Chickenloo
Scootaloo did not sleep well. She didn’t really sleep at all. Instead, she laid awake, fighting every instinct in her heart and mind that told her to sprint across the hall and bury herself in the warmth and security of Rainbow’s wing. Despite those instincts, Scootaloo stayed rooted in her own bed, trying to convince herself that everything was fine right where she was. When morning came, she was more tired than when she went to bed, but she was also at least a little proud of herself.
Scootaloo and Rainbow went through their typical morning routine of breakfast, preening and trying to get out the door in a timely enough fashion that they could both avoid another dressing down about the importance of being on time. Rainbow wisely refrained from commenting on Scootaloo’s victory out of fear that mentioning it would somehow taint its purity. If she had been in Scootaloo’s hoofs, she wouldn’t want the fact that she slept in her own room to be a cause for celebration. So, in accordance with that idea, Rainbow said nothing about last night’s sleeping situation, but when she dropped Scootaloo off at the schoolhouse, she couldn’t help but notice that the filly was still carrying the feather she had given her.
After a morning spent reviewing math, it was lunchtime at the Ponyville school house, and the CMC were eating in their usual spot, under a tree, and far away from the tiara-wearing tyrant who ruled the schoolyard as though it was her personal kingdom. The only possible challenge to her authority, Cheerilee, ate lunch inside where she was easily accessible but also afforded a few minutes of peace and quiet. It was a situation that allowed her to maintain her cheerful disposition, but it had the unfortunate side effect of leaving the schoolyard firmly in the control of Diamond Tiara.
“Move it! Why don’t go get some stilts or something. Then I could actually see you when you’re getting in my way. So annoying!” Diamond said as she kicked at Pipsqueak who had the misfortune of bumping into the tyrant on his way to his own preferred grazing spot.
“Sorry, Diamond,” the diminutive colt said as he quickly hurried out of the way lest he incur further wrath.
“Diamond is such a jerk. Somepony should teach her a lesson,” Scootaloo said absentmindedly, as the CMC witnessed the latest episode of Diamond’s iron hoofed rule over lunchtime.
“Um, Scootaloo, she’s not picking on us for once. Maybe we should let this go?” Sweetie Belle offered, not wanting to see her friend get hurt again rather than disagreeing with the sentiment.
“Nothing gets better if you ignore it,” Scootaloo said quietly. She got up from the ground and tucked the feather Rainbow had given her into her own wing. She wasn’t sure if it would work, but she needed every bit of courage she could get as she began walking toward her almost certain doom. “Hey, Diamond, why don’t you leave him alone?” she called out, hoping that the bully wouldn’t be able to hear the fear in her voice.
Diamond Tiara turned and located the source of the outburst. A look of surprise as much as anger flashed across her face when she realized who it was who dared to address her in such a disrespectful manner. “You can’t tell me what to do, blank flank,” she sneered.
Scootaloo ignored the sensation of her heart pounding out of her chest. “And that’s another thing. I’m sick of you calling me blank flank all the time. I’d rather have a blank flank than have my cutie mark be a stupid tiara. You’re not princess of anything, ‘cept being a… plot flank,” she said, closing the distance between the two ponies.
Diamond wore a look of confusion; ponies simply didn’t talk to her that way. Unable to think of an appropriate response, she resorted to an old standard she used when taunting the orange pegasus. “At least I’m not some flightless chicken.”
“You don’t get to call me chicken anymore either, Cry-mond Tiara.” I’m gonna die and I didn’t even get a chance to thank AB and Sweetie for being my friends. I hope they say nice things at my funeral.
“I don’t, Chickenloo? Oh, look, I just did. Chickenloo. You’re just a stupid chicken. Actually, I take that back: chickens lay eggs, so they at least serve a purpose. You’re nothing but a useless, won’t-ever-fly, sorry excuse for a pony whose parents should have abandoned her when she was born like all the other useless pegasi.”
When asked about it later, Scootaloo would admit that she didn’t really remember punching Diamond Tiara; all she remembered was that suddenly there was a sharp thud, and when she looked down, the pink pony was sprawled in the dirt a few feet away. Diamond gingerly brought her hoof up to her muzzle, only to recoil in horror when she noticed that a sticky trail of blood now ran across her previously pristine hoof. Diamond Tiara took a few rapid breaths and then started bawling, her shrill shriek echoing across the playground as her tears fell to the ground.
