Part 25: Shenanigans
After cleaning the chalkboard, picking up all the bits of paper off the floor, confiscating the comics which had been bought in illegally and deconstructing the fort so painstakingly assembled by her pupils, Miss Cheerilee was finally ready to leave the classroom to embark upon her mission of intelligence gathering. It had been a long morning already, but she had to do this.
Having rung the bell to indicate lunchtime, she'd watched her class slowly file outside with their snacks from home. She was always intrigued as to what they'd bought with them to eat, and sometimes, in her nosier moments, had a little peek.
In an unusual turn for somepony with a sweet related cutie mark, Twist always took a healthy green salad. It was hard to know exactly what the Cutie Mark Crusaders usual fare was, because they swapped and changed their meals with each other so often. The biggest lunchbox bought in by far was, somewhat prophetically, courtesy of a colt with a burger cutie mark. Now, what was his name again...?
No time to dwell on such matters now. Cheerilee had to make her way over to Spoiled's office, hope that it wasn't locked, find what the head of the school board was up to, then leave with no trace that she'd been there. It sounded like a task more befitting secret agent Sweetie Drops (aka Bon Bon) than a mare with nothing but a degree in foal development...
But sometimes, a teachers gotta do, what a teachers gotta do.
Stopping only to show Snips and Snails where the dining area was for the second time that week (she really needed to advise their parents to get them tested), and noticing Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo's morose faces as they ate alone, missing one (possibly two) of their number dearly, she forged on, feeling breathless all the way.
The area surrounding the office was clear. No witnesses, check.
The teacher gingerly inched her way to the handle and tried it. It opened. Check.
Things were going surprisingly wel...
BUZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ.
Oh no. Was that the sound of a...
Yep, it was a hoof powered vacuum, alright. Coming from right inside the room. Darn it! She'd forgotten that, fearful of Spoiled's reaction when returning to work in a messy office, the powers that be would have insisted that everything be tidied up before her 'glorious' comeback.
Which meant, old Spick and Span, the veteran cleaners, were there to do their job. Spick was the older mare with the feather duster as a cutie mark, and Span was the younger one with the brush for her special symbol.
Both very nice ladies, although given half a chance, they'd talk your ear off.
And now, they were standing in the way of Cheerilee's task.
The teacher frowned at this unexpected complication to her plan. The window of opportunity was a small one. Spoiled could return at any minute, hide any evidence which might link her with whatever nefarious plot she was hatching, and then probably get away with it once her scheme came to fruition. By then, it would be too late for Diamond Tiara, and whoever else might be caught up in the head of the school board's tangled web...
Cheerilee wouldn't allow it. Even if it meant doing something as underhoof as lying, she would gain access to that room, there and then.
She began to formulate a plan...
.........................................................................................................................................
The place Silver Spoon was referring to as her 'special thinking spot' was of course, Sugarcube Corner.
The grey filly had shared many happy memories here with Diamond, despite her former best friend's constant insistence on trying to steal her desserts.
Spoon had told Tiara on many occasions, that if the pink filly hadn't wasted so much of her allowance on outfits she barely even wore, she might be able to afford more than just a tiny ice cream.
"Do you think I buy all that stuff by choice ?" Diamond had harangued back. Silver should realised something was very wrong, even at that stage...
But that was in the past. Silver was more focused on the future, which would be Tiara-free unless she got her away from the clutches of those pesky Crusaders, and return her (mostly) to her old self.
To produce an idea of such magnitude, Spoon was going to need refreshment. Of the most icky, sticky variety.
She opened up the door to the cafe, and looked around. As expected, being as almost everypony was eating either at work or school, the place was virtually abandoned. Good. She needed all the quiet she could get, to concentrate...
The only unusual element (in more ways than one) inside was Pinkie Pie herself, currently poring over a large tome on the desk, and not engaging in any of her usual manic nonsense to which she was known.
Beside her, was that baby alligator called Gummy, which was, in Silver's opinion, the most useless pet ever. In fact, it was more of a doorstop than a companion animal, and right now it lay motionless, head first, in the middle of an open book. Pinkie probably thought it was helping. That dozy mare.
