//------------------------------//
// 12 House of Mirrors, Part Two 
// Story: Continuity Disrupted 
// by Doug Graves 
//------------------------------//

Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon watch as Scootaloo and Applebaum lead the rest of the unruly pack of Apple fillies towards Sweet Apple Acres. Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle head towards the Carousel Boutique, the same direction the two Rich fillies will go. Diamond Tiara hums to herself as they wait for Silver Hoop and Silver Stud, Silver Spoon's younger siblings. Eventually the twins come out from the basement of the schoolhouse, yawning as they do. Looks like they hadn't been able to get a good night's rest after staying up to celebrate at the Summer Sun Celebration. Though, of course it hadn't been at such a pedestrian party as Pinkie Pie's at the library. A Rich pony had to have standards, of course.

"So, do you want to get ice cream after we drop them off?" Silver Spoon asks, motioning to Sugarcube Corner as they walk by the bakery.

'We'll be heading to the Carousel Boutique afterwards," Diamond Tiara replies, "So Bon Bon's is more on the way. Besides, I haven't tried all their flavor combinations yet."

"Sorry, but nothing beats vanilla and chocolate swirled together," Silver Spoon says. "Right, girls?"

"Vanilla is the best!" pipes up Silver Hoop, "Especially when you add in sprinkles." She nods knowingly, as only a four year old filly can, as if the matter had been settled the moment she decided.

"No, chocolate is!" responds Silver Stud with a growl. He glares at Silver Hoop, though she barely notices as she skips along.

"Vanilla!" she says nonetheless, ignoring the fuming colt behind her.

"Chocolate!"

"Come on, you two, nopony's ever winning that argument," Silver Spoon says firmly, a glare neither responds to.

"Vanilla's the best! Why order anything else?" Silver Hoop turns, pawing a silver hoof at the dirt. "No more chocolate!"

"No, chocolate is! Chocolate's what I need!" roars Silver Stud, his own brown hoof matching his sister. "No more vanilla!"

Diamond Tiara groans to Silver Spoon, "This is what happens when you let less informed ponies get involved." She steps between her two siblings, both about to charge each other. "Enough, you two. Getting rid of vanilla or chocolate won't solve either of your issues. Because what truly makes Equestria the best country isn't that we force our viewpoints onto others, but that we accept the differences between each other and how combining those flavors can make something better than the two by themselves." The two Silver fillies sigh as they drop their aggressive stance while Silver Spoon beams.

Diamond Tiara continues with a nod to Silver Spoon, "And while vanilla and chocolate swirled together might be your favorite, even that isn't enough for me. I need something more than that." Diamond Tiara salivates, but only just a little and only to get her point across, "I heard Bon Bon's has this new flavor, a twist of fizzleberry and pop. It's supposed to be like fireworks in your mouth!"

"Now I want ice cream," moans Silver Hoop, rubbing her belly as pathetically as a Rich filly can manage. "Can we stop for ice cream? Pleeease?"

"I'm sorry, but you lost the argument," Diamond Tiara says, a mock sneer to the sky. "Ice cream is for winners."

Silver Hoop huffs, "But you didn't convince me that berryfizzle twistpop is the best flavor!"

"Ah, but I don't have to, now do I?" Diamond Tiara replies. "All I have to do is prove that vanilla isn't the best flavor."

"But chocolate is the best flavor!" Silver Stud chips in, "Much better than popberry fizzletwist!"

"If you two don't stop arguing neither of you is getting any ice cream!" screams Silver Spoon; it gets them to quiet down, though it does little to quell her sibling's mutinous glares. "Besides, vanilla and chocolate together is still the best, better than some twistberry popfizzle."

The four thankfully reach the Rich mansion before a new round of arguing can break out. Randolph, the Rich butler, is patiently waiting outside for the fillies. He doesn't even bat an eye as the two younger ponies charge him, their cries simultaneously pleading with him for ice cream while arguing that vanilla is superior to chocolate and vice versa. He merely waves at the two departing fillies as he heads inside, to which Diamond Tiara responds with a curt nod.

One vanilla and chocolate swirl ice cream later, the twist of fizzleberry and pop not at all living up to the hype, and Diamond Tiara walks towards the Carousel Boutique. Silver Spoon trails just behind, only slightly disappointed at not getting her favorite treat, but she had tried the remains of the new flavor and declared it 'not half-bad.' Or at least better than not getting anything.

