Chapter 33: Run Around
Silver Spoon and Scootaloo are eating breakfast when Silver Script walks in. "Silver?" Script asks. "What are your plans for today?"
"I was thinking that we would go and see how Apple Bloom and Diamond Tiara are doing. Depending on what they are doing we may visit for awhile."
"Anything else?"
"I want to see about getting Scootaloo into some kind of dance lessons."
"Excuse me?"
"Some time ago I got to go to a couple lessons when a family thought they might adopt me." Scootaloo says.
"I take it you haven't been back since?"
Scootaloo shakes her head. "Fluttershy really doesn't make enough bits for that."
"I was thinking I could pay for the lessons." Silver says.
"That's very sweet of you Spoon." Script says.
"It's the very least I can do for a friend."
"Still trying to convince her huh?"
Silver blushes slightly as she nods. "She doesn't want to jump into anything, so friends is fine. For now."
Script nods. "Sounds like you have a good day planned."
Silver nods. "I thought so."
"Make sure your home for dinner." Script says. "Your father is going to be in town and wants to see you."
"What about Scootaloo?"
"He'll just have to deal with her being here."
Silver nods and looks to Scootaloo. "Ready?"
Scootaloo nods. "Let's go!" They leave the house and she heads for her scooter.
"You think we could walk?"
"Sure." Scootaloo says and they start walking. "So care to tell me what's on your mind?"
"What are you talking about Scoots?"
"You wanted to walk." Scootaloo points out. "Figured you wanted to talk about something."
Silver sighs. "It's my father."
"What about him?"
"He doesn't know I'm into fillies."
"Are you afraid of how he'll react?"
Silver nods. "Especially since the whole reason mom left him was because she realized that she was into mares."
"There's no need to tell him if you don't want him to know."
"I've got to tell him eventually." Silver says. "He keeps trying to set me up with his friends sons."
"Oh, yeah that kinda sucks."
"How did you tell Fluttershy?"
"When she got together with Discord she sat me down to talk about feelings and I told her about my crush on Sweetie."
"How did she react?"
"She said that she'd be happy for me as long as I was happy with my choices." Scootaloo answers. "I told her that if she was happy with Discord I would be happy for her."
"Sounds like my mom." Silver says. "She had said something like that before I told her about my crush on Diamond."
"But your dad's obviously hoping you'll be straight."
Silver nods. "I think he wants grandchildren."
"Princess Twilight told us that two mares can have a child with a little bit of magic."
Silver blushes. "Seriously?"
Scootaloo nods. "Yeah, there's a spell that combines their DNA into a baby inside one of the mares."
Silver giggles. "I'll have to tell my mom that one. She says that making the baby is all a stallion is good for. If she knows that you don't even need one for that..."
Scootaloo chuckles. "That's hilarious."
"I'll have to think about if I'm ready to tell my dad yet or not."
"What do you think he'll do if you tell him?"
"I think he'll blame mom." Silver says. "Then there would probably be an argument."
"Would he hit either of you?"
"I really don't know." Silver says. "I think he'd just never talk to us again."
"That's harsh."
=========
The two of them walk up to Rich Manor and Silver knocks on the door. Filthy opens up the door. "Silver Spoon how nice to see you. Who is that with you?"
"Hello Mister Rich." Scootaloo says.
"Well if it isn't Scootaloo." Filthy says. "I haven't seen you in awhile. Are you setting in with Fluttershy alright?"
Scootaloo nods. "I couldn't be happier."
"Good to hear." Filthy says. "Now how can I be of assistance?"
"We are looking for Diamond Tiara." Silver answers.
"I should have guessed." Filthy says. "She's in her room."
"Thank you, sir." Silver says as she and Scootaloo enter the house to go to Diamond's room. They find Diamond sitting at a desk looking over something. "Diamond?"
Diamond looks up from her work and looks at the two of them. "Silver Spoon and you brought Apple Bloom's pegasus friend."
"Her name is Scootaloo." Silver says.
"Sorry, I forgot." Diamond says. "I've had a lot on my mind."
"Apology accepted." Scootaloo says.
"What's been on your mind Diamond?"
"I've been trying to think of ways I can help at the farm."
"Trying to spend more time with Apple Bloom?"
Diamond blushes slightly and nods. "Something wrong with that?"
"Not at all." Silver says. "Any ideas so far?"
"A couple, but I'm not sure about any of them."
Scootaloo looks over at the papers. "Why not combine a couple?"
"What do you mean?"
"Well your dad already sells Sweet Apple Acres apples." Scootaloo says. "Maybe you can get him to add a little apple related restaurant."
Diamond taps the desk a few times with her forehoof as she thinks. "That could work. I'll have to discuss it with my father and Apple Bloom."
"Was just thinking ponies get hungry when they're shopping. You know?"
"I think it makes sense." Silver says.
"Thank you both." Diamond says. "Now I need to talk to my dad and Apple Bloom."
"We are heading over to Sweet Apple Acres. Want us to tell her you're coming?" Scootaloo asks.
Diamond nods. "I would appreciate that."
Scootaloo nods then she and Silver leave to head to the farm.
=========
Scootaloo pulls the scooter / wagon combo up to the farmhouse. "I'm glad you convinced me to go back and get this." Silver says as she climbs out of the wagon. "It is certainly faster than walking."
"Thought you might enjoy the ride."
"So how do we find Apple Bloom on all this property?"
"We'll go inside and talk to Granny Smith. She may know where she was planning to be. Unfortunately it's all luck from there." Scootaloo says. Just then they hear the sound of hammering coming from the barn.