The wails of a crying filly brought Cheerilee galloping out from inside the schoolhouse. “What is going on out here?” she asked in horror as much as wonder.
“Scootaloo punched Diamond Tiara in the face. I saw everything Miss Cheerilee,” Silver Spoon said, eager to condemn the orange filly who dared to fight back against the established power structure of lunchtime.
“Silver, go with Diamond to Nurse Redheart. Scootaloo, come with me,” Cheerilee said angrily.
Needless to say, Scootaloo spent the rest of the day sitting in the corner in time out waiting to learn the rest of her punishment.
After school let out, Scootaloo found herself alone with Miss Cheerilee waiting for something, though she wasn’t quite sure what. The normally smiling teacher wasn’t talking; she just sat behind her desk grading papers, occasionally looking up. Finally, Rainbow Dash walked into the school house, holding a letter.
“I got your letter. Why am I here?” Rainbow asked.
“Scootaloo, why don’t you tell Rainbow Dash what you did?”
“I kinda... punched Diamond Tiara,” Scootaloo said quietly. She had been in trouble enough to know how this would go: first Rainbow would yell at her, then Cheerilee would tell her she was wrong for punching another student. After she was through being lectured at, she’d be punished by Cheerilee, and then Rainbow would punish her again when she got home. She was surprised that instead of yelling at her, Rainbow stayed calm.
“Is Diamond Tiara okay?” Rainbow Dash asked.
“She had a bloody nose...”
“So, she’s fine then?”
“In my class, we don’t hit,” Cheerilee decreed. “What do you think we should do about this Rainbow Dash?”
“Scootaloo, why did you hit Diamond Tiara?” Rainbow asked, in a tone that suggested curiosity more than anger.
“She was bullying Pipsqueak. I told her to stop and then she called me a chicken,” Scootaloo said quietly, figuring that now she was about to get yelled at.
“I don’t care what Diamond said; I’ll punish her later. In my class, we don’t hit,” Cheerilee told the orange filly.
Rainbow Dash ignored Cheerilee’s judgment. “Did you use a weapon, Scoots?”
Scootaloo shook her head; so far this was not going how she was expecting it to.
“Did you hit her when she wasn’t looking?”
“No.”
“Did you hit her after she was on the ground?”
Scootaloo shook her head. “No, it was just the one punch.”
“Well, then I don’t really see a problem here,” Rainbow said as she turned her attention back to the school teacher.
“Rainbow Dash, I’m trying to teach these kids that violence is never the answer.”
“Have you ever been bullied, Cheerilee?” The school teacher shook her head. “I didn’t think so; ponies like you don’t get bullied. I know that we’re supposed to set a good example and say things like, ‘Use your words,’ but it seems like ponies talk to Diamond Tiara all the time and she doesn’t get the message.”
“That’s not the point, Rainbow-”
“I think it is. Sometimes, you can’t reason with a bully. Sometimes, the only thing they understand is the taste of blood. Scootaloo didn’t injure her permanently, she didn’t beat her up and she fought fair.” Rainbow turned to Scootaloo. “Good job, Scoots. I’m proud of you.”
“Scootaloo needs to be punished for this!” Cheerilee exclaimed in disbelief that the mare in front of her was actually supporting Scootaloo’s actions.
“Why? Because she stood up to a bully? I’m not punishing her for that.”
“Scootaloo you’re suspended from school for the next two days, and I want you to write a letter of apology to Diamond Tiara.”
Dear Diamond Tiara, I’m sorry your ugly face got in the way of my hoof, Scootaloo thought.
“Hey, Scoots, wanna go get some ice cream?” Rainbow asked, turning her attention back to Scootaloo.
Scootaloo tried not to appear excited. She still wasn’t entirely sure what was going on, but she figured it wouldn’t help if Cheerilee thought she was happy. “Um... ok,” she said in as passive of a tone as possible.
“Awesome. Well, Scoots and I are going to go get some ice cream. I guess we’ll see you in two days,” Rainbow said cheerfully.
With nothing more to say, Rainbow turned and started to exit the building. “Bye, Miss Cheerilee!” Scootaloo said quietly, before hurrying to catch up with her idol, leaving an annoyed and perplexed school teacher behind them.