"Diamond Tiara, are you sure about this?" whispers Silver Spoon as she tries to nonchalantly walk up to the Carousel Boutique, another worried look to her sister. "What if she says no?"

"A better question is 'What if she says 'yes', but then backs out at the last minute.'" Diamond Tiara's muzzle hardens as if carved out of stone, "Which is why it's so important that we get the right filly on board with our plan."

"Okay, so, let me get this straight." Silver Spoon stops, the bushes nearby her rustling. She glances over at them before hunching over and whispering, "Miss Cheerilee still hasn't decided whether or not there are going to be three class presidents. One for the young fillies, one for us, and one for the older fillies. And you think Apple Bloom would be the most likely candidate for the class to pick, Sweetie Belle would be the best candidate if she wins, and Scootaloo would be the most eager but worst of the lot to actually run things."

Diamond Tiara nods, "Well, of the Apple fillies in our class, that's right. Which is why the pony we're going to ask to be our opponent is-"

Silver Spoon tries to beat Diamond Tiara to her prediction, saying, "Sweetie Belle," while Diamond Tiara finishes her sentence with, "Apple Bloom."

"Scootaloo."

The two Rich fillies turn, glaring at the orange pegasus filly jumping out of the bushes. "What do you want?" Diamond Tiara huffs, an annoyed look towards the Carousel Boutique. She thought Scootaloo would have been well ahead of them by now, and the trio would have been playing inside. Though it is a nice day; maybe Rarity has Sweetie Belle helping around the store, and Scootaloo just got bored of hanging around.

"Oh, just figured you two were up to something, after Silver Spoon talked to us. And whatever it is, I want in." Scootaloo smirks; the two Rich fillies can practically hear the ca-ching going off in her eyes.

"I don't know what you're talking about," Diamond Tiara replies, her head haughtily looking up and away. She can't give away the game that easily, but if Scootaloo is willing to sell out? It might be a trick, she wouldn't put it past the pegasus or her siblings. Applejack tries to keep a close watch on them and keep them on the straight and narrow, but Rainbow Dash has a much looser definition of what constitutes bending the rules. Time to learn whether or not, once the trio is bought, if they stay that way.

Scootaloo rolls her eyes, her gaze ending up on Diamond Tiara. "Please. If I had to guess, it's something, like, you just want one of us to run against Silver Spoon. That way, whoever wins the presidency will do whatever you say. And you'll be able to use the secret tunnel from the president's office in the schoolhouse to the Carousel Boutique in order to steal the Heart Diamond.  Or something."

Silver Spoon raises an eyebrow, muttering to herself, "There's a secret tunnel between the schoolhouse and the Carousel Boutique?"

Diamond Tiara snorts as she sneers, "That sounds like Rainbow Dash trying to write the plot of the next Mission: Neigh-Possible." Silver Spoon grins as Scootaloo shakes her head, "Does she read it to you for a bed-time story?"

"Puh-lease, Doug reads us our bedtime stories." Scootaloo's eyes go wide as she hastily clasps her hooves over her muzzle, quickly recovering with a cough. "Ahem. As I was saying, it sounds like you two need some patsy to lose an election. And, if the price is right, I could be that pony."

Diamond Tiara taps her hoof on the ground a few times as she considers. She glances over at the wall of the Carousel Boutique, "Well, that scooter of yours is getting a little old, isn't it? I'm sure I could procure a newer model for you."

"Custom hoofbars. Upgraded wheels. And three new helmets." Scootaloo glances back to the Boutique before moving close to Diamond Tiara, whispering, "I like purple with two white racing stripes."

Diamond Tiara rolls her eyes, "So, exactly like your current helmet then. You got it." She stares at Scootaloo for a few seconds, the pegasus returning a grin. Diamond Tiara finally says, "So, why are you doing this?"

Scootaloo raises an eyebrow, "What do you mean? You're going to win anyway, so why not make a little extra on the side? Not like anypony cares."

Diamond Tiara smirks, her muzzle curling to a grin as she cackles to herself. "Oh, they'll care all right," she mutters, her hooves slipping in and around each other.

"You okay over there?" Scootaloo asks, cocking her head to the side and raising an eyebrow.

"Perfectly fine!" Diamond Tiara says, straightening up. She and Silver Spoon glance up, noticing Rainbow Dash and a weird brown figure zooming around in the sky. "Anyway, we'll see you in class." Diamond Tiara waves once, followed by Silver Spoon's less curt and more enthusiastic version.

