The school bell rang long and loud, a signal that another school day was over. School is school, you learn, grow up, and get a job, then slog through life and hope to retire peacefully. That's most ponies.

Diamond Tiara sat against a tree just inside Whitetail Woods, far from the school house, waiting for the bell to chime so she could stop pretending to be at school. The dark, coolness of the forest almost lulled her to sleep. Small, brief breaks in the forest canopy sent small flakes of light dancing over the underbrush. The pitter-patter of rain tapped on the leaves, setting an almost rhythmic tone to the otherwise silent forest.

She remained still, unconcerned with being found. An old Spirit had taken up residence in their forest which drove most nature loving ponies toward Ponyville in favor of safety. However, as time went by more ponies grew unconcerned as no one was ever attacked.

Opening her eyes slowly, Diamond Tiara took a deep breath to rouse her from her rest.

Skipping school wasn't a regular occurrence for her, but today was one day she has avoided for the past three years in a row; career day. Diamond Tiara always disliked it, it made her feel uncomfortable. Ponies come to share stories about their job, then the students arrange to spend a day with them for some experience in a field they might enjoy. Not once in her eleven years of schooling has she ever enjoyed it, a diamond tiara mark never fit in. She once grew to hate it, but lately she learned to become content with it.

In a huff, Diamond Tiara pushed herself up and walked along the treeline to Ponyville.

"You shouldn't go in the forest, it's dangerous." Diamond Tiara mocked the words of her mother. The forest never did anything but sit and give shade. Even the animals from the forest kept their distance from anything pony related. She sighed, realizing her mother was right, only if just technically.

For years, school was the one place she felt happy at, that and at Silver Spoon's house. Old enemies became friends; Scootaloo, Apple Bloom, and Sweetie Belle, had come along and given her a second chance. As they aged, even spending time away from home couldn't cheer Diamond Tiara up.

A new teacher came to Ponyville and moved in on the outskirts, just past Sweet Apple acres. Cheerilee began taking her and the rest of class to his estate to learn from him, something Diamond Tiara's parents had a serious issue with. Skyfall was a great teacher, but many residents didn't enjoy his presence in the village. Everyone believed he was trouble waiting to happen and that sharing his house with multiple mares and stallions was not only promiscuous, but overtly dirty.

'He's strange and shouldn't be teaching our daughter!' Diamond Tiara's mother said in her mind, memories of the most recent parent-teacher conference came to mind. Her father had been the most belligerent of the two. 'Why does our daughter need to learn Griffon history and world politics at such a young age? This stops at once.'

'A diamond tiara.' Diamond Tiara thought. She slowed to a stop at the hill that overlooked Ponyville, she saw ponies of all types going from building to building to avoid sheets of light rainfall. She admired the ponies of Ponyville, they knew what they want to do in life, they have everything laid out before them. 'What do I do with a diamond tiara? Sit around and be rich?'

As she looked down to the small village, ponies scurried away as the rainfall grew heavier. Claps of thunder rolled across the sky, sending even Pegasi to land and seek shelter. Weather began to act on it's own, causing weather ponies to favor caution over courage concerning rainstorms. Every weather factory from the southern lowlands to the Crystal Empire couldn't figure out the random occurrences that swept the nation.

A glow of white walked the rain soaked streets, catching Diamond Tiara's eye. Sif had become known through Ponyville for her exotic look and sassy behavior around stallions. She lived in Skyfall's house, so everyone assumed she was his wife until he a rumor circulated that she wasn't, raising even more questions. Once, Diamond Tiara's mother asked Sif what her relationship to Skyfall was in an attempt to embarrass her. However, the scorn was Spoiled Rich's when Sif told her she didn't need a stallion to feel important. She was a strong, independent mare.

The rain poured down onto Sif's bone white coat and mane with only blue eyes to pierce her colorless veil. Beads of rain fell from her as she walked unhindered in the downpour.

A roaring curiosity rose up in Diamond Tiara's mind.

"Why are you following me?" Sif bore down on Diamond Tiara as the latter was pinned to the wet floor. She glared holes into Diamond with abnormal eyes, not in look, but in intensity. Tiara felt like a worm crawling away from a bird as Sif repeated the question with urgency.

"I-I wanted to talk to you."

"So you sneak around and follow me?" Sif asked, skepticism clear on her face.

