CHAPTER 8
Hello again, everypony. I hope you are all finding the story enjoyable thus far. I'm only about a day late in posting this chapter...it turned out to be much longer than I had anticipated. More interesting stuff happens in this installment, and I know you can't wait to find out what, so enjoy, and please review.
"You know, they're tearing down Sugarcube Corner tomorrow." Dashie said it more like a statement than a question. I continued to lay back on the sofa, staring at the ceiling. I closed my eyes a moment.
"Yeah." I whispered.
"You haven't really said anything about it since you got here..." My marefriend commented. "I mean...you really haven't said or done much of anything since we got to town."
"I know." I answered a few seconds later. Dashie sat down on the couch. "I haven't felt exactly...festive during this little holiday."
"Is it getting' to you?" She implored. "Being here...the bakery getting' torn down...all that?"
"Well..."
"Honetly, Drake."
Honestly?" I replied. "Yeah, it kinda is, Dashie. I can't help but remembering some things that I wish I'd been able to forget, you know? Isn't it getting to you?"
"Drake..." She sighed. "It never stopped getting to me. Every day, I wake up without my wings, man. And being back here...yeah, there's some pretty bad memories. This town was my home, and these are all my friends. I love being back here,
It's just not been the same."
"I know." I said softly. I cleared my throat. "I just can't wait until this whole thing's over. I think this might give me some kind of closure, you know? Like closing the book or at least turning the page, you know?"
"Yeah, I totally get what you mean..." My fiancee muttered. "I don't even know how I'm gonna feel when the place comes down though."
"Well, I'll be there." I stated. "We'll close this chapter of our lives together." She smiled. "Hell...as bad as it was, this twisted little nightmare is what brought us together in the first place."
"Then I guess it wasn't all bad." She said softly, leaning in. We shared a deep kiss that made me feel a lot better about the entire situation.
"Mmm...be glad sis ain't here." I said, and kissed her on the lips, the cheek and the neck. I huffed. "Don't think I'm impolite enough to use Miss Twilight's library for that purpose though." I narrowed my eyes playfully. "It'll just have to wait till we get home."
"Oh, you're on." She whispered. We both sat up. "Where is Budder anyway?" Dash asked, looking around, knowing that if the teenager wasn't attached to me like a tumor, she must be out somewhere.
"Oh, she was gonna wait for Scootaloo to get out of school, and then they're going to go out and eat or some other such tomfoolery." I paused, and looked Dash in the eyes. Scoots was her protege. How would she react to the news? "That had better be the only tomfoolery too. I don't trust teenagers in love." I added grimly.
"Whaddya mean?" Dash questioned. "They going out on dates or something?"
"No..." I replied. "Just one date..." Her eyes searched mine for an answer. "...with each other." I said matter-of-factly. Dashie narrowed her eyes in confusion, then a look of pure shock came over her.
"You mean..."
"Yep." I said. "I think my sister is gay. And apparently...your little minion is too." I scoffed. "I know, right? Takes a few minutes to process." I sighed. "I'm not upset. I'm not entirely nonplussed by the news either, but I guess it's not the worst news I could get, huh?"
"Eh, I don't see anything wrong with it either." Dash said. "I mean...when I lived here, these two mares, Lyra and Bon Bon were a couple. Nopony really took the time to give half a care."
"Yeah..." I mused. "Budder'll be alright. And I can live with another one of her quirks, I guess. At least she's not a communist."
"Yeah...wha...communist? What the heck does that have to do with anything?" My marefriend asked, bewildered. I just grinned.
"Huh...well I guess a bunch, depending on whether or not you're a member of the Socialist Pony Party, attempting to garner votes by pandering to potential voters in the realm of fillies in non-traditional relationships." I returned. I could see that my marefriend was still trying to make heads or tails out of what I just said. "Which is a moot point, considering that Budder cares more about sammiches than she does politics anyway. Speaking of which...you want a sammich?"