Having not got any time to get involved with the party pony's randomness, Spoon approached the desk, intending to place her order and leave.
That is, until she heard Pinkie murmur something that caused the grey filly to prick up her ears. " Pie... Apple... Tiara... There must be something in here about our family tree. Let's try it in reverse order shall we, Gummy? eiP... elppA... araiT... No, silly! I meant like this: Tiara, Apple, Pie..."
At this point, Silver decided she'd heard enough. "Ahem!" She loudly cleared her throat in clear audible range of the party mare.
All at once, Pinkie nearly jumped ten feet in the air, as if somepony had exploded her party cannon next to her. "What, who, why, when, where? I swear officer, that's red icing sugar on those cupcakes..."
As she landed back on the ground, Pinkie glanced around anxiously, finally relaxing when she saw the small grey filly in front of them. "Oh, phew! Sorry about that. Me and Gummy were in the middle of looking up information on my ancestors, and we got a little carried away! Now, what else was I going to say. Oh, yes! Welcome to Sugarcube Corner, where..."
Spoon stopped Pinkie's rapid spiel in it's tracks. "Ancestors? Since when did Apple Bloom and Diamond Tiara have anything to do with ponies who work on a rock farm?"
The party pony gave Silver an odd look. "Whoever said they did? Have you been spying on me?! I'll have you know, I'm the only detective around here. And don't you forget it!" The mare then donned a Sherlock Hooves type hat, before proceeding to blow bubbles out of a pipe which appeared from nowhere.
The grey filly rolled her eyes impatiently. She had very little time for Pinkie's fun and games at the best of times, and this most definitely was not 'the best of times'. "Look, I only wanted to know because I thought it might concern my best friend, Diamond Tiara. You see, I'm..."
Silver never had the chance to finish off her sentence, as upon hearing that her guest was 'Diamond Tiara's best friend', the party pony gasped, and her pipe fell out of her mouth. Placing her headgear on top of the statuesque Gummy, she went on to grab Spoon under her front hooves, lift her up to within view and examine her thoroughly.
"Hey!!" Protested Silver, fidgeting madly. It was no good though, for Pinkie was deceptively strong, as befits a pony related to those who smash stones for a living.
"Coloured Silver...Check! Spoon cutie mark... Check! Last test... Is your name Silver Spoon?" Pinkie's eyes bore into the filly's with the same intensity as she'd shown with Gummy earlier that day.
Confronted with what appeared to be a rather stupid question, Spoon decided to resort to sass. "No, I'm Queen Chrysalis! What do you think?!"
Sadly, being completely sarcasm-blind, Pinkie's reaction was quite unexpected. "What?!" She hastily dropped Silver, before grovelling at her feet, a small puddle of tears wetting the grey filly's legs.
"Please don't take away my love! It's the only thing I have! How can I make other ponies happy if I can't feel happy myself? Leave me and Gummy alone! Please..." Pinkie was practically beside herself with misery, while an agitated Spoon slowly backed away, both from the damp floor and the pathetic sight in front of her.
"Look, I was joking!" The grey filly decided to reveal the truth. "I am Silver Spoon! I was just having you on, that's all!"
"Are you sure about that?" Pinkie sniffled in return.
"Yes! Yes I am! I was just having a joke at your expense!" Spoon insisted.
"Well... It wasn't a very nice one." Pinkie rebuked Silver, wiping her tears, before conjuring a mop out of thin air to clear away the eye moisture on the floor. "I think you need to say you're sorry."
"What?" Exclaimed Spoon, her glasses almost coming off in the process. "I really don't think..."
"And apologise to Gummy too. You nearly scared him half to death, didn't she, sweetheart?" She gestured to her reptile friend still half-hidden under the hat, who for all intents and purposes, looked half-dead long before the grey filly's tasteless remark.
"What if I don't?!" Silver crossed her hooves. She was fed up of this weirdo's foolishness, and resolved not to play any further part in it.
"Because, if you don't..." Pinkie issued an ultimatum. "You'll never know what happened when your best friend came in through those very doors this very morning! So, decide soon, Silver Spoon. Tee hee! That rhymed!"
