diamond! Your room is incredible!"
"I know, right?"
"Who knew somepony could have a closet this big?"
"Oh cool! You have an adjoining bathroom, too!"
"Doesn't it look great? I chose the colors myself."
"My GOSH, is that REAL???"
"OMC, a fountain tub!"
"Ooh, these towels are so soft!"
"Alright girls," Silver heard Diamond say. "Let's get started with the makeovers! You two take a look at this mane magazine I have. Just choose a style that you like, alright?"
"Oooh, I like this one! Can I go first Diamond? Please please please?"
"Okay, just a minute... LOOKING GLASS!!!!" Silver heard Diamond yell into her intercom. "GET UP HERE!!! I AM IN NEED OF ASSISTANCE AT THE MOMENT!!!"
Silver heard Looking Glass, Diamond's assistant from Trottingham, run up the stairs and into Diamond Tiara's room.
"Miss Diamond, what's the matter?"
"THERE you are, Glassy! Aqua, Coronet, meet Looking Glass, my personal assistant. Now that you're here, Glassy hon, won't you be a doll and give Aqua here this manestyle? Thaaanks."
"Manestyle? Wha-"
"Don't talk, just do. Okay? Okay."
"Fine... Now, Miss Aqua, if you would please step into the fountain, we can get started. You said you wanted this one?"
"Uh-huh. It looks sooo cute!"
This went on for about fifteen minutes, until it appeared that Aquamarine was finished and it was Coronet's turn to get styled.
"Alright Miss, I believe you're done now."
"Oooh, I look fantastic, don't I Diamond?"
"Sure do! Let's move on to makeup for you, okay?"
"Coronet, what style would you care for?"
"That one looks cool. What do you think, Diamond?"
"Nah, you'd look way cuter with this shorter one."
"Oh! Um... okay! I'll have that one, Looking Glass."
All that Silver Spoon heard from Coronet's direction now was splashing and inconceivable chatter, so she directed her attention over to Diamond and Aqua.
"Okay Aqua, remember- you are a spring. Colors like dark red or blue may look sophisticated, but it will totally clash with your color palette. Stick with pastel shades of turquoise, pink, lavender or light green. Here, let's try this coral lip stain."
"OMC, Diamond! It looks so cute!"
"Told you!"
The makeovers continued for the next thirty minutes or so, and Silver was getting very bored with the conversation. All they talked about were their favorite lip gloss flavors, colts they thought were cute, or what some filly in class said that day.
All the things that Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon used to talk about together.
From an outsider's perspective, Silver could see how tiring a conversation like this could get. By the time they started talking about the new celebrity magazine issue, Silver was about ready to fall asleep.
Until the conversation turned to her.
"Hey, Diamond..."
"Yeah, Coronet?"
"I'm just curious... why isn't Silver Spoon here? Usually you two are inseparable."
"Yeah, I was wondering about that too."
"Oh, I don't know. I guess I was just getting a little bored of having only one pony I could have fun with. But now that you guys are here, I have two!"
Silver froze. She means three, right?
"Plus, Silver Spoon is kind of a wet blanket when you get down to it. She's always so serious about everything, and that's no fun. It's always 'Oh Diamond, that's not allowed.' or 'Stop it Diamond, that's not nice.' Ugh. Makes you kind of sick of her after a while, you know?"
"Totally. I used to hang out with this girl Boysenberry, and all she cared about was whether or not she studied enough for the test."
"Omigosh, Cory! That's exactly what Silver is like!"
"Guess we found Spoony a new best friend, huh?"
The girls giggled. Tears started dripped down Silver's cheeks and she wanted to leave, but her body wouldn't listen.
"The only good thing about having her around is we get good grades off of her."
"Yeah, thanks for making her sit up front, Di!"
"Oh, it was nothing really. Silvy will do anything I tell her to do. She's useful that way."
"Yup. Hey, if we're going to be like a super elite and exclusive group or something, shouldn't we have a name?"
"Hmm... good point, Cory. What should it be?"
"How about... the Fabulous Four?"
"Nah, that's dumb. What about something like... the Beautiful People?"
"Aqua, that's the dumbest thing you've ever said."
"Yep!"
"What do you think Diamond?"
"Mmm... what about... the Royal Jewels? Cause like, My name is Diamond, a jewel, Aqua's name is Aquamarine, which is I think a jewel, and Cory's name is Coronet, which is a crown but could count as a jewel, I guess."
"OMC, Di! That's perfect!"
"But wait- what about Silver Spoon? I thought that silver was a metal, not a type of gem."
"Oh, who cares. It's like she really matters all that much."
This was too much for Silver. Holding back her tears, she ran out of the bathroom, shattering the water glass on her way out. She could hear the trio asking what was that noise, but she didn't care.
Why would she say those things about me? thought Silver, running past Lace Ruffle. She told me we were BFFs! She can't really think of me like that, can she?
"Mlle Silver Spoon ! Où allez-vous?" shouted Lace, running after her. "Reviens, Mlle !"
Silver didn't respond. She was too busy running away.
"-Cause like, Twist raises her hoof every day and always has the right answer! What a nerd, right?"
"As always, DT!"
"Totally nerdy."
Silver Spoon struggled with the weight of four pony's books on her back like she had been doing for over a week. After seeing how chummy Aquamarine and Coronet were getting with Diamond, the rest of the class had picked up that they were the new 'cool kids', and thus received the privileges that came along with the title.
However, they unfortunately also saw that Diamond seemed to be snubbing Silver, which (of course) gave them permission to treat her like she was below them, which she was to Diamond and the girls.
Aqua and Coronet had adjusted well, too. At first, they seemed a little uncomfortable when Diamond teased their classmates, but had become steadily numb to it, even joining in from time to time.
Silver Spoon was a nobody now. She suspected that the only reason Diamond even kept her around anymore was because Silver got them good grades and carried their books. She knew that Diamond Tiara had hosted a few sleepovers and 'forgotten' to invite her. She knew that every other student in class was gossiping about her.
What she didn't know was why.
All of this- being replaced, getting treated like a maid, becoming little more than a lackey to the threesome- nothing like this had ever happened to her, and she had never expected it to.
It's not fair, she thought, trotting to keep up with the girls. What did I do to deserve this? I've always been a good friend to Diamond. I haven't broken the law. I always try to be respectful to my parents and Miss Cheerilee. So where did I go wrong?
"-so like, the HUGE history quiz is tomorrow, Di! Do you and Cory wanna come over to my place for a study slumber party?"
Diamond laughed and rolled her eyes. "Study?? Why would we do a thing like that? We have Silver Spoon, remember?"
Silver cringed. Is that all I am to them? Some braniac loser who carries their books?
Aqua giggled nervously. "Oh, yeah! Old habits die hard, you know?"
Diamond smirked. "I guess. But that doesn't mean we can't have a slumber party anyway!"
Aqua and Coronet both brightened. "OMC, that would be like, so cool of you, DT!" said Coronet, flipping her gelled mane back. "So who's house will it be at? Please not mine, my little brother is like, so annoying!"
"It'll be at my house, of course! I have the best food, the best room, a personal assistant who's practically my slave... Come tonight at seven thirty sharp, 'kay girls?"
"You bet!"
"I'll be there!"
After a few more minutes of planning the sleepover (which Silver tuned out), they finally came to guest list.
"So will it just be us three, Di?" asked Aqua eagerly. "Or will there be... others." She pointed distastefully at Silver Spoon. Silver's face blushed bright pink. I don't believe this. They act like I'm too stupid to know what they're talking about!
"Well, seeing as Silvy's been such a good help lately..."
Silver perked up. Could it be...
"...I suppose we can invite her."
YES!!!!
Silver couldn't believe it. For the first time in two weeks, Diamond was finally treating her as an equal again, or at least closer to one.
"But under some conditions."
Silver's happiness deflated. What conditions?
"First off, bring your homework and study guide with you. Tomorrow's test isn't an open book one, so we do have to 'look over' a couple of things, if you know what I mean." said Diamond, winking at Aqua and Coronet, who giggled. "And ask your mom to make those brownies I like and bring them over. These two just have to try them."
"Is that all?" asked Silver Spoon in a rather exasperated tone.
Diamond raised her eyebrow questioningly. "Excuse me?"
"Oh! U-um, I-I'm s-s-sorry, Diamond, I-I was just wondering i-if you wanted me t-to do anything else f-for the p-party." Silver stammered, tripping over her words.
Diamond stared at Silver Spoon haughtily, then smirked. "That's better, Silver dear. Oh! And by the way..."
Here it comes...
"Come about fifteen minutes early tonight. I need you to, *ahem*, help me set up."
Silver's grin stretched so far across her face that she thought she would snap at any second. "Oh, thank you Diamond! Thank you, thank you, thank you!" Silver's smile faltered a bit when she saw Aqua and Coronet snickering at her expense, but she was no less happy.
Before she knew it, Silver was at her modest, but respectable one-story house she lived in with her parents. "I'm ho-ome!" she shouted as she burst through the door. "Mother, where are you??? I need to ask you a favor!"
"I'm in the kitchen, Silver Spoon! What do you need?" called Silver's mom.
"Can I use the oven? I want to cook something!"
"Now?" asked Silver Spoon's mom, poking her head from the kitchen's door. "Silver, honey, I'm making dinner!"
"Please, Mother?" pleaded Silver Spoon. "Diamond invited me to a sleepover at her house tonight and she wanted me to bake some brownies for it!"
Silver's mother rolled her eyes. "Oh alright, Silver darling. But promise to clean up any messes you make in the kitchen, okay?"
"Okay, mother!" called Silver as she sped to the kitchen. Tying an apron around herself and grabbing the cookbook, she smiled. Time to get our friendship back on track. she thought, gathering the bowls. This has to be a sign, right? Diamond wouldn't have invited me if she didn't like me!
Soon enough, however, those paranoid thoughts drifted away as Silver began to relax. Cooking was her special talent, after all. She decided to add some chocolate chips in with the brownies, just the way Diamond liked them.
Everything is going to be perfect.
***
Everything was not going perfectly.
Silver had arrived exactly fifteen minutes early like Diamond had asked her to, with a plate of brownies on her back and her homework and study guide in her saddlebags. The butler, Randolph, showed Silver to Diamond's bedroom, where the pink filly was waiting for her.
Diamond's room was huge, painted a pristine white and trimmed with silver and platinum accents. Her queen sized canopy bed was tulip pink, the curtains a transparent white with swirling pink and platinum designs. The carpet was a perfect, untarnished white and soft as a cloud. On the walls were various posters of popular colt bands, many of them autographed. Pushed up against the walls was a lavender writing desk and shiny, ice blue swivel chair, a small lavender and blue sofa, and three whole bookcases full of several year's worth of assorted celebrity, makeup, and fashion magazines. Across from Diamond's bed was a white door with a soft blue painted on around light pink and white floral designs, reading 'Washroom' in white lettering. Silver Spoon's whole bedroom could fit into Diamond's walk-in closet. Even though she had come over many times over the years, Silver couldn't help but be dumbfounded whenever she came to Diamond's house.
"Oh good, there you are." said Diamond huffily. "You'd better get started right away, the girls are coming any minute now."
