00 - The Fractured But Whole
As a golden portal opened in the small town of Ponyville, the nearby ponies moved back, away from it and watching as five beings crossed through it, shining for a moment before transforming into the familiar figures of Diamond Tiara...
... and her honor guard: Ruby Rose, Yang Xiao Long, Blake Belladonna, and Weiss Schnee found themselves back in the world of Magical Friendship, changed to fit in behind the filly that was the daughter of Filthy Rich, Spoiled Milk and Belial Aensland. Even so, Ruby "Red Ruby Rodent" Rose's jovial voice said.
"It's always disconcerting to enter this world and feel how Harmony forces you into a pony body, right girls?"
"Personally I find it ... comforting ... Miss Rose, but I'm from here so it might be a little bit biased.”
Diamond Tiara replied, turning to see "her girls", of all the succubus she took as her property in the world of Eternal Darkness, Diamond would always admit that her RWBY Team were the ones she loved the most, especially after the adventures she had with them[2], smiling while Ruby said.
"Very well girls: equipment inspection."
And Blake, Yang, and Ruby proceeded to put their front legs in their manes, taking out their all too familiar weapons while Weiss opened the portal to her pocket dimension to take out the Myrenaster.
"Everything seems to be in order, Ruby."
Yang said as she put Ember Celica back into her mane after reviewing that the weapon adapted well to her new body, looking away to see how Weiss and Blake did the same after their own inspections. Sighing when she saw how Ruby clung to the monster that is Crescent Rose, clearly avoiding putting it away again.
"Miss Rose ... we've already talked about this."
Said Diamond, looking at Ruby, to which the girl just hugged the strongest scythe, refusing to put it away yet again, which caused some ponies to turn to see the group in a curious way.
"B... But my baby..."
Of course, WBY joined her Mistress in scolding their team leader, which they did by staring at her until, destroyed by social pressure, the now a pony folded and returned the red box that was Crescent Rose to her mane, and just in time, as at that moment Silver Spoon appeared, trotting towards her best friend and her maids.
"Bump, bump, sugar lump, rump."
And both made their "dance of friendship" before the attentive look of said maids. Once finished Diamond smiled, seeing her best friend, no, her best friends, even so, Diamond only let Silver keep saying.
"It seems there are some problems, Di, all Ponyville is acting a little weird, but I think it's a symptom of something worse."
"Oh? Why do you think that, Sil? "
Diamond asked curiously as she looked at Silver Spoon watching her squirm nervously.
"Well ... you see."
Silver Spoon walked slowly, remembering the things that Diamond Tiara had asked her to do during her absence, her brilliant mind already planning how to fulfill said tasks.
"Silver Spoon, have you seen Diamond Tiara?"
Asked a voice that honestly sounded as nails in a blackboard, so Silver just turned, looking at Diamond's Mother: Spoiled Rich, who observed the Young filly as if she was an insect, the cold gaze reaching up to the creature that in another life had been Obsidian Spoon, which made Silver shudder before answering.
"I ... I thought you knew that you were going to visit your other family."
Unfortunately, this response seemed to invoke the wrath of Spoiled, who simply looked at the poor filly before saying with unbridled venom.
"Another family you say? What are you talking about? Sweet Celestia. I knew that associating with your family was a mistake, but Filthy has always had that defect of wanting to socialize with the rabble! "
“Afterwards she just trotted away, which prompted me to investigate a bit. What I found was… interesting, to say the least. It seems that Poncho was erased from the universe, yet his influence remains somehow.”[3]
Finished Silver Spoon all the while Diamond Tiara and team RWBY watched in disbelief.
"What, how can that be? We were there when Mistress Diamond returned! Could she forget it?"
Weiss asked, stunned, not realizing that the crowd was dispersing, as if expecting an unscheduled storm. Fortunately, Blake Belladonna was not so distracted by the news, so seeing the pinkest pony ever pinked could only say.
"Guys, Pinkie Pie gasped in surprise and disappeared."
And Diamond Tiara echoed the rest of them, shuddering as the same terrible thought was shoved deep into their... minds.
"Welcome party?"
Asked Ruby Rose, hoping it was not that, after all, surviving Pinkie Pie's "Welcome to Ponyville" parties was truly a miracle, so, no one knew what terrors were hidden behind a second one, yet Diamond Tiara just answered.
"Welcome party, still, we have little to fear from it. So, Sil, do we still have access to our facilities in Project P.E.G.A.S.O.?”
“I haven’t confirmed it, but we should, Should I take the girls there I presume?”
Answered Silver Spoon, her bright mind already grasping the idea Diamond Tiara had. Of course, the four bodyguards behind them weren’t on the loop so.
“Just wait a minute! How come Miss Spoon will “take the girls”? We are Mistress Diamond’s personal guard, so we shouldn’t be away from her!”
“YANG XIAO LONG! Must I remind you that you swore an obedience oath?”
Roared back Diamond, surprising the four succubi before resuming in a calmer tone.
