> Change isn't so easy > by Grassy Blade > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- > Introduction > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Diamond Tiara used to be the biggest bully at her school. She bullied everypony, it didn't matter who it was. Classmates, small critters, heck; she even talked bad to her teacher Miss Cheerilee once! Although she got detention soon after... She never dared to talk to her that way again. However when it came to her classmates, she didn't hold back on her insults. In fact, she went all out, but she didn't do it alone. Silver Spoon; her best friend would always stand by her side to help her bully others. Now Silver Spoon may have seemed as bad as Diamond Tiara, but that was not the case. She was nothing but a lackey, a sidekick. Diamond Tiara however was the true mastermind. It wasn't until the CMC (that's Cutie Mark Crusaders) showed her a better way of living when she stopped being a self-centered brat. Now it's been an hour since Diamond Tiara's been reformed. She's really changed her life for the better! However, sometimes change might not be as easy as one may think... > Parental troubles > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- When her mother Spoiled Rich arrived home with the note in her mouth, she spent no time hesitating giving it to her husband Filthy Rich. Now Filthy Rich was a business pony of great proportions. When he sees an opportunity for profit he makes a deal. He's a brown Earth pony with a well combed black mane. He also has blue eyes and has 3 money bags for a cutie mark. Mr. Rich was filing and signing business offers when his wife bursts into his office. The door swung open as his wife trotted into the room with a distressed look on her face. The sudden sound of the door opening without a single knock caused Filthy to jump in alarm. Which in turn caused him to knock over many of his signed and unsigned business offers on the floor. "Ah!" Filthy yelled in alarm. Spoiled drops the note that was in her mouth on his desk not even stopping to catch a breath. "Filthy, we need to talk!" she said worry in her voice. "Now what's the big idea hun?" he shouted, "Don't you know how to knock?" "My sincere apologies, but I'm afraid I've got some terrible news!" she said distressed. "...Also I brought a note from our daughter." she said pushing the note closer. "What!? What's happened? Has Granny Smith finally passed on to the afterlife!?" "No no, It's not that. It's worse!" "Worse!?" "Our daughter... back talked to me!" After she said that, all of the stress building up inside of Filthy's body left with a sigh of relief. "Oh thank goodness! For a second I thought it was something serious..." His wife's eyes widen with shock before frowning. "This IS serious!" she shouted. "Our daughter has never talked back to us like that!" Filthy backs up in his chair by pushing on his desk. His chair had wheels after all. "Now now..." said Filthy trying to calm his wife, "Let's not go too crazy, It's... probably just a phase!" Spoiled rolls her eyes and stomps a hoof. "This, is far more than just a phase!" she replied with attitude. "Why not just take a look at what she wrote!?" she says pointing to the small piece of paper lying on his desk. Filthy glances to where his wife was pointing. He placed a hoof on the side of the paper to pull it closer. Filthy then starts to read the note to himself. Spoiled raised a brow frowning. She found it slightly annoying that her husband was mumbling and not speaking aloud. After all, she wants to know what her daughter wrote as well. Filthy continues reading until he gets to the good part, which wasn't very long as the note was short. "What? 'Donate money for new playground equipment!?" said Filthy aloud. "Whatever happened to our spoiled self-centered daughter?" Spoiled jumped at his sudden outburst, but seconds later she spoke. "Well I believe it was those three lowlife fillies that corrupted the daughter I raised!" This time it was Filthy's turn to be mad. "What!? YOU raised!? If I recall, I'm the one that makes most of our money! "And if I recall, You spend most of your time in your office!" "Ugh! Well when I DO come to spend time with my family, I make the most of every second!" "Alright Filthy I'll give you that, but it doesn't negate that I'm right!" "Ugh... Fine, you're right. Happy?" "Very much so." she replied. "So