After the awkwardly long hug Narci gave the trio a big smile,
"What are you doing here?"
Sweetie lower her head and then pouted,
"I... uh... We were worried about you," she answered sheepishly.
"Were not!" spat Scootaloo as she pushed Sweetie, her blush being a dead give away to her true feelings.
Stepping forward Apple Bloom reached back and pulled the saddle bags off her back and plopped them on the floor in front of Narci,
"Well you can't do your homework without knowing what it is and you left all of your stuff at school so we decided we would bring it too you,".
AB's down to earth logic was one of her most enduring qualities, Narci mentally noted. She leaned forward and nuzzled AB's cheek. The sudden act of affection caught the yellow filly of guard as she flinched at the sudden touch, but she returned the gesture. The two of them jerked around at the and giggled at the gagging noises that Scootaloo had started to make. AB and Narci shared a impish look just before the pounced the Pegasus and began to hug the stuffing out of her. Letting out a loud squee Sweetie joined the everypony hug Scootaloo party.
Silver had been invited in moments after the CMC. She made chitchat with a couple of maids and had managed to talk the butler, a stallion named Bold Blizzard into a game of chess. It was no secret that she spent more time at Diamond Tiara's house than her own. And just because Diamond wasn't at home Silver wasn't about to change her usually schedule. Briefly she wondered about how Diamond was doing. But that line of thought ended as the CMC descended from the floor above.
AB was the first to spot the gray filly,
"What are you doing here, Silver Spoon!" she spat.
She had expected hostility and she there was nothing more than she wanted to do than put the farm pony in her place but her needs gave her perspective,
"Apple Bloom, I'm sorry!"
"You an't got Diamond to protect you I should....what?" replied AB as her angry boasting petered out and gave way to confusion.
Silver castled and then got up from the chest table allowing Mr. Blizzard more time to think about his next move,
"I said I'm sorry! And that goes to all of you," She said as her eyes fell to the floor.
Scootaloo rushed down the steps and bumped chest with the gray earth filly,
"What are playing at, Silverbutt?"
Plopping down on her haunches Silver couldn't look the orange filly in the eye,
"I'm not playing at anything," she said as looked up, "My friend, my only friend left me three days ago now and I'm so alone. I want to make other friends so I don't have to be alone. The first step in doing that is learning how to make friends again. And seeing as you are all sisters and friends of the Elements of Harmony you would all make great teachers. Please teach me how to be somepony's friend." she finished as she wrapped Scootaloo in a hug.
Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle walked down the steps and flanked Silver on both sides. Letting Scootaloo go she gave the other too a nervous glance.
"If you are sincere, Ah'll give you a chance if you will meet me half way," Said AB with a big grin, "And this sure as hay better not be something temporary. Ah won't forgive you if you return to your bully ways as soon as Diamond get back."
Giving AB a polite nod she looked first at Scootaloo who gave her a short,
"Fine!"
Next she looked too Sweetie Belle, the only filly who still hadn't said a word. Sweetie had more reasons than either of her friends to hate Silver. She was the filly that got the most flak from the duo of Silver and Diamond because she had a habit of crying instead of fighting back,
"Well Sweetie Belle can you forgive me?" asked Silver hopefully.
"No." she squeaked.
Her shoulders sunk as Sweetie turned and walked towards the door. She flung the door open and then started to walk out the door. Silver looked at the other two with pleading eyes. AB just shook her head. Scootaloo gave silver a half smile and then followed Sweetie, with AB on her heels. All of Silvers hopes vanished and she fell into a fit of sobs.
Spinning around Sweetie gave Silver a predatory glare just before she dug her hooves into the tile floor and rushed towards the sobbing filly.
"Horse Apples!" muttered AB
"Pony Feathers!" said Scoots as the two of them watched as Sweetie come to a sudden stop short of Silver and rear up on her hind legs. "She going to buck her in the face," thought Scootaloo as she watched Sweetie's hooves rush forward to meet Silvers face but at the last moment the curved around the gray fillies head and pulled her into a hug. Silver let out a surprised,
"Eep!" as she was pulled into the hug. The hug lasted a few moments and then Sweetie released it and sat down. She gave the soggy faced Silver a weak smile,
"I can't forgive you just yet. But, I can't let you be sad either. So, I'm going to be nice to you. If you learn how to be a friend I'll count you among my friends. If you buck this up, you will have to live with yourself knowing that Diamond is the only friend you will ever make."
"A chance is all I could ever ask of you after how me and Diamond treated you. Thank you!" weakly replied Silver.
On that note the CMC left Silver to her devices. Drying her tears Silver looked up the stairs and took a deep breath. The hardest part was over she hoped as she ascended the stair to face the next hurdle.
Scootaloo and Apple Bloom shared a worried glance. Scootaloo whispered to AB,
"Sweetie Belle is just like Fluttershy, sweet but scary."
AB nodded in agreement,
"It's the nice one you have to worry about." she added.