//------------------------------// // Chapter 25 // Story: Yes, My Lady // by Tatsurou //------------------------------// As Sebastian and Scootaloo stepped out of the hospital room, the zipper spell on Spoiled's mouth wore off and she once more launched herself into full voice. "There! These two went in! Now are you going to let me in as his spouse, or do I need to press legal action-" "You don't have legal action to press," Scales stated flatly. "As per the instructions of his living will, I act under my power of attorney. Now that Sebastian has finished his examination, no one is to enter the room save my client's personal physician unless and until he wakes and requests otherwise. Dr. Treatment will take care of that from now on, however. For now, I need to gather those who are supposed to hear the living will." "L-living will?" Spoiled demanded, a bit of shock slipping into her rage. "Yes," Scales confirmed. "Last month, Filthy Rich contacted me and made out a living will to be carried out in the event he was rendered comatose or otherwise alive but unable to make legal decisions for himself, as well as updating his Last Will. Sebastian, the instructions are that you are to be present, as is Spoiled Rich. Would anyone know where I can find..." He lifted an envelope from his briefcase and glanced at a sticky note on the front. "...Granny Smith, Big Macintosh, and Applejack at this time of day?" "Granny and Big Mac are probably at Sweet Apple Acres," Scootaloo spoke up. "Applejack will be there too, unless she's off with Princess Twilight handling a Friendship Problem or monster attack, or outside taking care of Apple Bloom." Scales nodded. "I see. Are you with Sebastian?" "You could say that," Scootaloo allowed, noticing how quiet Spoiled Rich had gotten as soon as the Apples had been mentioned. "In that case, you are to be present as well," Scales stated firmly. "We will meet in my client's study, where I will set up the proper charms to ensure that we will not be overheard. Sebastian, could you by chance gather the individuals mentioned for me?" "Of course," Sebastian responded immediately. It didn't take long for everyone to gather in the study, filling up the chairs as Scales sat behind the desk. Granny Smith claimed the rocking chair, rocking back and forth as she watched everyone carefully. Big Mac simply sat on the floor beside Applejack, waiting impassively. Applejack and Spoiled Rich sat far apart from each other, glaring daggers at each other. Sebastian sat calmly next to Scootaloo, having already ensured out of habit that everyone had refreshments. Once the silence spells were in place, Scales opened the envelope and pulled out a sheaf of documents. He then began to read from the one on top. "I, Filthy Rich, being of sound mind and body, do hereby dictate my Living Will, with the assistance of my attorney Balanced Scales. He is fully aware of its entire contents, and is entrusted to act as executor of this Living Will should I be left alive but incapable of acting in my own interest, whether through accident or malfeasance. Those of you in this room are either aware of what I must discuss, or can be trusted to be made aware. "The first disposition is regarding my wife, Spoiled Rich." Spoiled Rich visibly preened at this. "Attached to this are documents brought to my attention regarding her improper behavior with her station as head of the School Board, along with testimony from the hired help and Ponyville citizens regarding her systematic verbal abuse of my daughter, Diamond Tiara-" "Abuse?" Applejack suddenly snarled out, shooting to her hooves as her glare towards Spoiled turned full on murderous. "Why I oughta-" Her tirade was interrupted by an angry snort from Big Mac as he slowly stood up, turning his own glower Spoiled's way. "Down, both o' ya!" Granny suddenly snapped out. "If Filthy knows now, he musta done somethin'. That's prob'ly what this here's all about." As Applejack and Big Mac slowly sat down, Scootaloo tilted her head thoughtfully. This was...odd. "If I may continue?" Scales spoke up firmly. Once he had everyone's attention, he continued. "Balanced Scales informs me that this, amongst other documents attached, will be more than enough to file divorce proceedings even without my input, as well as blocking any and all attempts on Spoiled's part to claim custody of my daughter. If it has not yet been under my directive, this is to be carried out immediately, at which point the pre-nup goes into effect. This is already on file, and a copy is attached here." Spoiled stared in disbelief. "You...you can't be serious! He wouldn't dare-" "Around this time, Spoiled is probably going into some sort of denial rant," Scales continued. "If she fails to keep herself under control, I request and authorize Sebastian to do whatever it takes to ensure she sits silent until the reading is done." Sebastian smiled a frightening predator smile, his crimson eyes narrowed almost to slits, and slowly turned to face Spoiled. "Is there going to be a problem?" His tone was very urbane and polite, but everything about him seemed to beg Spoiled to say 'yes', just to give him an excuse. Unfortunately for Sebastian, Spoiled's self-preservation instincts were strong enough to keep her in check, and she sat back down in silence. Scales nodded his thanks, then continued. "If Diamond Tiara is of age to step up and run the family business, she is to be allowed to do so. She has talent, and is certain to do a good job until I either recover or the transfer of ownership become permanent. If she is not yet of age, then the Rich family personal assets are to be held in trust for her until she reaches her majority. This is to include the 'personal accounts' related to the Barnyard Bargains business, which will remain under the jurisdiction of the board of directors in the meantime. If she is still willing and capable, said trust is to be overseen by Granny Smith, and she may draw whatever salary she feels fair for the inconvenience, up to 5% gross annually." Scales turned to Granny Smith. "Are you willing to do this? There are other arrangements if you are not, but I'm not to read them unless you decline or are unavailable." Granny Smith shrugged. "Got little better ta do with mah days than juggle numbers. Filthy was like family, and we Apples always look after our own." She turned a steely gaze towards Spoiled briefly, then turned back to Scales. "Go on, then. We can discuss that part later." Nodding, Scales moved down to the next portion of the Living Will. "As for custody of Diamond Tiara...until she reaches her majority or I make a full recovery, the following disposition requires the revelation of the secret I mentioned earlier." Scootaloo noticed Applejack, Big Mac, and Spoiled all instantly getting tense. "She is to be reared by her biological mother, Applejack, alongside her twin sister Apple Bloom." It was only the fact Scootaloo had been holding herself in the Sunrise mindset that kept her jaw from dropping. What? How is that even possible? They don't look at all alike! ...then again, Pound and Pumpkin are different tribes. Can't get much different than that, and Apple Bloom and Diamond have had completely different upbringings... "I leave it to Applejack just how much of this reading is to be revealed to Diamond Tiara and Apple Bloom, and how to handle this," Scales continued. "However, there is one last thing for Sebastian and those he works for to know." Sebastian and Scootaloo immediately turned their full attention to Scales. "I have reason to believe, no matter what the medical report says, that if this Living Will is enacted within the year of your tenure as Ponyville Elementary's substitute teacher...then it was no accident. Please, keep my daughters safe from whoever did this to me." Scootaloo and Sebastian exchanged glances. It seemed they had a case here after all.