are you sending the money or-" "Actually I think it's a great use for our profits! Frankly I was just shocked that our little princess wrote this!" Filthy pushed a small red button that was on his desk, and spoke into the microphone standing to the right of him.. "Butler, please come to my office for a minute!" he said into the mike. A few seconds later the family butler came in. "Yes Mr. Rich?" asked the Butler. He was an earth pony with a light purple fur coat and a curly white mane. He was quite old in his 50's, so he had some mane loss. His eyes were blue, and his cutie mark was a duster. He was also wearing a black suit with a blue bowtie. "I need you to send this money to the school board for funding new playground equipment!" said Filthy as he tossed the butler two big money bags full of bits. The butler caught the bags standing on his hind legs. He stumbled a bit catching the heavy bags, but he regained his balance. He along with the money bags were fine. As the butler left the room the Two lovebirds continued their chat. "Now honey, I don't see anything wrong with Diamond being nice and rebellious." said Filthy to his wife. Spoiled frowns when her husband said this. "You wanna know what she called me? A high horse! A high horse!!!" "What!?" said Filthy shocked. "You heard correctly dear." said his wife in reply. "Although for some reason I feel... proud of her!" "Perhaps that's because you wanted her to be more like you? Hmm?" "Ugh... Either way she needs a stern talking to when she gets home!" "Agreed, but please allow me to do most of the talking dear." said Filthy causing Spoiled to roll her eyes. "Ugh, fine!" She turned around to leave, but turned her head to her husband a second later. "And dearie?" "Yes Honey?" "Please do clean up your office, it's a mess..." she said frowning. Spoiled then walks to the door. The paper on the floor crumpling as she steps on them. Filthy's eyes widen as he remembers about his business offers lying on the floor. He takes a look to the floor left and right of him in panic. Then the office door closes. Filthy looks at the door in front of him after hearing it close. "I love you too dear..." he said with a sigh. Filthy then proceeded to pick up all the paper on the floor all the while mumbling to himself. > Glasses (part 1) > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- The next morning, Diamond Tiara woke up to the light being turned on. "Good morning princess!" said her father opening the door. Diamond Tiara pushed the covers off and rubbed her eyes. "Huh? D-Dad? Why are you here? usually Mother wakes me up." said the pink filly sleepily. "Well, today's a little... different." he said sitting down on the bed's edge. "Different? How so?" she asked turning her attention to the tiara on her nightstand. She got up and started to stretch. "Well, your mother and I have been talking about it, and we agreed that being woken up by yelling at you isn't the best for your... new mindset." he said. Diamond Tiara placed her hoof on her chin. "Well it was enjoyable to not wake up to Mother's yelling." Her father chuckles. "Well understand that your mother just wants you to be rich and be successful in life." he said. "Now get ready for school little princess!" "All right!" she said happily putting her tiara on her head. After putting it on, she followed her father out of her room. After brushing her teeth and combing her hair, her parents packed her lunch in her saddlebag. She was out the front door when she heard her mother call her name. "Diamond Tiara!" she said threateningly. The pink filly stopped in her tracks with her ears drooped down on both sides. Diamond Tiara nervously turned around to face her. "Y-y-yes Mother?" "I don't usually say this," she says in a nicer tone, "but have a good day at school..." Diamond's nervous frown turns to a smile. "Uh, thanks Mother..." Inside she still felt uneasy about her mother. "Well, don't get too used to it! I still think you shouldn't be hanging with those commoners! Diamond Tiara just smiles. "Noted." She then turns around and follows her father to her friend's house. When Diamond Tiara was the school bully, she would wait for her friend Silver Spoon outside her house every day before school. Usually to arrive in style or to get the jump on her classmates. Today however was different. She was a changed pony. She waited for her friend as