"Diamond Tiara was here earlier on?!" This was news to Spoon. Perhaps, if she found out what her former bestie had come in for, she may have a better understanding of what the pink filly's state of mind was, and what had precipitated such a radical change in her behaviour.
"That's right! And, we had a nice, long chat too. About her feelings..." Pinkie was practically goading her young listener with the information, as if the party pony knew full well why Silver wanted to find out.
"What? What did she tell you? Please, I have to know!" Now it was Spoon's turn to beg, as she completely forgot her usual decorum, and stood on her hind legs to pull on Pinkie's coat.
"Nu-huh!" The party pony looked away in mock disgust from Silver's tugging. "What you said was very wrong, and very hurtful. Either you say you're very sorry to me and Gummy, or you'll never know!!"
By this point, Spoon was so desperate, so eager to end all this pantomime and get a serious answer, she would have said almost anything. So, needless to say, she went a bit overboard with her apology.
"Miss Pie, I am very, very sorry I made you believe for one second that I was a love-stealing monster, and I bitterly regret any discomfort I might have caused you. Gummy, you are a fine, intelligent pet, and if I worried you in any way. I hope you can find it in your scaly heart to forgive me." The words came thick and fast, even before Silver knew how embarrassing they were.
Pinkie looked happy at this unfiltered, sincere acknowledgement of her misdeed, but still wanted more. "And what about all those colts and fillies you tease at school, too? I've heard stories..."
Spoon looked aghast. Wasn't her present humiliation enough? "Fine, even though I only really did all that because I was following Diamond's lead, I won't get involved in any of that stuff any again."
Pinkie paced up and down for a minute, scratching her chin, almost creating a rut in the process. "Hmm. You say that now, but I'm not sure if I believe you. I'll tell you how you could convince me, though. By making a Pinkie Promise!"
Now, everypony in Ponyville has heard of a Pinkie Promise, and how dangerous they can be. Everypony except Silver Spoon apparently, which might explain why she treated performing this major vow with such throwaway dismissal.
"And if I make this 'Pinkie Promise', do you swear to tell me all you know about Diamond Tiara, and her current predicament?" Silver was determined to get through this farce as quickly as possible.
"Yes, yes, absolutely!" Pinkie excitedly replied, relishing the prospect of enlisting another member into her Pinkie Promise club. After all, she hadn't had any new ones for quite a while. "Now, just do what I do..."
Cross My Heart...
Hope To Fly...
Stick a Cupcake In My Eye...
SPLODGE!
"Hey, what was THAT for?" Spoon had just had her glasses lifted up, and a triple chocolate cupcake shoved in her eye by the party pony herself.
"Don't worry, that ones on the house!" Giggled Pinkie. "Anyway, now I can tell you everything. Usually, I would keep this kind of thing secret between me and Miss Tiara, but I know that you're her best friend, and you're very concerned about her. I think that by telling you, I'll be helping you both! Are you ready?"
"Yes, I've been 'ready' for the last ten minutes!" Silver picked the squashed cake out of her socket, and almost by instinct put it in her mouth. It tasted quite nice, actually.
"One final thing, remember. Nopony breaks a Pinkie Promise! I'm sure you won't, but if you do, let me remind you... The consequences are dire. Almost too much for a child your age to compre..."
"Get on with it!!"
"Okay, okay. No need to shout. It all started this morning., when me and Gummy were involved in the most epic of staredowns. I was winning, or was it Gummy? Hmm. Let me ask him. Now, where did he go?"
"Groan..."
...........................................................................................................................
She'd got it.
Cheerilee had heard a lot of the loquacious cleaning ladies over-extended conversations in the past, so she knew pretty much their entire life stories. Including, some juicy details she wished she could wipe from her mind forever.
Among that tangle of broken dreams, gossip and hearsay, were their personal interests and hobbies.
Which Cheerilee had decided to put to good use.
Undeterred by the loud noise emitting from the hoover, she nonchalantly made her way into the room, waving to Spick and Span as she stood in the centre.
