“Wow, ah can’t believe we didn’t see Diamond Tiara all weekend,” Apple Bloom said, walking with her fellow Crusaders to school.

“I know! Isn’t it awesome?” Scootaloo sighed happily. “Too bad we’re gonna see her at school though.”

“Cheer up, Scoots, maybe she’s sick?” Sweetie Belle said with a smile. “If she’s sick, then we won’t have to see her again!”

“Ah hope she isn’t sick,” Apple Bloom muttered. “Last time she was sick she made me come over to her place and take care of her. Made me wear a nurses outfit too!” Apple Bloom muttered as she thought back to that outfit. It was surprisingly comfy though.

“Wait, why did you go to Diamond’s house?” Scootaloo asked with a grimace.

“Well, our families are pretty good friends, and Diamond really likes taking advantage of that.”

Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo looked towards each other, confusion adorning their faces.

“Uh, Apple Bloom?” Sweetie Belle asked, poking Apple Bloom’s shoulder.

“Yeah?”

“How often does Diamond Tiara have you come to her house and dress up?”

“Hmm, let me think fer a sec,” Apple Bloom said. She rubbed her chin in thought, and then made a few tally marks in the ground, muttering to herself. “Ah’d say about once a week.”

“Uh huh,” Scootaloo mumbled with a nod. “And what does she dress you up as?”

“Nurses, a ballerina, cat mare, oh, and one time she had me dress as a succubus, whatever that is!” Apple Bloom said, giggling at the ridiculous outfit for a succubus. “Even had me do little poses for her. Why do ya’ll ask?”

Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo continued to stare at her, pity in their eyes as they shook their heads in disgust.

“I hate you, Apple Bloom,” Scootaloo growled, glaring at a now confused Apple Bloom.

“Hey! What’d ah do?!”

“You’re dense, that’s what you did,” Sweetie Belle said. “Poor Diamond Tiara, no wonder she’s so mean to us.”

“Wait, what?”

“I think it’s a stupid excuse,” Scootaloo huffed. “But still, if Apple Bloom would just take one for the team, at least she’d leave us alone. Heck! She might even be nice to us and buy us stuff!”

“Take one for the team? Buy us stuff? What in tarnation are ya’ll talkin’ about?”

“Oh come on, Scoots! Can you really see Apple Bloom as a gold digger?”

“Gold digger? Ah’m a farmer, not a-”

“You know, we can fix this!” Scootaloo said as she shoved her hoof into Apple Bloom’s mouth. “Diamond Tiara likes dressing Apple Bloom up. All we have to do is put Apple Bloom in some costume, have her confess her undying love for Diamond Tiara-”

“Mah undying what?!”

“-And bam! Everypony’s happy!”

“That’s brilliant!”

“That’s stupid!” Apple Bloom yelled as she backed away from her friends. “Fer one thing, Diamond Tiara doesn’t even like me that way, and two…” Apple Bloom paused, confused at the looks her friends were giving her. “...What?”

“Are you serious?” Sweetie Belle asked. “She forces you to come over to her place at least once a week, dresses you up in cute outfits, and you think she doesn’t like you?”

“Well...yeah?” Apple Bloom replied, causing her friends to groan.

“Apple Bloom, I have a question. Does Diamond Tiara ever give you things?” Scootaloo asked.

“Well, yeah. But she doesn’t do it for me!”

“...Huh?” Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle mumbled, giving Apple Bloom an odd look.

“Well, whenever she does do somethin’ for me, she always tells me ‘it’s not like ah did this for you or anything’! Her dad probably made her do it,” Apple Bloom explained with a shrug. Her friends continued staring at her and groaned, as if in pain.

“Alright, it’s settled,” Sweetie Belle said as she began heading towards Carousel Boutique. “We’re ditching school, getting Apple Bloom a cute outfit, and she’s going to confess to Diamond Tiara.”

“Wait, no ah’m no-”

“You owe us!” Scootaloo yelled as she grabbed Apple Bloom by the shoulders and glared into her eyes. “Everyday Diamond Tiara’s bullying gets worse and worse! And if the only way to stop it is for you to date her, then it’s a sacrifice I’m willing to force you to make!”

“...Okay,” Apple Bloom muttered sadly as she began following Sweetie Belle. Scootaloo smirked victoriously as she followed her two friends.

And by you dating Diamond, that means we’ll be her friends by association! she thought giddily to herself. Aw, I hope Diamond buys us a yacht! That would be so cool!

“Ah feel stupid,” Apple Bloom muttered.

“You look adorable!” Sweetie Belle replied, stroking the costumed Apple Bloom. “And I think it’s fitting that you’re dressed up as a lamb!”

“Yeah, Diamond Tiara’s going to love it!” Scootaloo said as she led the way to Diamond Tiara’s mansion. When they finally got there they saw Diamond Tiara opening the gate. “Hi, Diamond Tiara!”

“Huh?” Diamond Tiara turned around and frowned. “Oh great. What do you three wa-AAAAT?!” she shouted, staring at Apple Bloom. “W-why is...how...WHAT?!” She quickly ran up to Apple Bloom, gaping at her.

“...Baa?” Apple Bloom muttered, causing Diamond Tiara to squeal.

“She’s so adorable!” Diamond Tiara screamed as she glomped Apple Bloom, nuzzling her cheek against Apple Bloom’s. “I always knew you felt the same! But to think you’d take the initiative?!”

“...Baa?”

“Oh ho ho! I see you want to take this seriously,” Diamond Tiara whispered against Apple Bloom’s ear. “We’re going to have so much fun tonight.”

“And that’s our cue to leave,” Sweetie Belle muttered as she and Scootaloo walked away from the cuddling couple.

After a moment, Scootaloo stopped and turned back to the touching scene. As she watched Apple Bloom getting glomped by Diamond Tiara, a lone tear fell from her eye. All the bullying, insults, and evil laughter would never again ring in her ears. The emptiness in her heart grew, but it mattered not. The large smile that was adorning Diamond Tiara’s face was worth the emotional turmoil she was experiencing. Lifting a trembling hoof towards Diamond Tiara, her lips quivered as she whispered words that were meant for her alone.

“Goodbye, my love. Goodbye, my precious diamond.”

Author's Notes:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZOVkYAxHvkk

Scootaloo...you will always be remembered :'(