usual. Tapping her hoof whenever she gets bored or impatient. She was leaning her back up against the wall with her hooves crossed. "I'm not sure if she's coming or not." suggested her father. "She'll be here! just give it time!" she yelled. It felt like forever, but the door finally opened. A grey filly stepped out. She was wearing light blue glasses and a blue beaded necklace. Behind her glasses her eyes were purple. Her mane was a lighter grey. the back of her hair was braided. Her cutie mark was a fancy looking spoon of silver. "Hey Diamond, ready for school?" she asked. Diamond Tiara shifted her gaze at her. "Where were you? Do you realize how long I've been waiting out here?" She was not happy about waiting. "I'm sorry, I'm sorry!" said Silver Spoon. "I just couldn't find my glasses when I woke up, so it took a bit longer to get ready! It took forever, but my mom finally found it in the sink!" Diamond Tiara sighs and shakes her head. "Okay, just don't lose them again!" she said. "Now come on! We're going to be late!" she said as they hurried off to school. > Glasses (part 2) > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- "I wonder how my glasses ended up in the sink anyway?" wondered Silver Spoon as they ran. "Later!" said Diamond Tiara who was irritated. They arrive at the schoolyard when she spoke again. "I hope we aren't late to class!" "Yeah, me too!" replied Silver Spoon. They enter the doors and quickly head for their classroom. The two fillies get near the door when they can faintly hear the voice of their teacher. "Guess Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon had better things to do. Since they wont show, lets start today's lesson..." This is when the two fillies panicked and barged into the classroom. "Sorry we're late miss Cheerilee!" they said in unison as they quickly took their seats. "Cutting it a little close aren't we girls?" asked Cheerilee. "We're sorry miss Cheerilee." said Silver Spoon. "Yeah, we weren't trying to skip school or anything! Honest!" continued Diamond Tiara. "Alright, is there any reason for you being late to class?" "Well, Silver Spoon lost her glasses and needed to find them while I waited outside." explained Diamond Tiara. "Yeah, and my mom ended up finding them in the kitchen sink!" Silver Spoon tapped her chin. "I still wonder how they ended up in there. I mean, I'm sure I put them on my nightstand!" "Please don't punish Silver Spoon Miss Cheerilee." said Diamond Tiara. "It's not her fault. As for me, you can punish me if you want. I could have been here already if I didn't wait." she said frowning. Cheerilee wasn't expecting Diamond to say that. "Well Silver Spoon, you have a good reason for being late. Just be sure to keep better track of your stuff." "Oh thank goodness." said Silver Spoon with a sigh. Cheerilee turns to Diamond. "And as for you Diamond Tiara..." Diamond was afraid of what her teacher was going to say. "I'll let you off with a warning, but if you're late again there will be consequences." Diamond Tiara sprang up with glee. "Yes, thank you Miss Cheerilee! I will be here on time tomorrow, I promise!" "I sure hope so!" said Cheerilee with a smile. "Now, todays Lesson is about..." The yellow filly to Diamond Tiara's right looked at Diamond. The filly's name was Applebloom. She was a part of the Apple family, and Applejack's little sister. her mane was red, and she wore a pink bow. Her eyes had a gradient from red to orange to yellow. Her cutie mark had a purple apple symbol with a heart inside of it in the middle of a tricolored shield. "Wow, I can't believe she let you off the hook like that!" she said in a southern accent. "Yeah, neither can I Applebloom..." > Have I changed? > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- When the school bell rang it was time for recess. All the fillies and Colts were not only excited to go outside for a break, but to try out the new playground equipment. Diamond tiara met up with silver spoon at the swings. While on Silver Spoon turned her head to look at Diamond. "I can't believe you would take punishment Diamond Tiara!" said silver spoon. Diamond Tiara smiled to her friend. "Well, I would rather just accept punishment than argue." "Wow, you've really changed!" said Silver Spoon. "Yeah, I guess I have!" "Hey!" said a familiar voice. "Huh?" said both Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon. It