Chapter 26: Ponyville Confidential

Another day at the Ponyville schoolhouse had come to an end as the bell rang, a huge cluster of young ponies took their leave as they chatted amongst each other. Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle came walking out of the schoolhouse slowly with sour looks on their faces.

"Can you believe Featherweight got his cutie mark?" Sweetie Belle grumbled, "Featherweight! Before us!"

The foals were continuing to cheer for the young Pegasus pony with light brown hair and cream colored fur, who was now donning a white feather on his flank. Featherweight couldn't help but show it off to the others.

"Great cutie mark, Featherweight!" said Snips as the Pegasus made his cutie mark sparkle in the sunlight.

"Looking good!" Snips added with a chuckle.

Sweetie Belle just stood in place while Scootaloo had already slumped to the floor on her stomach as they both sighed in defeat.

"I give up..." Sweetie Belle moaned. It was then that Apple Bloom arrived with a sheet of paper in her fore-hoof.

"I got it!" Apple Bloom exclaimed as she jumped over them and tossed the rolled up paper to Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo, which unrolls itself to reveal the school newspaper, "The answer to all our problems!"

"The Foal Free Press?" Sweetie Belle real aloud as Scootaloo gave the yellow filly a skeptical look, "How's the school paper gonna get us our cutie marks?"

Apple Bloom took a deep breath to speak when...

"Move your caboose!" someone shouted in the background.

"Uh-oh, that's Granny Smith," said Apple Bloom, "Gotta run!" Apple Bloom then walked away, leaving the paper behind.

"Maybe there's something to this newspaper idea," said Scootaloo.

"Guess it's worth a shot..." said Sweetie Belle as she stroked a page with her fore-hoof and picked up the newspaper with her mouth.

(Scene changes)

At the Carousel Boutique, Sweetie Belle tore out a page of newspaper as she and Scootaloo crumpled it up and used them to provide cushioning for some fragile items that Rarity wanted to box and put into storage. The two fillies then checked their flanks, only to find them bare and made long faces afterward.

(Scene changes)

Next, they headed outside and started tearing up strips of newspaper to help a nearby bird build itself a nest. They give the bird a smile and then checked their flanks. Seeing their flanks were still blank, they gave each other annoyed looks.

Then they decided to use the remainder of the newspaper into making hats and then made a giant hat to use as a boat. They were literally sailing down a stream with Pinkie watching them float by. They checked their flanks and, as usual, they were still blank. At the same time they were frowning, their giant paper boat got too wet and started to sink into the stream.

(Scene changes)

Back at the Clubhouse, Apple Bloom was just sitting quietly reading the newspaper when Sweetie Belle banged the door open. She and Scootaloo were both covered in mud and wet strips of newspaper.

"Apple Bloom. your newspaper idea was nothing but a bust," Sweetie Belle complained.

"We tried everything, from papier-mâché to making birds' nests, and nothing worked. " Scootaloo added.

Apple Bloom just looked at them for a moment before she started laughing. Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo both looked at each other puzzled.

"What's so funny?" Sweetie Belle asked as she and Scootaloo approached the chuckling filly.

"What I meant was, we should write for the paper!" Apple Bloom responded as she used her newspaper to lightly bop Sweetie Belle on the head.

Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo just glared before letting out a long groan, plopping into their backs.

*Main title*

"Okay, class, see you tomorrow!" said Cheerilee as the school day ended and a large cluster of ponies left, "Oh, for those of you who want to join the newspaper staff, stay here, because we're meeting right now!" Cheerilee tapped the top of her desk to emphasize her point as several young ponies stayed at their desk, including the Cutie Mark Crusaders.

"Cutie marks in journalism!" said Apple Bloom as she looked at Scootaloo.

"Such a good idea," Scootaloo asked smugly as Sweetie Belle just smiled in agreement.

"Welcome, everypony," said Cheerilee, "Now, as you know, our editor-in-chief last year-"

"Oh, oh, oh, ohohohoh!" Sweetie Belle said frantically as she raised a fore-hoof in the air.

"Yes?" Cheerilee asked.

"What's an editor-in-chief?" Sweetie Belle asked curiously.

"Good question, Sweetie Belle, I like those reporters' instincts," said Cheerilee, making Sweetie Belle smile cutely, "The Foal Free Press is a student-run paper. I'm only involved as an advisor, so the editor-in-chief is the pony in charge, from choosing the stories to making sure it gets to the press on time. Now, as I said, we have a new editor this year!" As Cheerilee explained everything, the young ponies just smiled excitedly. Cheerilee then pointed to the door to introduce the new editor in chief. The door opened to reveal a familiar rich filly flicking her mane and smiling like the world bowed down to her.

"Diamond Tiara?!" said all the young ponies in shock.

"Hm," Diamond Tiara hummed arrogantly as she approached the desk Cheerilee was sitting at.

"I'll leave you alone now to discuss everypony's assignments," said Cheerilee, "Have fun!" Diamond just kept smiling, trying to look cute and innocent until Cheerilee closed the door. Then she immediately flipped to her normal commanding personality.

"Alright, listen up," said Diamond Tiara as she slammed her fore-hooves on the desk and then bucked the wall to make a large poster of herself appear behind her, "The Foal Free Press is a joke."

"Huh?" said the other young ponies puzzled.

"Nopony at this school takes it seriously," said Diamond Tiara, ironically Truffles was reading the paper with a red robe and matching Fez hat when she said that, "Well I, the editor-in-chief in charge, am going to deliver us to newfound glory!" As she raised a fore-hoof in the air, there was a long pause when the other ponies just looked at her.

"Yay!" said Truffle softly as some of the other ponies looked at him.

"First things first," said Diamond Tiara as she opened her notebook, "Where's the staff photographer?" It was then Featherweight, now equipped with a camera, smiled sheepishly.

"Get out there and document everything!" Diamond Tiara yelled, "I'll decide what's important." Featherweight then took his leave in a hurry and Diamond Tiara slammed the door shut behind him.

"The rest of you," Diamond Tiara continued sternly as she headed back to the desk, "I want hard-hitting news and interesting think pieces. No more Namby-Pamby stories like last year's editor." The other ponies just looked at her blankly.

"But Namby-Pamby was a great editor," said the pony named Ruby Pinch.

"Well, there's a new regime now, and I want juicy stories," said Diamond Tiara as she firmly closed her notebook, "The juicer, the better! Now get out there and report!" Diamond Tiara then bucked the wall to make her poster of herself roll up and then walked away importantly. All but the Cutie Mark Crusaders then took their leave to get to work.

"Let's get out of here girls," said Scootaloo, "Maybe we can try packing boxes again."

"But this could be our last chance to earn our cutie marks," said Sweetie Belle, "If we are really supposed to be journalists, isn't it worth a little grief?"

"I guess you're right," said Scootaloo, "We can take a little bit of Diamond Tiara for a lifetime of cutie marks." The three girls smiled in agreement.

"C'mon!" said Sweetie Belle excitedly, "Let's go get these marks!" She then swept a fore-leg horizontally with a wide smile on her face to emphasize her point.

