//------------------------------//
// Epilogue 
// Story: How to be a Parent 
// by Mattricole 
//------------------------------//

“Scootaloo, are you ready yet?” Diamond Tiara asked as she put her last bag of tiara’s onto the stagecoach.

“No, Mom!  I can’t find Rocky!” Scootaloo said as she threw her one and only bag on the stagecoach.  “How can I go out of town without him?  What if he starves to death?!” Scootaloo asked.  Diamond Tiara glared at her daughter and sighed.

“Scootaloo, Rocky is a rock.  Rocks don’t need food...they’re rocks.”

“So?!  What’s your point?!” Scootaloo asked.  

“...Apple Bloom, are you ready to leave yet?!” Diamond Tiara yelled, deciding to ignore Scootaloo for a minute or two.

“Ah got everything taken care of, if that’s what yer asking,” Apple Bloom said as she got on the stagecoach and took the reigns.  “Big Mac, ya ready ta take us to the train station?”

“Eeyup.”

“But, Dad!  I can’t find Rocky!” Scootaloo complained, refusing to get on the stagecoach.  Diamond swiftly turned to Scootaloo and grabbed her by the ear.

“Scootaloo, for the last time, Rocky is a rock!  He’ll be fine by himself!” Diamond Tiara yelled as she dragged Scootaloo inside the stagecoach.

“B-but, Mom-”

“Scootaloo Maria Rich, you will settle down this instant and forget about Rocky!” Diamond Tiara yelled as she forced a pouting Scootaloo to sit down.  “Alright, Apple Bloom, take us to the train station.”

“Yes, Ma’am!” Apple Bloom said with a salute.  As Apple Bloom whipped the reigns and Big McIntosh pulled the stagecoach, Diamond Tiara sat back into her chair and smiled.

“I still don’t get why we’re going to the Crystal Empire,” Scootaloo whined.

“Scootaloo, sweetie, don’t you want to see your sister?” Diamond Tiara asked with a smile.

“Eh, not really.”

“And what about your brother-in-law?” Diamond Tiara asked once again with a smirk.

“Brother-in-law?  Why would I want to see him?” Scootaloo asked.  She stared at her mother’s face, observing her smirk when realization dawned on her.  “You’re going to give him a hard time, aren’t you?”

“Oh a maliciously hard time,” Diamond Tiara chuckled as she slammed one hoof against the other.  “Marrying my daughter and not invite me to the wedding?”

“Mom, you didn’t adopt her until like, two days ago.”

“Shining Armor, you will pay for this crime against motherhood.  You.  Will.  Pay,” Diamond Tiara muttered as she glared in the direction of the Crystal Empire.

...Or at least she was pretty sure that was the direction.  Either way in just twelve hours she would meet her son-in-law.  And this was going to be one family visit he won’t soon forget.