The Honorary Crusader

chapter 7

Filthy Rich came home to tend to his daughter. He heaved a sharp sigh after what felt like the hardest evening of his life. He felt great that he did good, even if it was for his little filly's wrong doing. He then went upstairs to check up on the little filly.

"Okay, Diamond Tiara, you wanna tell Daddy why you're being even more spoiled than usual?" Filthy Rich asked, sitting on the edge of her bed.

Diamond Tiara muffingly cried through her pillow. She then sniffled and set herself up after crying her crystal blue eyes out. The pony kept crying and wiped her tears. "Apple Bloom, Scootaloo, and Sweetie Belle stole my best pony friend forever!"

"Well, I know you're upset about that, but you need to grow up and accept-"

"Daddy, Silver Spoon was my only friend!"

Filthy Rich's eyes widened, then he glanced at her. "That can't be true, Diamond Tiara. You have loads of other friends. What about that Snooty Shine, kid? Money Gummy? Not to mention, Richie Pony."

"Daddy, those are ponies that are children of your friends," Diamond Tiara snorted. "They only played with me cuz you paid them."

"That's not true."

"Yes it is, Daddy, just admit it!"

Filthy Rich hardened his gaze at her. "Alright, it is true! You should count yourself lucky you got to have any friends because you don't know how to be one!"

"I know how to be a friend! Friends are people who stand by your side, they do whatever you tell them to, they always have your back, and they don't dump you for three poor, orphaned, and miscreant fillies!"

"That's NOT what friends do, Diamond Tiara! Yes, friends stand by your side, but you also be kind to one another, you don't make fun of each other, and especially fellow classmates just to make the both of you look good. Do you think Apple Bloom, Sweetie Belle, and Scootaloo would want to be your friends after they get their cutie marks after what you did to them?"

"Why would I wanna be friends with a bunch of blank flanks?"

"They won't be blank flanks for long, Diamond Tiara, they'll earn their marks and be like the rest of you students in Miss Cheerilee's classroom!"

Diamond Tiara felt stung suddenly. "Huh, I guess you're right, Daddy... I was too busy making fun of them all the time that I didn't think of what would happen after they get their cutie marks."

"You see what your selfishness does to you, Diamond Tiara? Just look at yourself." the pink earth pony's dirty brown father, shoved a mirror in her face. "Look!"

Diamond Tiara looked at her reflecting, seeing the hateful, spoiled gaze she usually gave someone. Diamond Tiara looked frightened of her own reflection and slapped the mirror down, making it hit on the floor. "What's happened to me?"

"You've become downright spoiled, rotten, and hideous! Sometimes I wish you weren't my daughter!"

That stung even more. "Daddy! You said you loved me no matter what!"

"I love you to bits, but your spoiled nature makes it feel impossible! When your mother left, she told me that I need to strengthen up and grow a backbone against you!"

"What? Mommy left because of me?"

"Yes, ever since you got that cutie mark, you've been nothing but a little brat! That's why your mother left Ponyville, because she thought I was showering you too much with gifts instead of disciplining you! I might as well break down this whole room and make you sleep in a stable like one of the maid or butler ponies!"

"I-I'm sorry, Daddy..." Diamond Tiara sniffled.

"Don't apologize to me, apologize to those blank flanks and Silver Spoon tomorrow at school, I don't care when you do it, but I don't want to be told about your bad behavior, young mare. Good night, now." Filthy Rich left, slamming the door.

Diamond Tiara's eyes wetted, watching him leave. She then looked out the window as the night felt eternal, wondering what to do tomorrow as she would get a chance to apologize or have her guilty conscience, worst enemies, ex-best pony friend forever, and classmates turning on her. She looked at her cutie mark, winced and squeezed her eyes shut as tears streamed down the sides of her face and she cried herself to sleep again.