"My first story's going to be an exclusive interview," said Sweetie Belle as she made her way to the Carousel Boutique.

Sweetie Belle was wearing a grey reporters hat and had a notepad with her as she watched Rarity rushing about to do her wok. Sweetie Belle gives Rarity a smile and waved to get her attention, but Rarity was too focused on her dress to listen.

Rarity then grabbed an extra feather and put it in Sweetie Belle's reporter hat, annoying the younger sister. Sweetie Belle then leaned toward Rarity to get her attention again, but then Rarity got an idea and made Sweetie Belle model the new outfit. Sweetie Belle blushed from embarrassment.

(Scene changes)

"I saw a brand new nest of baby birds the other day," said Scootaloo, "I bet our readers would eat up a sweet story like that!"

Scootaloo was then on a tree branch interviewing the birds in the nest wearing the same reporters hat as she wrote down her notes, but then she dropped her pencil and her notepad. She tried to grab them, but ended up falling out of the tree.

She did her best to hover about, but then fell right into a large puddle of mud below. Scootaloo was still trying to hover, but only her back end was inches from the ground while her face was in the mud. The birds laughed at her, making Scootaloo glare and blush from embarrassment.

(Scene changes)

"Granny Smith has all sorts of great stories!" said Apple Bloom, "I reckon I'll do a piece on the history of Ponyville."

As Apple Bloom spoke, she was sitting next to Granny Smith, who was telling her a story before pinching Apple Bloom's cheeks.

As Granny Smith knelt down to grab another book, Apple Bloom grabbed a book about Ponyville's history. However, Granny Smith unintentionally bumped the book out of the way for her own choice. Apple Bloom gasped when she saw that the book was filled with her baby pictures, including a picture of her with two diapers on and another during bath time. Apple Bloom pulled the tip of her reporter hat over her head as she blushed from embarrassment.

(Scene changes)

The area where the school newspaper were created was located in an underground room of the schoolhouse with a few windows located near the top for air and circulation. Inside, Ruby Pinch and Truffles were busy working on typing up the stories as Shady Daze was working with a rather clunky machine that was the school's personal printing press, which kept squirting ink as it churned and whirred about. Diamond Tiara was at the main editors desk, sitting in a very tall executive chair. She was currently reading an article that had been submitted, but then quickly crumpled the paper up and tossed it aside as the Cutie Mark Crusaders walked up to her desk, wearing their reporter hats and saddle bags.

"I hope you've got something, because everything so far is unusable," said Diamond Tiara sternly. The three fillies just looked at each other before presenting their articles to the spoiled filly.

""Baby Birds Born"?,"Rarity's Hot New Hat"?, "Ponyville: The Early Years"?!" Diamond Tiara exclaimed in disgust, "Oh! I don't know what you call this, but it sure isn't news!" The three fillies just looked at each other as she shoved the articles away from herself.

"We just...thought..." Sweetie Belle tried to explain, but Diamond Tiara wouldn't listen.

"Get something else on my desk by the end of the day, and it better be juicy!" Diamond Tiara yelled as she walked up to the three fillies, backing them up against a wall.

She gave them a devious smile before tossing all three of them and their notepads outside. While they were still dazed, their hats came flying out of the basement as well.

"Now what?" said Scootaloo, "Do you know what I had to do to get that story?"

"Oh, you don't even wanna know what I had to sit through," said Apple Bloom.

As she said that, Featherweight was quickly snapping picture after picture as the three fillies were recovering and then zipped away. It was then two shadows were seen on the other side of the school house. Sweetie Belle slowly walked over to the shadows to investigate.

"Oh! Get it off me, Snails!" said a voice.

"Eh, you get it off me, Snips?" Snails complained.

Sweetie Belle peeked from the corner of the schoolhouse to see Snips and Snails were stuck together by their flanks in a big piece of sticky bubble gum. Snails was current trying to pull himself apart from Snips, at the latter's expense.

"Aah! Stop it!" said Snips, "You are making it worse! Nah! Oh, great." Snips tried to pull the gum off with a fore-hoof, but ended up getting it covered with the gum instead.

"I'll get it," said Snails as he grunted and bucked Snips away. Snips went flying off. But like a rubber band, Snips came back, smacking into Snails so the gum was now pasted against their backs as well.

"Aah!" Snips cried out.

"Get it off! Get it off!" Snails pleaded. Sweetie Belle giggled to herself when she noticed a familiar Pegasus with his camera nearby.

"Hey, Featherweight, c'mere!" said Sweetie Belle, still giggling at the sight, as the Pegasus walked over to her, "Take a few pictures of this, then meet me during lunch."

Featherweight then ducked behind the wall and started taking the pictures of Snips and Snails. Sweetie Belle then returned to Apple Bloom and Scootaloo, who had just put their reporter hats back on.

"Girls, I have our story," Sweetie Belle told them with a smile.

(Scene changes)

The next day, a spinning newspaper appeared to show a front page with Snips and Snails stuck in the bubble gum.

""Snips and Snails in Bubblegum Veils! And that's when the biggest jokester in school really stuck his hoof in his mouth - literally!"," read a pony named Noi to another filly named Green Daze.

"The Foal Free Press is usually just boring news and stuff," Green Daze replied.

"So Funny!" said another pony named Cotton Cloudy.

Some of the other young ponies were chatting with each other as they read the newspaper, many of them sitting together in groups of three. A few other young ponies were asking Snips and Snails to autograph their newspapers.

"Our mothers always told us we'd end up in the papers someday," said Snips to Snails.

"Yeah, and look!" said Snails, "We finally got the gum out!"

Snails laughed as he and Snips showed their flanks and tails, which were missing much of their fur due to being shaved. A picture was taken at that moment, which was later examined by Diamond Tiara, who was very impressed.

"Your column is a sensation!" said Diamond Tiara to the Cutie Mark Crusaders, making the three fillies smile as Diamond Tiara looked out the window to watch the other ponies playing on the playground, "I don't want you doing news anymore. I want more columns like this. Columns about ponies and their private lives, the things they do when they think their alone. You three are my new gossip columnists! And I love the way you signed it! "Gabby Gums"..." Diamond sighed as she pointed at the new signature, "...That was a stroke of genius!" She then turned her chair away from them.

"We couldn't fit all of our names, so we decided to create one for all three of us," said Sweetie Belle.

"Well, I want more Gabby Gums!" said Diamond Tiara as she turned the chair around to face them again, "Nice work, girls!"

"We sure seem to have gift for gossip," said Scootaloo.

"If we can write a few more of these Gabby Gums columns," said Sweetie Belle, "we'll earn our cutie marks for sure!"

"Woo-hoo!" the three fillies cheered as they jumped into the air and gave each other a high-hoof.

But a short time later, neither of the three fillies were feeling as confident as they sat a school lunch table. Several pieces of crumpled up paper were on the table along with a cup that had a hot drink of some sort, thought it couldn't possibly be coffee...hopefully...

"Scootaloo? Do you have anything?" said Sweetie Belle with a blank face and an annoyed tone.

"Nope," said Scootaloo with a bored look on her face as she played around with a pencil on the table.

