I sit up in bed. It's really early, even for a school day, but I think I need the time to think. It's been a few days since I first published that article about Starlight Glimmer. Now I wish I'd never done it in the first place, but some things can't come undone. I feel so terrible exposing her like that. Now that I think of it, I have a lot in common with her.
And, spoiler alert, these are all connections with things I overheard about her, so I don't know if they're true or not. For one, we both used to be mean in the past, but want to change. Or at least I do. Second, ponies judge us based off of our past. I mean, the past is in the past, right?
I wonder if the Cutie Mark Crusaders have told anyone about me and the paper. I don't think so, though, because no one seems to be giving me any strange looks or talking about me.
Come to think of it, Starlight's probably not feeling great. I saw her running away from the park last evening. And she might've been a bit blurry, but I think I caught onto the fact that she was crying. And she was supposed to be as strong as Princess Twilight. I should maybe apologize to Starlight about publishing the papers. But then again, no one seems to know. Would I make a difference if I told the truth?
I would, actually. A bad difference, that is. I'm sure Twilight and Starlight would be angry at me. The town may think something like Gabby Gums is back. The only ponies who would believe me would be the Cutie Mark Crusaders. I know they're nice, and great friends, but I think I already have a nice life.
But what would happen if I didn't tell anyone? Starlight would have to suffer from other ponies pointing hooves at her. Twilight, and the rest of her friends, too, would have to take care of Starlight, and from what I've been seeing, it hasn't been easy. The other ponies would be accusing Starlight of something she wants to be forgiven for. Something she wants to forget. And I'm willing to forgive and forget, but I don't think the other ponies are.
I want Starlight to stop sufferning, but I don't want to be in trouble, so maybe I'm just not ready to tell the truth yet. Yeah, that's it. I'll tell the truth when the time comes around. Just as I make that desicision, though, guilt gnaws at me until it's really hard to bear. Maybe I should tell the truth now.
I can't choose between the sides. Although, I think I've already figured out which choice is the angel and which is the demon. It's a hard choice. Let someone else suffer, or suffer on your own? I should choose Option A, but something is telling me to not get yelled at. It's a really big problem.
The school bell rings, dismissing all of us. I'm not usually a fan of school, but today, I was more desperate than ever to escape the heat. First reason is that it's really hot in the classroom, because spring just started a few days ago. Also, today, I felt guilty about publishing the paper, and I had no idea how to fix that. Today, I was going to need some serious advice.
I run towards my destination, praying to Celestia that they are actually here. I desperately knock on the door in front of me and wait for about three seconds. Then I try again and see that they're coming right now, walking up the stairs. "Cutie Mark Crusaders!" I blurt out. "I need your help!"
They eye each other cautiously, then nod, motioning for me to follow them inside. "What's wrong, Diamond Tiara?" Applebloom asks in her informal accent as she steps up onto the podium. Usually, that accent bothers me, but today I needed to know how to make the hole in my gut fill itself up as soon as possible.
"You know how I published that paper a few days ago?" I frantically ask. They nod and wait for more. "Well, I don't think it's having the best impact on Starlight. And I feel really guilty about it, but I don't want to tell anypony in case I'll get in trouble. But if I don't tell anypony, Starlight will have to feel dejected. It's a hard choice I need you three to help me with," I spit out.
The Cutie Mark Crusaders looked shocked, and then look back and forth between each other. They rub their chins and have a private discussion. Finally, after what feels like forever, they give me something that's not even an answer. "What do you think is the kindest, most friendliest thing to do?" Sweetie Belle asks.
I feel my ears flap down. "Tell somepony?" Hearing this, they all nod in unison, and Apple Bloom asks me one more thing. Probably harder than When was Equestria founded?
"Are ya gonna do the right thing or not?" I bite my lip and sink my ears down even lower. Will I do the right thing or not? The old me would've already stayed out of trouble and kept it to herself. But I'm friendlier and kinder now. So in my mind, I hear the question again: Will I do the right thing or not?