"Started on what?" asked Silver.
"Fixing this place up, duh! I need you to put those brownies on that table over there, next to the Perrier. Then get out the two cots from my closet and put them on either side of my bed, the blue one on the left and the lavender one on the right. And make it snappy, this place has to be spic-and-span by the time they arrive!"
"Anything else?" asked Silver Spoon in a rather aggravated tone.
Diamond raised an eyebrow. "Excuse me???"
"O-oh, I-I mean i-is there a-a-anything else y-you want me t-to do, Diamond?" asked Silver, tripping over her words.
Diamond sneered. "There is one more thing, thanks for reminding me. Be a doll and push my desk into that corner, mmkay?"
Silver sighed. "Yes, Diamond."
"Good, now get to work! I won't have you make a fool out of me in front of my new friends." snapped Diamond, going to relax on her sofa. Silver sighed, setting the plate of brownies down on the table and heading over to the closet for the cots. She noticed Diamond had settled down reading a fashion magazine and wasn't seeming to care about how Silver Spoon was to do the job.
Silver lugged the blue cot over to the left side of Diamond's canopy bed, making sure to set it exactly three inches away from the bed, as she knew Diamond was very nit picky about these things. Going back to the closet, she did the same with the lavender cot.
Checking the clock, Silver saw that she only had about two more minutes before Coronet and Aqua were due to arrive. She pushed the lavender writing desk into a corner and pushed the silver swivel chair in. No sooner had she done this than a faint ringing of the doorbell was heard from downstairs. Diamond perked up, setting down her magazine and running to meet the girls. Silver frowned as she heard them exchange greetings and give hugs, much in the same way that she and Diamond used to.
The trio burst through the door, laughing and chatting together. Aqua looked up from the conversation for a bit, then squealed when she saw the brownies.
"Oooh! Chocolate chip brownies, my favorite!" Aqua bit into one. "Sooo good... Cory, you have got to try these!"
"Don't mind if I do." said Coronet, picking up a brownie and munching off a piece. "Mmm... you're right, Aqua, these are amazing, mmm... Di, who made these?"
"My mom." said Silver quickly, before Diamond could answer. Diamond glared at her for the interruption, then turned her attention over to Aqua and Coronet, who had both taken another brownie and and getting started on the Perrier, gushing about how good it all was.
Diamond giggled. "Hey, slow down you two! I've ordered a pizza, so don't fill up on brownies and Perrier, okay? Oh, and guess what? I just got the new issue of Applewood Insider yesterday, and you guys will wanna see it!"
Both of the fillies squealed happily and ran over to Diamond's magazine bookcases, the food temporarily forgotten. Silver was about to join them when Diamond looked up and smirked nastily.
"Silvy dear, why don't you go get started on the study half of our study party? Aqua, Cory, can you go get your homework from your saddlebags and give it to Silver?" The two nodded and retrieved their assignments to give to Silver. They set them down on the desk, then trotted back to Diamond, giggling girlishly all the way.
Silver Spoon felt like somepony had punched her in the gut. Why did Diamond keep excluding her? She could stand being made to do a few menial jobs, but not being totally ostracized from the group!
"But Diamond, can't I-" Silver was cut off by a sinister glare from Diamond that was telling her to do as she was told right now.
"Sorry, Silv." giggled Aqua. "But cool ponies don't do homework. They get nerds to do homework for them."
Diamond and Aqua burst out laughing, and Silver Spoon's face turned bright red. This is ludicrous! she thought furiously. Unbelievable! Now they're insulting me to my face and behind my back??? What the heck!
"Now be a good little nerd, Silver Spoon, and go do the homework." snickered Coronet. "Oh! And make sure to simulate our hoof writing exactly. We wouldn't want to be accused of cheating, hmm?" Aqua shooed Silver away with her hoof, and the threesome went back to drooling over Applewood Insider.
Silver Spoon sat down at the desk. Now she understood why Diamond wanted her to scoot it into a corner- so that she would be as isolated as possible. Wiping away a tear, she contemplated refusing to do the work at all. The she thought of how angry Diamond would be with her and that it might destroy any chances of them becoming close friends again. That thought alone gave her the motivation to pick up a pencil and get started.
"Good Morning, everypony!" called Miss Cheerilee, walking into her classroom on a sunshiney Thursday morning in mid May.
"Good morning, Miss Cheerilee." said the class in bored unison before going back to their previous activities.
"I have some very special news for all of you today!" The class stopped talking amongst themselves to listen. It had been a long time since their teacher had announced anything.
"Because of the increase of students in our class and others this year," said Cheerilee, nodding towards Little Red, Boysenberry, First Base, and others. "Princess Twilight is building and dedicating a brand new upper school for next year! New teachers will be hired, extracurricular classes are going to be present, and the building will be two floors high!"
The class erupted in excited murmurs. This is so cool! thought Silver Spoon. A brand new school run by Princess Twilight herself! Now I can't wait for next year!
"There's also one more thing, class!" chirped Cheerilee, upbeat as ever. "As most of you know, Equestrian schooling only goes up to grade six, which by then you have been expected to have earned your cutie mark and find a trade. However, Princess Twilight has passed a new law stating that, because a good education is so important to a pony's life, the required number of school years has been raised from six to eight. So ponies who are in sixth grade now will move on to seventh, then after year eight you graduate. Doesn't that sound absolutely thrilling?"
The class was silent. Several students had their mouths open in shock.
"So let me get this straight," blurted out Scootaloo. "Princess Twilight is forcing us to have an extra two years of school, and you think that it's a good idea????"
"Yeah, that's stupid!"
"I hate this new law!"
"Me too!"
"Well, I think that it'th-"
"Nopony cares what you think, Twist!"
The class broke out in mutinous shouts, opinions, and insults, many of them directed at the lack of Princess Twilight's brain cells.
The shouting stopped, and the class stared up at grim-looking Cheerilee who held a whistle in her mouth.
"Class..." she said slowly and dangerously. "That... is... enough. I will not allow my students to act like wild animals during school hours. Now take your seats." The students obeyed, sitting down with as little noise as possible. Cheerilee glared at everyone, then attempted to put on a smile again.
"Now, let's start with Math today. If you would all open to page 234..."
***
"Apple Bloom, I just love your bow! Did you save it from the Timberwolves when your parents died?"
It was recess. Diamond Tiara had told her entourage about the crusader plan at the study party, and the two seemed to be following through without any remorse. A small flock of students had gathered around Diamond and the crusaders, watching and laughing. Silver stood slightly behind Diamond, Aqua and Coronet, giggling at the right moments but never joining in.
"Leave her alone, Diamond!" yelled Scootaloo furiously, stepping in front of a stunned Apple Bloom.
"Why should I? This is fun!" laughed Diamond, Aqua and Coronet snickering behind her. "But I guess it makes sense coming from you, Scootaloo."
"And why is that?" growled Scootaloo.
"Oh, no reason. I just thought you were the type to protect your lover. You do have a crush on Apple Bloom, am I right?"
Scootaloo looked like she had been slapped. "I... I... shut up! You don't know anything! A-apple Bloom is just my friend, that's all!"
"A very good friend, I'd say." snickered Aqua to Coronet, the two breaking out in giggles.
"You'll what?" mocked Diamond. "Tell the teacher on me? Go cry to your big sis? Oh, I'm so scared." Behind her, Aqua and Coronet pretended to be afraid, making Sweetie Belle blush in embarrassment.
"I don't even know why you three are still here." said Coronet, stepping next to Diamond. "I mean it's not like anypony really likes you or anything."
"Yeah, no offense, but you guys are geeks." giggled Aqua, standing on the other side of Diamond. "You aren't good at anything, everypony hates you, and I doubt even a mother could love those faces."
The crowd laughed again, and the crusaders looked panicky. Diamond smiled cruelly, then walked up to the crusaders. "Watch everypony, as I show these poor, miserable little freaks why they will never fit in here."
"Exhibit A," said Diamond to the crowd, pointing at Scootaloo. "See the flightless filly-fooler who has fallen in love with her best friend, who surely returns her affections. Notice her unfortunate state of having no parents who love her, only a single mother who uses the excuse of poverty to stay away from her disgusting daughter."
Scootaloo started to tell Diamond to shut up, but she was quickly shushed by the tiara-bearing filly, who now moved on to Sweetie Belle.
"Exhibit B," said Diamond, grinning evilly as the students around her laughed. "Observe the ugliest and fattest filly this side of Equestria. In looks, she is in stark contrast to her sister the well-known fashion designer, who obviously is ashamed of being related to this hideous creature."
Sweetie's lip quivered dangerously, and she looked like she was going to burst into tears any minute. When Diamond stepped in front of Apple Bloom, a sly and malicious smile crept onto her face, and Bloom stumbled back in fear of what was to come.
"And Exhibit C," said Diamond, turning to the mocking crowd around her with a dramatic expression. "Behold the devastated orphan before you, the only remnant of her dead parents tied in her mane. This pathetic work-horse earns her keep by doing menial labor on her family's farm, possibly the only place in Equestria that will ever accept her. But wait! What if she gets her cutie mark, if at all, and it's not an apple? Most likely her family will kick her to the curb, disowning their nonconformist offspring."
"So you see," continued Diamond, presenting the three stunned and crying fillies to their classmates. "These poor, pitiful fillies deserve your utmost sympathies, the reason being that they will never fit into pony society. Because really, who'd want to be friends with a couple of eternal losers?"
Apple Bloom's face drained of all color and she crumpled to the ground, looking like she had seen a ghost. Tears formed at the edges of her eyes, and started to shake uncontrollably.
The bell rang, and the crowd of students scurried back into the classroom. However, the crusaders and Diamond's crew lingered behind.
"Well, blank-flanks? Do you think you've been punished enough, or should we continue?" smirked Diamond, leaning in close to the distressed faces of the crusaders.
"S-stop it..." mumbled Apple Bloom, barely audible.
"What was that, Apple Bloom?" asked Diamond, leaning her ear in close. "Did you say you still haven't had enough? Well then, I guess I'll be seeing you tomorrow, then. And the day after that. And the day after that."
Aqua and Coronet laughed heartlessly, but this time Silver didn't join in. What was Diamond doing?? Didn't she think that she had tortured the crusaders enough?
"Don't worry, dork-saders," said Coronet. "We'll make sure that you get punished enough. Hopefully by the end of the year we'll be through."
"Or not." giggled Aqua. The three trotted back to class, laughing nastily all the way.
Silver Spoon held back however, looking at the crusaders with pity. They were helping each other up, saying to themselves and each other that what Diamond had said wasn't true. Eventually they noticed that Silver Spoon was staring at them.
"W-what're you looking at?!" snarled Scootaloo, getting up close in Silver's face. "I-If you're feeling sorry for us, then knock it off! We don't need anybody's pity!"
Silver stepped back. "I-I just wanted to say I-I'm sorry..." she whispered, staring at the ground.
"Sorry? SORRY??? Well, sorry ain't enough, you no good bully!"
This made Silver angry. "If you haven't noticed, I didn't do anything to you back there! It was only those three!" she shouted, furious at the crusaders for blaming her.