Both cleaners looked up in surprise at this unscheduled visitor, and Spick wasted no time in powering the vacuum down so she could discover the reason behind the teacher's sudden intrusion.
"Cheerilee!" Spick said, in a friendly tone. "So nice to see you again! I just wish we had more time to talk, but we've been given strict instructions not to let anypony distract us from cleaning this room from top to bottom in preparation for when Miss Bossyhooves comes charging through that door later on! So, if you've come in here to tell us something, you'd better make it fast!"
Cheerilee smiled at the nickname the cleaner had assigned to Spoiled. It was certainly one of the less offensive ones she'd heard.
"No, I'm not here really to chat..." The teacher announced to the pair of cleaners. "Actually, I have some news that the two of you might find interesting..."
"Oh, you're not getting engaged to that handsome stallion you were dating a while back, are you?" Span sighed, ever the hopeless romantic. "I saw the two of you walking in the park together, lovestruck. The things you said to each other, they were simply beautiful. I knew it was meant to be. So, when's the wedding?"
Cheerilee blushed majorly on Span's misreading of that situation, but thanks to the teacher's colouring, it was very hard to see exactly when she was embarrassed. " Span, I've told you before. Both me and Big Mac weren't in our right minds that day! There's nothing to tell! Anyway, what I really came in here to tell you both is..."
And, here's where Cheerilee's masterplan came into effect,
You see, the teacher knew, even under fear of death, neither Spick or Span would leave that office before it was as clean as a whistle.
And, considering who it belonged to, it was a perfectly understandable reaction.
They'd in all likelihood lose more than their jobs if they were caught slacking from such an important task.
Cheerilee knew something about both cleaners though, which might make them have second thoughts.
You see, judging by what she'd heard, when they'd commented on Celestia's lovely flowing mane, how Luna was being given a raw deal from the general populace, and the fact they'd wept buckets upon the announcement that Cadance had got hitched to Shining Armour...
Spick and Span were completely obsessed with the royal family.
So all it would take, was a little push in the right direction...
" I hear you were very disappointed the other day, when you found out Princess Twilight Sparkle was here to help with the building of the school playground. You weren't here to see her, as you were stuck cleaning up a nasty stain after one of our little darlings had too many hay sandwiches for lunch." Cheerilee smiled sympathetically at the two cleaners, who grimaced at the memory of missing out on meeting one of their idols.
"Well, guess what, ladies?" The teacher's face bore the appearance of somepony more hopeful, as she continued. "I've just heard from a very reliable source that she'll be back sometime in the next hour, to check up on the finished structure, to see if it's safe and whatnot. I thought I should let you know, seeing as how crushed you seemed when you just missed her the last time."
The two cleaners stared at each other open-mouthed, before looking back at Cheerilee, then at each other again. "What?!" They yelled in unison.
"That's right!" Cheerilee grinned at their enthusiasm.
"Spick... We have to see her !! We may never get a chance like this again!!"
"Span... I haven't even got my autograph book with me!"
"Spick... How does my mane look?"
"Span... D'ya think she'll let us take photos?"
On and on they rambled, all of the way out of the office door, so much so that neither cleaner heard Cheerilee's reassuring shout: "And don't worry about a thing! I'll cover for you!"
She felt a pang of guilt, exploiting the emotions of a pair of honest, working mares like that.
This was about something bigger than them and her, though. It was about protecting the future of one of her precious students, currently laid up in a hospital bed.
To those ends, she'd be willing to go to almost any lengths. Including fibbing and trespassing.
She pushed her failing morality to the back of her mind for a moment. She had to figure out exactly what she was looking for.
Those papers Spoiled was looking at this morning. When she'd fainted, they'd fallen all over the floor...
And now, they'd all been picked up, and carefully put back where they belonged.
Cheerilee huffed in frustration. Figures. The one time those cleaners decide to promptly do their job, it was to her detriment.
Oh well, she couldn't let a small thing like that stop her. She made her way over to the filing cabinet, intending to search all lunchtime if needs be.
Now, if only she'd bought her thermos of coffee with her, it would have made this arduous job so much easier...
