Scootaloo and Diamond Tiara walked into the schoolhouse together. They were followed closely by one of the maids from the mansion who had been given temporary nanny duties over them.
"Good morning girls."
Cherilee stepped forward and nodded to the maid. The mare turned and left. Cherilee motioned to the empty classroom.
"Scootaloo, you will be sitting in the front corner there. Diamond Tiara, you'll be in the opposite back corner. And you won't have to worry about being disturbed by your friends. They won't be sitting near you."
Both fillies stared at the ground in shame. Wasn't it bad enough that they were grounded at home? No! Their father had to go and talk to Cherilee as well. When he said no fun, he meant no fun.
The two fillies sat in silence as the classroom began to fill. Scootaloo watched as Sweetie Belle and Apple Bloom were directed to the back of the class. How could this get any worse?
"Do I have to sit there Miss Cherilee?"
Scoot froze. She wouldn't. She couldn't! Would Cherilee really do it?
Scoot slowly turned to find out...
She had.
Silver Spoon was sitting at the next desk.
Scoot put her head down on her desk. "Great. Just great."
Silver Spoon groaned. "How do you think I feel?"
It was going to be a long morning....
The bell for recess went off and everypony raced outside. Scootaloo and Diamond Tiara made a break for it, but came to a halt as Cherilee stepped in front of the door.
"I'm afraid you two will be remaining inside. Go back to your seats."
They returned to their corners, defeated. Cherilee nodded approvingly and stepped outside.
Diamond Tiara glared at Scootaloo. "Thanks a lot!"
Scoot rolled her eyes. "Do you think I wanted this?"
"Yes! You hit me!"
"Only because you were telling lies!"
Diamond Tiara sat back with a huff. There was silence in the room for several seconds. Both fillies tried to find something to fill the boredom. Seconds became minutes as neither one wanted to speak to the other.
Until...
"Did Silver Spoon say anything?"
Scootaloo turned to the back corner. Diamond Tiara was leaning forward, waiting for a reply.
Scoot shook her head. "No... Did the Crusaders say anything?"
Another shaking head. "No. Not to me anyways."
"Yeah. Why would your friend speak to me or my friends speak to you?"
"Yeah..."
Silence took over again and the fillies sighed.
Scootaloo looked at Diamond Tiara. They locked gazes, neither one looking away. Scoot could feel the words sticking in her throat. She didn't want to say them, but they came out anyway.
"I'm sorry."
Diamond Tiara looked even more shocked than when she had been punched.
"What?"
"I'm sorry, okay?"
"You? You're sorry?"
"Don't make me say it again!"
Diamond Tiara continued to stare at Scoot in shock. Scoot turned away, uncomfortable with the situation.
"My parents didn't abandon me. They... They died."
"How?"
"I don't know. Dad won't tell me."
"Oh."
RIIIIINNNNNNGGGGG
The classroom began to fill up again. Cherilee followed at the back of the crowd.
"Alright. Take your seats and we'll continue our lesson on Saddle Arabia."
Scootaloo glanced back at Diamond Tiara. Their eyes met for a brief moment before looking back to Cherilee.
The two fillies walked through the front door of the mansion. They let out sighs of relief. School had seemed to last twice as long today.
Scootaloo started up the stairs.
"I'm sorry."
Now it was her turn to be shocked.
"What?"
"You heard me."
Diamond Tiara rushed past her without looking back.
Scootaloo walked into her father's study. Rich was behind his desk, his brow furrowed as he worked.
"Hi Dad."
He glanced up. "Hey. How was school."
"Horrible."
He smiled. "Good."
"We... We apologized."
Rich paused and sat up. "You two made up?"
Scoot nodded.
He smiled. "Good for you." And with that, he went back to work.
"Um... does that mean our punishment's over?"
This warranted a chuckle from Rich. He sat up again. "No."
"What?! But.. We apologized!"
"You both did or said things that have consequences. Your punishment isn't over just because you made up with your sister."
"Why not?"
"Because I said so."
Scootaloo frowned. That was always his excuse!
Rich sighed. "It's only a week Scootaloo. You'll survive."
He went back to work. Scoot wanted to continue, but she knew there was no point. She walked away.
Scoot returned to her room. But instead of going in, she walked over to Diamond Tiara's door and knocked.
"Who's there?"
"Me."
The door opened a crack, revealing one of Diamond Tiara's eyes.
"What?"
"Do you...want to do something...together?"
"What could we possibly do together?"
"I don't know! Anything so we're not bored out of our skulls!"
Diamond Tiara stared at her for a few seconds before opening the door all the way. She smiled and nodded.
Scoot walked forward.
And then the door slammed in her face, her nose crushed between her head and the wood.
"OUCH!!"
A giggle came from behind the door.
"Now we're even."