"Apple Bloom?" Sweetie Belle asked.

"Sorry," said Apple Bloom with a sigh and a long face as she hoofed through her notepad.

"Let's face it," said Scootaloo, "Nothing very juicy happens at this school." It was then Snips and Snails had put more bubble gum between them, they grunted as they tried and failed to un-stick themselves from it, but just smiled to attract attention to themselves. Sweetie Belle just looked worried as Apple Bloom and Scootaloo looked at the two colts annoyingly.

"We're doomed," said Sweetie Belle as Apple Bloom and Scootaloo's lips drooped sadly in agreement.

(Scene changes)

Later at the Carousel Boutique, Rarity was using her magic to move some folded sheets of fabric across the room. For some reason she had her eyes closed as she did so. Rarity suddenly tripped over something and tumbled to the floor, dropping and unfolding all the fabrics she had been carrying. Rarity turned her head to see that she had tripped over Sweetie Belle's saddle bag.

"Ohh, Sweetie Belle..." said Rarity as she used her magic to pick up the saddle bag, "Was she raised in a barn or something?" Rarity then gasped when the saddle bag opened and she noticed the rolled up newspaper inside. Rarity found her curiosity getting the best of her.

"Oh, you really shouldn't be snooping, Rarity..." said Rarity to herself, "Oh, but it's so much fun, Rarity." Rarity then gave into her temptation and grabbed the newspaper and started reading it. Rarity immediately started reading the article about Snips and Snails and giggled excitedly.

"Gum on the Bum!" Rarity read and laughed heartily, "Too rich!" It was then Sweetie Belle came downstairs with an irritated look on her face.

"Can you please keep it down with all the laughter?" Sweetie Belle asked indignantly, "I'm trying to-Hey!" Sweetie Belle blinked and then glared when she saw Rarity reading the school newspaper from her sack.

"Bleh! I, I was just-" Rarity stumbled as she put the paper back on her saddle bags.

"Are you snooping through my saddlebag?" Sweetie Belle demanded. Rarity tried to hide the saddle bag behind her back with her magic as Sweetie Belle tiled her head from side to side to see it. Sweetie Belle then glared before she gave Rarity's horn a hard flick with her fore-hoof, making the elder marshmallow pony drop the saddle bag.

"How dare you!" Sweetie Belle said angrily as she grabbed her saddle bag.

"Oh, but this Gabby Gums column is so funny!" said Rarity.

"You actually like the school paper?" said Sweetie Belle in surprise as Rarity grabbed the said newspaper and started reading it again as she walked by her younger sister.

"It's so much juicier than anything in the boring old Ponyville Express," said Rarity, "Could I borrow this to show my friends?"

"Your friends would wanna read the Foal Free Press?" Sweetie Belle answered in disbelief.

"Oh, they'd just love Grabby Gums!" said Rarity, "Who is she, anyway? I've never heard of her before. Is she new-" Sweetie Belle then beamed with excitement before she ran out of the Boutique in a hurry and leaving Rarity no answer to her question about Gabby Gums. It wasn't long before Sweetie Belle found Apple Bloom and Scootaloo still moping about at the school playground.

"We gave up too quickly, girls," said Sweetie Belle as she came to a screeching halt, "Forget trying to squeeze stories out of this school. We need to expand!" As the view showed the entire town of Ponyville, Apple Bloom and Scootaloo smiled excitedly as a camera flashed in the background.

"We can find all kinds of great gossip out there in Ponyville!" said Apple Bloom.

"We'll need to tell Featherweight to start working overtime," Sweetie Belle added as the said Pegasus was busy taking a picture of a ladybug.

"Sweetie Belle you're a genius!" said Scootaloo as they made their way towards Featherweight.

(Scene changes)

Later on the Ponyville market area, several ponies were busy walking and shopping about when they were all startled by an ear splitting scream. Inside the jewelry stop, the cake twins, Pumpkin and Pound, had started crying and screaming, leaving Mr. and Mrs. Cake worried as well as embarrassed. Especially when somepony captured the moment in a picture.

(Scene changes)

""Pound and Pumpkin Cake's Trip to the Store Ends in Tears"," Diamond Tiara read aloud as the three fillies stood before her desk again, "Gabby Gums comes through again!" It was then Truffles arrived, clearly out of breath.

"The Ponyville news stand wants to carry the Foal Free Press!" Truffles panted, "Ponies keep coming by and asking for it!"

"Send 'em twenty copies," Diamond Tiara instructed, "and if they run out of those! We'll send 'em twenty more!" Truffles smiled and quickly walked away to collect the copies.

"You three are doing a great job for this paper," Diamond Tiara said to the three fillies as she walked by, "Keep those columns coming!"

"This is great!" said Scootaloo excitedly as the three fillies shared another high hoof together.

(Scene changes)

As the rest of the other young ponies continued their work in the basement, Scootaloo was busy talking as Sweetie Belle wrote things down in a sheet of paper. Apple Bloom then put the article into a box with the word IN on the label for printing.

Ruby Pinch and Truffles worked hard typing up the articles as Shady Daze was busy working on the clunking printer. As several newly printed papers emerged from the machine, Truffles tied them together by a rope and pulled them out for delivery.

The second the newspapers were available, pony after pony started to pick 'em up and read them. Several of them even reading the newspapers as they sat outside.

(Scene changes)

Meanwhile at the Ponyville Spa, the mane seven and Spike, minus Rainbow, were all sitting together enjoying a spa treatment.

"Oh, this is the life, isn't it, you guys?" said Rarity as she sat on a lounge chair with a towel wrapped around her mane as she read the latest copy of the foal free press, "The best hooficure I've ever had!"

"Y-y-y-you s-s-s-said i-i-i-t, oo-oo-ooh..." Applejack replied, her voice vibrating as she lay on her stomach while a pony gave her a much needed back massage.

"This is definitely the good life," Chase replied contently wearing a bathrobe as he reclined in a longue chair on his back as he was reading a book based on traditional swords. "Thanks for letting me come with you guys."

"Hey, you're part of the group, big brother," said Pinkie as she and Fluttershy were sitting comfortably in the spa pool with towels over their manes.

"Oh, Chase, where did you get that book on traditional swords?" Fluttershy asked while she swam to the edge.

"I got it at a bookstore on the other side of town." Chase responded as he continued reading the book. "It's got a lot of information that these were made from the White Lotus Clan and the Basilisk Ninja Clan."

Twilight giggled to herself, seeing how Chase was fond of ancient masters of jiu jitsu and how they made their own weapons made her smile. She was sitting on the lounge chair next to Chase reading her book.

Spike just sighed contently as he reclined on his own longue chair with cucumber slices over his eyes and a pink blanket over himself.

"I don't know if I've ever been so relaxed," said Spike.

"You guys!" Rainbow shouted as she barged into the room.

"Aaah!" Spike jumped from the sudden outburst as his cucumber slices flew off his eyes and landed on Rainbow's eyes. Rainbow didn't seem to be bothered by it.