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So how will good old Cheerilee send Spoiled Rich back to the hospital? Hopefully they can give Spoiled a nice padded room and a nice jacket for all the trouble she has caused.
Oh the plans of everypony here are beginning to proceed.
Who will prevail? and in which way?
Surely if Pinkie thought Silver Spoon was really Chrysalis Pinkie would've pinned her to the ground, not cower in fear.
6857086 It's Pinkie. Go with the flow.
*70,000 words*
*Diamond Tiara story.*
I am ready.
6845268
She took, using royal edict a child from her parents. This is not using her power for good, she is a Princess of friendship, is she certified foal care professional?
Answer is NO! Which is stated in the story, she basically applied her point of view and then strong-armed a decision which TOOK A CHILD FROM HER PARENTS without consulting anyone who is professional about the matter.
That is not using your power for good that is tyranny, why did she not allow professionals to handle this? Does Equestria have no such professionals? Also she DARES to hint to the filly that she should give a positive opinion of all this to Celestia? What does this tell to anyone with half-a-brain about how competent she is to make this kind of a judgement call? And no ends do not justify it.
6857186 Well, you can't please everyone. If you dislike the mere premise of this fic, chances are you won't enjoy the rest. Take it, or leave it. Thank you for taking the time to comment, though.
6857186
I will just point out that there is absolutely no canonical evidence to suggest Princess Celestia ISN'T a tyrant, ruling by decree. (A genuininely benevolent tyrant, granted.) The noble councils and whatnot are entirely a fan creation, albeit a common one. So it's entirely possible that Twilight is likewise entirely within her legal and, equally importantly Equestrian socially acceptable rights. (Acceptable to the majority of the population that aren't actually in the wrong, anyway.)
(And considering that we know - and Twilight knows - that Spoiled Rich is, y'know ,100% guilty... I mean, if it were me, it is not what I would have done - but only because I would have started with removing Spoiled Rich, because I have zero tolerance for bigots and slapping child abuse on top does not improve her position.)
In fact, I think my biggest issue with Twilight's performance in the story is that Spoiled and Filthy haven't been brought up on charges yet. Spoiled, at the very least, should have been suspended from her position on the school board until the investigation is carried out.
Pinkie was pretty funny here...I honestly have no idea where this story is going to go next now...
6857100 You don't see critics saying that to defend Pinkie in Filli Vanilli.
6857535 Depends who you ask, I suppose.
I think, somewhere at the back of her mind, Pinkie knew Spoon was kidding around, and may have decided to teach her a lesson. But, who knows? No harm done, anyway.
The kind of hat Sherlock Holmes wore is called a deerstalker cap, if you want to use it.
6857441 I'll take that as a compliment. After all, what's worse than stale predictability? This is why I'm not a Buddhist.
6857597 Being British, and quite a learned fellow, I actually knew that.
I just thought, we haven't actually seen deer in the show, so I wasn't sure about the safeness of the ground I stood on in referencing them. And if they were introduced, I'm pretty sure they wouldn't be stalked with impunity, as four legged mammals tend to have more rights in Equestria. Corvine and equine, working together for a better tomorrow, am I right?
Oh, and his name is actually Sherlock Hooves, if you want to use it.
6857620 I'm partial to Fetlock Holmes myself.
6857627 Nah, too technical for da target audience.
Yeah, as far as the show goes the only canon is that EQ is a diarchy (2 rulers). The books & comics may have more, IDK. Most fans assume some sort of Constitutional Monarchy w Twilight having little if any power, but that is just head canon. Each author is free to set their own limits.
As far as Pinkie goes, look at Luna Eclipsed (season 2) for instance. She enjoys being on either side of a good scare.
6857348 Actually, the mayor was going to remove Spoiled from her position, but Mrs.
BitchRich had her husband ready with lawyers to take action if she was removed without a conviction. And Twilight believes everyone deserves a second (sometimes a third) chance. That's why Diamond was going to be away from her parents temporarily to give them the chance to show they can change.6857688
Ah, fair enough; thank you for reminding me. I had a very looong, frustrating day yesterday and my brain has not fully recovery cognizance yet and certainly hadn't first thing in the morning...!
derpicdn.net/img/2015/5/20/900384/full.png
Did you think I wouldn't catch that? I'm way too black not to have noticed that.
