"I just had one of those "What the HELL are we doing?" moments." -Adam Savage

The former Cutie Mark Crusaders sat on their common room couch, speechless. Had Diamond Tiara, the more merciless of their two fillyhood tormentors, just expressed regret for her teasing AND a desire to fix her mistakes? Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle just sat, thinking of what to say. Scootaloo, however, was the first to react... by laughing hysterically, as if she had just been told the world's funniest joke.

"You... apologize? That's...too...much!" she gasped between breaths. After she had stopped (which took a minute despite glares from the other two) "That has...to be... the funniest thing you've ever said"

"...You don't believe me?" Diamond asked, obviously dejected.

"Well, ah-" Apple Bloom managed before Sweetie Belle cut in.

"What I think Scootaloo *meant* to say," Sweetie said while using her best "Shut Up NOW" stare (borrowed, of course, from Rarity) on her friend, "was that it'll take a whole lot for us to believe you after what you put us through."

"I know," Diamond said, "but..."

Apple Bloom held up a hoof. "Scoots, Sweetie Belle, ah think we should have a meeting about this- like we used to as Crusaders."

"Agreed," chorused the others.

"Wait here," Apple Bloom said. "This may take a mite long, cause it's serious." The three walked into Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle's room and closed the door, leaving Diamond Tiara alone for the first time since her arrival.

What the hell am I doing? she thought to herself. They probably still hate me... What if they won't forgive me? Then I wasted my time planning, and I'll have to tell Daddy that I failed. Even worse, Silvy'll have a big, fat "I told you so" lecture waiting. I wish I could hear...

An idea came to her- fortunately, she had learned to eavesdrop on her father's meetings as a filly in Ponyville. She crept over to the door, and was glad to see that Sweetie Belle hadn't cast a soundproofing spell on the room. The first voice she heard was Scootaloo's... and things seemed, unfortunately, to be going badly for her.

"...buck did she find us?" Scootaloo was saying. "Of anything that could have happened... this is The. Worst. Possible. Thing!" Diamond almost laughed, knowing whom Scootaloo had heard that from.

As if Sweetie Belle could read her mind, the unicorn mare deadpanned her next words: "You stole that from Rarity."

"So?" Scootaloo shot back. "I can't believe she had the nerve to try a fake "reunion and apology" scheme... I bet she'll be calling us "Blank Flanks" -all three cringed momentarily at their old insult, while Diamond felt a new wave of guilt wash over her- "within a week!"

"Ah don't know, Scoots... she really seems to care about fixin' her mistakes. Maybe we should give her a chance. It'd be wrong not ta." Diamond perked back up, praying that Apple Bloom was forgiving her for the numerous times the former tormentor had called the farm pony "uncivilized," "a bumpkin," or a "dirt loving farm pig."

Scootaloo opened her mouth, but Sweetie Belle cleared her throat and said something that lifted Diamond's spirits:

" I still believe, in spite of everything, that people are truly good at heart."

After a few seconds of silence, Apple Bloom asked, "Who said that?"

"Anne Frank," Sweetie Belle responded. "She and her family knew that they would be in trouble if they were found in hiding, but she remained optimistic. I think we should give her a chance because... she could have changed." Thank you, Sweetie Belle. Diamond added silently.

Someone slammed a hoof- because she spoke next, Diamond assumed it was Scootaloo. "No WAY! She drove us to tears how many times?! Made us feel like shit how many times? A lot! Why should we forgive a Celestia-damned spoiled brat like her?" Diamond rolled her eyes- she had known that Scootaloo would be hard to convince, but this was ridiculous!

"... Ah know, Scoots... we both do." Apple Bloom interjected. "But ah agree... if she don't change, we can try to get away from her. For now, ah think Sweetie has the best idea. Let's do what we did back when we was fillies and vote on it... who thinks we should let her do what she wants an' try ta fix things? Ah say yes..." Come on, Diamond thought. I want to prove that this isn't a prank, another late-coming trick from our fillyhood days.

"Of course!" said Sweetie Belle. Diamond was on pins and needles now, as only Scootaloo was left to vote. A "no" from the Pegasus would damage her plan considerably.

"...Fine," muttered Scootaloo. "But if she makes one mistake or insults us... I'll buck her into next week." Diamond sighed in relief... then shivered as the second part of Scootaloo's concession sunk in. I'm probably owed a few kicks for my behavior, she admitted to herself.

"I don't want you fighting... but I agree with the mistakes part." Sweetie Belle added. "You think that's fair, Apple Bloom?"

"Eeyup." Apple Bloom added, sounding just like her brother, whose name Diamond couldn't remember. She quickly and quietly tiptoed to the couch and sat down, making sure to look casual yet nervous. The door opened just as she sat, as if on cue, to reveal the three. "Well?" she asked in her best nervous voice.

Scootaloo muttered something, which Diamond heard as "...can't believe we're doing this..." This earned her a hoof to the ribs from Apple Bloom and a glare from both girls, before she repeated the group's decision: "We'll give you a chance... but if you mess up, Celestia help you."

"OH, THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU!" Diamond yelled, jumping up to hug the three now-stunned mares. "You won't regret this..." she stepped back, took a deep breath, and repeated an oath (with gestures) that she heard as a filly:

" I Pinkie Promise...Cross my heart and hope to fly, stick a cupcake in my eye."

A/N: This chapter was a bit tough to write... But I did it, damn it. Diamond's reactions were added after I wrote my first draft (if you could call it that.) I originally was gonna end with the group hug, but decided to add Diamond Pinkie Promising because I felt like the others needed a bit of convincing. Whether or not they are convinced is for me to know and for you to find out. Keep reading. Until next week! -ShadowofthePen115

PS: Scootaloo's Cutie Mark is a scooter going through a ring of fire (daredevil), Sweetie's is a double note (see the Notes in Banjo-Kazooie) and Apple Bloom's is two seeds joined at the top but separating partway down (crossbreeding apples). Thanks to AwesomeDude110 for pointing out my error.