"The new Gabby Gums just came out!" said Rainbow, ""The Great and Powerful Trixie's Secrets Revealed!"" Rainbow then picked up one off the cucumber slices and put it in her mouth.

"We already read that one, Rainbow Dash," said Rarity plainly, "Come on, relax, have a hooficure, it feels amazing." Rarity then tumbled into her back as all four of her legs went into the air.

"Did you forget who you're talking to?" Rainbow glared as Spike made gestures for Rainbow to give back his cucumber slices, "The day I get a hooficure is the day I turn in my daredevil license."

"Oh stop it, Rainbow," said Chase. "How many times do I have to tell you that being girly doesn't mean you're not awesome? Awesome girls like to feel pretty and cute, remember?"

Rainbow rolled her eyes.

"I'll...think about it," said Rainbow, "Besides, I haven't read this Gabby Gums yet."

Rainbow then picked up a single newspaper as Spike grabbed the cucumber slice from Rainbow's eye as well as the one from her mouth, which was uneaten.

"Well, do it quietly, will ya?" said Spike with a sigh as he put the slices back on his face, "Some of us are trying to unwind!"

"I like Gabby Gums too," said Twilight as she read a copy as Lotus Blossom put some metal crimpers to style her tail, "but don't you think she can be a little mean?"

"I certainly do," said Chase as he continued to read his book.

"She's not mean, Twilight and Chase," said Applejack as she turned to page to her own copy, "she's a hoot!"

""Celestia Just Like Us"?" Twilight read aloud as she saw a picture of Celestia stuffing her face with cake, "Gabby Gums doesn't value anypony's privacy."

"I might need to keep my window curtains closed when I'm home with my siblings," Chase said to himself.

"Oh, lighten up, Twilight and Chase," said Rarity as she continued to read her copy as Lotus Blossom finished her hooficure, "there's nothing but harmless gossip!"

"A paradox if I ever heard one," Chase muttered.

"Yeah, Twilight and Chase," said Pinkie as she surfaced from the spa pool and pulled out a...dry paper from under the water. "I mean listen to this one. "Mayor Not Naturally Grey!" The Mayor in a mane dyeing scandal? Who wouldn't wanna read that?"

"I just can't help feeling sorry for the ponies featured in her columns," said Twilight as Lotus Blossom started painting her hooves purple, "It's gotta be a little embarassing." Pinkie just leaned over the edge of the pool.

"Tell me about it," said Chase in agreement.

"Are you kidding?" said Rainbow, "Do you know how awesome it is to get your name on the paper?"

"When it's for a success, totally agree with you," said Chase, "but when it's a failure or something embarrassing, you can't leave your house feeling like everypony is watching and criticizing you."

Twilight turned to face him.

"Those ponies who did that to you when you lost your grandfather are just a bunch of airheads looking to tear you down for their own selfish intentions, Chase." said Twilight sternly, "You are a very special, talented, successful, and handsome pony. I'm proud to be dating such a loving, caring, and charming colt. You are very special to me."

Twilight couldn't help but blush afterwards. She might not be ready to admit she was in love, but she could at least let him know that he meant something to her. The other girls cooed and awed as Spike just smirked quietly.

"Thank you, Twilight," said Chase, "That means alot to hear you say that. I'm glad our dates are bringing us closer and we're learning to cherish and value one another."

"Same here," Twilight answered, grateful that her attempt to be open with her feelings had gone well and she hadn't tripped over her tongue.

She then noticed that Rainbow hovered over to him as she turned her head away to relax.

"Chase, Twilight is practically saying she's got feelings for you!" Rainbow said quietly but Twilight could still hear her, "Ask her and find out!"

Twilight felt her heart drop.

"Leave her alone, Rainbow," said Chase in a quiet tone, "I can kind of tell, but I'm not gonna call her out on it. Not in a place like this. Besides, if Twilight has developed feelings for me. Then she'll tell me when she's good and ready. I'm not gonna pry that out of her. When she does tell me, I'll know it'll be from the bottom of her heart and it will mean far more than if I ask her to tell me. I know I'll love her forever and I'll wait as long as it takes for her to say the same to me."

Twilight smiled as her eyes watered as she gave an inward squee of pure bliss. His words just melted her heart and was grateful nopony could see her face at the moment. Twilight was on cloud nine.

"Rainbow, why don't you join me in one of these delicious hooficures?" said Rarity as Lotus Blossom was busy filing one of her fore-hooves.

"It's that good huh?" said Rainbow as Twilight, who had finally settled down, motioned with her head for Rainbow to give it a try. For some reason, none of the ponies noticed Featherweight peeking out from behind the curtains ready to take pictures, "Well, maybe just one little hoof."

Rainbow then took a seat on the longue chair and extended her hind hoofs. Lotus Blossom went to start filing them when Rainbow pulled her hind hooves away. Lotus Blossom tried again, but Rainbow kept pulling her hooves away, getting more and more uncomfortable. Lotus Blossom tried a few more times before Rainbow finally got up from the chair with a yelp.

"Forget it, I don't like ponies touching my hooves," Rainbow said quickly.

"Come on, at least give a try in the future." Chase said with a gentle look before he continued on reading.

"I'll think about it." said Rainbow, "Man...I'd love it if Gabby Gums did a story on me."

"She did one on me," Spike said casually.

"What?!" the six girls all exclaimed as they surrounded Spike immediately.

"Aaaah!" Spike yelped as his cucumber slices came off again.

(Scene changes)

Back in the basement...

"Exclusive!" said Apple Bloom as she showed an article with a picture of Spike wearing a red robe and matching Fez Hat, ""Local Dragon Tells All! Spike opens up about Canterlot, naps, and his favorite jams"!"

"It's our best column yet!" Scootaloo added proudly.

"More like your worst column yet!" Diamond Tiara retorted as she stood on the desk with her fore-hooves and threw the article at Apple Bloom's face, which caused the three fillies to back away nervously, "Gabby Gums didn't become the biggest thing in Ponyville with namby-pamby stories like this!"

"Well, what about this one instead?" Sweetie Belle proposed as she pulled another article out of her saddle bag.

"Where'd you get that?" Apple Bloom asked.

"I had it done before we started Gabby Gums," said Sweetie Belle, "It was my last resort story."

"Chase Young saves Cloudsdale from the Quinkan." Diamond Tiara read aloud as she eyeballed a picture of Chase fighting off Zhao in Cloudsdale. ""The secrets, truths, and scandals that led to the rise and fall of one of the greatest jiu jitsu masters, which was his grandfather, Darius Hisomi. The untold story"."

"How's that for a juicy tell all column?" said Sweetie Belle proudly, but then got the article smacked into her face.

"More like boring," said Diamond Tiara, "Nopony wants to read about an old washed up jiu jitsu master who disappeared without a trace and left his grandchildren to take his place!"

"But that's why this story should be printed!" Scootaloo protested, "So ponies can learn the truth about what happened to Chase's grandfather!"

"I don't care about truth!" Diamond Tiara snapped, "I want what made Gabby Gums a success. Gossip!" With that Diamond Tiara stomped off and slammed the door to the basement.

