//------------------------------// // Ch. 2: Choices // Story: A picture worth a thousand words // by Alicornian //------------------------------// Ch. 2: Choices For the past week Scootaloo and the Crusaders had more and more confrontations with Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon but at least it was tolerable… well almost. Each time Scootaloo saw the two together she just remembered the picture she took of the two and just told her friends to forget about them and do their own thing. Still each day after school she’d notice the two going behind the school and each day she’d hide, snap a picture, and then leave after they did. Now once again she rested on the cloud she normally rested on since living with Rainbow as her care taker for the rest of the school year, she looked at her small collection of pictures of the two bullies together. The first picture was there alongside the other six pictures she had taken. The picture after the first one had them hugging which wasn’t out of the ordinary… if it wasn’t for that kiss they were giving each other while doing so. The one after that was of them studying, with Silver Spoon snuggling up to a blushing Tiara. Then there was another kissing picture, another bit of snuggling, napping with the holding each other… Scootaloo just shook her head and put the pictures back in her small carrying case and sighed. Maybe… maybe she shouldn’t confront them about the pictures… maybe she was going too far. She… she just didn’t know. *** The next day was a day off from school thankfully and everyone could do whatever they wanted… even get a single shake and share it in private. “Y-you sure this is okay Tiara?” Spoon asked blushing from their hiding spot in the park. It was a place Tiara had found herself one day just to study alone and to get away from the house. Tiara nodded and smiled to Spoon blushing as well. “No one has found this place yet.” Tiara replied offering the shake. Thankfully it was in a to-go cup and had two stays in it. Smiling at this Silver and Tiara slowly sipped the shake together as they looked into each other’s eyes. Once the shake was done the two lay down next to each other and nuzzled one another. “Silver… do you… you really like me right?” Tiara asked shyly. “Of course I do,” Silver Spoon replied seriously before looking down to her hooves shyly while also looking up to her from time to time, “don’t you really like me?” “Of course… but… I, I’m worried what our families are going to say about this.” Tiara explained worried. Silver Spoon frowned at this as she too had been worried about this. “I don’t… I don’t want to lose this Tiara, I-I like this too much to let it go.” Spoon said starting to cry. “I, I don’t want to lose this either but… I… I don’t know how daddy will feel about this.” Tiara said leaning into her… dear friend. “B-but what about your mom, can’t we talk to her?” Spoon asked worried. Tiara thought on this as Silver nuzzled into her, her mother Golden Circlet was very kind hearted and unlike her father was always at home to talk to… along with the house staff. “W-we could try.” Tiara said nuzzling back into Silver. She just hoped her mother would help. *** “Hey Scoots, time for dinner,” Rainbow called up to the guest bedroom that was currently Scootaloo’s room while she stayed with her, “Scootaloo!” Rainbow waited for a response before tilting her head in confusion and flying up to the room. Ever since she met up with Scootaloo the week before she’d been worried about her favorite fan. She had been very quiet and every day after school, flight practice, and their flight home, she’d been heading right up to the room and not coming out unless it was to eat or do other things. Finally at the door to the room, Rainbow knocked on the door and waited for a response before carefully opening the door and looking in. The room was once a filled with only a cloud bed, dresser, and work desk, but was now filled with all things Wonderbolts and a sleeping orange Pegasus filly. Sighing Rainbow went over to the bed to wake Scootaloo up before stopping and looking to the desk, a desk that was supposed to be covered in homework, or at least that what she thought was supposed to be homework. Wondering what places Scootaloo snapped as pictures of her and her friends’ favorite places to be at in town Rainbow slowly and carefully trotted around the bed and looked to the pictures. What she found was pretty average, a picture of the Library where Twilight and Spike lived, Fluttershy’s cottage, Rarity’s shop, her own cloud home, Applejack’s farm, Sugar Cube Corner where Pinkie lived with the