Scootaloo waves at the two departing earth ponies; she can already see herself zooming around town on her new scooter! Faster and faster she goes, the perfectly balanced wheels hugging the ground before she takes to the air, performing trick after trick as she flies from one ramp to the next!

Her mind brimming with possibilities, Scootaloo dashes over to her scooter. She quickly mounts, about to take off as Rainbow Dash and what she thinks she recognizes as a griffon land next to her. She stares, her mouth hanging open; didn't Miss Cheerilee just go over how dangerous griffons are? She knows she had heard something about griffons eating ponies. And something else after that. Is that why Rainbow Dash is keeping an eye on this purple-eyed predator?

"Hey, squirt!" Rainbow Dash calls, a cheery smile and wave at her filly. Scootaloo returns a blank stare, the instinctual part of her brain freezing up as it tries to decide whether it is safer to run away or stay locked in place and hope she isn't spotted. Rainbow Dash continues as if she didn't notice, "This is my griffon friend, Gilda!"

"Hey." Gilda raises a talon, a short wave to Scootaloo. "What's up?"

Her curiosity blindsides the two arguing parts of her brain as Scootaloo blurts out, "That's so cool!" as she hops on her scooter, riding over to inspect Gilda closer. She tugs on a tail feather, "Half-eagle, half-lion, right?"

"Hey, you're pretty quick for a little twerp. Got it in one," Gilda responds, the smirk in her eyes quickly replaced by a glare as she tries to shoo away the inquisitive filly. "And who're you supposed to be?"

"That's Scootaloo," Rainbow Dash replies, though her eyes glance up to the sky. She sighs, "Ugh. Hey, I gotta take care of a few weather jobs. Scoots here can take you to the market, maybe grab a bit of a snack before dinner." Scootaloo beams up at Rainbow Dash, excitedly looking towards the nearby marketplace. 

Gilda rolls her eyes, "Yeah, sure. Whatever." She barely lifts her head as a goodbye as Rainbow takes off, the pegasus quickly disappearing from sight as she zooms towards the Everfree. Gilda turns to Scootaloo, the filly quailing under her glare. "Look, dweeb, I don't need some random filly holding my talon. Got it?"

"Um, yes, ma'am?" Scootaloo stammers, shying away from the griffon.

Gilda takes a step forwards, laughing derisively as she brandishes her talons. As Scootaloo cowers she drags a claw across the wooden board, marring the already beat up surface. "Oops." She sneers as she takes to the air, flying towards the marketplace as Scootaloo slowly gets up.

Tears form in the filly's eyes as she inspects her scooter. "Why?" she mutters to herself, tracing a hoof along the newly scarred surface. She tests her weight on the board; the mark isn't too deep, just messing up the image on top. At least she'll be getting another board soon, if she can pull off whatever it is Diamond Tiara wants her to do. She looks back towards the Carousel Boutique; they'd probably figure she stayed at the farmhouse when she doesn't show up.

Scootaloo glances over as Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon slowly walk up to her. She tries to hide her tears as she crumples down, a loud snort completely giving it away. "What, you two spying on me now?" She can't even keep an angry glare going, her sniffles ruining the effect.

Silver Spoon shakes her head, trying to keep the pity out of her voice. "No. We were just, um, curious what was happening with that griffon. I guess she's a friend of your dam?" She glances towards the marketplace, a brief shudder as if even the mention of the word griffon would bring the predator swooping down on them.

"Some friend," Scootaloo mutters, kicking at the dirt, her eyes going to her scooter. Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon both gasp as they see the gash, exchanging worried looks before turning towards Scootaloo.

Diamond Tiara steps forward, lightly placing a hoof on Scootaloo's shoulder. She can just barely contain her excitement and apprehension about the griffon, trying to stay calm and comfort the pegasus instead. Besides, it's just a scooter, right? Not like the griffon took off a wing or something. "You okay?" She sighs as Scootaloo doesn't react, "Anything we can do to help?"

"No." Scootaloo pushes Diamond Tiara away, hopping on her scooter. She mutters, "See you two later." She rides off towards Sweet Apple Acres; maybe she can hide out in the orchards for a while, go exploring there or something. Anything to pass the time until dinner, then she can just go straight to bed and hope nopony asks her how her day has gone.

A confused Silver Spoon and Diamond Tiara glance at each other as Scootaloo departs. "Well, I guess we got my opponent," Silver Spoon says. "Guess we head home?"

"Yeah," says Diamond Tiara, a cautious look towards the market. "I... kinda want to play inside. Maybe ask Dad if he can get that scooter ready."