"Sorry about that." Diamond turned her head to break herself of Sif's staring.

Sif raised an eyebrow. She wasn't dumb. She knew the instant Diamond Tiara began following her, but she waited until she was almost home to break Diamond's line of sight to sneak up on her and pounce.

"Why?"

Losing all semblance of her facade, Diamond sighed heavily and chose to tell the truth. "I skipped school today and saw you walking in the rain."

"Doesn't explain why you're following me." Sif moved off of the filly to allow her to stand, even helping her to her hooves with a gentle push. "What is so important that you needed to sneak around to talk to me?"

Diamond winced. "I was going to wait for you to get to Skyfall's before talking to you. My parents kind of forbid me from talking to you after you embarrassed my mother."

Sif chewed her cheek, not diverting her gaze elsewhere. "Well, she did ask for it."

"Oh, no. I thought it was funny, she needed to be put in her place." Diamond smiled. "She always makes snide remarks to everyone she comes across so it's refreshing to see someone stand up to her in such a casual manner like you did."

"Everyone?" Sif asked, catching the lack of pony in the filly's speech.

"Mr. Skyfall uses one instead of pony, so many of us in class are using it." Diamond Tiara said happily. "My parent get upset whenever I say everyone, but it's more correct to say according to Ms. Cheerilee so I'm using it. They barely pay attention to me so long as I produce good grades, but I think it's because it's something Mr. Skyfall does that angers them."

"You hungry?" Sif asked abruptly.

"K-Kind of." Diamond said.

"Good, Skyfall is making spaghetti and meatballs from scratch tonight, you'll love it."

"Oh, I can't." Diamond turned to leave. "My parents want me home at a reasonable time."

Sif glanced at the small filly and chuckled. "From the sounds of it, your parents won't care if you miss dinner. Why care for someone who doesn't care about you in return?"

"They do!"

"Uh-huh." Sif rolled her eyes.

Sif's words cut deep. Diamond Tiara never felt particularly loved at her house. Her father bought her stuff, but that isn't love. As Sif walked away, she felt her body move on its own to follow. Soon, she found herself walking next to her.

"Are you sure Mr. Skyfall won't mind?"

"No, or at least he shouldn't." Sif mumbled. "Him, me, Cadance, Honos, Inko, Nimbus, and River go in and out of that house all day. Plus, out of everything that he does in town, he enjoys teaching you all on Fridays the most."

"Really?"

"Yes, he tries to get me in on it, but he is the brains, I'm the muscle." Sif said. "They pretty eye candy muscle."

Diamond giggled at Sif's passive aggressive joke. She could easily recall at least four times she saw Sif turn down a stallion's offer to date before making a scalding remark about them because they insisted on dating her.

"What's so funny?" Sif asked.

"I just remember you turning down Toe-Tapper when he asked you out."

"You saw that?" Sif asked before she too laughed. "He was pretty insistent that I go on at least one date with him. But he is too small and meek to consider as a mate."

"A m-mate?" Diamond asked.

"Yes." Sif glanced back to see Diamond Tiara. "Maybe saying 'coltfriend' is more appropriate? You're too young to see stallions as more than a special somepony."

"I know what you meant!" Diamond Tiara defended. "Our parents were told to have that talk with us already. It's just..."

"You haven't." Sif said and let a quiet smirk form on her lips. "Is that why you want to talk to me? You want to know how to get a stallion that's worth more than just your time?"

After sputtering, Diamond Tiara thrashed her head to remove any indecent thoughts that crept in. "No, I wanted to learn how to be more than the heir to my daddy's fortune."

Sif laughed heartily. "And there it is, the real reason you wanted to talk."

Diamond Tiara turned her head, confused at Sif's words. "Huh?" The realization sank in, causing her to trip on her hooves. "You tricked me and got me flustered so I would tell you what I want?"

"Yes." Sif said monotonously. "However, I think you're better off asking for Inko's help. Don't be like me."

"Why?" Diamond Tiara asked.

"We aren't the right match." Sif said, cresting the hill and walking past the two statues at the border of Skyfall's estate. "You're lithe and have much more going for you."

Diamond Tiara disagreed in silence as she followed Sif. She would offer words of protest, but it was clear to her what the result would be. Every time a suitor would attempt to press the dating question with Sif, she would turn and begin picking them apart verbally. When the stallion grew angry, Sif would state clearly that she had in fact said no.