"But you didn't stop them either." said Sweetie Belle softly, wiping away tears.
Silver's blood ran cold at this. They had no idea how much she wanted the girls to stop... But they also had no idea how hard it was to disagree with them.
"Y-you don't know a-anything..." Silver stammered, her voice rising little by little. "Y-you don't know what i-it's like, practically being her servant, doing whatever she wants, taking the heat every time she screws up!" Silver Spoon's whole body was trembling now. It felt so good to let all this out.
"I hate doing it, and you would hate it too if you were in my place! You just don't understand! You will never understand!!!" Silver Silver was full on screaming now and was shaking so badly that she was about to fall over. Finally she couldn't stand it, and broke down sobbing right in front of the crusaders.
The second bell rang, but Silver didn't care. She could hear the crusaders walking back to the classroom together. After a few more minutes, Silver Spoon eventually pulled herself together. Looking inside the windows, she saw Cheerilee was taking post-lunch roll call. She was about to go back to class like she was supposed to, but felt sick at the thought having to face Diamond.
I won't go back. she thought, panicked. I won't!
So Silver Spoon turned around and ran.
***
Silver burst through her front door, speeding into her room. She ignored her mother's questions of why she was home so early, and locked the door behind her. Breathing heavily, she flopped onto her bed, head spinning. Soon enough however, she calmed down and came to her senses, looking around her room.
Silver's room was small, the walls painted a calming sky blue. A white antique wooden vanity sat across from her bed, a pretty glass vase with a single white lily sitting on the side. Her bed was a antique wooden white one, with a tall, carved headboard outlined with silver paint, along with soft blue and light purple sheets spread smoothly over her mattress. To the left of her bed was a wall length window seat that matched the color of her walls, gauzy light grey curtains pulled to the sides. Simple, whitewashed wooden bookcases sided the bed, filled mostly with cookbooks and classics. A light silver and white dressing screen was to the right of her vanity. The light brown hardwood flooring shone dustless, with an oval shaped lavender rug between the bed and the vanity. A plain, white writing desk was shoved in a corner, piled neatly with binders and folders and A+ papers. Her closet was small, holding only a few nice dresses, some shoes, and a winter coat, with a poster of a famous chef hidden behind the rack of clothes.
Silver loved her room. The comfortable, classic vibe it gave fitted her personality perfectly, and the soft colors always made her feel relaxed.
Knock-knock
"Silver Spoon, come out here and explain to me why you came home three hours early, slammed the door when you ran in, and locked yourself in your room?" called Silver's mother firmly from outside the door. "I want answers, young mare!"
Silver wracked her brain for a good excuse. Speaking through the door, she said, "Um... Miss Cheerilee, uh, let out school early because... um... a gas leak! Yeah, there was a minor gas leak, so she let us out. Thanks for asking!"
Silver was about to run back to her bed, but she wasn't that lucky.
"Now, wait just a minute," said her Mother. "First off, open that door right now, young mare." Reluctantly, Silver complied. Her mother entered Silver's room and sat on her daughter's bed.
"Okay, the funny stuff is over. Let's hear the real story this time." she said, looking Silver Spoon straight in the eye. Silver gave a deep breath and turned away.
"Everything is fine, Mother." she said. "I... I just wasn't feeling well after lunch. I didn't want to go back to class, so I came here instead."
Silver's mother eyed her suspiciously, and the grey filly turned away, as not to meet her mother's eyes. Finally, Silver's mother sighed.
"Well, I can't think of any other reason you'd leave school early, so I guess you're off the hook for now." she said, getting up off the bed. Silver gave a tiny breath of relief that she wasn't in trouble.
"But that doesn't mean you can just mope around in your room all day. If you're going to be at home instead of school, you are going to help me out around the house, okay?"
Silver Spoon sighed. "Oh- kay, Mother. What do want me to do?"
Her mother smiled. "How about you make dinner? I'm in the mood for pasta primavera and chocolate cake."
Silver grinned. "Sure thing, mother! I'll get started right away!"
The next day, Silver Spoon was back in class, studying hard for the exams that were due to come in a few short weeks. After her breakdown the day before, she noticed that the crusaders had stopped giving her dirty looks during class, but still cautiously avoided her and Diamond.
Silver had decided to stay in at recess today, still uncomfortable with seeing Diamond and the 'tenacious twosome', as she had come to calling them. Looking outside the window, she was glad to see that they weren't targeting the crusaders. For now. she thought, silently groaning.
Because exams were coming so quickly, Silver wasn't surprised to see that she wasn't the only student who decided to study during recess. Around her she recognized Twist, Lickety Split, Featherweight, and Boysenberry, all focused on reviewing their notes or completing the day's homework. Realizing that she should be doing the same, Silver Spoon opened her folder and sifted through her tidy-looking class notes, searching for something that she hadn't already reviewed a hundred times. Finally she came across some History papers that she didn't remember reassessing, and began her search for something that might be useful in the exams.
After about fifteen minutes of dedicated research, Silver gave up. I don't think I can cram any more in my brain! she thought, getting up and heading over to the classroom bookshelf. After browsing for a bit, Silver selected a worn copy of The Invisible Mare, opening it up and beginning to read as she walked back to her desk.
Wham!
Silver Spoon slammed into another student. She had been so preoccupied by her reading that she wasn't looking where she was going. A filly with a blackberry braid and cream colored coat was on the ground next to her, rubbing her head.
"I am so sorry," said Silver Spoon, standing up and extending a hoof to the filly on the floor, whom she recognized as Boysenberry. Boysenberry smiled gratefully, but her expression changed to one of shock when she saw who's hoof it was.
"Oh! Um, no problem!" she said, getting up without the help of Silver. "No harm done. Uh, bye!" Silver's heart sank when Boysenberry ran back to her desk without looking back. Silver stared, confused, at her for a moment before walking back to her desk.
Was she... afraid? Is that what ponies think of me? thought Silver sadly as she sat down at her desk. That I'll hurt them like Diamond does?
That's what you get for sticking to her like glue for the past five years. she thought, her conscience speaking to her. Immediately she felt guilty.
Diamond hasn't been mean the whole time! she thought, arguing with herself. And even when she acted like a bully, she had always restricted it to just teasing! Teasing isn't that big of a deal, right?
Right?
***
"Nice mane, Alula! What, are you so poor that you have to substitute a weed whacker for scissors?"
It was the Monday after that fateful sleepover; the one where Diamond's mother had left home for good. In the three days since she had departed, nopony had heard anything from her. Diamond had cried the rest of the night, relying on Silver Spoon for comfort and reassurance. Silver had consoled her all night as Diamond recounted every fight her parents had been having these past months. Silver noticed that the first time Diamond's parents had begun fighting, ten or eleven months ago, was around the same time when she started being rude to their classmates and bossing Silver around. But this was the first time Diamond had ever outright targeted someone.
The whole rest of the day, Silver only saw Diamond smile when she was making fun of Alula. Inside, Silver Spoon felt like she was going to be sick with how mean Diamond Tiara was acting. Worse, Silver witnessed Diamond threatening Alula by telling her that Filthy Rich would fire Alula's dad from Barnyard Bargains if she told the teacher.
So for the remainder of third grade, Alula was both publicly and and privately humiliated, put down, or otherwise tormented in any way the tiara-bearing filly could think of.
That year it was all Diamond. Silver Spoon mostly sat on the sidelines and watched, unsure of what to do. Almost every day, Alula was in tears, desperately pleading with Diamond to leave her alone. That summer, however, Alula went off to sleepaway camp and Diamond went to Canterlot to visit her mom. She seemed to give up bullying and go back to her old self, and Silver had never been happier.
That is, until grade four.
It was that year that Diamond targeted Twist, one of the best students in class. Twist wasn't exactly pretty, with her horn-rimmed glasses and larger than normal muzzle. Recently, she had gotten braces, which had given her a lisp. This only gave Diamond more fuel for her taunts. That year, Twist was her prime target. But like the year before, Diamond didn't steal Twist's lunch, push her down, or do anything but tease. But also like last year, Diamond's words seemed to hurt just as much as a punch in the face, if not worse.
But this year, Diamond expected Silver Spoon to join in. "It's no fun doing it by myself!" she'd say. So Silver followed Diamond's lead, going along with any plan her friend might have for their classmates.
That April, though, Cheerilee brought up the subject of family into the class's studies, and asked each student to bring in a family member to talk about their genealogy and present relations for Social Studies. Silver Spoon had her mother come, and Apple Bloom got her older sister, Applejack, to come in and talk about how the Apple family was spread all over Equestria, and how strong their family bonds were.
This made Diamond angry for some reason. She didn't confide in her friend on why, but Silver Spoon figured it out after school.
"It's not fair!" complained Diamond, sitting on Silver Spoon's bed, a bag of hay chips sitting on the floor.
"What's not fair, Di?" replied Silver curiously.
"That... that... Apple Bloom." she seethed, gritting her teeth.
"What about her?"
"Her presentation today with Applejack!" she shouted. "Why does she insist on ruining everything????"
Silver Spoon was very confused. "Di, what the heck are you talking about?"
"You saw my Dad's thing yesterday, didn't you?" said Diamond, turning to Silver. "And you remember that he was the only parent who stayed for less than five minutes."
"Big deal, it's not like anypony cares." said Silver, reaching for the chips.
"I care! I care a lot." said Diamond. "How come she gets all the breaks??? On the last quiz, I overheard her telling Twist that she forgot to study, and then, like, a minute later, Miss Cheerilee says that the test has been postponed due to her losing the quiz papers!"
"That is a little weird..." agreed Silver Spoon.
"Too weird, if you ask me." snarled Diamond. "Just like her. It's like she has some built in good-luck charm or something!"
Suddenly, Diamond smiled. But not the kind, happy smiles Silver and her often exchanged, but one that Silver Spoon had never seen on Diamond before. It was strange, and Silver didn't like it.
"Hey Spoony," said Diamond, turning to her friend with a malicious expression on her face. "I think I just found our next victim."
***
Brrrrriiiinngg...
Silver Spoon snapped out her trance. The bell had rung and students were trudging gloomily back to their seats. Silver watched as Boysenberry got up to greet a colt with a two-tone slate blue mane and light blue body, and no cutie mark.
I wish she hadn't run away from me... thought Silver Spoon, staring down at her desk. Maybe... maybe we could have been friends.
"Alright everypony, settle down!" called out Miss Cheerilee. "We have a lot to cover this afternoon, so let's get started on Science. Pull out your notebooks, students!"
Silver did as she was told, taking out her Science notebook and jotting down the date. The lesson took her mind of thoughts of the past, and instead made her think about the difference between ponies and other creatures.
But her attention kept turning to her encounter with Boysenberry. It had really made her think when the filly had acted so frightened of her.I don't want ponies to afraid of me! she thought. I want them to like me and actually want to be friends!
Fat chance of that, she thought gloomily. With Diamond around, nopony is ever going to want to be friends with me.
Then Silver had a thought. If I can't make friends with Diamond around, I'll just do it without her around!
"Silver Spoon? Are you paying attention?" said Cheerilee, diverting from the lesson for a moment.