6857186
And exactly what do you actually understand about this situation? Are YOU a child care professional or social services worker? Are you a child psychologist? Because it sounds more like you're just trying to find a reason to be outraged, rather than actually knowing better in this situation. For all we know, Twilight is a professional in this situation - the mare spends all her time learning. She could have doctorates in half of the fields in Equestria. Either way, she knows the situation, the people involved, the laws and rules involved, better than any of us reading this, so getting upset over the principle point of this story is absolutely silly.
6857535
I do, did, and will. Frankly, I see Pinkie's performance in Filli Vanilli as playing the devil's advocate. Fluttershy is not the kind of person you can convince to do something helpful for her that is uncomfortable simply by asking. She is an incredible coward when she's not being pressured or angry. Some people require force to do the right thing. Both Fluttershy and Rainbow Dash are (were, at the time) prime examples of this. I actually liked the Filli Vanilli and Mare Do Well episodes, because I've long known people like both characters. Rainbow Dash needed a powerful intervention, like several of my friends who were on less-obvious destructive paths. Fluttershy needed a fire lit under her ass, or even if she agreed to do it she'd back out at the last moment. She needed to be made to face those fears. Pinkie provided this, in a very Pinkie way.
Pinkie works in mysterious ways, but I'll be damned if she's not helpful.
6857601 Good. Keep being unpredictable! Go unpredictable!
6858109
I am no professional but i do know that you will attempt to keep a child with her family as much as you can and you do NOT tell such child's to tell others she is doing a good job.
(Sorry for re-pasting this)
This is HIGHLY unprofessional, she is basically telling vulnerable child (which she just took from her parents against their will), while being in position of power that she should tell her seniors all is well and she did good. Right after she told her the said child can always come to her for any support. I do not claim to be an expert but if you do not agree that this is wrong please let me know where i misunderstood something.
6858652 Okay, I didn't want to become involved again, but as the author, I feel I need to put this into some kind of context.
As you've stated, Twilight has little experience in these kind of situations. Her job that evening was to attempt to help DT's parents out with the problems they were experiencing raising their child, which have been going on for a long time. Remember that song DT sung? "I've been told my whole life, what to do, what to say?" Well, in this story, DT's errant behaviour has been going on for YEARS, and all of it has been caused by her mother's poisonous influence and her dad's neglect.
This was no 'flash in the pan' visit that Twilight and her friends made that evening, it was them finally finding the root cause behind the systematic psychological abuse that caused DT to act out the way she did, and trying to put a stop to it. As soon as the Crusaders saw the way Spoiled yell at her child in the middle of the street for virtually no reason, and berate most of the students outside a school THAT SHE'S HEAD OF THE BOARD OF, then everything else just clicked into place. They told their sisters, they then told Twilight, conversations were held, decisions were made, preparations were put in place to help Spoiled and Filthy out of the mess they put themselves in... And, they were roundly rejected.
So, the princess and her entourage had little choice, in my view, to remove DT and put her in a safer environment until her old home was 'fit for purpose'. Remember, there is no Child Protection Service in Equestria as far as we know, so the authority of the Princesses is pretty much all the citizens have for dealing with these kind of disputes. And, I'll say it again, I thought Twilight was absolutely right to take DT away from a place where she was getting mentally abused everyday, with no sign of it getting any better. The only real outlet to express her frustrations was the endless bullying she's so well known for, and that had to be stopped. Obviously you disagree, but that's why I'm writing this story, and you're not. We're all entitled to our view though, so this is not meant as a criticism.
And because Twilight was so inexperienced, she made a little faux pas while trying to engage DT in light hearted conversation. Yes, it was stupid, and the reaction of both Applejack and DT to her mistake (which you didn't quote) should speak volumes. Guess what... Everyone, even egghead princesses, occasionally makes mistakes. I'm sure she regretted if afterwards, but there's certainly no need to paint her as some kind of tyrant for trying to use an ill-advised bit of humour, when put in a stressful situation.