Before she knew it, Diamond Tiara had followed Sif into Skyfall's house where the large stallion himself stood, smiling down at her with a flower-print apron.

"Good evening, Diamond Tiara. What brings you by?" Skyfall asked.

"She's eating dinner with us." Sif called as she walked up the stairs, motioning Diamond Tiara to follow.

"Well, dinner is very soon." Skyfall smiled as a loud clanging sound echoed from the kitchen followed by Cadance's insistent voice climbing that the sound wasn't her fault. He turned and galloped away, leaving Diamond Tiara to follow Sif.

The path she walked was familiar, it had been to the same room her class was held every Friday, except this time it ended a door short since Sif entered the room next to Skyfall's training hall; a large room filled with maps, dummies, and other knick-knacks too advanced for her class, or so Skyfall says.

"Hey poochie." Inko called as Sif threw the door open. "Any reason you burst in all of a sudden?"

"Skyfall asked you two to not do that in the house." Sif grumbled and gestured to the tall filly by her side. "Mostly because we have visitors coming in and out all day."

"We weren't doing anything."

Diamond Tiara looked on as Inko smirked under Sif's intense blank stare as she pointed to her own nose. She couldn't smell anything, which confused her, why is Sif pointing to her nose?"

"Fine, you win." Inko rolled her eyes. "Is that all you came by to say?"

"No."

Flailing came from the bed as Inko growled before going limp. "What is it that you feel is so urgent that you have to interrupt someone's relaxation time?"

"Relaxation time? Is that what you're calling it?" Sif chuckled, motioning Diamond Tiara in and closing the door behind her.

"I find it relaxing, you're just a masochist." Inko chided and scanned over to the pink filly.

Diamond Tiara had seen Inko around, but never heard much about her aside from her medical assistance at the guard unit and occasional work helping Skyfall with their class. Her red-orange mane and cream coat were nicely groomed and well kempt with two red eyes peering out at her, a complete contrast to Sif's look.

"We're here because Diamond Tiara here needs someone to teach her to not be useless."

"Sif!" Inko scolded. "That's rude."

Diamond Tiara didn't react to Sif's assessment, she was right even if just a bit blunt. So far, she wasn't even good at the hobbies she took part in in her personal life. For all intents and purpose, she was useless. She just stood there staring, but shook her head when she thought she saw Inko's eyes glowing.

"Can't." Inko smiled. "This filly is more like you than she is me."

Sif gave Inko a wry look. "Seriously? Inko, She'll learn more from you than from me."

"But does she want?" Inko asked then looked to Diamond Tiara. "Sif always thinks herself to be a bit crude for pony society, so she's trying to help you, but it's apparent as the look on your face."

Sif looked to the filly to see two blue eyes staring back up at her.

"Dinner!" Cadance called up the stairs and into the house.

Diamond Tiara felt regret at having come to Skyfall's house, she felt awkward wanting to spend time with someone who didn't want to be around her. A sentiment she had grown used to.

Sif's ears gyrated and she turned to leave, followed closely by Diamond Tiara. She waved and chuckled. "See you later, Inko."

"See you later, Inko." Diamond Tiara said in the same exact manner as Sif, even throwing in the same waving gesture, earning an inquisitive look from Sif. Embarrassed, Tiara shuffled passed Sif with haste and hurried down the stairs so quickly she nearly tripped.

"That little filly looks up to you, Sif." River said, having appeared from the training room next door. "I won't tell you what to do, that's Skyfall's realm. But please realize the filly wants your help."

"She has a point, Sif." Inko smiled as Sif closed the door.

"They're gone, Honos."

"Finally." The bed started to shake as a large stallion pulled himself from the crawl space below. "I thought she would never leave. And to call us out like that with a filly was nearby."

Inko giggled. "Well, we were told not to while in the house." She blew her mane out of her eyes. "Where were we?"

"Don't know." Honos smiled as he crawled back onto the bed. "But I can come up with something."

"Oh please do."

"Inko and Honos are eating out for dinner." Sif said as she entered the kitchen with Diamond Tiara in tow.

"They're what?" Cadance asked, but cocked her head at Skyfall's throat-cutting gesture.

"

Sif dinner

parents appear/big drama scene

DT spends the night 1on1 with Sif, they form a bond.

DT falls asleep next to Sif/end