Silver blushed. She hadn't realized that she had been looking away this whole time. Behind her, Diamond and the tenacious twosome snickered.
"Yes, Miss Cheerilee!" she said brightly.
"Good, now let's continue. As most of you know, there is an important difference between a griffon and a hippogriff..."
Silver Spoon stared up front, pretending to listen. I'll make sure everything goes perfectly! she thought, smiling to herself. It has to!
***
"...and, like, I was thinking 'Nerd Alert!' Cause, you know, that one filly, Little Red, looks like she got her fashion sense from Twist, you get what I'm saying, Di?" said Coronet, walking on Diamond's left side that afternoon. The bell had just rung a few minutes ago, and the students were home free.
"Um, Diamond?" squeaked Silver Spoon, walking behind the girls, as usual.
"Totally, Cory! And she has that weird nasally voice, too." replied Diamond, ignoring Silver completely .
Silver tried again. "Diamond? Can I ask you something?"
"Did you see her cutie mark? I mean, what kind of an egghead's special talent is an abacus?" said Aqua, rolling her eyes.
"Diamond?"
"I know, she's so gross. Plus, she's super fat. Lay off the chocolate, Little Red!" giggled Diamond.
"Diamond???"
Diamond huffed and turned around to face Silver. "What is it, Silver Spoon? Can't you see I'm talking with my girls here?" Aqua and Coronet sneered at Silver with disgust, and Silver shrank back.
"I-I just needed to tell y-you that m-my mom wanted me to go, um, pick up something for her at the market, and I-I need to go a different way today, um, if that's okay with you..." Silver stared at her hoofs, not daring to look her friend in the eye.
"Fine. Go. I honestly don't care, Silv." said Diamond, turning back to her friends.
Silver smiled broadly. "Thanks, Di! You have no idea how much this really means!" Silver ran back to the school house, hoping that Boysenberry was still there so she could talk to her.
Silver Spoon burst through the classroom doors, looking around. Boysenberry was nowhere to be seen.
"Miss Cheerilee?" asked Silver Spoon to her teacher. "Um... did Boysenberry leave yet? I want to talk to her."
Cheerilee looked surprised for a moment, then smiled. "You just missed her. But if you hurry, you might be able to get to her before she reaches her house."
"Thanks, Miss Cheerilee. You're a lifesaver!" said Silver, then ran out of the schoolhouse without a minute to waste. She glanced over the playground, searching for a filly with a berry-colored braid. Finally she saw her, walking away with the same blue-maned colt as before. Silver Spoon ran over to her as fast as she could.
"Boysenberry, wait up!" she called waving her front hoof at her. Boysenberry turned, horrified to see the Silver filly waving at her. Silver heard the blue-maned colt whisper "I knew this would happen!". She didn't know what that meant, but at the moment, she didn't care.
"There you are!" said Silver amiably when she caught up to the two. "I've been looking all over for you, Boysenberry!"
"Y-you have?" said Boysenberry, looking worried. "I-is this about what happened today at the bookshelves? I said I was sorry!"
Silver was confused. "The bookshelves? Why would it matter what happened-"
The blue-maned colt stepped forward. "W-we'll do anything you want, just leave me and Boysen alone!" he interrupted, his voice shaking slightly.
"What? What are you talking about? I don't want anything from you, I just-"
"Don't lie! I know that you're mad at me that I bumped into you today, and now you want me to do something to make it up to you!" said Boysenberry. "What do you want? Test answers? Cheat sheets? I don't care, but name it and just get off my back!"
"You don't understand, I don't want any of those!" said Silver Spoon. "I just came over here to see if maybe we could be friends, that's all."
Boysenberry stared at Silver incredulously, then scowled. "This is a joke, right? Any minute now, Diamond Tiara's going to jump out from somewhere and say that I just got punk'd, isn't she?"
"No!" Silver cried. "Please, I just want to be your friend! Why don't you believe me?"
Boysenberry squinted her eyes until they became slits. "Why do you think? Because you and your prissy friends are all fakes, that's why. Nopony wants to be your friend, and they only want to be Diamond's friend because that way they'll get the royal treatment and have less of a chance of becoming her next target!"
Silver Spoon's lavender eyes filled with tears. "I... I... stop! Just stop!"
Boysenberry snarled. "Why should I? If Diamond really isn't here to punish me for this, then I don't see any reason for her number one brown-noser to get a taste of reality for a change!"
Boysen probably would have continued except that the colt beside whispered to her, "Don't you think you've said enough by now?" Her expression changed, losing the scowl and shifting to one of stubborn pride.
"Whatever." she said, turning to face her friend. "If you really don't want any recompense for what happened today, then, well, just leave us alone!" Boysenberry stormed off, the blue-maned colt following close behind. Silver could hear the two talking as they walked away.
"Wasn't that a little... I dunno... harsh?" said the colt.
"I don't care anymore." said Boysenberry. "It felt good telling off the Queen of Mean's favorite groupie. C'mon Sketch, let's get a move on! I can't sell all those berries by myself, you know!"
"Fine, fine..."
The two ran off down the road, leaving Silver in the dust.
Silver Spoon stood stock-still for a while, slightly in shock. It didn't work... she thought, feeling dejected. Even when Diamond isn't around, she is! It's like I can't escape her!
Silver plodded back to her house despondently, staring at her hooves and ignoring everyone around her. When she passed Sugarcube Corner, she peeked inside the window and saw Diamond and her crew gossiping over milkshakes. Silver sighed. At least I'm not paying for them this time... she thought.
Silver Spoon wandered aimlessly around town for some time, thinking. Without meaning to, she had been going in circles and had come back the schoolhouse. Silver walked over to the swing set and sat down. Looking up at the sky, she noticed that a few pegasai were gathering together some rain clouds over Ponyville, and drops began to fall.
Shoot, I forgot that a thunderstorm was scheduled for today, she thought, but didn't make any effort to move off the swings.
The rain began to come down more heavily, and pretty soon Silver was drenched, but she didn't care. Why should I care? she thought, her damp mane falling into her face. Nopony likes me. Why would it matter if never go home? Tears spilled down Silver's cheeks, camouflaging with the rain.
Silver looked down at her pearl necklace. It had been a birthday present from Diamond Tiara a few years ago, and Silver treasured it over anything else she had ever owned. The rain that dropped onto it only made it gleam brighter, and Silver cry harder.
When she gave this to me, she said that we'd be best friends forever... thought Silver. I guess she never thought about what would happen if she ever got bored with her BFF.
The storm was in full swing now with a few thunderclaps now and then, and Silver's glasses had fogged up so much that she could barely see two feet in front of her. She heard the door to the schoolhouse slam.
"Silver Spoon! What are you doing out here?"
Silver looked and made out a mulberry earth pony running towards her; It was Cheerilee.
"M-miss Cheerilee?" said Silver looking up and squinting through her misty frames.
"It's me, Silver Spoon. Why in Celestia's name are you sitting on the swings in the middle of a lightning storm? Didn't you remember that we had one scheduled for today?"
Silver shook her head. "N-no, I-I forgot."
"Then why didn't you run home as soon as the rain began to fall?"
Silver couldn't answer this; she didn't know herself. A strangled sob escaped her throat, and and before she knew it, she was wailing like a foal. Cheerilee stood next Silver Spoon for a moment before speaking.
"Silver Spoon... would you like to talk to me in my office for a bit? Don't worry, you're not in trouble." said Cheerilee, helping Silver off the swing set. "I promise, we can get everything sorted out in there. Let's just get out of this rain."
Silver sniffled and wiped the rain and tears off her face. "O-okay..." she said.
Cheerilee smiled warmly at her student. "C'mon."
And so the teacher and student walked away from the playground, two dark gray figures in the downpour.
Silver Spoon sat down at the chair in front of Cheerilee's desk, sniffling and brushing away rain and tears. Cheerilee held out a tissue box, which Silver accepted and promptly used.
"Now," said Cheerilee, sitting down at her desk and giving Silver a warm, but stern smile. "Would you please tell me why you were sitting on the swings in the middle of a rainstorm? I was very worried about you."
Silver's lip quivered, and she wanted to cry. "W-well," she started, looking fixedly down at her hooves. "A-after s-school was over, I-I followed B-b-boysenberry so that I-I could see if she m-maybe wanted to hang out sometime. I t-t-talked to her, and she... she..." Silver burst into tears again, discarding the rest of her sentence.
"Silver Spoon, what did she do to you?" asked Cheerilee, curious. "Did she hurt you?"
"N-no..." said Silver. "B-but when I asked i-if she p-possibly wanted to be my f-friend, s-she asked me... she a-asked if this was a joke!" A fresh flood of tears erupted from Silver.
"Why, that's just awful!" said Cheerilee, looking sympathetic. "And so unlike Boysenberry! Usually she's friendly to just about anyone." This only made Silver wail louder.
"T-t-then w-why w-w-wasn't she f-friendly to me????" she bawled, yanking out tissues from the box on Cheerilee's desk.
Cheerilee was silent for a moment, unsure of what to say next.
"Have you ever thought that it might be because of Diamond Tiara's influence on you?" said Cheerilee tentatively.
"Of course I have!" said Silver, hiccuping. "And that's just it! I t-thought that ponies were only afraid of Diamond, not me! So if I was genuinely nice to somepony else and Diamond Tiara wasn't around to spoil it, then other ponies might give me a chance! But," she sniffed, her face covered in tears and snot. "I guess I was wrong. M-maybe it's not Diamond at all. Maybe... maybe ponies don't like me because I'm some sort of nerdy freak, just like Aqua and C-coronet told me!"
"No, no, Silver Spoon, don't believe any of that!" said Cheerilee, putting her hoof on Silver's shoulder. "You are a smart, beautiful young mare, and anypony who says otherwise is wrong. I know it, they know, and I'm sure you know it, too."
"(sniff) I-I guess..."
"Now, you said that Aqua and Coronet were calling you names?" said Cheerilee in a steely tone of voice.
"Uh-huh," said Silver. "Yeah, a c-couple of weeks ago, Diamond invited those two t-to be her new friends, which I-I guess isn't such a big deal, DT's allowed to have more than just o-one friend, I suppose... but then they started freezing me out, and making me do their school stuff, and i-insulting me to my face and... and..." Silver trailed off, sniffling and hiccuping.
"Oh dear..." said Cheerilee, pressing a hoof on her forehead. "I hate it when these things happen... Silver, would you like me to confront them or write them a note home?"
"No!!!!" screamed Silver Spoon, looking frantic. "Please don't do that! That'll only give me less of a chance of staying Diamond's BFF! Please, please, please no! Anything but that!"
"Alright, alright! I won't talk to them!" said Cheerilee, a bit surprised at Silver's reaction. "But you must realize, Silver Spoon, that what they are doing to you is wrong, and it has to stop! And it's not going to stop if neither you nor I do anything about it!"
Silver didn't answer. She knew that this was the truth, and that in was in her benefit to accept it. But try as she might, the thoughts that she was the root of the problem stayed.
"I know, but i-it's so hard!" Silver cried, covering her face with her hooves. "Every time I even try to add something to the conversation, they just stare at me like I'm some sort of a bug! I bet they're only keeping me around because I can get them straight As. I want to tell them to treat me with some respect, but I... I... I just can't!"