“Whatever it happened has somehow rewound time, no pony remembers you, that’s why we’ll split up, you the “new ponies in town” will distract Pinkie Pie and try investigating if you can while I go back to my house and face Mother. I will investigate when Poncho vanished, so I can send you to fix it… UNDERSTOOD, GIRLS?”
“MA’AM! YES MA’AM!”
Said the girls, sharply saluting Diamond, then Silver Spoon took them away, going to the plain-looking yet out of place office building in the distance, all the while Diamond slowly strode forwards towards home.
“Well, let’s fix this, don’t you think so…?”
As Diamond Tiara walked through Ponyville she was carefully considering the possibilities that came with the apparent disappearance of the Alicorn of Ponyville, yet nothing seemed to fit, so once she arrived at the mansion Filthy Rich called home she found herself relaxed.
"Welcome home Miss Diamond."
Said an elderly stallion dressed on a fine black suit as he bowed before the heiress of both Filthy Rich and Belial Aensland.
"Hello Randolph, is Mother home?"
Asked Diamond in a kind, sweet voice, looking at the stallion, who found himself dumbfounded for a moment before smiled as he stood up.
"Yes Miss, she's waiting for you in the drawing-room, if you would like it I can accompany you."
"That won't be necessary, but thank you, Randolph."
Answered Diamond, already moving towards the specified room, entering quietly before saying.
"I'm back, Mother."
"Take a seat, Diamond, we have too much to discuss."
Was the answer the cold voice of Spoiled Rich gave to her only Daughter, who acquiesced and sat down on a chair next to the table where Spoiled Rich was drinking some tea.
"What's this stupidity Silver Spoon told me that you have another family?"
Brutally asked the mare as Diamond Tiara just applied some of the magic she learned in the world of Eternal Darkness, surprising Spoiled Rich as Diamond levitated the teapot to pour some tea on her cup, and after adding some sugar cubes, drank a little bit before saying.
"Of course I do Mother, or have you forgotten my accident on the offices of Project P.E.G.A.S.O.? I remember how you tried to chew up Poncho only to fail miserably."
To this Spoiled just looked at her, confusion branded on her face as she shrieked.
"What are you talking about? Didn't I tell you not to associate with plebeians and blank flanks? When did you go to that dreadful place? And who is that "Poncho” you're talking about?"
"Alfonso Rodriguez, male Alicorn of Ponyville, fell into town days after the Summer Sun Celebration. You know, the guy that took land from the Everfree to build a research laboratory."
To say that Spoiled was confused would be an understatement, as she saw Diamond as if she had sprouted several heads, which wasn't unnoticed by the young heiress, who said.
"I see, thank you, Mother, I'll be going now."
"What are you? Diamond? Come back this instant young lady! Diamond! Diamond!"
Shrieked Spoiled as Diamond Tiara stood up and left, leaving her to rant and rave as she left the room, Spoiled hurrying to keep up with her, yet Diamond purposefully entered Filthy Rich’s Studio, luckily finding the Stallion in, crunching numbers.
“Hello, Daddy.”
Said Diamond happily as she closed the door behind her, letting Spoiled Rich out of the important talk to come, smiling as the confused face of Filthy Rich looked at her.
“Something wrong, Daddy?”
Asked Diamond as she held her gaze, to which Filthy just said.
“Nothing serious my princess, it’s just that…”
“… The numbers don’t add up. Barnyard Bargains is suffering from excessive profit, yes?”
Interjected Diamond Tiara, seemingly predicting whatever Filthy was going to say.
“Huh? H… How?”
Stammered the business pony as Diamond finally sat in front of him, looking as she said.
“Oh Daddy, it seems this world is in danger, a piece of the world is missing, and things that were obvious are no longer there.”
“What are you saying, little princess? And what does it have to do with the unaccounted profits?”
Asked Filthy, looking at his little princess, noticing how she was more self-assured, almost older, yet she just said.
“Days after the Summer Sun Celebration that brought Twilight Sparkle to Ponyville an object fell from heaven, that object was a being from another universe, which was forced into an Alicorn shape. His actions flung me into another universe, where I lived my life again, free from Mother’s influence, and with a Father that was as good a father as you. After that, this Alicorn helped me help you, I have control of 51% of Barnyard Bargains, and my job is the source of our abundance of Profit, and I’m assisting Princess Luna with patrolling our little ponies’ dreams, but I must go now, Ponyville lost its Alicorn, it only has its Princess now, and everyone has forgotten him, I need to know what happened, and if I can, I will bring it home, but I must go now, Daddy.”
“D… do you have to go, little princess?”
Filthy said, wholly believing his firstborn, as he looked at her, sadness on his eyes as he feared for her safety, as he remembered having a more childish daughter, to which Diamond stood up, moving behind of the desk to hug Filthy as she said.
“Yes Daddy, it seems only me and mine are able to remember him, so I am the one that must go, as I said, mine too, I have 4 of the most wonderful being in my service, and they should be enough to keep me safe.”
Then, as the hug ended Filthy’s eyes changed, as somehow Diamond managed to restore his memories, so he said.