True to her word, Rainbow took Scootaloo to the ice cream shop and bought a pair of ice cream cones for the duo to enjoy. “Okay, kid. Serious talk time. You can’t go around punching ponies in the face,” Rainbow said as Scootaloo happily licked at the chocolate mound of ice cream balancing precariously on top of a waffle cone.
“I know, but I was just thinking about how you said that things don’t get better if you ignore them, and how Diamond is always bullying ponies. So, I thought maybe I could do something about it.”
“Diamond Tiara is a special case, but Cheerilee is right; in general, you shouldn’t go around punching ponies in the face, even if they deserve it.
“So, how do I know when it’s okay?”
“I think you’re smart enough to figure it out. But for now, I don’t want to hear anymore about you getting into fights.”
“I won’t, I promise. But how’d you know all that about bullies, not listening and stuff?”
Rainbow spoke quietly. She didn’t like thinking about what life was like when she was a filly. “Remember when I told you how I got my cutie mark?” Scootaloo nodded. “Well, even after I did a sonic rainboom, I still kinda sorta got bullied. I told the teachers, but all that meant was that the bullies waited until the teachers weren’t around to tease me. Then one day I stood up for myself.” Rainbow let out a low chuckle. “I bucked one of them so hard right in his stupid mouth.” Rainbow caught herself smiling and quickly changed her expression to a somber one. “The bullies still weren’t nice to me after that, but they did think twice before calling me Rainbow Crash again.”
“Oh.” Scootaloo still had trouble imagining a world where anypony could possibly say anything even remotely negative about the mare in front of her. Rainbow Dash was way too cool for that. “Don’t worry Rainbow Dash. I still think you’re the most awesome pony in all of Equestria, even if some stupid bullies did make fun of you.”
“Thanks kid.” A smile began to form on Rainbow face again. “So, you really knocked her down with one punch?
Scootaloo grinned sheepishly. “Yeah.”
“That’s my girl,” Rainbow said, no longer trying to suppress the big smile on her face as she ruffled the purple mane. A second later, Rainbow strained her neck upward, trying to get a closer look at Scootaloo’s flank.
“What are you doing?” Scootaloo wondered.
“I just thought you might have earned a bully punching cutie mark. Maybe something cool like a boxing glove.”
“Did I?!” Scootaloo said, straining, trying to glimpse her own flank. She let out a disappointed “oh” when she confirmed it was still bare.
“That’s okay, squirt. Let’s see if we can’t get you an ice cream eating cutie mark.”
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Plot Flank is the pony version of saying asshole?
Also I hope DT doesn't escalate things because Scoots has had enough shit to deal with already.
I fully support Scootaloo punching Tiara at least once a chapter.
Sometimes, violence is the only way to properly communicate with some people or ponies. Given DT's behaviour, she seems to be one of those bullies that needs to be knocked down over and over until she figures out that how she treats others can come back on her.
Also? Rainbow is right. Telling the teacher never works.
Hell yeah DT got what she deserved
4529401 nope, that would be plot hole or maybe flank hole...in any case good guess but no
Plot Flank = Butt Butt???
I found THIS, so Scootaloo could be trying to get Diamond Tiara to loose her cool by doing a "Your flank is so big I need to refer to it twice!" type joke.
4529401 If Diamond Tiara does take things farther and tries to assault Scootaloo... let Tiara throw the first blow and make the counter a knock out combo.
4529553 another good guess, but still no
Lemme guess. It's from a show that I've never seen, but somehow know references from... *cough* supernatural *cough*. (assbutt)
#recktb
tch
4529770 hey you win. So what would you like, a review..some pre-reading...anything that is reasonable and limited to this website
Quite a few bullies, for a number of reasons, don't tend to lay off until they've been force-fed their own teeth, or at least have been left in serious pain with the promise of worse if they go back to their old ways. And kids are worse, having little in the way of the common social restraints which tend to settle into place over the course of adulthood. Too few schools have the resources or willingness to watch all corners of the playground at all times, either.
What's a little rarer here is that that Crusaders have an advantage most victims don't: numerical superiority - if only they realized it.