"Have you tried asking Diamond why she froze you out in the first place?" asked Cheerilee. "It might help if you know why she is doing this at all."
"I-I don't need to." said Silver. "A c-couple of weeks ago, I overheard her t-talking to Aqua and Coronet. Diamond s-said that she was getting b-bored with me, and that's why she chose those two to be her n-new friends."
"Silver Spoon, if she really was bored with you, then why would she keep you around?" asked Cheerilee. "And before you say that she needed you to do her school things for her, let me tell you that I was once a filly, too. I know how these things go. If she really and truly did not want you around, but still wanted you to do her schoolwork, then what she most likely would have done is give you her assignments and tell you to give them back when you were through."
Silver thought about this for a minute. That does seem like something Diamond would do... but why hasn't she done it, then?
"But I don't get it!" said Silver Spoon. "That's sounds exactly like something Diamond would do, but she hasn't! Almost every time that Diamond and the girls are doing something, I come along and they treat me like dirt. I don't want to go with them at all, but I'm afraid that if I don't, then Diamond'll be mad and our friendship will really end."
"Silver Spoon," said Cheerilee slowly. "If your friendship with Diamond is causing you this much stress, then..." she trailed off, shaking her head and muttering under her breath.
"What?" asked Silver, narrowing her eyes. "Miss Cheerilee, what are you saying?"
Cheerilee sighed. "Silver, I think it might be in your best interests if you let this relationship with Diamond Tiara go."
Silver Spoon's eyes became like saucers. "I-I d-don't understand. M-me and D-diamond have been b-best friends f-for years! I c-can't just break it off. That would be suicide!"
Cheerilee looked confused. "Suicide? That doesn't make sense, Silver Spoon."
"Yes it does." said Silver, scrunching up her features bitterly. "With all due respect Miss Cheerilee, you might rule over us during class, but on the playground, Diamond's word is law. If you do anything to tick her off, then she'll do whatever it takes to make your life miserable. Trust me, I've seen it happen first hoof."
"Then why in Equestria are you still friends with her?"
Again, Silver couldn't answer this. The only thing she could think of was because they'd friends for years, and she didn't want to lose that. "I don't know." she finally responded. "She's always just been my one good friend... and I can't risk losing her."
Cheerilee sighed. "Whatever you feel is right, Silver Spoon. But let me ask you this- what's the difference between a friend and an enemy, when said friend makes you feel like trash?"
Yet again, Silver found herself lost for speech. For several minutes, she pondered her teacher's words, until Cheerilee spoke up.
"It looks like the storm is ending, Silver." she said, looking out the window at the slow-falling rain. "Let me walk you home. I'll tell your parents that you and me were just talking while waiting the storm out."
Silver nodded, still thinking.
"Good. Now gather your things, and we'll be on our way." Silver Spoon did as she was told, picking up her still-damp saddlebags and slinging them over her back. She followed Cheerilee out of the classroom and outside, where the now gently sprinkling rain was showing signs of stopping. Dew drops trickled off leaves and blades of grass, making tiny prisms in the early evening light. Ponies were coming out of their houses, and young foals were splashing in the leftover puddles from the rain.
Silver smiled at the harmonious scene around her. This was one of the things she loved about living in Ponyville; that it almost always gave her a sense of peace. For a moment, she forgot all her troubles with Diamond, exams, and Boysenberry. A tranquil aura enveloped her; she could feel all her burdens slipping away...
"Silver Spoon? Are you coming?"
The silence was shattered, and Silver snapped out of her trance. "Oh! Sorry, Miss Cheerilee. Spaced out for a minute, there." Cheerilee nodded, seeming to understand. They walked side by side down the puddle-lined dirt road in silence. When they came to Silver's house, Cheerilee turned to Silver Spoon and smiled.
"I'm glad we had that talk, Silver." she said kindly.
"Me, too." said Silver. "Um... Miss Cheerilee? Can I ask you something?"
"You can ask me anything Silver Spoon. As long as it's not about my age or weight."
"What do you think I should do about the Diamond situation? I mean, I don't want to stop being her friend, but I also don't want to keep being her doormat."
"Hmm..." said Cheerilee, thinking. "Well, the first thing you should probably do is apologize to the ponies you've hurt- namely the crusaders." she said.
Silver squirmed uncomfortably. "Yeah..."
"And another thing- why don't you ask Diamond why she's adopted this attitude towards you?" she said.
"But what if Diamond gets mad?
"Then you'll know that Diamond isn't really your friend at all."
Silver froze. "W-what do you mean?"
"That if Diamond gets angry at you for expressing your hurt feelings, then she doesn't deserve to be your friend." said Cheerilee, sounding stern. "Now, let's go inside. I'll explain all this to your parents."
Silver Spoon smiled. But just before she opened the door, she turned to her teacher. "Oh, and Miss Cheerilee?"
"Yes, Silver Spoon?"
"Thanks for listening."
***
That afternoon came and went, leaving Friday behind in its tracks. The weekend was the slowest Silver had ever experienced, because Diamond had gone to visit her grandmother in Las Pegasus. By the time Monday came around, Silver was so anxious to talk to Diamond that her fears had temporarily subsided. When Silver Spoon saw her finally taking a break from talking to Aqua and Coronet, she took her chance.
"Hey, um, Diamond?" said Silver. "C-can I talk to you?"
Diamond turned, a bored look on her face. "What is it, Silv?"
"I-I need to ask you about-"
"Diamond! Hey, Diamond!" called Coronet from the playground. "Come on over here, you won't believe what Peach Fuzz is wearing!"
Diamond's attention immediately shifted to Coronet. "OMC, you have to tell me, Cory! What is it?"
"I'm not really sure. It's all glittery and in this pukey orange color, and it's like she has a tight skirt around each of her back legs. She says that it's gotten really popular in Germane, and that they're called 'pants', apparently. Seriously Di, come look at them!" Diamond raced over to the playground, leaving Silver Spoon in the dust.
"But..." started Silver, trailing off. "Never mind..." she mumbled to herself.
All week long, Silver Spoon tried and failed to keep Diamond's attention long enough to confide in her. Every day, Diamond either was too busy to pull away, or simply wasn't interested in listening to Silver. Time was running out, though; next week were the final exams, and the following Friday was the last day of school. When summer came around, Silver Spoon knew for a fact that there was little to no chance that she would ever have a chance to catch Diamond alone. Every summer, Diamond spent a month in Manehatten with her mom, and spent the rest of the time either taking shopping trips to Canterlot or hanging out with her friends- a group of friends that Silver was pretty sure wouldn't include her this time.
Finally Silver Spoon told herself that enough was enough, and that she was going to talk to Diamond or die trying. On Friday at lunch-recess, Silver cornered Diamond outside the door before she caught up with Aqua and Coronet.
"Tiara, we have to talk." said Silver Spoon, looking her friend right in the eye.
Diamond only rolled her eyes and attempted to move past Silver, but was soon blocked.
"Hey, what gives, Silver Spoon?" said an irritated Diamond. "Like, I'm trying to get outside, if you haven't noticed."
But Silver stood firm. "Diamond, I said we have to talk."
"And I said that I need to get outside."
Silver knew that it was now or never. She knew that the safe thing to do would just be to let Diamond have her way, but she couldn't let herself do that.
"No, Diamond." she said, shaking inside. "We are going to talk right now."
Diamond sighed. "Fine. Whatever. What is so important that you're making me miss recess for?"
Silver let out a breath of relief. "Well, um... you know how about two months ago, we did that thing to Sweetie Belle?"
"Yeah, why?"
"And after that, you started hanging out with Aqua and Coronet?"
"Yeah..."
"And, um, no offense, but you guys have kinda been treating me like, to put it bluntly, like dirt."
Diamond rolled her eyes. "Are you going somewhere with this?"
"Yeah, I wanted to ask you- are you mad at me or something? Because whatever it is that I did, I'm truly, truly sorry."
Diamond stared at Silver blankly for a moment, then burst out laughing. Silver joined in tensely, her nervous titter clashing with Diamond's high, spiteful laugh.
Diamond's chuckles died down a bit, and she turned to face Silver.
"You mean you haven't figured it out yet?" she giggled, her expression one of amused skepticism.
"F-figured out what?" asked Silver shakily.
Diamond smirked. "Don't you get it? The new friends, the icing out- it was all just a test."
Silver froze, her lavender eyes widening in disbelief. "W-what are y-you t-talking about?"
"Geez Spoony, for somepony who's supposed to be so smart, you can be real dumb sometimes." said Diamond. "After you contradicted me when I was roughing up Squeaky Belle, I needed to know exactly how far I could stretch your loyalty to me. And as it turns out, you'll do practically anything to stay on my good side- cheating on tests, carrying my books, even getting insulted to your face by my friends. You'll go through it all, as long as it means that we can besties. It's kind of pathetic, actually." Diamond snickered a bit at this.
Silver Spoon was frozen in shock. No... she thought, staring stoically at the ground. No, no, no, no, no!
"D-d-diamond..." stuttered Silver, not daring to look her friend in the eye. "W-w-why w-w-would y-you d-do this t-to me?"
"Honestly Silver Spoon, you're so slow sometimes. I already told you- I had to see how loyal you really were to me."
Suddenly, Silver's grief changed. She didn't want to cry any more; She was too angry to cry.
"Do you have any idea what you've put me through?" said Silver, slowly and dangerously. "These past few weeks, I've been killing myself trying to figure out what it was that I'd done to make you mad, and you're telling me that all along it was just a test???"
"That's what I said, hon."
Silver Spoon's cheeks flushed red, not from embarrassment but fury. She hated it when Diamond brushed off her feelings like they didn't matter. She hated it when she made her feel like trash.
"But," said Diamond, examining her hooficure. "I'll admit, maybe I did go a little overboard with all of this."
Silver perked up. "You... what?" It was the first time Diamond had apologized to her in years.
"Yep. But I won't lie, Aqua and Cory are a lot of fun to hang out with. They love fashion and celebrities, just like I do, and both of their families have at least some money. And they may do what I say, but at least they have backbones. No offense Silv, but you can be a real pushover sometimes.
"So it would probably be hard for me to just drop them like that, you know?" Diamond continued. "I would probably miss them, so it would take a lot for me to let them go, don't you think?" She batted her eyelashes at Silver sweetly, but her icy blue eyes shone menacingly beneath them, as if to say 'Get my drift?'
Silver got the message. "S-s-sure thing, Diamond. W-whatever you s-say."
Diamond Tiara smiled. "That's the spirit. And because I'm not totally heartless, I'll give you one last chance." Suddenly, Diamond's amiable expression shifted darkly. "Recognize it when it comes."
And Diamond pranced off to the playground, leaving Silver Spoon distressed and utterly confused.
Question 38- you are a professional, you shouldn't attempt to clean or adjust the inner optics of your microscope.
A. Providing
B. As long as
C. But for
D. Unless
It was Tuesday afternoon, and Silver Spoon was sitting at her desk in silence, working through the grammar exam with ease. Around her, other students were struggling with the problems, every once in a while groaning or asking Cheerilee how much time they had left.