“Just be careful, my little Princess, I know your team RWBY will keep you safe but...”
And Diamond looked at her father, shocked before hugging him again, squeezing and crying as her familiarity returned, then, moments later Diamond sniffed.
“I’ll be going now, Daddy.”
Leaving the room, careful to look at Spoiled Rich with her coldest stare as she said “Mother.” Yet not letting her answer, moving back to the front door, looking at the old butler a moment before hugging him tightly.
“I’ll be going now Randolph, please take care of Father and Mother for me.”
“Don’t you worry Miss Diamond, by the way, the room of Miss Rose, Schnee, Xiao Long, and Belladonna is properly ready.”
Said the butler, winking mischievously before pushing the lost Diamond out, who just moved confused back to Ponyville Proper.
As this happened with Diamond, Silver Spoon and Team RWBY traversed Ponyville proper, chatting as they trotted along.
“I still don’t like it. We should have gone with Mistress Diamond, not going to a party.”
Of course, as this was the 1992th. Time Yang said that it was obvious that it had worn out its welcome, so Silver Spoon thought to admonish her, yet Blake beat her to it.
“Not really, especially if, as we suspect, we’re considered “new ponies”, then We’ll have an aware Pink Pony out for our stuffing, so logically, we should try to keep ourselves unto Pinkie Pie’s good graces.”
“No kidding! NO ONE wants to be on the receiving end of a mad or otherwise inconvenienced Pinkie Pie, no sire!”
Reaffirmed Ruby Rose as she wildly flailed her arms. Thankfully for them, Yang without wanting to help Diamond, who caught up to them, to the eternal delight of the five mares.
“Thank Celestia I caught up to you girls, we must go, now.”
Said the arriving Diamond as the other looked at her concerned, still, Silver Spoon the ever-helpful provided an outing.
“Your investigation proved both successful and that the situation is dire enough to warrant Pinkie’s ire, yes?”
Yet, before Diamond Tiara could answer a cheerful voice said.
“Oh? Are you leaving already?”
And before them, Pinkie Pie, Rarity and Twilight Sparkle stood, looking at the mares with a little suspicion, only Pinkie Pie looking at them without it, still, she didn’t let them answer.
“Which is sad because you see? I was preparing up your “Welcome to Ponyville” Party when my Pinkie Sense warned me that “a friend was going to go into a transcendental adventure”, which is weird considering my friends and I go adventuring all the time but.”
Thankfully, the lavender aura of Twilight Sparkle's magic closed Pinkie's mouth, as she said.
"Diamond Tiara, was it? Daughter of Filthy and Spoiled Rich, yes? Bully of Ponyville school until the Cutie Mark Crusaders helped you realize the true meaning of your cutie mark."
"It honors me to know that the Princess of Friendship knows of my life, successes, and failures."
Answered Diamond, gently bowing as her team RWBY preened at the recognition their Mistress earned, still, Twilight carried on.
"Back when I arrived at Ponyville I did read all the books on the Golden Oaks Library. All of them but one. This is that book."
And Twilight took out a book from her saddlebag, the crimson tome was elegant on its simplicity, as the only defining feature was the Golden "For Diamond Tiara" engraving on both the cover and side, the book was swiftly taken by its defined recipient, who then gave it to Weiss for safekeeping before saying.
"And why are you giving it to me until now, Princess?"
"Simply because, until now, it hadn't felt like a good moment to do it so, still, the book itself is weird. It is completely blank, and let's not mention that it was the only book to survive Tirek's rampage."
This shocked everyone but Pinkie Pie, whose mouth was still sealed by Twilight's magic, still, Weiss Schnee opened the book and started reading.
"If you're reading this, something dire has happened, and it requires that you depart into an epic adventure across Creation! Now, this would be a daunting enterprise for anypony, but fear not! You have in your hooves (or telekinetic aura if you are a unicorn) a very comprehensive encyclopedia regarding several universes."
"I see, well, it seems like Harmony is helping us, Princess Twilight, by your leave, we'll be going now. Thank you very much for your help."
Said Diamond Tiara as she opened her portal again and every member of team RWBY crossed it after Diamond left, leaving Silver Spoon and three very confused mares behind.
[1] © 2016 - 2019 REMfey (https://www.deviantart.com/remfey/art/RWBY-MLP-586594896)
[2] As will be seen/seen in "Revenge of the Mother of Grimm" from "Diamond of Darkness" and in "Echoes of the Dark World" from "RWBY: Dragon's Adventures"
[3] Hi, Alfonso Rodríguez Here. As far as I get it, being a non-combatant version of myself, the reason is that his / our “employer” is actively exerting his influence, like back then that first day the Poncho Silver Spoon means died creating a new universe –Yes, there’s, back on Fan fiction.net a series of stories whose “world” was crafted by the combatant version of me I can see, and yes, it was created before the convoluted, extra complicated game of clones He does play to keep himself alive (and keep the missuses happy).- which allowed the clone that was acting as the main Poncho before the Time War started to stay, summoned the descendants and yes, managed to keep his influence on the last universe he visited – which was Pony-.