Cakes, and of course the Crusader’s club house. Rainbow smiled at the pictures till she spotted Scootaloo’s spare picture case. Normally she’d never invade another pony’s privacy and look into their own stuff but… how Scootaloo was acting whenever she had that thing out made her far to curious not to look. Maybe they we’re just bad photos that she kept so she could inform Cheerilee of how many pictures she took with the borrowed camera… but then, why would she always look worried when she looked to the case? Deciding her curiosity and concern had enough time to think it over she gently lifted the case up and undid the latch. What she found in the case… she’d have to talk to Scootaloo about after dinner. *** Tiara looked up to her house with a frown as she thought about her time with Silver Spoon and what they had talked about. Looking around she was glad to not see her father’s personal carriage before the house, she decided that she had two options to take. The first option was to simply keep her and Silver Spoon’s time together secret and to themselves. Problem with that was just how long could that keep that secret? Also she needed to talk to somepony she felt safe with about how she was feeling around Silver. That left the other option, speak with her mother. Her mother was always a good pony to talk to and she was always there for her, unlike her father. Unlike everyone thought, Filthy Rich wasn’t always home. Spoiled her rotten when he was home yes but no, he was never home long to actually do anything that would be considered parenting. Her mother Golden, on the other hoof was a Ponyville only business mare and was mostly home all the time to care for her and was always someone she felt safe with, with personal problems. Sighing she made her choice and trotted into the house. “Welcome home Miss Tiara,” the butler said gently taking her saddle bags from her, “any homework for the day?” Tiara shook her head. “No today was our school day off, but I would like to talk to mom a bit.” The butler nodded to this. “Well then you are in luck Miss, your mother in her study. Shall I lead you to her?” Tiara shook her head. “No thank you, but could you send some tea and cookies up for us please.” The butler smiled and nodded at this before he headed off to get the tea as Tiara gambled up to her mother’s study. She always loved seeing the study, it was a simple room filled with a bed for only them to lie on as they talked, a study desk to do needed business or homework at with her mother, favorite maid or butler with, and was painted a very calming light blue which helped both of them on stressful days. She loved being in there especially with her… “Mom, can we talk?” Tiara asked as she gently pushed the study door open. Looking up from the desk was her mother, a very pale magenta unicorn mare with jade eyes, midnight purple and light midnight blue mane, who smiled warmly at her. “Of course sweetie, come on over to the bed.” Circlet replied putting her work to the side. Diamond Tiara did as requested and after getting up on the low bed laid down on the bed she usually talked to her mother on and waited as her mother unfastened her solid gold earrings into her ears, placed the gold ring with the pearl from her horn on the work desk, and place her trade mark circlet from her head on next to them before coming over with a comb and laid next to her. “Let me guess, something’s troubling you again?” Tiara’s mother asked slowly brushing her mane. For a long moment Tiara just enjoyed the brushing before she spoke. “Mom, I-I really like somepony.” The brush stopped for a moment before it was resumed slowly and gently. “Really, who is it? Is it some young colt in your class?” Circlet asked gently yet curiously. “Mom… i-if I tell you… will you still like me?” Tiara asked very worried. “My little diamond, of course I’ll still like you, I love you dearly and whatever you tell me will never change that.” Circlet replied giving her a nuzzle. “Well… remember the first day of school when I came home really happy?” Tiara asked gaining a nod from her mother. “Well… i-it’s because… because…” Circlet waited for her daughter to speak before it just all came running out. “SilverSpoonkissedmeonmylipsandIlikeditandIreally,reallylikehersopleasedon’thateme.” Circlet had to piece what she heard together before blinking. “Tiara, sweetie, can you tell me all that again but slower please?” Tiara just looked down at the bed running her hoof over it in circles before she spoke. “T-that day, Silver Spoon kissed me on the lips and I liked it and I-I really like her so… so please don’t hate me.” Circlet closed