As Sebastian and Scootaloo stepped out of the hospital room, the zipper spell on Spoiled's mouth wore off and she once more launched herself into full voice. "There! These two went in! Now are you going to let me in as his spouse, or do I need to press legal action-"
"You don't have legal action to press," Scales stated flatly. "As per the instructions of his living will, I act under my power of attorney. Now that Sebastian has finished his examination, no one is to enter the room save my client's personal physician unless and until he wakes and requests otherwise. Dr. Treatment will take care of that from now on, however. For now, I need to gather those who are supposed to hear the living will."
"L-living will?" Spoiled demanded, a bit of shock slipping into her rage.
"Yes," Scales confirmed. "Last month, Filthy Rich contacted me and made out a living will to be carried out in the event he was rendered comatose or otherwise alive but unable to make legal decisions for himself, as well as updating his Last Will. Sebastian, the instructions are that you are to be present, as is Spoiled Rich. Would anyone know where I can find..." He lifted an envelope from his briefcase and glanced at a sticky note on the front. "...Granny Smith, Big Macintosh, and Applejack at this time of day?"
"Granny and Big Mac are probably at Sweet Apple Acres," Scootaloo spoke up. "Applejack will be there too, unless she's off with Princess Twilight handling a Friendship Problem or monster attack, or outside taking care of Apple Bloom."
Scales nodded. "I see. Are you with Sebastian?"
"You could say that," Scootaloo allowed, noticing how quiet Spoiled Rich had gotten as soon as the Apples had been mentioned.
"In that case, you are to be present as well," Scales stated firmly. "We will meet in my client's study, where I will set up the proper charms to ensure that we will not be overheard. Sebastian, could you by chance gather the individuals mentioned for me?"
"Of course," Sebastian responded immediately.
It didn't take long for everyone to gather in the study, filling up the chairs as Scales sat behind the desk. Granny Smith claimed the rocking chair, rocking back and forth as she watched everyone carefully. Big Mac simply sat on the floor beside Applejack, waiting impassively. Applejack and Spoiled Rich sat far apart from each other, glaring daggers at each other. Sebastian sat calmly next to Scootaloo, having already ensured out of habit that everyone had refreshments.
Once the silence spells were in place, Scales opened the envelope and pulled out a sheaf of documents. He then began to read from the one on top. "I, Filthy Rich, being of sound mind and body, do hereby dictate my Living Will, with the assistance of my attorney Balanced Scales. He is fully aware of its entire contents, and is entrusted to act as executor of this Living Will should I be left alive but incapable of acting in my own interest, whether through accident or malfeasance. Those of you in this room are either aware of what I must discuss, or can be trusted to be made aware.
"The first disposition is regarding my wife, Spoiled Rich." Spoiled Rich visibly preened at this. "Attached to this are documents brought to my attention regarding her improper behavior with her station as head of the School Board, along with testimony from the hired help and Ponyville citizens regarding her systematic verbal abuse of my daughter, Diamond Tiara-"
"Abuse?" Applejack suddenly snarled out, shooting to her hooves as her glare towards Spoiled turned full on murderous. "Why I oughta-"
Her tirade was interrupted by an angry snort from Big Mac as he slowly stood up, turning his own glower Spoiled's way.
"Down, both o' ya!" Granny suddenly snapped out. "If Filthy knows now, he musta done somethin'. That's prob'ly what this here's all about."
As Applejack and Big Mac slowly sat down, Scootaloo tilted her head thoughtfully. This was...odd.
"If I may continue?" Scales spoke up firmly. Once he had everyone's attention, he continued. "Balanced Scales informs me that this, amongst other documents attached, will be more than enough to file divorce proceedings even without my input, as well as blocking any and all attempts on Spoiled's part to claim custody of my daughter. If it has not yet been under my directive, this is to be carried out immediately, at which point the pre-nup goes into effect. This is already on file, and a copy is attached here."
Spoiled stared in disbelief. "You...you can't be serious! He wouldn't dare-"
"Around this time, Spoiled is probably going into some sort of denial rant," Scales continued. "If she fails to keep herself under control, I request and authorize Sebastian to do whatever it takes to ensure she sits silent until the reading is done."
Sebastian smiled a frightening predator smile, his crimson eyes narrowed almost to slits, and slowly turned to face Spoiled. "Is there going to be a problem?" His tone was very urbane and polite, but everything about him seemed to beg Spoiled to say 'yes', just to give him an excuse.
Unfortunately for Sebastian, Spoiled's self-preservation instincts were strong enough to keep her in check, and she sat back down in silence.