The attitude I've always had is tell the teacher and tell the family, both of the bully and the bullied. Get that shit locked down as soon as possible. If that doesn't work, feel free to punch the bully in the face, or give them a good kick. Violence should never be the first resort, but it can be necessary sometimes. I do think in this situation that a) Cheerilee should have been told about this before so she had a history of Diamond's bullying. I can't think of many teachers who would punish someone for retaliating to repeated proven bullying, and any teachers who would are pretty shitty teachers to be honest. b) If she was informed about this, she is a much worse teacher than I previously thought.
4529770 damn it! You beat me to the punch. my sister watches supernatural so often i got that reference as soon as i read it.
HAH! Take that, tiara. you deserve far more, but we'll stop there for now
Violence should never be the first choice, especially amongst childten . However, Rainbow is right...bullies are more clever than people realize and sometimes turning the other cheek simply WONT work
4530706
yes, FOR NOW!!! 
I liked this chapter, any time DIamond Tiara eats shit is a good time in my opinion. Nicely written, can't wait for more.
4530044
4530704
I wanted nothing more than the satisfaction of winning. So, the prize can go to Autumn Breeze.
You'd think Cheerilee would be smart enough to know that Diamond Tiara is a pint sized tyrant who is only sweet when she is looking at her.
(I mean..the other children HAD to have told her about it, right?)
But, I guess THIS is one of those stories where she is oblivious, rather than more aware.
One punch! ONE PUNCH!
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4530704
Ok well I guess autumn breeze gets to claim the prize so what would you like. Again reasonable and limited to the scope of this website, a follow?, a story review? a shout out in a future authors note?
If he turns it down then Icarus Fics can claim the prize and if he turns it down then no one gets anything because lets be honest its not a great prize anyway.
4531065 I like to subscribe to the theory that the other fillies and colts don't tell on her because of the fear of reprisal. So yes Cheerlie is somewhat oblivious but it's not entirely her fault. OF course the other reason Cheerlie is oblivious is that DT can't be a good antagonist if Cheerlie can swoop in and save the day for our pint size heroes
Do you realize you are writing a great story?
4531679 I understand completely.
of course, I have read some stories where Cheerilee has "tried" to change Diamond Tiara, but obviously failed to do so.
she becomes desperate (and, even frustrated) and attempts to get her father, Filthy Rich, to do something about it.
Because, Let's face it: The whole reason DT is so bad is because FR is completely oblivious to the fact that he has poor parenting skills and has spoiled his daughter faaaar too much.
So, in a sense. Filthy Rich is as much to blame as Diamond Tiara herself.
Yeah, I'm not one of those people who think "Violence is never the first answer" because that's simply not realistic. There are situations where violence is the first (and often only) answer and even if this isn't one of those situations I still have no problem with a bully getting what they deserve. Besides this wasn't Scoots first attempt to stop DT nor even her second, third, and so on. Scoots has tried to stop DT for such a long time now and gotten exactly nowhere that I feel a good punch is well within reason by this point.
If only punching bullies in the face really worked and instead didn't get your a criminal record...
4533534 well it shouldn't have to be the first answer but it often ends up being the right answer for most confrontations except the rare few where the opponent is someway intelligent where simple words are enough to convey the point. Unfortunately very rare to the point where I've personally never seen it happen.
4531765 Thanks, I don't know about great, but I like to think it's pretty ok.
4532709 No one's ever praised me in song form before. Thanks.
4531561 If no one accepts it ill take it .3.
Good job Scotaloo. I agree with Rainbow Dash on this one, Scootaloo used an appropriate amount of force all it isn't ready a big deal.
4533178 there are definitely some good, and some terrible fifthly rich centered fics out there that attempt to portray how oblivious he is. In my experience most parents of bullies just have trouble believing that their little angel is a bully/ that the bullying is anything more then kids being kids. Also similar to my cheerliee rationalization, if telling filthy rich worked, it would take away from DT as a good antagonist.
4531561 i suppose a review of one of my stories.
while i would rather it be on one of my stories that got into the populars area of the site, could you review Love Knows No Bounds? It's a fic i wrote that follows after 2 other fics, Love, In All It's Forms and If Only In My Dreams.
happy reading
4538653 We are on the same page in this.
I too also look at Filthy Rich as being unable to see his daughter as a bully (still thinking of her as that foal he held in the hospital so long ago.)
