“That’s a stupid idea!” an orange pegasus filly shouted.
“You’re a stupid idea!” a yellow earth pony filly yelled. In a tree house on Sweet Apple Acres, two fillies were having an animated argument. Four other ponies sat at the side of the tree house watching their bickering: a white unicorn filly, a purple unicorn filly, a pinto patterned earth pony colt, and a light gray pegasus colt. Their heads moved back and forth as the two ponies continued to argue.
“Question,” the purple unicorn whispered. “How long have they been arguing like this?”
“Since Pipsqueak and Sweetie Belle came in,” the gray pegasus replied.
“How long ago was that?”
“Long enough, Dinky,” Pipsqueak whispered. “They were in the middle of their argument when we came in. I think Rumble saw it start.”
“Should we stop them?” Sweetie Belle whispered. “This may get out of control.”
“Why would you want to stop them?” Rumble asked. “This is entertaining. Not only that, but what they’re arguing about is a big decision.”
“I’ll kill you!”Apple Bloom screamed.
“I dare you to try it! No, I double dog dare you to try!”
“Well, that escalated quickly. Time to step in,” Sweetie Belle ran between her friends. She held both of her hooves up separating the two fighting ponies. “That’s enough! Both of you stop and apologize.”
“But she…” Sweetie Belle turned her gaze to Apple Bloom. Her eyes were filled with a darkness that Apple Bloom couldn’t comprehend. Seeing it sent nearly all of her emotions running away. The only one that remained was fear. The earth pony shrunk from her stare. “Okay, I’ll apologize.”
“Ha!” Scootaloo cheered. “I guess that means that I win this…” Light green eyes turned Scootaloo. Like Apple Bloom, Scootaloo shrunk from their gaze. “I’m sorry, Apple Bloom.”
“So am I, Scoot,” Rumble let out a low whistle.
“That was impressive,” he said.
“I’m a little scared now,” Pipsqueak added. “Dinky, remind me never to make Sweetie Belle mad.”
“Only if you can promise to keep me safe from her when she is,” Dinky said.
“I’m right here you know,” Sweetie Belle said. She turned to the other three occupants in the room. They all held their hooves over their eyes and cowered from her. She sighed before turning to the two formerly arguing ponies. “Okay, what’s this about?”
“That,” Scootaloo pointed to a jar full of bits. The words ‘Cutie Mark Crusader Budget’ was written on it in black marker. “We were arguing about what to spend that on.”
“We did agree on one thing though,” Apple Bloom said. “Given the time, we decided to spend it on something for all of us. The only problem was that both Scoot and I have different ideas on what to spend it on.”
“Time, time, time,” Dinky tapped her chin. “Oh! Now that makes sense.”
“What do you mean?” Pipsqueak asked.
“They were arguing about what to buy for…”
“Okay,” Sweetie Belle interrupted. “Here’s what we’re going to do. We’re going to vote on what to spend our budget on. Whoever gets the most votes for their idea, gets to decide what we spend the budget on. Agreed?” Apple Bloom and Scootaloo nodded.
“Good,” Sweetie Belle turned to the other three ponies. “If you want to go with Scootaloo’s idea, raise your hoof.”
“What is Scootaloo’s idea?” Dinky asked. Scootaloo opened her mouth but was stopped by a white hoof.
“It doesn’t matter, just vote,” Scootaloo, Rumble, and Dinky raised a hoof. “Three votes. And those in favour of Apple Bloom’s idea?” Apple Bloom, Pipsqueak, and Sweetie Belle raised their hooves.
“Surprise surprise,” Dinky rolled her eyes. “A tie. Now what?” Rumble flew to the jar. He opened it up and pulled a single bit out of it.
“Scootaloo, Apple Bloom,” the two ponies looked at him. The bit was flipped in the air. “Call it.”
“Heads!” Scootaloo yelled. The bit landed on the floor with a stylized sun facing upwards. “Ha! I win!”
“Rats,” Apple Bloom said. “I’m not really in the mood for Mediterranean today. Oh well. Rumble, take the jar with you. Scoot, you’re leading the way.” Apple Bloom tossed the bit into the open jar. Rumble closed it and flew out of the club house with it in his hooves. Sweetie Belle, Pipsqueak, Dinky, Scootaloo, and Apple Bloom left the club house’s entrance. Scootaloo lead the five other ponies down a dirt path.
“Where exactly are we going?” Pipsqueak tilted his head.
“We’re going to get lunch,” Scootaloo answered. “And since I won the coin toss, I get to decide what we eat. Ever have dolmas before?” Pipsqueak and Rumble shook their heads. “Then this is going to be new for you. I hope you’re hungry.”