Silver looked ahead and saw that she only had two more problems left. She finished them up without much effort, then brought her test up to Cheerilee's desk. Behind her, she could hear her classmates muttering bitterly. Silver looked up at the clock and was rather shocked to see that they had a little over a half an hour left. She was the first one done.
Avoiding the envious stares of the other students, she made her way back to her desk and pulled out the book she had brought. Time seemed to slip away almost instantly before Cheerilee called out, "Pencils down, everypony! For those who haven't, please pass forward your test papers. Make sure you have your full name and the date written at the top." A wave of groans flared up.
"But I'm not finished yet!"
"It's not fair. These tests are stupid!"
"I thought it was easy!"
"Freak."
"That's enough!" said Cheerilee. "Now, because you all have been so well behaved today and yesterday, I was thinking about extending your recess time by fifteen minutes today. But if all of you insist on complaining like you are, I might not be able to do that."
The tests were on Cheerilee's desk in less than four seconds.
"Alright then. Class dismissed!" she said.
Silver trudged out of the schoolhouse and over to the shady tree area were Diamond and her entourage had already seated themselves, gossiping as usual. This time she came prepared; Silver pulled out her book, not even bothering to try and insert herself in the conversation. She overheard bits and pieces of the exchange; Diamond was commenting on some filly's hair accessory, Coronet thought that they should have a celebration sleepover now that the grammar exam was over with, and Aqua was passing around her new bubble-gum lip gloss. Oh Celestia, save me... thought Silver Spoon.
After about fifteen minutes of this mundane chatter, Silver noticed Diamond standing up and walking over to the slides. Diamond climbed up to the third rung on the slide's ladder, making sure to face the majority of the playground. Curious, Silver Spoon put down her book and stared over at Diamond.
"Attention everypony! May I have your attention, please?" called out Diamond perkily, waving her hoof. The fillies and colts around her looked up from their various activities, and after a while a small crowd began to gather. Silver noticed that the crusaders, Twist, and any other foal Diamond had recently targeted were looking for places to hide.
Diamond, seeing the majority of the student body before her, smiled. "Thank you. Okay, first off, who's excited for the end of the school year?" A cheer rose up from her audience, and Diamond continued.
"Me too! So to celebrate us finishing fifth grade, I'm throwing a huge pool party at my house on Friday!" Another cheer, louder this time, exploded from the mass of ponies.
"Better yet, I've decided to invite everyone in class, so that those uh, less socially adept individuals will get a chance to attend a fun party at least once in their lives." Diamond smirked, her eyes drifting over to where Twist and Little Red were hiding behind a tree. The rest of the students didn't seem to notice this, and instead continued to shout their approval.
"You rock, Diamond!"
"You're sooo cool!"
"I can't wait to go!"
"Thanks so much!"
"We love you!"
Diamond was drinking it all in, obviously enjoying the attention. Silver Spoon, however, was suspicious. Diamond's usual idea of a fun party was inviting only the coolest of ponies, and making everyone else jealous when they weren't included. This just isn't like her at all! thought Silver. She has to be planning something... but what?
Her focus shifted back over to Diamond, who had resumed talking once most of the applause had died down. "I hope to see every one of you at my mansion after school this Friday. Food will be served, and it starts at 3:30. I'll be very disappointed if anypony can't make it. Can't wait to see you there!" Diamond stepped off the slide, making her way through the crowd and high-hoofing everyone nearest her. Once she had made it back to to the tree, Aqua and Coronet immediately started congratulating Diamond on her decision.
"O-M-C, Tiara! It's like, so awesome of you to be throwing a pool party! It's gonna be like, super fun!" said Aqua, licking her gloss-covered lips.
"Totally." said Coronet. "I was just looking in Vanity Mare the other day, and saw this hawt looking new thing they were highlighting the other day. They call it a bathing suit, and it's basically so you can swim in style or something. They're totes cute, we should go buy some. It would be one more thing that separates the cool ponies from the losers."
"That sounds absolutely sensational, Cory! We are so going on a shopping spree before Friday." said Diamond, staring intently into her small, platinum-colored hoof mirror.
"Hey DT, so like, why'd you want to invite everyone? Part of the fun would've been to tease the Loser-Mark Crusaders about them not coming, you know?" said Aqua. "Like, what gives?"
Diamond smiled, the edges of her lips curling evilly. "Oh, you'll see Aqua. I promise, Friday is going to be very amusing."
***
"So which one makes me look better- the sparkly blue suit or the ruffly lavender suit?"
Silver Spoon was spending her Wednesday afternoon at the Ponyville shopping center, struggling under the weight of over half a dozen shopping bags filled with hats, sunglasses, bathing suits and other summer apparel. Aqua and Coronet both had their share of bags, but Diamond's picks held the majority of the purchases.
"Oh, definitely the blue one, Di." said Coronet, trying on a pair of pink-tinted sunglasses. "It goes great with your eyes."
"I dunno, I kinda like the purple one better. I think it's real pretty with your mane." said Aqua.
"You two aren't any help." said Diamond, putting on a mock-pouty face. Unexpectedly, she turned to Silver Spoon, who was sitting up against the wall with the shopping bags around her.
"I need a tie-breaker, Silv, so be honest- which bathing suit do I look cuter in, the lavender one or the blue?" Diamond Tiara, shooting a dazzling smile to the gray filly.
Silver froze. Was this another test? If she answered wrong, how would Diamond react? No matter. The wrong answer would be better than none at all, she figured.
"U-um, I like the b-blue one b-best." said Silver, struggling to keep from stuttering. She looked away, afraid of her friend's response.
After a little while, Silver looked up. She saw the lavender suit tossed onto a chair, and the blue suit's strap peeking out of the bag.
Silver Spoon was surprised. Diamond hadn't taken her fashion advice since... since... well, since Aqua and Coronet had come into the picture.
"C'mon girls, we still have to pick out the snacks for the party! To my house!" said Diamond. Aqua and Coronet both gave a little squeal, then scurried off after Diamond. Silver ran after them, but a little absentmindedly. She wouldn't have been surprised if Diamond decided to throw away the blue swimsuit, saying it was garbage or implying that Silver had no fashion sense. With this sudden change in attitude, Silver Spoon could't help but feel suspicious.
Come on, Silver. she thought, climbing into the wagon headed for Diamond's house. She liked your choice! There's no need to be thinking up conspiracy theories or anything!
But her thoughts kept drifting to her and Diamond's conversation from Friday.
"I'll give you one last chance. Recognize it when it comes..."
Silver shuddered. Staring out the window in a vain attempt to distract herself, she saw a few of her other classmates walking together on the sidewalks. Many of them were in friendly pairs or groups, laughing and joking. Others, like Pipsqueak and Dinky, were holding hoofs or even nuzzling each other's cheek. The one thing they all had in common, she noticed, was that no one pony looked sad, or alone, or left out. They were all happy.
Which is something I'll be getting back soon. thought Silver. Soon there'll be no more getting told what to do, no more homework on sleepovers, and best of all, no more Aqua and Cory. Things will be just as they were, just me and Diamond, best friends forever.
***
"I'm home!"
Silver slammed the front door shut behind her. A wide grin was plastered across her face. Silver Spoon's mother walked out from the kitchen, wiping her hoofs on her apron.
"Hi, sweetie. Why the big smile?" she asked.
"I just had the best day ever!" said Silver, wiping her hoofs on the mat. "I was helping Diamond get ready for her big party on Friday, and this time she actually listened to me over Aqua and Coronet! Isn't it great?"
"That's wonderful, honey!" Silver's mother replied. "So tonight I'm making cheesy scalloped potatoes and steamed broccoli for dinner.You think that you could make a dessert to match?"
Silver nodded, her mood growing happier every second. Pulling on an apron, she bustled around the kitchen, gathering bowls and ingredients. She flipped open a cookbook to a recipe for her favorite dessert, Spiced Pear Upside-Down Cake, and got to work. As she began to cream together the butter and sugar, her mind began to wander.
In retrospect, it shouldn't surprise me too much, she thought. Diamond was bound to come around sooner or later. We have been best friends since the first grade. I guess that she's just been blowing off steam or something all these weeks.
A LOT of steam.
Silver shook her head, trying to rid herself of doubtful thoughts. It doesn't matter, anyway. Soon, it'll be back to normal. Me and Di will have our usual fun this summer, going shopping, getting milkshakes, and when she goes to the city to visit her mom, I'll spend the time in the library, just like always. And after summer, we'll be going to secondary school, and of course Diamond'll rule the school, with me by her side. I might even get a real coltfriend this year! She gave a little squeal on the inside at this. We'll be voted Best Friends in the yearbook, and we'll definitely stay friends long after we graduate. She pictured her and Diamond having double dates with their coltfriends (who would of course also be best friends), becoming roommates when they both moved out, being the mare of honor at each other's wedding. As she slipped the cake pan into the oven, she couldn't help but smile at the thought of her and Diamond staying best friends for the rest of their lives. She set the timer for 40 minutes, then went to her room to read her Invisible Mare book.
She settled down on her bed, and opened up her book.
I am an invisible mare. No, I am not a spook like those who haunted Edgar Allan Doe; nor am I one of your Applewood-movie ectoplasms. I am a mare of substance, of flesh and bone, fiber and liquids - and I might even be said to possess a mind. I am invisible, understand, simply because people refuse to see me.
I wonder what Diamond is planning for Friday...
Silver Spoon mentally kicked herself. Stop it! It doesn't matter what she's planning! Quit being so paranoid! She reverted her attention back to her book.
Like the bodiless heads you see sometimes in circus sideshows, it is as though I have been surrounded by mirrors of hard, distorting glass. When they approach me they see only my surroundings, themselves, or figments of their imagination - indeed, everything and anything except me.
Silver continued reading her book, but her thoughts refused to stay on the page. For every sentence she read, she had to pause and inwardly punish herself for her subconscious curiosity on DIamond's plans for her party.
What will she do? Will she do something bad to the not-so-cool kids? To me? Maybe she's just going to bring in something big, like a bounce house or something... yes, that would make sense...
She was relieved when the timer for the cake beeped. Throwing her book down face-first on her bed, she ran out of her room and into the kitchen. She tugged on some oven mitts and pulled the cake pan out of the oven. The sweet, spicy fragrance of the pear cake filled up her senses and briefly made her forget her misgivings on Diamond's party plans.
Oh well, she thought, setting down the cake on the kitchen counter. It's probably best not to think about it too much. I'll see what she got in store on Friday, anyway. It's not that big a deal.
Friday dawned bright and warm, perfect for swimming weather. The exams were finally over, and today was the last day of school. Every filly and colt in Ponyville had a smile on their face, and who could blame them? By the end of the day, it would be summer at last, with no academic worries to get in the way of the carefree, fun-filled days of summer.
The school bell rang, calling in the foals from outside. They took their seats, chattering excitedly to one another. They were greeted by Cheerilee, who was smiling just as widely as her students.
"Happy last day of school, class!" she chirped, passing out worksheets on to each desk. "To celebrate the end of the school year, I've decided to give you a pop quiz!" A collective groan rose from the students, who were both disappointed and outraged that their last day be spoiled by something as repulsive as a pop quiz.