was Snips. A blue unicorn colt that was, rather short. His mane was orange and his cutie mark was a pair of scissors. "Are you gonna swing or just sit there?" he asked "Yeah, we wanna swing as well." said the orange colt next to him. This was Snails. His mane was green and his cutie mark was unsurprisingly, a snail. Makes sense since his mind moves at a snail's pace. One thing actually notable, (besides his horn of course) was that he was taller than most other kids. "Oh, sorry! we're just going to over there!" said Diamond Tiara getting off the swingset. Silver Spoon followed her lead. The two fillies met up with the CMC. (That's Cutie Mark Crusaders for you new readers.) They were on the main playground. Scootaloo was turning a wheel pretending to be a pirate captain, Sweetie Belle was going down the slide, and Applebloom was playing Tic-Tac-Toe with some blue filly with Navy blue hair. Her hair had a cyan streak in it, and she was a pegasus. Her eyes were purple. Her cutie mark was shattered glass. Scootaloo is an orange pegasus filly, with purple eyes and a magenta mane. Her cutie mark has the same tricolored shield as Applebloom. The only difference being a purple wing with a pink lightning bolt. Sweetie Belle is a white unicorn filly with green eyes, and a curly pink/purple mane. Rarity is her big sister who is the owner of The Carousel Boutique. Sweetie Belle's cutie mark has the same tricolored shield as Applebloom and Scootaloo, but in the center there is a purple star with a pink music note on it. "Woohoo!" Sweetie shouted going down the slide. "This new playground equipment is great!" "Sure is," said Applebloom searching for a good move. "Argh! Hoist the sails! Ready the cannons! We must take back our treasure!" shouted Scootaloo. Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon walk toward them. "Hey Crusaders!" shouted Diamond to her friends. "Hey Diamond Tiara, hey Silver Spoon!" shouted Sweetie Belle from the bottom of the slide. "Hey Crusaders!" replied Silver Spoon. "Hey, wanna join me in a quest for treasure?" asked Scootaloo. "Eh, no thanks." replied Diamond politely. "Eh, playing pretend isn't really my thing." said Silver Spoon. "Suit yourself!" replied Scootaloo grabbing the wheel. "How about some Tic-Tac-Toe? When I'm done with this game that is." asked Applebloom. Diamond Tiara smiles with interest. "That sounds like fun!" "Aha!" Applebloom decided on a move, then the filly next to her made a move. The filly's movement was slow as she turned the cylinder. It was like she was afraid of breaking it, which didn't really make sense to Silver Spoon. "I win!" said Applebloom making the final move. The board ended up with three X's in the top horizontal row. "Uh, good game Applebloom." said the blue filly all quiet like. "I thought for sure I had you there." "No sweat! Also, you're pretty good yourself!" said Applebloom. "Thanks um, how about another game tomorrow?" she asked. "Sounds great!" replied Applebloom. "See ya." she said. The blue filly headed toward the slide, when she tripped over her own hooves. She fell onto the slide, but instead of tumbling down, the blue filly fell straight through the slide leaving a hole in it. The pegasus fell onto the ground below. Applebloom being a good friend looked down the hole to see if she was alright. Diamond was also concerned and did the same. Scootaloo simply turned her head hearing the sound of the slide breaking. Sweetie Belle was already at the bottom. The blue filly was lying down on the plastic portion of the broken slide, somewhat disoriented. Diamond Tiara snickers, then laughs. "Wow, you are so clumsy! I didn't even know falling through an enforced slide was even possible! That must be so embarrassing!" The blue pegasus began to cry. "Why are you so mean? Wahaha!" The filly ran away crying. Diamond Tiara just laughed. "Diamond Tiara!" said Applebloom. Diamond Tiara stopped laughing. "Huh?" "Diamond Tiara, what are you doing!?" she scolded. "I-" "Why are you being mean to poor Broken Glass? She can't help it that she's clumsy!" One of Diamond's ears flop down. "Wait. Was I just being mean?" "Yep." replied Applebloom. "Oh ponyfeathers... I-I didn't mean to... Honest!" Diamond pleaded to her friends. "Really I've changed! Right Silver Spoon?" she said turning her attention behind her. her friend however was not there. "Silver Spoon?" she said worried. "Uh, she