Scales nodded his thanks, then continued. "If Diamond Tiara is of age to step up and run the family business, she is to be allowed to do so. She has talent, and is certain to do a good job until I either recover or the transfer of ownership become permanent. If she is not yet of age, then the Rich family personal assets are to be held in trust for her until she reaches her majority. This is to include the 'personal accounts' related to the Barnyard Bargains business, which will remain under the jurisdiction of the board of directors in the meantime. If she is still willing and capable, said trust is to be overseen by Granny Smith, and she may draw whatever salary she feels fair for the inconvenience, up to 5% gross annually." Scales turned to Granny Smith. "Are you willing to do this? There are other arrangements if you are not, but I'm not to read them unless you decline or are unavailable."
Granny Smith shrugged. "Got little better ta do with mah days than juggle numbers. Filthy was like family, and we Apples always look after our own." She turned a steely gaze towards Spoiled briefly, then turned back to Scales. "Go on, then. We can discuss that part later."
Nodding, Scales moved down to the next portion of the Living Will. "As for custody of Diamond Tiara...until she reaches her majority or I make a full recovery, the following disposition requires the revelation of the secret I mentioned earlier."
Scootaloo noticed Applejack, Big Mac, and Spoiled all instantly getting tense.
"She is to be reared by her biological mother, Applejack, alongside her twin sister Apple Bloom."
It was only the fact Scootaloo had been holding herself in the Sunrise mindset that kept her jaw from dropping. What? How is that even possible? They don't look at all alike! ...then again, Pound and Pumpkin are different tribes. Can't get much different than that, and Apple Bloom and Diamond have had completely different upbringings...
"I leave it to Applejack just how much of this reading is to be revealed to Diamond Tiara and Apple Bloom, and how to handle this," Scales continued. "However, there is one last thing for Sebastian and those he works for to know." Sebastian and Scootaloo immediately turned their full attention to Scales. "I have reason to believe, no matter what the medical report says, that if this Living Will is enacted within the year of your tenure as Ponyville Elementary's substitute teacher...then it was no accident. Please, keep my daughters safe from whoever did this to me."
Scootaloo and Sebastian exchanged glances. It seemed they had a case here after all.
WHAT!?
*cue the proper meme*
WHAT???!!!!! Wow, that's...that's seriously cool.
So, we all know it's Grell...but why would he target Filthy Rich specifically? I'm intrigued.
This...story...is...AWESOME!!
Please update really soon, I'm absolutely hooked.
*pin drop-*
No, no, a pin didn't drop.
A MOTHERBUCKING NuCLEaR wARHEAD FELL fRoM ANOTHER DiMeNsiON!!
I, um, uh, I, uh, DU FUQ? PLEASE, PLEASE tell the back story on THIS. Though it also kinda explains AppleJack and Big Mac's spike in attitude! I had just put it down to decent people's natural attitudes towards such things
Talk about living worlds apart for those sisters.
Yeah... not much to say these recent chapters.
So, it begins...
8209772
Remember how Apple Bloom was nowhere to be seen in the flashback in "Where the Apple Lies"?
And how such strong bonds between Filthy Rich and the Apple family start around there?
Anything further will be covered in-story, at some point.
...................wow............................That......That's a pretty damn good plot twist there Tats. Kudos. Seriously, my jaw actually dropped at that. VERY well done.
8209780 gosh darn it Tats....! Worst part: it wouldn't be too out of left field to be Canon....
im not sure if i should be suprised about the Applejack thing or what cause damn
Hold on! If AJ is in her twenties, that would mean she has her daughters during her early teen! (if I remembered correctly, AB is 12 right?)
8209835
You're assuming a lot about everyone's ages.
... I was not prepared for that... Nope, not in the slightest
...............WHAT THE HEEEEEEEEEEEEEEELLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL?!!!!!!!
Spoilt finally proved she has a sliver of intelligence in shutting up. Would have enjoyed reading her evisceration just as much but oh well
...One moment
*Calmly walks downstairs, comes back a few moments later with glass of water and takes a sip*
*Spit take* DIDN'T SEE THAT ONE COMING!
What, The. Hell?
Mind Blown.
Coranth.exe has stopped working.
Ooooo fancy.
8209839 All we know is that Fluttershy is older than Pinkie, and RD is about the same age as Flutters. Which means that Flutters and RD are like in their 20's or early 30's, because the Wonderbolts are a military thing, and I'm pretty sure you have to be an adult to join the military.
As interesting as that all is, it still tells us nothing about AJ's age, unfortunately.
8209951
Actually, it says they're in their 20's to 30's minimum, assuming Equestria goes by the same age rules Earth does.
Well, that happened. Was kinda also expecting a "boot to the head" scene there, but oh well.
Couldn't find the original skit, but this works just as well.