"Now, now, you'll see that this isn't a regular quiz! Take out a pencil, and let's get started!"
Begrudgingly, the class complied. Silver Spoon, however, wasn't too upset, but was a bit confused all the same. She took out a pencil, and stared down at her paper.
Question 1- What was your favorite subject this year?
A. Math B. Science/ Magical Theory C. Literature/ Grammar D. Equestrian History E. Recess
Silver was pleasantly surprised at the answers. What teacher would think of including Recess as a favorite subject? She, however, circled Literature as her favorite.
The rest of the questions were similar. Some of them were quite easy to answer, such as Would you rather watch a good movie or read a good book? (Read a book), while others were a bit tougher, like If you could, would you change anything about yourself? If so, what? (Either that I be more outgoing, or that I wouldn't have to wear glasses). She worked through each problem happily, glad that this test wasn't one about History or Math.
But the last question really got to her-
Question 15- What qualities do you admire in a friend? List at least five in the space provided.
Qualities in a friend... she thought, tapping her pencil against her chin. Well... they have to be fun to be around, and kind, and loyal, and we ought to be able to talk easily. We should share at least a couple of interests, but also each add something else to the table. They should be a good listener, and always try to be honest with me. She scribbled all this down on the lines provided, writing small to fit all of it in. She wrote her name at the top, and walked up to the front to turn it in. She set it down on Cheerilee's desk, and was about to walk away when Cheerilee stopped her.
"Silver Spoon, what did you write for Question 15?" she said, a concerned expression on her face.
"Um... why?"
"Just tell me, please."
Silver felt uncomfortable. "Well... I said that a friend needs to be kind, and honest, and fun, and some other things too. But why?"
Cheerilee gave a deep breath. "After our little talk the other day, it got me thinking about how good friends treat others. Tell me something, Silver Spoon- does Diamond currently have any of those qualities you wrote down? Any of them?"
Silver went silent. Diamond was a nice pony to be around... when she wasn't in one of her moods, or hanging out with Aqua and Coronet. And she was pretty loyal... some of the time, when there wasn't anything more important. Occasionally she would reveal a glimmer of genuine kindness, and she used to be honest with Silver. They would always have lots of fun conversation... but they've mostly been talking about Diamond, and Diamond's issues, even before Aqua and Cory came into the picture.
"That's alright, Silver Spoon." said Cheerilee, interrupting the silence between them. "I understand. Go on back to your seat now."
Silver nodded and did as she was told. She waited quietly at her desk until everyone was done with the quiz, then sat up when Cheerilee stomped her hooves on the ground.
"Alright, class! I hope you enjoyed the last quiz of the year because now I'm starting the class party!"
A unanimous cheer rose up as Cheerilee wheeled out a long table laden with cookies and cupcakes with colorful frosting, and bright pink fruit punch in a large plastic bowl; paper plates, cups, and napkins were stacked to the side. The class crowded around the table excitedly, each grabbing one or two treats. By the time Silver got there, there was only one cupcake, and one broken cookie. She reached for the cupcake, and her hoof collided with a light blue one. She looked up and came face-to-face with the colt who was friends with Boysenberry.
She blushed. How awkward! she thought, pushing the cupcake towards him.
"Here. You can have it. I like cookies better anyway." she said. The colt smiled.
"Thanks. I-I'm Sketch." he said. "Aren't you that one filly who's friends with Diamond Tiara?"
"Oh... um, yes, I am." said Silver Spoon, looking away for a moment. "Aren't you that colt who takes pictures for the newspaper now?" Sketch nodded, looking a bit shy.
"I like them a lot. You're pretty good."
Sketch blushed at this, but smiled. "T-thanks. I like drawing a lot better, though."
"That's cool. Could I see some of your drawings sometime?"
"Oh, um, m-maybe... I guess..."
Sketch seemed to realize that he was fraternizing with the enemy; he blushed and turned away. Silver did the same. "O-oh, okay... see you around..." she murmured, quickly sliding her cookie onto a plate and heading back to her seat. She munched on her cookie for a while, before spitting it out into her napkin. No matter how she tried to tell herself that it tasted good, it left a bitter taste in her mouth.
***
BRRRRRIIIIIIINNNNGGGG...
"Goodbye, class! Have a good summer!" called Cheerilee, waving happily to her former students as they flooded out the classroom door and into the bright sunshine of summer. Silver Spoon saw Diamond Tiara run over to the big maple tree with Aqua and Coronet and stood on top of a large root.
"Okay, everypony! On to my house for the big pool party!" she exclaimed, a glowing smile on her face. "Everypony who's not there in a half an hour is locked out, so hurry up!"
This caused an uproar to head home as fast as possible, leaving only Aqua, Coronet, Diamond, and Silver Spoon on the playground.
"Come on, girls, let's head on over to my house to get ready. We only have a half an hour!" Diamond dashed off in the direction of her mansion, nodding for the girls to follow. They ran after her, Aqua and Coronet giggling all the way.
Once they had reached the house, they scurried up to Diamond's room, where a white dressing screen sat in the corner next to a chair piled with the clothes that they had bought the previous Wednesday.
"Alright, girls... you know what to do!" said Diamond, holding up a swimsuit and a pair of sunglasses.
"WARDROBE SELECTION!" they squealed, holding each other's hooves and jumping up and down.
"Oh, my head..." breathed Silver, clutching the bridge of her muzzle.
"Alright, me first!" said Diamond. "So we agreed on the sparkly blue swimsuit, but what sunglasses should go with that? I'm thinking the oversize black with the rhinestones. What do you think, Cory?"
"Oh, totally Di!" she said. "Hey, what do you think of me with the pink sun hat and bright orange glass-"
"Coronet, I thought we discussed the topic of ever wearing orange, in public or not."
Coronet looked a bit guilty and nervous. "I know, it's just that, like, I like orange. I don't see why..." Diamond gave Coronet her 'Do it or else' death stare, and her voice trailed off.
Silver sighed and turned away. I really don't need this, she thought. I'll just wait until they're through. She pulled out her book and began to read. After about twenty minutes, Silver heard Diamond clear her throat impatiently, so she looked up.
"Is it my turn?" she asked.
"Uh, yes, why else would I be waiting on you?"
This stung a bit, but Silver brushed it off. She put down her book and walked over to the dressing screen.
"Okay, so you got the ruffly lavender suit at the store, so that could go with the white sun hat with the light blue ribbon. There's also the white beach towel with the coordinating lavender-and-arctic-blue stripes that you'll be using. Since you already wear glasses, it'll look stupid if you wear sunglasses, so you won't. Need me to repeat anything?" Silver shook her head.
"Good. Now, everypony get ready, we've only got a couple of minutes until the others get here, so hustle up!"
The girls did as they were told. Within a couple of minutes, all four fillies looked stunning. Diamond was wearing her mane up in a high ponytail with her tiara perched at an angle. Her over-sized black sunglasses sat on top of her flawlessly styled mane, and her glittery blue swimsuit fit perfectly. Her lips glistened with strawberry lip gloss.
Aqua and Coronet didn't look too shabby, either. Coronet wore a cherry-colored swimsuit with vertical pink stripes. Black framed oval sunglasses with pink hued glass were perched atop her fashionably short cut mane. Aqua was wearing a light teal suit with spaghetti straps, and like Diamond and Coronet, she had a pair of oversize black sunglasses on top of her head. Her hair was pulled back into a bouncy ponytail.
And then there was Silver Spoon.
Like the others, her swimsuit fit perfectly, the color highlighting her eyes attractively (she didn't much like the ruffles, though). Her circular white sunhat looked very pretty with her silver braid peeking out from underneath. However, unlike the others, she did not wear sunglasses, which made her look a little funny in comparison to the other three.
"Okay girls, it's official! We-look-FABULOUS!" said Diamond, giving her ponytail a flip. "Now, outside! Our public awaits!"
"Oooh, this is gonna be like, soooo fun!" gushed Aqua. "I just hope I don't get nervous!"
"Just follow my lead, girls. And remember- if you don't want to look like an old, wet trout, then don't you dare get into the water. It's just not worth it." Coronet nodded in agreement, But Aqua looked a bit disappointed.
"But Di, I like swimming. It wouldn't hurt if I-"
"Aqua. Shut up. It's time to walk out and unlock the gates."
Randolph held the door open for the foursome; outside, behind the gates were their classmates waiting a bit impatiently. They spotted Diamond, and began to call her out.
"Diamond! When's the party starting?"
"Hey, Diamond! Please let us in!"
"Diamond, come on! Open up the gates!"
Diamond smiled impishly, then spoke. "Well... since you all ask so nicely..." She gestured to Randolph. "Randolph! Open!"
"(sigh...) Yes, Miss Diamond."
The barrier opened, and the foals flooded in, laughing and chattering and thanking Diamond for inviting them. Silver Spoon looked around- the entire class seemed to be present. There was Featherweight and Twist, and Snips and Snails and Pipsqueak, and even the Cutie Mark Crusaders were there, staying close together and looking anxious.
Silver turned away at this; she didn't want to think about them.
She made her way over to the pool chairs and sat herself down in one. She watched the foals from her class jump into the pool, bounce around beach balls, and grab refreshments from the snack table. She sighed.
Now is not the time, Silver. Just enjoy yourself. She walked over to the snack table and grabbed a piece of plain cheese pizza. She spotted Diamond and the girls near the gate, and figured that she may as well join them.
"... got it? Don't let me down, girls." said Diamond, before catching sight of Silver. She brightened. "Hey, Silv. It's all going great so far. Having fun?"
"Yeah, I guess." she said.
Diamond giggled. "Well, you're about to have a lot more fun pretty soon! Can you keep a secret?" Silver nodded. "I booked DJ-pon3 for the party! She's setting up in the back, and will be ready in a couple of minutes. Cool, huh?"
Silver grinned. DJ-pon3 was almost impossible to book; you had to work weeks in advance to have her there in time. So that's what she's been planning. I've been paranoid about nothing this whole time!
"That's great, Tiara!" she said. "I can't wait!"
Diamond nodded in agreement. "Thought so. Now go mingle or something! The party's just getting started!"
Silver smiled. "Okay, Di! Keep me posted about that DJ!" She went back over to the pool chairs and sat down on one to finish her pizza.
This is great! she thought. All this time, I've been worrying about nothing! Everything is going to go perfectly today. Diamond is being nice again, and she hasn't said a mean thing for days! I knew she would come around sooner or later!
She snapped out of her thoughts when she heard a microphone being tapped. She turned to look over at where DJ-pon3 had set up. Diamond was holding a microphone.
"Hey, everypony!" she trilled, showing off her pearly white teeth. The foals stopped what they were doing and cheered her name.
"Diamond! Diamond! Diamond!" they roared. Diamond grinned, loving every second of attention. Once the applause had somewhat ceased, Diamond continued.
"For your entertainment today, I've hired the hottest DJ this side of the Crystal Mountains! Here's DJ-pon3, everyone! Give her a hoof!"
The ovation was near deafening. DJ-pon3 rolled out with her turntable flashing multicolored lights. Even Silver had to cheer. Even if she wasn't all that fond of pop music, she had to admit, this was pretty cool.