"Yeah, she's right," said Apple Bloom with a sigh as she looked at the article about Spike, "This column is a little softer than our usual gossip."

"I still think Chase's grandfather's back story would make a great column," said Sweetie Belle, "it's not soft or boring as Diamond Tiara thinks!"

"Forget it, Sweetie Belle," said Apple Bloom, "Diamond's in charge and she's not gonna post it."

Sweetie Belle sighed in disappointment.

"Were you guys feeling guilty about all the gossip too?" Sweetie Belle asked, "Like...maybe we could be hurting other pony's feelings?"

"Yeah, I didn't wanna say anything because everypony love Gabby Gums so much,but...I was sorta hoping we could start writing more stories like this one." Apple Bloom added.

"Me too," Scootaloo replied glumly.

Sweetie Belle then dumped both rejected articles into the trash. But then picked up the one with Chase and quickly tucked it back into her saddle bag.

"If we're gonna get our cutie marks, we've got to give the ponies what they want," said Sweetie Belle.

"Aww..." the three fillies groaned as they shared a half-hearted high hoof with each other.

(Scene changes)

The next day, a spinning newspaper appeared to show Applejack reclining against an apple tree next to a bucket loaded with apples on the front page. The rest of the mane seven, minus Rainbow, and Spike were at Sugarcube Corner reading the newspapers.

""Applejack Asleep on the Job!"," Applejack read aloud to the others as she paced about angrily, "Can y'all believe this?" She then showed another page with Big Mac holding Twilight's old Smarty Pants doll.

"And this one: "Big Macintosh - What's he hiding?"" Applejack continued, "Who the hay does this Gabby Gums think she is?!"

"Listen to this one," said Twilight as she lifted the newspaper to show herself with her mouth open and reading a book, ""Twilight Sparkle: I was a Canterlot Snob. A well-placed scaly source close to the prissy pony says Twilight Sparkle thinks Ponyville is nothing but muddy roads and low class rubes"." Spike!"

"YAH!" Spike yelped as he belched and fried his copy of the newspaper as Twilight and Chase look at him sternly.

"How could you say such a thing?" Twilight retorted angrily.

"How dare you call Twilight a snob?" Chase added.

"Well, I didn't!" said Spike fearfully, "Gabby Gums made that up! I never said anything like that!"

"Hey! There's an article about Chase in here," said Pinkie as she showed a picture of Chase wearing a martial arts robe and a black bandana around his head in a fighting stance, ""Chase's grandfather was a low life after he disappeared without any sign. Love interest Twilight Sparkle admits to dating him out of pity."

"WHAT?!" Chase exclaimed as he grabbed Pinkie's paper and looked at the article, "Okay, even I know the dating part isn't true. Twilight confirmed that. But this, I repeat, this was never supposed to be seen in public! And no one, I mean NO one, mocks my grandfather!"

"Everypony please!" said Rarity, "She's just a harmless school pony engaged in a little harmless gossip," said Rarity as Chase zipped up beside her.

"What part of "gossip ruined my life after my grandfather was gone without a trace" do you not understand right now?!" Chase retorted to her with a stern look.

"Chase, please," said Rarity, "You're really making too big a deal out of this."

"But it's all lies," Twilight as she got into Rarity's face, "Gabby Gums prints whatever she wants! She doesn't care whose reputation she destroys!"

Twilight then turned the page of her copy to show some more articles.

""Fluttershy Has Tail Extensions!"," Twilight read aloud showing a picture of Fluttershy with arrows pointing to her long soft pink tail, which made Fluttershy sink behind a wall, ""Pinkie is an Out-of-Control Party Animal!"."

Twilight showed them a picture of Pinkie dancing in a punch bowl with a lampshade on her head.

"What?!" Pinkie exclaimed as she grabbed the paper and set it down on the floor to read the article about her, "It's true! I do have a problem!" Pinkie then burst into tears.

"And look!" Twilight continued as Applejack, Fluttershy, and Chase looked at the paper that Twilight had gotten a hold of, "According to this one, the Cakes are breaking up!"

"We are?!" said Mrs. Cake puzzled as she and Mr. Cake peaked into the room from the kitchen when they hear a sudden crash. There before them was a large mountain of newspapers.

"Well, my life is officially over," said Rainbow, her voice muffled by all the papers, "Gabby Gums has made it to Cloudsdale." Rainbow Dash showed the group another article with her sitting on a lounge chair at the spa about to get a hooficure.

""Rainbow Dash: Speed Demon or Super Softie?"?!" Twilight read aloud.

"I grabbed as many copies as I could," said Rainbow, "But it was too late!" Rainbow dropped to the floor and began to cry, "I'm a laughing stock!"

"You gotta be kidding me," said Chase, "You mean to tell me people are laughing at you just for...for being yourself? Just for being...a girl?" Rainbow looked at him with eyes filled with tears.

"I told you that you're the only pony who ever respected me as a lady!" Rainbow sobbed as she cried harder as Chase held Rainbow close to comfort her.

"See, Rarity?" said Twilight, "You're so called "harmless gossip" can be very hurtful! Poor Rainbow can't even embrace liking girly things without being criticized because of Gabby Gums!"

"Honestly, you ponies have no sense of humor," said Rarity.

"I'd like to see you laugh when she posts an article about you!" Chase retorted as he continued to rub Rainbow's back to calm her down.

"So she tweaks a few ponies every now and then," said Rarity as she turned the page to her copy, "maybe they deser-" Rarity then gasps as she saw a picture of herself in her chasse sofa in the middle of one of her...dramatic moments, "I'll destroy her! "Drama-Queen Diaries"...She's reprinted my diary! How could Gabby Gums possibly get access to my private diary?!"

Rarity leaned away from the paper and back into it as she read the article, then put a fore-hoof over herself as the others read the article from behind her.

"We've got to put a stop to this once and for all!" said Twilight when she remembered something, "Sweetie Belle's on the newspaper staff. Maybe she knows who Gabby Gums is."

Rarity gasped.

"My sister would never associate with someone as beastly as Gabby Gums," Rarity said angrily as the others are taken aback by her defensive tone, "I resent you even suggesting such a thing, Twilight! Why, she's the most innocent, most lovely-most evil pony in Equestria!" Rarity bellowed back at the boutique when she looked inside Sweetie Belle's saddle bag and found her diary inside, "How could my own sister steal my private diary? How could my own sister be...Gabby Gums?"

Chase looked at them for a moment before he looks at the news with a glare in his eyes.

(Scene changes)

Rarity wasted no time heading to one of the upstairs rooms of her Boutique and sternly karate kicked the door open. Sweetie Belle quickly lifted her head since she was just reading on the floor.

"Et tu, Gabby Gums?!" Rarity said darkly and Sweetie Belle gasped.

"You know?!" Sweetie Belle exclaimed, "How'd you find out?!"

"The gilded pages of your betrayal!" Rarity replied angrily as she showed Sweetie Belle the paper and the diary.

"Oh, yeah," said Sweetie Belle and turned away slightly.

