//------------------------------// // Old Habits // Story: Step-Sisters // by Speedy Quill //------------------------------// Scootaloo ran into the classroom. She spotted Sweetie Belle and Apple Bloom and grinned. "Guess who's not grounded anymore?" Her friends cheered and tackled her to the floor. They all laughed as they enjoyed a group hug. --------------------------------- Diamond Tiara was out in the schoolyard when she saw Silver Spoon run up to her. They both smiled. "Bump, Bump, Sugar Lump, Rump!" Silver Spoon sat back and rolled her eyes. "It's been so boring without you around." Diamond groaned. "You should have seen how awful it was at home!" --------------------------------- Cherilee stepped in front of the class. She smiled at seeing her students back to normal. The Crusaders were all together and smiling like it was Hearth's Warming Eve. And Diamond Tiara was with Silver Spoon. Luckily the two groups didn't sit near each other. "Alright class. Today we're going to prepare for the math test you'll have on Monday." --------------------------------- Scootaloo felt her heart stop. There was a math test on Monday?! Why hadn't she known about it? --------------------------------- Diamond Tiara froze in her seat. They had been studying math this week? --------------------------------- The bell rang for recess and the classroom emptyed. The Crusaders went to their favorite spot and sat down. Sweetie Belle smiled. "It's so nice having you back Scoot!" Scoot returned the grin. "Yeah. It's nice being back." Apple Bloom looked at her. "Is somethin' wrong?" "I didn't know we had a test coming up." "Haven't you been paying attention in class?" "Well...not really. I've been so bummed out by being grounded I just kind of...zoned out in class." "What a surprise. The blank flank doesn't even have a talent for math!" The Crusaders turned to see Silver Spoon and Diamond Tiara standing nearby. Silver Spoon continued. "I guess that makes sense though. I mean, ponies that still have blank flanks can't be that smart. Right Diamond?" Diamond Tiara, who hadn't been paying much attention, focused in on her friend's remark. "Huh? Yeah! Obviously we'll have no trouble at all." Silver Spoon laughed. "That's because we're better!" "And smarter!" "And prettier!" "Anypony not like us couldn't possibly hope to be as amazing." The two fillies walked away giggling, leaving the Crusaders to simmer. Sweetie Belle frowned. "Hmmph! Those two make me so angry sometimes!" Apple Bloom nodded. "I know, right?" Scootaloo nodded as well, but she wasn't angry. She was confused. Why had Diamond joined in on the bullying? --------------------------------- Scoot sat in her room looking over the math review. And then she she let her head fall to the desk. "Ugh! Why is math so...numbery?" She looked up at the clock. She'd been studying for... Three minutes?! "Woah Scoot! New record!" Something like that deserved celebration. And that meant a break! --------------------------------- Diamond Tiara looked at the math review. It seemed like fairly simple stuff, but why did she have to know it? She was going to be in her father's company one day! "When will I ever need math in business?" She tossed the papers aside and left her room. --------------------------------- Scootaloo sat in the kitchen enjoying a glass of chocolate milk. She looked around, making sure nopony was coming, and opened one of the lower cabinets. Couldn't risk anypony finding out about her stash. She pulled out a brown bag and dumped the contents onto the counter. A smile crossed her face. "Beautiful." Pinkie Pie had recently created a new treat. It had been by accident, but ponies loved them so much that it was added to the Sugar Cube Corner menu. Scoot picked one of the treats up. It was two chocolate cookies with a creamy center. And it was delicious! She popped it into her mouth, savoring the flavor for as long as she could. "Where did you get those?" Scoot froze. Horse feathers! She turned to see Diamond Tiara standing at the kitchen door. Diamond stepped closer. "I didn't see any in the pantry. Where did you get them?" Scoot swallowed and tried to think of an explanation..... Nothing. Diamond walked over and sat down. "Could I have one?" The two fillies sat there for a moment in silence. In that moment, Scootaloo recalled their encounter earlier at school. "I'm sure you wouldn't want cookies that a 'dumb blank flank' had." Diamond looked confused. And then it clicked in her head. "I...I didn't mean that!" "Oh come on! You said it right to my face! And my friends' faces!" "I only did it because Silver Spoon was there!" "So you think you can bully me at school and then just expect to be pals at home?!" "Well..." Scoot didn't wait for an answer. She stood up and walked away. "Keep the cookies. I've lost my appetite."