"Or we could follow the sound of hammering that's most likely her." Silver says.
Scootaloo chuckles slightly. "Yeah, that might work too." With that the two of them walk to the barn where they find Apple Bloom fixing the side of it. "Hey Apple Bloom."
"Hey there Scootaloo." Apple Bloom as she turns to her friend. "And hey Silver Spoon. Whatcha doin out here?"
"We came to see how you were doing." Scootaloo answers.
"Both of you?" Bloom asks.
"Fluttershy went out of town with Twilight and Rainbow Dash. I'm staying with Silver Spoon in the meantime."
"That makes sense." Bloom says. "What have you two been up to?"
"We stopped and saw Diamond." Silver says noticing the slight blush on Apple Bloom's cheeks at the mention of the other filly. "She plans on coming by later and running some ideas past you."
Apple Bloom quickly tries to compose herself and responds. "That sounds good."
"I take it things between you two are good?" Silver asks.
Apple Bloom nods. "When we started I wasn't sure how I felt about being with another filly." She blushes again. "Now I know I wouldn't want to be any other way."
"I'm glad to hear that." Silver says.
"Me too." Scootaloo says. "You deserve to be happy."
"Sweetie has Ash. I got Diamond. We need to find you somepony Scoots." Apple Bloom says then quickly adds. "You too Silver."
"Actually..." Silver says as she looks at Scootaloo. "I'm working on that being a two for one deal."
"She's doing a pretty good job of convincing me too."
"That would be great!" Bloom says. "Maybe once Sweetie and Ash return we can go on a group date?”
“We’ll see.” Scootaloo says. “We’re still taking it one step at a time.”
“Fair enough.” Apple Bloom says.
“Looks like you’ve been busy.” Scootaloo says as she looks over the barn.
“Been fixin everything I can since I got my mark.” Apple Bloom says.
Scootaloo nods. “I can imagine.”
Bloom looks down. “I’m sorry Scootaloo, we’ll get you your mark.”
“Me and Silver have been discussing ideas, so we may try some things.”
Bloom nods. “Of course. After all, I’m busy here at the farm, and we have no idea where Sweetie is.”
“I figured you’d understand that.”
“Why wouldn’t I?” Bloom asks. “After all both me and Sweetie got our marks without you.”
“I hadn’t thought about it that way.” Scootaloo says.
“Well, now you have.” Bloom says. “Well, I’d better get back to work, I need to try and finish this before Diamond comes around.”
“Of course.” Scootaloo says. “I understand you want to be with your fillyfriend, but let’s still get together sometime.”
Bloom nods. “We will, I promise. Might be all of us, can’t guarantee a crusaders only meeting anymore.”
“Maybe we should make Diamond and Silver Crusaders then.” Scootaloo says.
“I hadn’t thought of that.” Bloom admits. “We’ll have to discuss that with Sweetie when she returns.”
Scootaloo nods. “Good point.”
“We’d better head on if you’re going to get any work done.” Silver says.
“Thank you for coming to check on me.” Bloom says. “Hope to get together again soon.”
“See you later.” Scootaloo says as they head back to the scooter and wagon and head into town.
==========
Scootaloo pulls the scooter and wagon up to a large building. “Here’s the studio.”
“He lives here?” Silver asks.
Scootaloo nods. “He lives here when he’s not performing. Ponyville’s far enough away from the maddening world that most ponies don’t realize he’s here.”
“I never would’ve imagined the famous Twinkle Hooves lived in Ponyville.”
“Come on, let’s go talk to him.” Scootaloo says as she gets off the scooter. She waits for Silver to get out of the wagon. Then the two of them walk into the building where they find a green earth pony stallion with pair of dance shoes as his cutie mark dancing in the middle of the room.
The stallion notices them and stops dancing. He then approaches them. “Scootaloo?” He asks with a heavy Prussian accent. “Is that you?”
“Yes Twinkle Hooves, it’s me.”
Twinkle Hooves comes up and hugs Scootaloo. “It’s been so long since I’d seen you. You were my favorite student. Why have you not come back until now?”
“The family that introduced me to you, they didn’t adopt me.” Scootaloo says. “Then I didn’t have the money for lessons anymore.” She pauses and then continues. “I have a new friend now, a good friend she’s going to pay for the lessons.”
“Pay?” Twinkle Hooves asks. “What made you think I was in it for money? I saw talent and I wanted to mold it, then you left.”
“I’m sorry.” Scootaloo says. “I didn’t know. I didn’t want to come to you looking for a hand out, I’ve never wanted that.”
“Then why are you letting her pay?”
“Cause I want to do it.” Silver says. “I saw an opportunity to help a friend so I thought I would take it.”
“So you are going to help her just because you can?”
“Maybe I do have an ulterior motive, but I made that motive very clear to her from the beginning.”
“Did you?”
“Yeah.” Scootaloo answers for her. “She wants me to be her fillyfriend. I told her that bits wouldn’t buy my love.”
“Yet you’re here.” Twinkle points out.
“I wanted to learn to dance, so I figured I’d take the chance.”
“I’ll teach you, but I won’t take bits from you or her.” Twinkle says. “You’ll come when I say, and I’ll teach you on my terms, understand?”
“Of course.” Scootaloo says. “Thank you.”
“Good.” Twinkle says. “Now you’re friend needs to go home, lessons start now!”
Scootaloo turns to Silver. “I’m sorry, but…”
Silver waves it to stop with a forehoof. “It’s fine, I understand. I’ll see you later.” With that Silver leads.
“Very good.” Twinkle says. “Now let’s see what you remember.”