"How could you do this to me?!" Rarity retorted, "You stole my secret diary and published it for all the world to read! Gossip can be a very hurtful thing. It is an invasion of privacy, just like when I snooped through your saddlebag. You didn't like that much, did you?"

Rarity presented Sweetie Belle with her saddle bag to prove her point. Those of you reading must be hoping like I am that Rarity is taking what she just said to heart as well.

"No..." said Sweetie Belle quietly as she looked at the floor.

"What is important is that you understand how your column makes the ponies that you're writing about feel!" Rarity continued.

"I do understand, and we've all been feeling guilty," Sweetie Belle replied, "But we just want our cutie marks so badly!" Rarity's glare softened a bit.

"Do you really think that writing nasty things and making everypony feel horrible is your destiny?" Rarity asked her sister.

"Well, when you put it that way..." Sweetie Belle replied. She knew what she had to do. All three of the Cutie Mark Crusaders knew what they had to do.

(Scene changes)

"No!" Diamond Tiara yelled sternly, "I won't let you quit!"

Of course they hadn't taken into account a certain filly preventing them from doing what was right.

"But the gossip we've been printing is hurting everypony's feelings!" Sweetie Belle protested as Diamond Tiara had her back against them as she pouted in her chair.

"Feelings?!" Diamond Tiara snorted as she turned around to face them with her fore-legs crossed, "I don't care about feelings! Gabby Gums is my bread and butter, and I'm not gonna let you goody-two-horseshoes take that away from me!" She then turned her chair away to pout some more.

"We're sorry, Diamond Tiara," said Sweetie Belle firmly, "but we've made our decision."

"Yeah, you can't force us to keep gossiping," said Scootaloo. As much as many would say that was true and a good point, the fact Diamond Tiara suddenly tapped her fore-hooves twice and donned a wicked smile on her showed that she had planned ahead for a situation like this.

"When you see these..." Diamond Tiara said smugly as she pulled up a maila folder, "...you may not want to quit after all!" The three fillies gasped as the folder opened to reveal three very embarassing pictures of them from their first attempt at finding news articles.

"I told Featherweight to document everything..." Diamond Tiara boasted. Sweetie Belle saw the picture of her in Rarity's peacock dress, a camera flash appeared, before she blushed.

The next picture was when Scootaloo was struggling to hover out of the mud and being laughed at by the nearby birds. A camera flash was seen again as Scootaloo gasped and blushed.

"...And that's exactly what he did," Diamond Tiara finished as Apple Bloom saw the baby picture of herself with the double diaper, making the yellow filly cringe and blush as she put a fore-hoof over her mouth.

Featherweight then took a picture of their shocked faces from the above window and then disappeared. Scootaloo gasped as Diamond Tiara gathered up the pictures back into the folder.

"Gimme those!" Scootaloo demanded, but Diamond Tiara pulled them out of her reach.

"Sorry, girls, property of the Foal Free Press," the tiara-wearing filly replied with a smug smile on her face, "And if Gabby Gums does go into retirement, I'll need something to fill that empty column space. Now get out there and bring me some more Gabby Gums!"

The three fillies were left in shock as Diamond raised her voice to make her threat loud and clear as she returned to her chair.

(Scene changes)

Back outside, the three were very worried and torn about what to do.

"We'll find a way out of this girls," said Sweetie Belle, trying to sound confident.

"Maybe Rainbow Dash will have a story for us," said Scootaloo as she pointed up towards the said blue Pegasus just reclining on a nearby cloud, "She's always good for some gossip."

"Rainbow Dash! Hey Rainbow Dash!" Apple Bloom called out, waking up and getting the blue Pegasus's attention.

"Well, if it isn't Gabby Gums!" Rainbow said indignantly as she literally look down on them from her cloud.

"You heard too, huh?" said Sweetie Belle sadly.

"Are you kidding?" Rainbow snapped, "Everypony in town knows it's you three."

"Don't suppose you'd let us write a column on you, huh?" Scootaloo asked timidly.

Rainbow's reply was bringing a nearby rain cloud over them. She then grunted as she kicked the cloud and made it downpour on them before flying off. The three fillies looked at each other sadly as they walked out of the cloud soaking wet.

Unknown to them, Chase was hiding behind a tree as he was seen following the three fillies.

Can't blame Rainbow for doing that, Chase thought, It took me an hour to calm her down, but why are those three still seeking articles?

(Scene changes)

Chase kept a fair distance as he followed the three fillies as they made their way towards Fluttershy's cottage. As the three fillies arrived, they saw a huge puddle of water outside the bottom of the front door. Poor Fluttershy was literally bawling her eyes out, creating a literal lake around her sofa, as Angel sternly opened the door.

"Oh, hi, Angel," said Sweetie Belle casually, "Is Fluttershy home?" Angel just glared and then slammed the door in their faces. Chase snorted as he watched the scene from above Fluttershy's tree.

Typical Angel, Chase thought, But I hope Fluttershy can manage on her own for a bit longer. I've got a puzzle to figure out.

(Scene changes)

The three fillies continued on their way into town, then Apple Bloom ended up smacking into some sort of invisible wall. Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo did the same before they all tumbled into their backs.

"Hey, what gives?" Apple Bloom asked as she tapped the what appeared to be a some sort of barrier. Spike opened a window.

"A-ha!" Spike retorted, "Twilight thought you might try to show your faces around here, so she put up this force field."

The view showed a giant magenta colored bubble surrounding the Library as Spike sternly slammed the window shut. As the three fillies walked away, Chase was sitting on top of the giant force field.

Well this is one way to ensure privacy Chase thought, but...how am I supposed to get inside? No time for that now. I'm on a mission!

Chase then hopped off the force field to continue his pursuit.

(Scene changes)

The three fillies then made their way over to Sweet Apple Acres to see Applejack. To say Applejack and Big Mac were upset is an understatement. Applejack wouldn't even look at the three fillies and kept her back against them.

"Aw c'mon, Applejack!" Apple Bloom pleaded, "You're not mad at us too, are you?"

"Eeyup," was all Applejack would say with her nose in the air.

"You not even gonna talk to us?" Apple Bloom asked next.

"Nnope," Applejack answered.

"You should be ashamed of yourself, humiliatin' your sister 'n me like that," Big Mac scolded angrily, "We don't want to talk to any o' y'all right now so take your little gossip column and your embarrassing pictures and go away!"

Big Mac's voice raised slightly at the end, making the three fillies cower back before turning to leave. Chase just peaked out from behind an apple tree and sighed.

Okay...that was a little harsh, though Applejack is probably too stubborn to admit it, Chase thought, Just...why are they even trying to continue finding gossip like this? Something else is up...

Chase realized that he was no longer angry with them, but felt sorry for them. His concern grew as he saw the three fillies just walking into town as everypony else gave them death glares, dirty looks, slammed their doors loudly at them, as well as their windows, even going so far as the remove their welcome mats from their front door.

"This has gone far enough," said Chase as he sternly approach the three of them, "Hold it!"

The three fillies froze and noticed Chase glaring at them.

"I don't suppose you wouldn't...oh never mind," Scootaloo remarked.

