I think this makes the most sense. Jumping too quickly into anything is just going to end up with hurt feelings, and it actually makes sense that Scoots would realize this. getting by on his own for so long would've given him a good head on his shoulders about certain things. I'd say caution in decisions would be a trait he picked up early.

3176834 I was actually really worried somepony would think that was a bad call for a part of the story. I really wanted a longer chapter, but I had no idea where else to take this. Not without side-trekking and getting the plot all twisted and overly complicated. I'm ecstatic to see I'm not the only pony here that feels the decision fits with Scooter's character. I think my main concern with this all is trying to keep Diamond Tiara both in and out of character simultaneously. She can't be in character from the show, but I can't just rewrite her either without it just seeming wrong. I'm having to piece a lot of her character together off of what could have happened since school years. She's changed, but it has to make sense. It's a bit difficult, and what with Hades kinda abandoning me mid chapter, it was a bit of a rough-cut call with most of it.

This event in Canterlot interests me.
Alright, I need to say it: Filthy Rich cut some punk out of some deal, and his delinquent friends retaliated with violence. Does anyone else think Filthy may be dealing with drugs and such?

3177203 Dude, you don't get that rich without getting your hooves dirty. Nopony does. That being said, plenty of punks would be pissed if, say, their favorite bar got shut down, or some friends of theirs got laid off cause of some new management switch. I know I've met plenty of ponies who are absolutely that low-brow. Also, I'm hoping to actually get around to a decent description of it, and maybe but a little spin on things. Actually, yes. I'm going to have much, much fun with this. Begin the dedications to his friends!

3177251 I guess selling 'zap apple jam' doesn't pay for everything. I mean, they only grow once a year, he couldn't make much from it. I just hope his filthy hooves don't get Scooter mixed up with the wrong crowd.

3177723 If they do, it won't be in this fic. Interesting idea, but this has one focus, and it will achieve that focus.

I'd actually assumed lay-offs.

Or, knowing some of the self-entitled pricks I do, they took exception to being canned for stealing from the company.

3177848 I've not really put much into the thought of why they were pissed over the decision mostly because it's not likely to pop back up, at the least, not yet. I was tempted to do it in the second chapter, but my main issue is that I don't want to draw much attention from what this is intended to be. I include other things so that there's a little something besides just the achingly slow walk to the actual clop, which will happen in the story. Basically, I'm trying to keep a fairly simple, but interesting plot here, and with it being my only clop fic thus far, I'm not sure just how out of or in my element I am.

3201855 They are anthro. As for the sad DT, I'm not sure how much farther into the story she will remain sad.

Are Scooter, Silver Belle, and Apple Buck just the gender swapped versions of the CMC or is this an alternate universe... or both?

3206989 It's just a few characters were genderswapped to fit the general story. I don't think this fits under AU, but if anypony shows me a reason why it would, then I would obviously want to have my tags right.

3207967 Okay just wondering. Pretty good story so far, by the way.

I see Filthy Rich as being a pretty decent guy. I mean his daughter can be a brat but you can;t judge him by her actions. I'm hoping the punks are just butt-hurt about something he did that was perfectly legal and moral.
On another note, thank you for not adding too much humor to this. It would take away from the drama.

3221961 Filthy Rich just made a business decision like he does every day. This time it just happened to get the wrong attention. As for the humor, I doubt I could manage any decent humor if I'd wanted to. Let's just say I'm no comedian. Not even worth two bits.