I certainly don't hate the guy, or see him as a bad parent (he DID at least make DT partake in the "bunny hop" activity in that one episode.) but, he clearly isn't perfect at the job.
my favorite FR story on FIMF is "Numbers", which showed this very issue. and, portrayed FR just as I explained.
As for DT, I am beginning to wonder what happened to her mother. and if her absence as anything to do with her bad behavior.
Where's Tank?!
wow dude, scoots is cool.
Just like me; When bullies were startin' shit, I would personally show them what they were messin' with.
DT got what was coming to her.
WhooHooo! Good one Scoots.
needs end " marks.
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I can't wait for the day when Scoots does a Foalcon Punch right into Deet's kisser and knocks her to the moon. And an Icecreme eating Cutie Mark would be an awesome Cutie Mark, and at the least Dentist Cutie Marked ponies would love ponies with that Cutie Mark.
You don't need to do anything since I just follow stories, but does it reference Castiel from Supernatural? I think you know which line I'm talking about.
My personal opinion? Scootaloo didn't go far enough. The sort of person who would do the sort of thing Diamond Tiara simply CANNOT be taught that what they are doing is wrong. The only thing that they understand is fear, so you have to put the fear in them.
I really like this chapter. Been marathon reading this and some of your other works so I felt like commenting. I think this is a very interesting chapter because it could be very important when/if Rainbow talks to Scoots about what happened to her stepdad/asshole. Rainbow made a decision not unlike Scootaloo's, obviously different states and circumstances but knowing when to take such an action and dealing with it afterwards are points you addressed in the previous story. It wouldn't be impossible to see Rainbow struggle with not only her own mixed feelings out her act of self defense but also question if she being a role model for Scootaloo when she did what she did. Just throwing out my two cents and saying I love this story and am glad I stumbled upon it.
Arsehole im gussing the plotflank thing amd love this
I love that scene so much, sooo much. DT so deserved it. I see Pegasii as continuing their warrior traditions so Dash was probably really proud of Scoots.
needs end " marks.
As a comment to this piece. Yes, Diamond Tiara is a special case. Extra special, although I'm proud Scoots hit her.
________________
Cap. (name of technique).
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So, so proud of Scoots. And Dash is the best big sister ^_^.
"Hey, assbutt!"
- Castiel
"You can't go around punishing other kids for doing bad things! Rainbow, this kid did a bad thing and needs to be punished."
Of course, the real reason children shouldn't be encouraged to solve interpersonal problem with fistfights is because it's an escalation of the conflict. As in, Diamond is only going to like Scootaloo less after this. Though she may be a bit more cautious for fear of further beatings, the hostility itself is still there and the unspoken rules of engagement no longer ensure that acts of physical violence or similarly extreme measures will not be resorted to.
If Cheerilee really understood and believed in what she was talking about, she would have emphasized that point and tried to make Scootaloo (and Rainbow) understand why punching Diamond was a bad call.
I'm not naive enough to believe violence never solves problems. However, resorting to violence is a commitment to enmity, and it is far from ideal for children to make enemies with one another.
8489546
That's some high level analysis on my talking magical horse story.
Thanks for reading.
(I think you're probably right. Were I to revisit this scene I'd probably have Cheerilee go into a bit of a lecture about how Scootaloo's violence only escalated an already perilous situation and that there are better methods of conflict resolution)
It speaks to Scootaloo's character that she let Diamond's insults roll off her back, but took a stand when somepony else needed defending. An honorable filly.
I love this story so much I read my favorite parts again!
As much as Diamond Tiara deserved that, and I approve of Rainbow Dash going easy on Scootaloo, it isn't a good idea to praise what had happened and even rewarded that behavior. Granted, Rainbow did have a talk with her about it later. But ice cream? Then again, that only happened after Cheerilee suspended Scootaloo for Rainbow Dash not punishing her. It's not the teacher's job to insist that a child gets punishment from their guardian, nor is it their job to make a school punishment worse because of a lack of punishment at home. So as much as I don't approve of Rainbow Dash rewarding that behavior, I also don't approve of Cheerilee thinking she has parental authority.
Thank you for having dash encourage Scoots to be violent when needed. Pacifism is definitely not universally good