Well, talk about a Twisted Plot!!!!!!!!
Okay, that was glorious!
8209750 Cue. Also,
Also also,
8209934 My sentiments exactly!
8209787 me too!
AJ and Filthy lovers? OK really didn't see that coming, its a good enough twist to be a story all on it's own. Keeping it secret makes sense too, AJ would have been a teenager by pony standards and Filthy an adult with a fiance. It does sink the TiaraBloom ship.
Surrogate mother?
What?! I think AJ has some explaining to do!
...
8210021 ...Yeah, that about sums it up. Well played Tats, well played.
Like family or is family?
What? What?! WHAAAAAAAAAAAAAT?!
WWWWWHHHHHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA-----
I'm ok now
... Well shit, you're getting good at these twists...
Adding my voice to the chorus of wat.
*Ahem* Waaaaaaaaaaaat.
Reading the bit about AJ being DT's mom had me flop over in wat. After all, since Filthy was engaged to Spoiled while AJ was a teen, that either means Filthy was doing extramarital things or underaged things, and AJ being involved with either (and the resulting consistent lies that kept things under wraps) leaves me more than a bit incredulous.
And then I read the bit with AB being DT's twin, and I flopped over again in further wat, as that raises those same questions even harder.
Am I the only one here sad to see Filthy Rich dissolve their marriage? Even if it was the right thing to do, it's still a very painful process, especially for the kid(s). Though maybe it won't hurt DT as much, as her relationship with Spoiled was strauned to begin with. Even so, this chain of revelations is going to turn DT's world upside-down in some fundamental ways, and I'm honestly not sure how much of the truth would be best for her to know. I want her to know that Spoiled wasn't her "real" mom, but revealing that would likely lower her opinion of Filthy Rich...
Family is complicated, especially when it falls apart.
Looks like AJ is a bit older in this verse than in canon.
Talk about dropping a bombshell the size of Tokyo out of the blue! I'm guessing that the Apple family already knew the particulars, but given the clannishness of them it was easy to circle the wagons and keep the secret. Spoiled, on the other hand, was likely just a gold-digger who blundered into the situation and married Filthy before Applejack was old enough to marry him.
Interesting plot-twist.
GREAT GOOGLY MOOGLY!!!
Well, at least Diamond's away from Spoiled (wretched Hate Sink that she is) this way. (And I wonder how Diamond and Apple Bloom are going to react... probably with mutual freak-outs.)
Until next time...
Anon e Mouse Jr.
I only have one thing to say.
NANIIIII!?
....
Say What?
8210545 Wut?
Uh, technically, if Applejack is Diamond's biological mother, that would make Applebloom her aunt, not sister. Just think of the movie Kicking and Screaming if you need to understand.
8210767
...you did read the rest of the sentence and what that implied, right?
... (*clears throat*)
Note how there was no mention of Applejack, Mac, or Granny reaction to that particular bombshell?
Whoa Nelly, someponies have some skeletons in their closets!
Also: is Spoiled completely penniless/homeless now, or does she at least have some personal wealth or provisions in the pre-nup?
8210638 Precisely.
Nani is the romanized version of the Japanese word for "What?"
8210767 Aunt is the parent's sister. That would imply that Applebloom had a sister who gave birth to Diamond Tiara... Going by that logic, yes, that would make Applebloom the auntie... In canon. It can be assumed in THIS universe that Applejack is Applebloom's MOTHER from her and Diamond Tiara being twin sisters.
Alternate Universe, alternate timeline. Canon was already taken out back and shot in the head when this became a Black Butler/MLP crossover involving several Changeling hives that feed on different emotion.
8209780
Yeah, that episode just feeds the whole "Applejack is Applebloom's mom" thing.
So good work on putting that into the story. Not sure how to feel about getting DT involved with that. Although I am looking forward to that conversation.
.....Whoa.
8209780
8211697
Word of god on the episode is that their parents were out of town on vacation during the events of the episode. Maybe AB was being conceived.
8209951
Rainbow Dash's birthday cake has 21 candles in Pinkie Pride. Pinkie Pie mentions in Baby Cakes that ponies do put a candle on the cake for each year, as well.
Tats, I do hope you have some actually plot-relevant reason for making AB and DT the twin daughters of AJ. I don't necessarily have a problem with it, but I would prefer it not be simply shake up for the sake of shake up. I mean, Filthy Rich is a friend of the Apples, so it's not like they would need to be sisters in order for Filthy to want to ask the Apples to take care of Diamond, if you just want DT and AB to be living together.
8211783
When it comes to the point of looking at the number of candles on a birthday cake in one episode, I don’t think it’s quite solid enough canon that authors can’t play around with it a little.