"Listen girls, I'm angry with you three," said Chase, "That much is obvious, but unlike the rest of this town. I'm not turning my back to you or shunning you. Now why are you three still continuing to find gossip even after Rarity said you three were going to stop?"

The three fillies said nothing.

"We can't explain," Apple Bloom replied.

"And there's nothing you can do to help," said Sweetie Belle, "See you later." The three girls then walked away. That was all Chase needed to hear.

"Now I know something bigger is going on around here," said Chase as he rubbed his chin. He then blinked before he smirked as he got an idea before zipping away.

(Scene changes)

Chase wasted no time heading over towards the schoolhouse where he found the room where the papers were being printed. Chase then donned himself a trench coat, news reporter hat and some black shades.

"I hope my disguise works," Chase remarked as he lightly rapped on the side door. Truffles opened it to see the disguised Chase before him.

"Excuse me, is this the office to the Foal Free Press?" Chase asked, using a spell to alter his voice to make him sound different, "My name is Top Headliner."

Truffles looked puzzled until Diamond Tiara zipped up, bashing Truffles out of the way.

"Top Headliner?!" Diamond Tiara gushed, "You mean...the Top Headliner?! Equestria's ace reporter from the Manehatten Inquirer?!"

"In the fur," Chase replied with a smile the was literally hurting his cheeks, "I hear the Foal Free Press has become quite famous for it's...Gabby Gums news columns."

"That would be thanks to me," Diamond Tiara replied, "I'm Diamond Tiara, the editor-in-chief of the Foal Free Press. How might I be of service, Mr. Headliner?"

"I would like to take a look around and see how you've made a school newspaper such a huge sensation!" Chase exclaimed, feeling sick to his stomach that he had stroke the little filly's ego.

"Right this way, sir," said Diamond Tiara as she led Chase into the main area.

Chase slowly scanned the area as he used his magic to discreetly activate a recorder inside of his jacket. He made sure nopony was looking before he make some hidden mics magically appear around the printer press, under the typewriter's desks and especially around the editor's desk.

Nothing out of the ordinary just yet Chase thought, But considering Diamond Tiara is in charge, I'm sure something fishy will present itself.

It was then they arrived at the editor's desk as Diamond continued to brag about how she kept everything running like clockwork. Chase could tell some of the ponies glared or discreetly rolled their eyes at her. He couldn't blame them one bit before he remembered his cover-up story.

"That is stupendous," said Chase, "I can see you being a great editor for a major newspaper someday, Miss Tiara. Now let's get down to business."

"Please do," said Diamond Tiara as she sat contently in the chair.

"I've heard just how spectacular your Gabby Gums articles are," Chase replied, "and I would like to host your column in the Manehatten Inquirer!" Diamond Tiara's face lit up with excitement.

"That would be fantastic, Mr. Headliner!" said Diamond Tiara.

"Excellent," said Chase, "I'll be here tomorrow to collect the article. It must be something that hasn't been published before and it must be juicy!" Chase couldn't resist sticking his face into Diamond's. Diamond chuckled sheepishly.

"Of-of course, Mr. Headliner," said Diamond nervously, "One juicy story coming right up!"

"Very Good," said Chase, "I look forward to picking it up. Everypony in Equestria will become familiar with who Diamond Tiara is!" And that she's an evil witch! Chase added that last part in his head before he left the basement. Once he was out in the open, he quickly ducked behind a wall and made a loud bleh with his tongue.

"I'm going to have to rinse my mouth for a week after this," Chase muttered in disgust as opened his jacket to listen quietly to his tape recorder to what was going on inside.

"Those three blank flanks better find me some gossip by sunrise tomorrow morning or I'm going to make sure they are not just humiliated all over Ponyville, but all of Equestria!" Chase heard Diamond Tiara say aloud.

"I knew it," said Chase sternly to himself.

"And if anypony else has a problem with that," Diamond continued, "I have plenty of pictures that I'm sure Top Headerliner would love to have posted on the Manhattan Inquirer! In fact, I'm hoping those blank flanks do fail. Then everypony will know just how pathetic they really are!"

Chase couldn't help but snicker. Diamond Tiara was literally incriminating herself.

"Like leading Pinkie Pie to a mountain of candy," Chase said proudly.

(Scene changes)

Meanwhile, the three fillies were at their clubhouse thinking of what to do. They were feeling guilty and miserable.

"We've ruined all of our friendships and we still don't have our cutie marks!" Sweetie Belle groaned as she paced about. Apple Bloom and Scootaloo were just sitting on their stomachs feeling very ashamed.

"This is the worst day ever!" Apple Boom replied.

"Oh yeah?" said Scootaloo, "Wait 'til tomorrow, our most embarassing moments are about to be published for everypony to laugh at." Now all three of them were laying on their stomachs on the floor in defeat.

"So what do we do?" Apple Bloom asked.

"I don't know, but we're not leaving this clubhouse until we think of something! " said Sweetie three fillies stayed at the clubhouse until long after the sun had set.

(Scene changes)

The next morning as the sun rose into the sky, Diamond Tiara was waiting impatiently for the three fillies to show up. She looked outside the window as she watched the rising sun appear in the horizon.

"That's it, Gabby Gums is out of time," said Diamond Tiara as she handed Shady Daze the manila folder, "Run these instead, but save one printed copy especially for Top Headliner, I want this paper on every street corner of Ponyville!"

"Yes, ma'am," Shady Daze replied as he was about to get to work when the door bashed open.

"Stop the presses!" said Sweetie Belle boldly.

"Uh...they haven't started yet," said Shady Daze.

"We have a Gabby Gums column!" said Scootaloo as she held the article in her fore-hoof. Diamond Tiara rolled her chair up to her desk and slammed her fore-hooves on it.

"Hmph, you're lucky I'm nice," said Diamond Tiara as Scootaloo put the article on the table. Then the type writers quickly got to work getting the article ready for print.

"This better not happen again, or else," Diamond Tiara threatened as the three fillies just walked away. As they were leaving, Chase, undercover as Top Headliner, arrived.

"Good morning, Miss Tiara," said Chase boldly in his disguise, "I trust you have a article for me?"

Diamond Tiara nodded as Shady Daze handed him a newspaper that was set aside for him. Chase smiled when he saw what was on the front page before making it disappear and giving Diamond Tiara a death glare.

"Miss Tiara, I hope you're not here to waste my time," said Chase sternly.

"W-w-what do you mean?" Diamond Tiara asked as Chase approached her desk.

"I made it perfectly clear that I wanted an original column," said Chase, "anything already in print is considered used material!" Diamond Tiara gulped. She hadn't realized that by printing the article that it would be considered unusable.

"Umm...w-w-w-well," Diamond Tiara stuttered as she quickly noticed her manila folder, "what about these?" Diamond Tiara then showed Chase the pictures of the three fillies.

"Sweetie Belle's Major Fashion Disaster!"," Diamond Tiara announced proudly, ""Apple Bloom: Ponyville's Biggest Baby!", and my personal favorite: "Scootaloo: the Disgrace to all Pegasi"." Mario felt his temper boil, but managed to keep it in check as he examined the pictures.

