//------------------------------// // The Project // Story: Stuck in the Storm // by Opalina Cecile //------------------------------// "Alright class, we won't have homework for the next week." "WOO!!" "Alright!" "Because we are doing a project." "Aw man." "Dang it." "It will be a partner project." "Mith Cheerilee? I have a quethion," asked Twist, waving her hoof in the air. Scootaloo had to blink to keep from rolling her eyes at her annoying lisp. Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon didn't bother trying to hold it in, as usual. "Be nice. She cahn't help it," hissed Apple Bloom. Scootaloo sighed. Ever since Twist wouldn't do the zipline on the class trip, the sweet-toothed pony had been irking the pegasus with every breath she took. "Will we get to choose our partnerth?" Twist stole a glance at Apple Bloom. Scootaloo bit her lip. That pony is so obsessed with Apple Bloom, she thought, much to her malcontent. "No, I've chosen the partners for you." "Dang it." Diamond Tiara's smirk faltered. She knew that now there was a possibility that she could be with one of those Crusaders or even *shudder* Twist. "The project is about businesses. I want you and your partner to create a business that will interest ponies and be useful. You guys will create an advertisement for one of your products, write a list of products your business sells, and write a paragraph about what your company will do and why ponies would want it." The Crusaders wrote this down on a piece of paper while Silver Spoon washed her glasses and Diamond Tiara used a hoof file. "Extra credit if you actually create a couple of your products. "Here are the partners," said Cheerilee. She started listing off names. Finally, Scootaloo's name came up. "Scootaloo with Twist." What? Why is this happening to me? Scootaloo thought as Twist waved a hoof and sniffed. Scootaloo shot her as big of a smile as she could muster. Cheerilee continued. Next, Sweetie Belle's name came. "Silver Spoon with Sweetie Belle." Sweetie's face went white and Silver Spoon's face hardened.She whispered something to Diamond Tiara and they giggled. Finally, Cheerilee came down to the last few names. The last two left were Apple Bloom and Diamond Tiara. Apple Bloom's face was very worried. She looked around to see who else was left. However, it was just her and DT. Diamond Tiara's face was angry. She hissed angrily to Silver Spoon and Silver Spoon whispered some frantic words. Diamond Tiara's face clenched up as Cheerilee opened her mouth. "And lastly, Apple Bloom and Diamond Tiara." Apple Bloom fell out of her chair. Diamond Tiara would've snickered if she wasn't seething and smoke was pouring out her ears. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ "Tho Thcootaloo, what do you want to do for our project?" said Twist as the two walked along the path. "I wath thinking made a thweetth brand." "Yes, but do I look like I'd think that?" "Oh." Scootaloo felt bad, but her agitation was making her mean. She wasn't the type of pegasus to hold in her feelings. That's Sweetie Belle and Apple Bloom's jobs. I'm the impulsive one, she thought. However, I believe they'll have a hard time keeping their mouths shut with Silver Spoon and Diamond Tiara. Plus, Scootaloo is trying to balance her diet so she can become strong and healthy. Like Rainbow Dash. "What about sunglasses?" "Sunglatheth?" "Yeah. Ponies look cool in sunglasses. Also, they're useful." And Rainbow Dash looks awesome in sunglasses. "Not tho much in winter." "Oh. Right." The two ponies continued on the path. The clops of Twist's hooves marching along and the whir of Scootaloo's scooter slowly gliding disturbed the silent yet biting winter wind. "Tho, who'th houthe thould we work at? And what date?" Twist asked. Scootaloo looked down. I can't let Twist see my house; not even the Crusaders have seem my so-called house. No one can know "Um, would you mind us going to your house?" "Thure. What day?" "I'm free most any. Except Saturdays." That's when she trains with Rainbow Dash. "How about Wednethday?" "Alright. See you tomorrow." Twist cantered off to her house. Scootaloo gathered her speed and dashed towards the road leading out of Ponyville. Scootaloo has a scooter for a reason, and it's not just to look cool. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Sweetie Belle had nothing to say. Silver Spoon avoided her eyes are she marched ahead, looking regal. "So, are you gonna say anything or what?" Silver finally snapped. Sweetie cowered a little. "Uh..... well, can you knit?" "Yes." A silence followed as Silver Spoon stopped in her tracks and opened her eyes. She turned to face the green eyed unicorn and stuck her hoof at her. "I never admitted that. You got it?" Sweetie Belle nodded. "Well, I was thinking, since it's winter and so chilly, we could knit scarves," Sweetie Belle said, shivering. "You're right, I suppose it is quite chilly. We could make it stylish." "With some sewing and knitting skills, and your fashion expertise, we could create scarves anypony would want to wear. Write a list and a paragraph, draw and advertisement, and we're set for an A+ with extra credit!" Sweetie Belle giggled. "Oh wow, I sounded like a lawyer." "Well, you don't sound like my father, that's for sure. And he's a lawyer." There was a sense of bitterness in the grey filly's voice. "Oh." Sweetie Belle thought it best to end the conversation. "So how about on Wednesday, we go to my sister's shop and start working?" "Oh, I suppose I could fit it in." "See you then!" Sweetie called as she trotted off. "Yes, whatever." Silver said monotonously as she continued clopping along. But somewhere in that voice, Sweetie could sense a bit of excitement. Her heart warmed as she cantered towards the boutique. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ "Just so you know, I'm definitely not fine with this either." "I don't blame you." More silence. Those were the only words they dared to speak in the burning silence. Burning wasn't quite the word, considering they were shivering in their hooves. "Look. I know we hate each other, but our silly feud isn't worth getting an F. So, stop pouting and let's start brainstorming." Apple Bloom said. Diamond Tiara's bravado faltered as she blinked in surprise. "I suppose you're right." "So what should we do?" "Hm... what about... oh, you go first." "Well, I suppose I'm good at some carpentry stuff..." "What could we do?" "I know! Birdhouses!" "Birdhouses?" Diamond Tiara scoffed. "Yeah, we could get some examples from Fluttershy and-" "I'm afraid I'll have to veto that one." "Alright, got anything better?" "Hm... are you any good with metal work?" "No, we aren't creating tiaras." "Hmph." The wind slithered past them and the two sighed. Where are they gonna go from there? It's a deadlock between stubborn and prissy.