Anyway, that's my two cents. Hope I clarified some things for you, from my perspective. You might disagree, and that's fine! I love a good, lively debate! Thanks.
6858109 Yeah well I was talking to Deadpansnarker, thank you very much.
And besides, if Pinkie really thought Silver Spoon was a changeling she'd pin Silver to the ground or something.
6856910
I must agree, my fine sir/ma'am
6858652
The part you underlined was taken out of context. It is clear not even several lines later, that she was joking. She was making an attempt at levity to try and clear the air. That you do not understand the joke is not the fault of the story.
And no, if a child is being abused and corrupted by their parents, and the resident authority has the power and responsibility to see to the well-being of the child (which she does, as one of the three crowned absolute monarchs of their nation), then keeping the child with their family (the ones harming them/their growth) is the least intelligent thing that could possibly be done*. It might be a hard adjustment period for the child, but they are young enough that they will recover, especially if placed in a caring and warm home, with proper guidance.
Which she was. Everything was handled appropriately for this situation.
*To put this into perspective for you. If you know of the Westboro Baptist Church hate-cult, then you know that they intentionally provoke people into attacking them while they shout about how homosexuals are evil. To that end, many have brought their children with them, some not even old enough to walk around on their own reliably, and keep them close - essentially using them as human shields to deflect well-deserved hostility. Meanwhile they teach these children to sing their songs and shout their slogans, spreading hatred and bigotry, poisoning the minds of toddlers, who will likely grow up to be just as hateful and oppressive as their parents were. Minds and emotions damaged, potentially forever - and will go on to cause damage to others, and possibly even pass this damage on to their children.
Were you in Twilight's position in such a case, would you take those children from them so that they might be salvaged and perhaps become a more whole and undamaged person as they grow up? Or leave them with their oppressive and abusive parents who only teach them to hate?
6858923
Plbt! If you say it out loud it's to everyone! Use telepathy next time!
6858988
6858988
6858763
I do agree that her behavior is a cause of concern and merits looking into but she does not seem to be in any immediate danger. Author states there is no competent authority to handle foal matters then and it is all done by princesses as seen fit so this resolves most problems i had. She did not step over any steps on her decision to handle this personally. She did what she thought was right, but she should have consulted with people who know more of such things than her.
But then it becomes an issue of TERRIBLE judgement. Twilight lead some of her friends who were emotionally invested in the case to confront the parents of DT in VERY hostile manner. If someone comes into your home and starts insulting and berating you how would you react? Odds are you would react poorly and do in the defensive as Spoiled Rich did. Her being an evil annoying whiner who should not be allowed to raise children is ASIDE THE POINT!
What would Rarity do if Filthy Rich, Spoiled Rich and Blue Blood (Or any 3 ponies which she is not in good terms with) would suddenly come to her shop late at night and start berating her on rearing Sweetie Belle? Odds are she would have VERY strong response and then when this happens would this be a justification of putting her in foster home? I do not think so. The confrontation was very badly handled.
Personal insult, claim of crime and stabbing it all with knowledge of how to hurt someone.
Attacking her personally and stating her special talent, her DESTINY is worth nothing.
Nothing really bad here, just fanning the flames.
Pretty valid point but when looking at previous arguments all reason has left the conversation.
Do you think her response is absolutely without merit? She is angry and she has been severely slighted.
To me this confrontation was handled in such a poor fashion (not your writing the acting) that it is not even funny.
So to sum it all up: Twilight chose wrong way to approach the situation, chose wrong time to do so and chose wrong people to get involved. I know it makes sense in the story wise but if you would have went into that conversation with Cheerilee and Mayor Mare the whole thing could have been resolved in peaceful manner and progress could have been made.
Spoiled Rich acted in a wrong way and should possibly be expelled from her position of trust but to lose your CHILD so quickly and with so little warning? This is exactly why we have child rearing councilors in real life who help in such matters and do so in neutral fashion. Parents are not machines who provide care they are thinking beings with feelings of their own and sometimes get caught in their own ways of thinking and pride.