left..." said Scootaloo. "What? When? Why!?" "I reckon she was afraid of you." said Applebloom. "What? Why me? Why would-" she nervously chuckles then sighs frowning. "You're right... I'm a bad friend..." she said. "I guess I haven't changed as much as I think I have..." "Are you kidding? You've changed a lot!" said Scootaloo. "Yeah!" continued Sweetie Belle. "The old Diamond Tiara wouldn't accept punishment like you did today. In fact, the old you would've probably lied about it!" "Take it from us Diamond, you've changed for the better!" said Applebloom. Diamond Tiara smiles. "Thanks Crusaders, but I suppose change isn't that simple." Applebloom thought for a moment. "Hey I have an idea! Come to our clubhouse after school! We can teach you how to be a better friend!" "Yeah! That's a great idea!" said Sweetie Belle. "I'm all up for it!" said Scootaloo. "Then it's settled!" said Applebloom. "Meet us after school at the clubhouse!" Meanwhile... "It's okay, she didn't mean it..." said Silver Spoon comforting the crying blue filly. "She did, and she's right!" sobbed the blue filly. "I am clumsy! I can't even seem to lean on anything without breaking it!" Silver Spoon looked at her with concern. "You... You want me to tell Miss Cheerilee?" she asked. "No it's fine..." she sniffs. "But... Isn't she your friend?" she asks. Silver Spoon looks to the ground. "I thought she was..." > Lessons From the CMC > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Diamond Tiara arrives at the CMC clubhouse. It was built into a tree, so it was also a treehouse. Diamond Tiara walked up the ramp and opened the door. The Cutie Mark Crusaders were there waiting. Applebloom was reading over something in a blue book, Scootaloo was taking out a jigsaw puzzle, and Sweetie Belle was dusting off the tables and chairs with her tail. "Oh, you're here!" said Sweetie Belle noticing the door opening. Scootaloo stopped flipping the puzzle pieces right side up to greet Diamond. "Glad you could make it!" she said going for a high hoof. Diamond Tiara saw this and happily accepted the gesture. "So what exactly are we going to be doing?" asked Diamond Tiara. "Well there's quite a few methods of helping struggling ponies make friends in this book!" said Applebloom pointing to the book on the desk. "I thought we could try out a few!" "Okay, where do we start?" asks Diamond. "I've been looking through it and I've decided to shorten it to 5 lessons." said Applebloom. "Alright, what's the first lesson?" asked Diamond. Lesson 1 First Impressions "The first lesson is first impressions!" said Applebloom. "First impressions are the most important thing when meeting a new friend! Says so in the book!" she says pointing to the book enthusiastically. "And what better practice would be as efficient as roleplaying?" said Scootaloo with enthusiasm. "What..." said Diamond Tiara confused. "You know, pretending that you're somepony else?" said Scootaloo clearing up her confusion. "Doesn't that seem rather silly?" asks Diamond Tiara. "Nah, It's totally fun!" said Scootaloo. "Yeah you should try it!!" said Sweetie Belle "Here I'll start... Hi I'm Sweetie Belle!" Diamond Tiara just gets even more confused. "Um... I know" she said. Applebloom facehoofs. "No no no. Diamond you're supposed to pretend that you don't know Sweetie Belle!" "Oh! Gotcha!" said Diamond Tiara with a wink. She understood now "Hi Sweetie Belle I'm Diamond Tiara." "Nice to meet you Diamond Tiara how are you?" Asks Sweetie Belle gesturing to the pink filly. "Oh I'm great. So lucky actually. My family is so rich that-" "Woah woah! Hold up!" interrupted Scootaloo rushing up to between them. "What? What's wrong?" Asked Diamond Tiara annoyed at her friend's interruption. "I'm carrying out a conversation here!" "Well yes, but you bragged about your family being super rich." says Scootaloo rolling her eyes. "And that's wrong how?" Asks Diamond Tiara "You want your friends to like you for you! Not just for your money!" Explains scootaloo poking Diamond Tiara hard in the chest. Diamond Tiara coughs a bit from the impact of her hoof. "Yeah I guess that makes sense." says Diamond Tiara with a short chuckle. "Alrighty then, Let's continue from that last line!" Says Scootaloo pumping her hoof in the air. Diamond Tiara clears her throat. "I'm great. I'm actually quite happy with my life." she said. "Really how so?" asks Sweetie