"Brilliant!" said Chase boldly, "Now these are articles that are worthy of the Manehatten Inquirer! In fact, they just might be good enough for the front page!"

Diamond Tiara's eyes sparkled with excitement.

"You, Miss Tiara, are going places," said Chase, "After today, ponies are gonna know who Diamond Tiara is!"

"Oh thank you, thank you, Mr. Headliner!" said Diamond Tiara happily as Chase collected the three pictures and went on his way. It was then Ruby Pinch appeared.

"What are you gonna tell Apple Bloom, Sweetie Belle, and Scootaloo about this?" she asked curiously. Diamond Tiara glared.

"Nothing," she replied darkly as she held a picture that clearly was of the young filly, "Unless you want me to give this little moment to Top Headliner, too."

Ruby Pinch shook her head and nervously got back to work. Diamond Tiara snickered.

"So I had to give up my leverage, no big deal," Diamond told herself as she pulled out another manila folder with more pictures, "There's plenty more where that came from to make sure that nopony stands in my way..."

Diamond Tiara was still unaware that Chase was still recording her. Chase just smirked.

"Time to blow the whistle," Chase said with a chuckle.

(Scene changes)

Later that day, Diamond Tiara opened the doors from the basement and walked outside.

"Well done, Diamond Tiara," the filly said to herself with a sigh, "You're averted yet another crisis with your amazing diplomatic skills."

She then gasped as she went to see the article Gabby Gums had posed from the copy of the newspaper Dinky was holding. She wasted no time shoving the little unicorn away to take her paper to read it.

""An Open Letter to Ponyville by Gabby Gums"?!" Diamond Tiara read aloud, "What is this?! Ooh, they're not gonna get away with this! I'll publish those new photos tomorrow! They messed with the wrong pony!"

"No...you messed with the wrong pony!" Said a voice.

Diamond Tiara turned around to see both Top Headliner and Miss Cheerilee glaring at her sternly.

"M-M-M-Mr. Headliner?!" said Diamond Tiara as Chase removed his shade to reveal his true identity.

"I warned you that if you messed with my three girls, I would deal with you," said Chase sternly in his normal voice.

"You?!" Diamond Tiara spluttered, shock that she had been tricked.

"As I said Diamond Tiara," said Chase, "Everypony is gonna know who you are."

Cheerilee then presented the recorder and pressed the play button.

"Those three blank flanks better find me some gossip by sunrise tomorrow morning or I'm going to make sure they are not just humiliated all over Ponyville, but all of Equestria...(fast forward fanfare)... And if anypony else has a problem with that... I have plenty of pictures that I'm sure Top Headliner would love to have posted on the Manhattan Inquirer! (Fast forward fanfare) There's plenty more where that came from to make sure that nopony stands in my way..."

The tape recorder played out as Chasepresented both manila folders that contained embarassing pictures inside of them. Diamond Tiara just chuckled sheepishly as she squatted low to the ground.

"To the citizens of Ponyville," Sweetie Belle recited as she read their article aloud, "For some time now, you've been reading this column to get the latest dirt and the hottest buzz. But this will be my final piece. We want to apologize for the pain and embarrassment we've caused."

As Sweetie Belle recited her part of the article, the newspapers were delivered at the front of pony's front doorsteps. Mayor Mare was seen peeking out of her front door, showing that the whole hair dye rumor was true, as she saw the newspaper and glared at it. Then the three fillies were seen walking with the newspaper on their heads as Rainbow jumped into a raincloud to make it drench the three fillies. She then stopped when she saw the article and the three fillies giving her puppy dog eyes at her.

"Y'see, I'm actually three little fillies, Sweetie Belle, Apple Bloom, and Scootaloo," Apple Bloom recited as Rainbow read the article, smiled, and kicked the rain cloud away. Then the three fillies made their way toward Fluttershy's cottage. Angel opened the door with his stern expression when they showed him the paper. He quickly read the article and ran inside to get Fluttershy.

"As the popularity of our column grew, we got swept up in the hype," Scootaloo recited, "We knew that what we were doing didn't feel quite right, but we ignored the guilt because everypony seemed to want to read what we were writing." As Scootaloo recited the article, Fluttershy came out of her house and smiled at them. As clear sign that she had accepted their apology and gave them all a loving hug.

"From now on, we promise to respect everypony else's privacy," Sweetie Belle continued, "and we won't engage in harmful gossip anymore."

As Sweetie Belle continued to read the article, they arrived at the force field. Spike walked outside the Library and saw the article pasted against it. Spike blinked as Twilight peeked out to see the article for herself. She wasted no time lowering the force field and walked up to them to give them a smile.

"All we can do is ask for your forgiveness, Ponyville," Apple Bloom finished reciting as she shared a smile and nuzzle with Applejack. Sweetie Belle and Rarity did the same as Scootaloo walked by with the newspaper in her mouth, "Signing off for the very last time, XOXO, Gabby Gums."

(Scene changes)

Later that day, Cheerilee asked the entire news staff to a meeting. The fact she was now sitting in the executive chair and Diamond standing next to it with head low was a clear sign that Diamond Tiara was in deep trouble.

"Well, staff, I guess I gave a little too much authority to a first time editor," said Cheerilee as she glared as Diamond Tiara, who looked miserable. She had already had been given a stern talking to and her father had been informed of what she had done, "I'm sorry, Diamond Tiara, but I have to strip you of your title."

Cheerilee then bucked the wall, making the poster of her face roll up. Diamond Tiara growled with resentment as she walked over and stood beside the Cutie Mark Crusaders.

"And for the next editor of the Foal Free Press..." Cheerilee announced as Diamond Tiara glared and blew a raspberry at the three fillies, though none of them paid her any attention, "...here's your new editor-in-chief, Featherweight!"

All the students minus Diamond Tiara cheered as Featherweight hovered about happily.

"Ugh! Him?" Diamond Tiara exclaimed as she pointed a fore-hoof at him, "But what about me?!" It was then Shady Daze dumped his green visor and apron on her.

"Here ya go!" said Shady Daze, "I've been promoted to staff photographer."

He then took a picture of Diamond Tiara, the camera flash frazzled her as she backed into the printer machine. The machine splat her with black ink as the Cutie Mark Crusaders and the rest of the newspaper staff laughed at her. Diamond Tiara pouted as she leaned against the printer.

Author's note: Alright, guys. Here are the three chapters for you all. I'll be writing the last two chapters of the Canterlot Wedding, but there will actually be a little change of events then the original final two episodes of season 2. For the first chapter, instead of barging in the wedding rehearsal, Twilight will actually be facing an angry Chase as he does one of his lectures and the they, along with Chase's family members will be captured by two changelings in disguises. Then comes when Queen Chrysalis in disguise as Princess Cadance comes to their aid and traps both the real unicorns down with the real Cadance. And I'll be adding two new special characters for the two chapters from one of my favorite Power Rangers series.

I just want to let you all know that I have a very sensitive heart and I don't like it when feelings are hurt. Anyway, I just wanted to let you all know that.

Peace out!