PS: And yes for her to ask of it even in 'jest' is very subtle manipulation. Children are very keen on picking on those. Could be she does not intent it as such but to me it was massive red flag. It could be it was raised in false alarm.
EDIT:
Yes i would not, people should be free to raise their children in a manner of their choosing if they stay within rules of law. Teaching them of their way of life which i find to be wrong and delusional is something they are allowed to do, i do not think government, officials or teachers should be allowed to dictate to you what is the official truth about things. They ARE however free to teach them according to laws of the land.
I would never step on the road where i consider my own way of thinking as the only one that should be adhered to. If i would take their children away from them i would be compelled to take children of many MANY parents away. They teach them hate, but you say they are abusive? Do you have any proof that they indeed are? They could not be kind loving parents who bring their children with them to fight the good fight? Personally i find it potentially very questionable that you would say that children raised by them are "damaged" and need "salvaging."
Even people whose ideals and methods i abhor have right to raise their children (mostly) as they see fit. But if children are put in danger the police will handle it and it will escalate in accordance of law.
PPS: Damn this is getting a bit out of hand...
PPPS: Also Author this is not an attack to your writing i just tend to get really carried away when i am reading fics which involves enforcement of laws in this kind of manner. And thank you for writing and your responses.
I like the little quips and jokes you put in this story. This one got me good:
Shining Armor is too handsome for his own good.
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We're done here. You have no sense of moral obligation or judgement. From experience, and my lifetime of psychology study, I can say that my examples are even worse than a physically abusive parent depending on the severity and nature of the hostile contact. That you would sanction this level of devastating abuse, even call it an inalienable right, shows me you don't have the ability to discuss this further, and should not have the option to do so. Au revoir.
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Sorry about the long-winded discussion in your comments, Snarker.
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I respect your decision and this is a bit wrong place for this discussion but it is clear that the someone needs to get down from their high-horse. If someone truly considers that people of opposing religion and way of life do not have right to their children they are truly beyond help.
If you ever end up in position of power please consult with others before making any such decisions.
And yes sorry snarker for the longish posts.
Actually, Pinkie, there are lots of amateur investigators in Ponyville. As we've seen, Miss Cheerilee is one of them. However, there is only one professional snoop in Ponyville and she is...
40.media.tumblr.com/ce1cacbd6775b86f62c20d1f811248ba/tumblr_nuzg6mHPRl1t1d0zwo1_500.jpg
Shadow Spade!
Does his distiny is being a fat-fuck ? That is plain cruel.
That is a nice headcanon. I like this headcanon.
Nah, she is far too gone. She can't go back, she had empathy now.
They must be the most unlucky mares in Ponyville. They never see the princess though Ponyville is such a small town, she lived here, partake regularly in social event and her treebrary and maybe her castle are in free
I'm curious now, what will Silver Spoon do ?
Well, if it's good enough for my dad...
Yes, it is. And so much quieter than Pinkie's party canon.
I don't think Silver wants the bullying part of her back, that's why I put 'mostly'. Just not the bit that wants to hang around with the Crusaders all day. Of course, that might be a misunderstanding on her part...
A minimum wage job is not a happy one. Long hours, minimum pay, bad odour everywhere (Not mine, I hasten to add). You ought to try some of the menial occupations I had to fill my spare time with, just to make it through college. They weren't exactly pleasant...
I'm curious, too. Unlike you though, I can make a difference. Hurray for being the one with the keyboard!!
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I don't have the right to criticise anyone on this board for their overlong comments, after the elongated conversation I had with one of my much-missed 'friends' who seems to have disappeared from our shores. Anyone who scours the 14 pages of comments should be able to figure out who I'm talking about. I wish he/she would come back actually, I could do with a good laugh...
6864152... and that's the reason I don't look at comment pages anymore. I get tired of participating in elongated comment discussions that go nowhere :P
*insert Monty Python 'get on with it' montage.
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There you go.
Awesome work on this chapter, hehehehe, awesomeness~
Frigging love Cheerilee~
I see my favorite reference.... Sure... icing...