Belle "Oh no reason! Well there is a reason but it's kind of embarrassing and pathetic..." replied Diamond. "Oh..." Replied Sweetie pretending to be saddened by what Diamond said. "Care to talk about it?" "Promise to not tell anyone?" Asked Diamond "Alright I won't tell a soul." said sweetie belle doing a gesture to zip her mouth shut. "Okay the thing is I used to be the biggest bully at our school..." said Diamond Tiara quite truthfully. She was putting her heart into this whole conversation. "Oh my." replies Sweetie Belle placing a hoof over her mouth in shock. "Yeah, I don't exactly have the best reputation..." Diamond Tiara replies hanging her head low. "I guess being a part of a rich family would do that to ya. I understand if you don't want to be friends now." Diamond Tiara was being quite sincere in this moment, falling out of her persona. "Are you kidding? Of course I'll be your friend!" says Sweetie Belle. "What? Really?" Asked Diamond pretending to be surprised. It did surprise her though that Sweetie Belle was going in this direction. Diamond Tiara found that role-play takes willpower to do things. And a positive response to her negative backstory certainly was a surprise. "Of course!" Says Sweetie Belle with enthusiasm. "It's all in the past right?" "Right." Says Diamond Tiara. "So it's not a big deal!" Said Sweetie. "So this means we're friends now?" Asks Diamond Tiara smiling a bit. "Yep!" Said Sweetie Belle with a cute wide grin. From her seat, Applebloom was writing down their dialogue. With her mouth obviously. Scootaloo clapped at the scene ending and spoke. "Okay that's a wrap! Good job both of you!" Sweetie Belle smiled. "Thanks scoots!" She said giving her friend a high hoof. "Thanks scoots..." Said Diamond Tiara shyly. She was quite confused on what she actually did. She decided not to question it though. The CMCs knew what they were doing right? "You've got everything right Applebloom?" Asks Scootaloo to her friend at the podium. Applebloom nods. "Mhm! It was real difficult to keep up with the alternatin, but I think I got it all written down." "Awesome!" Says scoots. Diamond Tiara then came up to the podium. "So how'd I do?" She asked. Applebloom flips through the pages going back and forth studying the conversation intently. "You did pretty alright there Diamond Tiara. Sure you made some slip ups, but with a little more practice I'm sure you'll be making tons of new friends!" Says Applebloom. "Wow thanks." Said Diamond Tiara blushing. She didn't expect them to be so proud. It's not even a real scenario. Would this training really help her be a better pony? Only time would tell. Meanwhile Silverspoon was At a neighboring park with the blue pegasus filly from yesterday. They walked around taking in the sights, the trees, the bees. Broken Glass glanced at Silverspoon who didn't look so thrille,d like she was distracted. "You still miss your friend?" Asks Broken Glass keeping her hooves to herself. Silverspoon jumps in surprise. "What! No why should I miss her? She hurt you where it hurts most!" Argued Silverspoon. "Yeah but, I've been through a lot more than just her words alone... Embarrassment, Accidents, I think I can get through it eventually." says Broken. "I guess you're right about that Broken, but surely you still believe she shouldn't be forgiven right?" asks Silverspoon "I don't know, I try not to think about things too much... I might break something if I get too emotional." Says Broken shaking. Silverspoon looked at Broken with empathy, confusion. "You don't hate her do you?" asks Silverspoon placing a hoof on her back. "No I don't hate anyone. If I did I might cause major damage to the school or something... What about you?" Broken Glass turned to Silverspoon hopeful. "Do you hate her?" Silverspoon bit her lip. "I don't know... She's always been like this. And ever since yesterday I thought we'd both change for the better." Said Silverspoon. Then she scowls. "But I guess it was too much for her huh?" Broken Glass wasn't so sure about that. "If she was really that bad then why was she talking to Applebloom and the others? Maybe you're wrong?" Wondered Broken Glass. "Maybe. I hope you're right. But I wouldn't hold my breath..." Says Silverspoon looking into the distance thinking about Diamond Tiara's smiling face. "Wouldn't hold my breath..." She repeated closing her eyes, a tear running down her face.