A popular colt band song came on, and the fillies and colts began to dance or sing along. Silver walked around the crowd until she found Diamond, dancing with Aqua and Coronet.
"Diamond, this is awesome!" she cried, joining in on the dancing.
"Totes!" squealed Coronet, twirling around. "You have got to do this more often!"
They kept dancing for a couple more songs, until Silver suddenly felt very thirsty.
"Hey Tiara, I'm going to go get something to drink. You want anything?"
"Oh, no thanks, Silv. But I think Aqua here needs some broccoli or something, because she is going CRAZY." She pointed over to Aqua, who was rocking out to a song by 'Just Oates'.
"Got it!" she beamed, making her way through the crowd and to the snack table. She filled a paper cup up with cola, and loaded a plate with various vegetables from the veggie tray. When she came back over to Diamond, a new song was playing, and Diamond was speaking with three other fillies; one with an unruly violet mane, another with spring green eyes and a two-tone mane, and another with a bright pink bow.
Silver's eyes went wide, and she dropped her food. No... are those... She ducked around some classmates, pushing her way through the crowd over to where her friends were, near the side of the pool. Diamond's fun, lively demeanor had been replaced with her all-too-familiar look of cruel spite. Aqua and Coronet mimicked her, laughing hatefully at all the right moments. The now-frequent feeling of frightened nausea swept over Silver Spoon. She wanted to run away, for it all to be over, for none of it to be real.
I can't do this anymore...
This has to end.
She stepped forward through the mass as quickly as she could and stood behind Diamond, who didn't even seem to notice her.
"You've got some nerve showing up here like you actually fit in or something!" jeered Diamond, a vicious smirk on her face. "What, did my class invitation seriously made you think that you were normal? Ha! Yeah, right." Sweetie Belle looked ready to cry, and even the feisty Scootaloo was struck dumb.
"Diamond." said Silver, forcing her voice not to quiver. Diamond didn't seem to hear.
"All you foals are are a bunch of baby blank-flanks who will never amount to anything, no matter what stupid mark-earning plan you cook up. I wouldn't be surprised if you're still markless by the time you're all old mares!" Now it was Apple Bloom's turn to shed a tear.
"Diamond." said Silver, firmer this time.
"You wanna know why nopony likes you? Take a look at your flanks. No one worth anything would be caught dead associating with gross, ugly rejects like you."
"Diamond!" yelled Silver at the top of her lungs. Diamond finally turned, icy fire seeming to blaze in her bright blue eyes. A malevolent grin crept across her face.
"Oh good, Silvy, you're here. You almost missed the fun."
"Fun?" Silver said, fighting to control her voice. "You call mindlessly tormenting a bunch of fillies who've never done a thing to you, who have even tried to be nice to you, fun??? That's not not fun, that's sick!"
The grin seemed to recede a bit; her eyes darkened. "Are you kidding me, Silver Spoon? How dare you! You know full well that these... these... freaks are responsible for robbing us of our deserved victory! They've ruined everything for us, and you know it!"
"No, I don't know it!" shouted Silver, her voice rising. "What I know is that you've let your personal issues affect everypony around you, even me!"
"What are you talking about???" said Diamond, her eyes darting around. Some of their classmates had noticed the shouting match, and were eavesdropping.
Silver paused. "You just don't get it, do you? You're not the same Diamond Tiara that I became friends with! You've changed, Di! You've become petty and spiteful, and I'm sick of pretending that I'm okay with it!"
Diamond sputtered, seemingly lost for words. Her expression transfigured into one of livid rage, violent and deranged. Aqua and Coronet backed away, looking fearful and anxious. Silver saw in the corner of her eye that the crusaders had quietly slipped away.
Diamond seemed to compose herself after a while, looking straight into Silver Spoon's eyes.
"This is your last chance, Silver Spoon." she hissed, only allowing her voice to be heard by Silver. "Apologize, or else I'll make you regret it for the rest of your life."
Silver hesitated. This is it, she thought feverishly. This is what Diamond meant when she said to recognize my chance when it comes.
She wants me to choose.
Silver thought of what would happen if she begged forgiveness now, set her friendship with Diamond back on track. It wouldn't mean anything. She'd just stay the way she is now, mean and catty. And she'd only get worse. I'd never be able to stand up to her again.
But if I say no... my closest friend, the one pony I can always count on... she'll be gone. She'll never forgive me, and I wouldn't blame her. Her head swam with images of good times with Diamond, clashing violently with more recent memories of torment and manipulation.
Just apologize... but if you do, she'll only keep taking advantage of you... but she's your best friend!... but she's changed too much...
'Recognize it when it comes'...
When it comes...
Silver took a deep breath and looked Diamond square in the eye.
"No."
Diamond was shocked. "Excuse me??? I told you to apologize, Silver Spoon!"
"I know you did. But I'm not taking orders from you any more. I made my choice."
Diamond went stoic. "Wrong answer."
Quick as a flash, Diamond tore Silver Spoon's necklace from her throat, beads flying everywhere. She nodded to Aqua and Coronet, who grabbed Silver's front legs and heaved her into the pool. She only just had enough time to squeeze close her eyes and hold her breath before she impacted with the surface. Silver felt the rush of the chlorinated water sweep around her, nearly knocking the wind out of her. Her glasses went askew and sunk to the bottom of the pool, as did her white sun hat. She kicked her legs, frantically trying to get her head back above the water.
She finally got to the top, gasping for air. Her eyes stung from the water, and her muzzle felt like it was on fire. She noticed that Diamond and her crew had left the side of the pool, deserting her.
Coughing and sputtering, she climbed out of the side of the pool, ripping a seam of her swimsuit by accident. Dripping water, she shivered over to where her towel was, slipping once on a puddle. She dried off, grabbed her stuff, and ambled over to the gates, hardly able to see without her glasses. She was ready to go home.
When she got over to the gates, she was blocked by two familiar faces, this time not hostile, but welcoming and a bit humble.
"Hey." said Sketch, looking a little sheepish. "We... we saw what happened between you and Diamond. What you did... i-it was pretty cool."
Silver couldn't help but smile. "Thanks."
Boysenberry stepped forward, not smiling but not frowning either. "Hey, um... if you want to hang out with us sometime, that'd be fun. Y'know, if you have time or whatever."
Silver smiled a bit wider. "Wow... thanks! Hey, could I ask you guys a favor?"
"Um, sure." said Boysenberry.
"I need some help getting home. I can barely see two feet in front of me without my glasses."
Boysenberry and Sketch grinned. "Sure!" said Boysenberry. "Where do you live?"
"13 Sycamore Avenue."
Boysenberry beamed. "Hey, that's only about a block away from where I live!"
"Me, too." said Sketch. "I live over by Maple."
"Cool!" said Silver. "Maybe you guys could come over to my house sometime."
"Yeah, that'd be fun."
"I'm game."
"Awesome! Now let's go. I think I need to get home and get my spare pair of glasses."
"Yeah, lets. This party wasn't that great anyway. I'm not that big a fan of pop music."
Silver Spoon sat down on her bed, staring down at a letter. Earlier that morning, she had received her report card and final test paper from the last day of school in the mail. It wasn't graded, but it came with a short, hoof-written letter from Cheerilee.
Dear Silver Spoon,
This school year has been so full of excitement and fun. You have been so diligent in your work, always ready to help someone in need of academic assistance. You have been a joy to teach this year, and I'm sorry that it's over.
Enclosed is your final Report Card. I'm not technically supposed to tell you this, but you have some of the best grades in class! I'm so proud of you. You brought a ray of sunshine into my classroom this year, and I hope that you'll do the same in secondary school.
I have also included your very last pop quiz of 5th grade. It's not graded, but I'll let you assume that it's an A!
I want you to take another look at that last question again. I understand that your friendship with Diamond Tiara has greatly changed since the beginning of the year. I have also noticed that you have been spending time with Boysenberry and Sketch. Good for you! It's always good to form new friendships.
You are an exemplary student and a wonderful filly. I will miss having you in my class.
Always your teacher,
Cheerilee
When Silver finished reading the letter, she moved on to her report card; all A's, as usual. She shifted through the envelope until she found her test paper, turning it over to find the question. She came face to face with the friendship qualities she had listed two weeks ago. She read through them, and suddenly noticed that something was missing. She ran over to her desk and grabbed a pencil, and sat down to write down the last quality needed in a friend.
Respect
Silver Spoon smiled. She saw now, that Diamond Tiara had been lacking in this aspect for far too long. She had, too.
Respect means everything. Diamond Tiara hasn't really given me respect since she started to pick on the other kids and expected me to do the same, she pondered. I'm to blame as well. I never had enough respect for myself to try to stand up to her.
She pulled out a clean sheet of paper from her desk and began to write.
What I need in a friend
-Fun -Kind -Loyal -Good Listener -Honest -Shares some interests, but not all of them -Gives me the respect I deserve
Silver Spoon taped her list right next to her mirror, where she'd always be able to see it. A knock sounded at the door, and Silver's mother walked in.
"Sweetie, your friends are at the door. The purple one says that you need to come with her RIGHT NOW, something about The Pony Bride getting made into a movie in August."
Silver jumped up. "Really?! Omigosh, YES, that's like my favorite book ever! Coming, guys!"
She ran out of her room in over to the front door, where Boysenberry and Sketch were waiting, enormous grins stretching across both their faces.
"Come on, Silver Spoon!" said Boysenberry. "The movie theatre is showing the trailer for it as we speak!!!" Come on, we got to hurry!"
"Let's go!" said Silver.
And the three ran off down the street, laughing and talking all the way. Silver couldn't wipe the smile off her face.
All is well.
The End
Acknowledgments
First and foremost, I'd like to thank all my loyal readers. Without you guys, I probably never would have finished this story.
Thank you.
I'd also like to thank HaloEssence111, my editor and prereader. She is also the one who originally suggested the idea here.
Thank You.
To all those who have commented, liked this story, or otherwise supported it even when the chapters were months apart.
Thank You.
This story was meant to portray how a once-good friendship can quickly be poisoned with jut one little word- power. When one side of the relationship has all the power, and the other side has much, much less, you become trapped in a cycle, never feeling worth it, always feeling like you have to agree with everything, even if you think what's happening is wrong. This is the more vicious side of friendship, especially for girls.
I hope that I have successfully depicted this side of friendship. Most people prefer to gloss over this, never imagine that it could ever happen to them or anyone they know, or even just pretend that it doesn't exist.
That is not true.
I know. I've experienced this. I've lost more than one friend because they didn't think that my friendship was valuable enough to aid their climb up the social ladder. Before, it had gotten to the point where I didn't even try to make friends because it hurt too much when they eventually threw me away.
Now, I have found an amazing group of friends who always support me. Instead of just one or two people wielding all the power, we're equal. No one is the 'leader'. And it feels great.
Maybe Starlight Glimmer had a point. Friendship's no fun when you're the one who's been given all the grunt work, when it's always someone else who's the 'special' one. Like Silver learned, respect means everything. Friendship is just an empty word when there is no respect between you.
"Respect other's feelings. Even if it doesn't mean anything to you... It could mean everything to them."