her eyes at this and gave a long pleased sigh, she had heard right. “Tiara, my little diamond, I’m very happy for you. I would never hurt you for having a single kiss with someone you really like.” Tiara blushed and kept looking to the bed. “I-it wasn’t just one kiss.” Circlet blinked at this before looking to her daughter. “Please explain.” Tiara sighed and finally broke down and told her mother everything up to that day before she came home. “So… what… what am I feeling mom, what is it?” Tiara asked leaning into her mother’s side. “What your feeling sweetie is love, because you’ve found your special somepony and I’m so happy for you and hope you’ll keep this love for each other forever.” Circlet said nuzzling her daughter who returned the loving nuzzle. “But… what about daddy, won’t he hate me for this?” Circlet sighed at this. She knew exactly how Rich would react to it, especially with his pour sense in business as of late. “I’m sure it’s won’t be that bad my little diamond, if needed I’ll talk to you father about it personally.” Circlet answered as she gently pulling her into a gentle hug and nuzzled her head. It was at this the front door open and low and behold the man of the house had returned. “Welcome home Master Rich, terrible day at work?” they heard the butler ask in greeting from the down stairs. “Terrible? It was absolutely horrid. Do you know what I had to do today? I had to break up yet another little dispute between two of my financed shops. And you want to know what about, never mind I’ll just tell you, Filly Foolers, one business not working with the other because the one bringing in the product is a Filly Fooler. I swear to Celestia this town is getting to be just as bad as Fillydelphia. I swear that city can keep them. Make my life all the more easier. I’m telling you Bones, if I have to deal with another Filly Fooler incident I’ll up and break business with them, permanently.” It was soon that Tiara silently cried into her mother who could only sigh in tired frustration. *** Scootaloo yawned as she stretched out on her cloud bed. It was so much better than a normal bed as it was way softer and better for Pegasi since it didn’t cause them to pull feathers, or gain wing cramps in the morning, or other issues with their wings. It was then she looked out the window and gasped. It was nightfall and she had slept right through dinner… or at least she thought she did. Normally Rainbow woke her up whenever she was late for dinner but not this time. Maybe she was late getting home from work again? Unsure and hungry Scootaloo got up and trotted out of the room and down to the kitchen, never noticing her picture case was not on the desk. In the kitchen she heard Rainbow hard at work to get something fixed for them to eat. “Welcome home Rainbow!” Scootaloo said smiling as she got up on her chair at the table. “Hey Scoots, um look we need to have a talk after we eat so stay at the table okay?” Rainbow said as she worked at the lightning stove. “Um sure, what about, is it about your work again?” Scootaloo asked worried. “No but… let’s leave it for later okay? Dinner’s done so let’s eat.” Rainbow said putting a stack of chocolate chip pancakes before her with strawberry syrup and whip cream on top. Scoot just smiled at the meal, it wasn’t much as it was all Rainbow knew how to cook, but it filled them both up and made them both happy. After the meal was eaten the specially made dinner wear was washed Rainbow and Scootaloo returned to the table. “So… what do we need to talk about?” Scootaloo asked worried. Rainbow sighed before she reached under her wing and produced Scootaloo’s picture case and pulled the pictures out for her to see. “Mind explaining these?” Scootaloo gulped as she looked to the pictures. “I-I-I…” Scootaloo said her eyes going wide. “Scoots, these are all kinds of wrong so why did you have them on you let alone why did you take them? Did they do something to you again, because if they did this isn’t the way to go about getting them back.” Rainbow lectured before she noticed the regretful look on Scootaloo’s face. “Scoots, come on, talk to me, what are these pictures about?” Scootaloo sighed as she began telling Rainbow everything, how she came to find the two kissing, how it was that each time she saw the two she had taken a picture of them, and how she originally wanted to use the pictures to get them to back off but… “I can’t do it Rainbow. It just feels… wrong.” Scootaloo said looking down to the pictures in her hooves. “Then why do it in the first place?” Rainbow asked gently. “I-I don’t know. I don’t know Rainbow I… I just did, what