Crowned Diamond could not believe it. Ruy had actually DONE it! Sure, the shareholders were shocked at first upon seeing his scars, but seeing how bravely the young unicorn spoke and showed his scars, even joking about them at times, made a huge impact on the ponies.

"The company will be in good hooves!" had one of Crowned Diamond's friends said to him.

Sure there was a lot of talk about the dangers of the experiment, but Ruy had pledged his trust and loyalty to his father, stating that "accidents happen, but we mustn't let those stop us from thriving for the future". Diamond knew that Ruy didn't mean what he said, at least not about pledging his loyalty and trust on him.

Ruy hated him. Would hate him until his dying breath. And that kept Crowned Diamond's mood from brightening, even though the stocks were going up again. What good were they when his family now had two disgraces? As if the yellow earth pony wasn't enough, now his only unicorn son was also turning against him.

Speak of the devil, he saw Shô walking up the corridor, dressed in a white formal attire, most likely brought to him by his brother. Upon seeing his father, Shô's whole profile changed, tensing up, ears pressing against his head, eyes looking down, head hanging low. Shô knew his father well enough to know when to keep his head down, literally.

Usually this worked, Diamond would not even look at his younger son out of disgust. But today he was more mad than usual. He wanted to hurt someone. And since he could not get away with physical abuse, not when Ruy had such a close eye on his younger brother and would notice any bruise, he had to do it by words. And this was just fine for Diamond.

"Where do you think you're going?" Diamond snapped at Shô when he was walking past him. When Shô didn't answer, he grew angrier.

"Answer me, boy!"

"Oniisan." was Shô's simple answer. Ruy had asked to meet his brother after the meeting.

Diamond saw his opportunity to hurt Shô where it would sting.

"Oh, so you can hurt him again?"

Shô's reaction was exactly what Crowned Diamond had expected. Shô's ear perked up and he turned to look at his father, confused.

"Wh-what?" he stuttered.

"Are you that dumb? Where do you think those scars came from?" Diamond scoffed.

"Oniisan said---" Shô stopped short. He had to think about what he would say. Saying Ruy had put the blame fully on their father would not go down well for him.

"He said that the horn exploded, causing those scars." Shô said.

Diamond scoffed. "That's what he tells you. To protect you. The horn didn't explode! You went berserk and started attacking everyone in sight! Even your own brother!"

Shô's eyes watered. This was a lie. It had to be. "You're lying..." he whispered.

"Why do you think the head scientists left, huh? You attacked her as well, and she felt uneasy staying around after that. Your brother barely survived the bleeding! He acts tough because he has to. Because he cares for you. Not that you deserve any of it." the old unicorn declared. Shô was crying now.

"You were a defect on your birth, and you keep disappointing your family the longer you live! It was a very simple thing you needed to do: to test the horn. And you instead attacked your brother, causing him to loose his good looks. No mare will want him now. And it's all your fault."

Shô sobbed, tears falling down. It had to be a lie. Ruy would never lie to him! But what if it WAS true? What if he really did attack his brother? The scientists? He didn't do it deliberately! But he still had done it, regardless.

"And the one thing I can't stomach..." Diamond muttered under his breath. "Was the fact it is your fault your mother died."

"WHAT!?" Shô shouted, half angered, half unbelieving.

"It's true. If she didn't have you, she would have never gotten sick. Ruy knows this, and he hates you for it. But he doesn't say it. Because of the damn promise he made to Dove. To care for you. To love you. Ruy loved your mother, and took that promise to heart, no matter how much he detests you."

Shô was shaking. Tears were falling down constantly. But the young earth pony had no words to say. These were all lies. But what if they weren't?

Diamond scoffed again. "What a shameful show you are. We'd be better off without such a disappointment in our family."

With that he walked away. And how good it felt. Yes, he had lied, but who cared? He was feeling better now, so it didn't matter.

But behind him, Shô's demeanor suddenly changed. His tearful eyes were filled with something new. Something that would one day be the end of Crowned Diamond.

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