do I do now Rainbow?” Scootaloo asked worried. Rainbow just sighed as she looked to her charge. “Way I see it you got two choices. The first is to come clean with one of those two about these pictures and promise them that you’ll never do it again or… just leave them be for good. Put the pictures away and just finish your assignment. That’s all I think you can do Scoots.” Scootaloo just looked down to the pictures and sighed. She had a lot to think about. *** Platinum Spoon just smiled at his daughter as she hummed a very pleasant song as she worked beside him. “You seem to be in a chipper mood today Silver. Something good happen?” Platinum asked as he waited for another molded piece of eatery to cool. “Yeah, something did… um daddy, remember when I came home really happy last week?” Silver answered then shyly ask. “Of course I do, you were so happy you practically glowed with excitement for something.” Platinum said putting his work aside to speak with his daughter. “Well… um… it’s because… I… I kissed Tiara.” Silver confessed, blushing red. “You kissed…“ Platinum started to say before just shaking his head smiling. “Come on Silver, I think work can be put off for a bit and I’d really like to talk to you about this.” Silver gulped nervously and slowly followed her father out of the smithy and into their house after her father put out the forge for the day. The smithy thankfully was connected to the back of the shop and was a good several hooves from the house, to prevent any fire. Once inside Platinum gave his daughter a hug and smiled down to her. “You really like Tiara don’t you?” Platinum asked smiling to her. “Yes daddy, I, I do.” Silver answered blushing. “Well I’m happy for you Silver, and if your mother was around she’d be happy for you as well.” Silver nodded to this as they both looked to a picture of them and a golden coated mare with a long blond mane. It was taken when she was just a foal, sadly she didn’t last the night leading her father to raise her. “Do you really think so daddy?” Silver asked looking to the picture. “I know so sweetie. Now, how does she feel about you? Does Rich and Circlet know?” Platinum asked smiling. “She really likes me too daddy and… Tiara might have told her mom.” Silver said scuffing her hoof over the floor. “Might? Are you saying you’re telling us now?” Platinum asked mildly worried. “Yes…” Silver said looking away from her father. Platinum just sighed. “Silver, why didn’t you tell us from the start, I’m guessing because you wanted to make sure you both really liked each other before hoof right?” Silver nodded to this and gained a gentle hug from her father. “I’m proud of you Silver, so very proud.” Platinum pulled away a bit and looked right at her before continuing. “You’re just a filly and you’re already thinking like a full grown mare. Why don’t you go one ahead to Sugar Cube Corner and order us some dinner. I’ll be along shortly.” Silver looked up to her father happily before gambling out the house and headed off towards the town’s favorite shop. Platinum just shook his head happily before looking to the family picture again. “Looks like you were right; Silver was definitely going to be with Circlet’s foal, no matter what.” After a short sigh Platinum soon trotted out after his daughter, a proud smile on his face. *** Scootaloo sighed as she looked over the pictures of Silver Spoon and Diamond Tiara again. As she looked at the pictures Rainbow’s talk still rung in her ears. “Scoots, these are all kinds of wrong so why did you have them on you let alone why did you take them? Did they do something to you again, because if they did this isn’t the way to go about getting them back.” Scootaloo sighed again and she picked up the very first picture she took of the two, the very first kiss. “Way I see it you got two choices. The first is to come clean with one of those two about these pictures and promise them that you’ll never do it again or… just leave them be for good. Put the pictures away and just finish your assignment. That’s all I think you can do Scoots.” Rainbow was right; she really did have two choices… no, no she only had one. As she thought about it the first choice was much better than the second. The second choice didn’t solve anything. The two would continue to bully her and her friends and they’d still be going at each other because of it. The first choice DID solve things; she could apologize to the two bullies as well as get them to stop bullying her and her friends. So… tomorrow she’d talk to the bullies, get them to stop bullying them, and hopefully get along from there on… hopefully. To be continued