"Sure." Dash smiled, happy that the tirade was finally over. "But...how did you just get from Budder and Scootaloo dating to Communists to sandwiches?" I grinned cunningly as I stood and stretched. Then I shrugged innocently.
"Je ne sais pas?"
From Budder's Autobiography
I waited outside of the school for an hour, waiting for Scootaloo to get out. I really liked her, and even though I knew I had to leave in a couple of days, I wanted to spend as much time with Scoots as I could. Maybe Drake would let her come visit more, and we could see each other as much as I wanted. No...that would never happen. It was getting kind of like I was with my brother. There wasn't enough time in a life to spend all the time I wanted with her. That's just how I am with ponies I really care about.
I heard the bell ring, and watched the students rushing out of the school house like a flood. I remembered those days. School's out, and students suddenly turn into one-pony stampedes, trying to get out of the school as quick as they can. I looked through the pack of colts and fillies, and finally saw Scoots coming out of the school with another filly. She was light pink with a purple and white mane. I moved closer through the crowd until I could hear them.
"I don't know why you keep trying to fly..." I heard the pink filly say. "You'll never get off the ground, and you look like an idiot when you try." I didn't know who the filly was, but I was already starting to hate her...bad. Scootaloo tried to walk away, but the pink pony, who was wearing a sparkly tiara, just followed her.
"Leave me alone, Diamond Tiara..." Scootaloo stated. "And I will too be able to fly. I'm gonna be one of the greatest fliers ever one day. You'll see." You tell her, Scootaloo.
"Oh don't make me laugh." Diamond Tiara replied. "You're not good at anything, are you?"
"At least I work for everything and try my hardest." Scoots shot back. "I don't have everything handed to me!" Oh, so she was one of those ponies. Now I really hated this Diamond Tiara.
"Of course you don't." Diamond shrugged. "You don't have anypony to do anything for you."
"Shut up..." Scoots said, and I could see her face blush.
"You're an orrrphaan." The light purple filly said, mocking Scootaloo.
"Shut up, that's crossing the line!" Scoots said, and I could tell from her voice that her feelings were hurt. I'd had enough of this crap. I started walking toward the two. There was still a few students around the school, some of them watching the bullying, so Scootaloo and the prissy little bitch didn't notice me.
"So?" Diamond Tiara replied in a stuck-up tone. "Everypony here knows that the reason you're so useless is that you don't have a family to teach you any better. You're just a sad little orphan, and you'll never be able to fly." Scootaloo had tears in her eyes, and I felt them rising up in mine too. Those words didn't just hurt Scoots...they hurt me too. They hurt me because they hurt her, and because I knew what it was like to be an orphan, and to feel like nopony cared. It was official, I was about to take her head off.
"Hey bitch." I shouted. "Back off and leave Scootaloo alone!" This Diamond Tiara pony turned and gave me a hateful look.
"I know you're not talking to me." She said in that cocky voice of hers.
"Yeah, you know who I'm talking to, asshole." I stated. Her face turned red.
"Well I don't know who you are, or who you think you are, but nopony talks to me that way! My daddy..." that was all she got out before I punched her square in the face. The snobby little princess fell backwards and landed on her flanks, holding her cheek.
"OOOOOOOOOO!" Everypony in the school yard exclaimed at once.
"OW! You hit me!" Diamond Tiara cried out.
"What about it?" I shot back. She stood up and walked up to me, hatred in her eyes.
"I'm gonna tell my daddy." She threatened in a whisper. "And you're gonna be in big trouble."
"Bitch, I ain't afraid of your dad, whoever he is, and I ain't afraid of you." I said. "You want to make fun of orphans, make fun of me, and see what happens." She blinked, and looked back toward Scootaloo, then back at me.
"So, little chicken Scootaloo's gotta get another little outcast to fight for her, huh?" Tiara mocked. I narrowed my eyes, daring her to take it any further. "Daddy's gonna flip when he hears about this, and when he gets done, I hope there will be two less orphans around to bother the normal ponies."
I don't think I even knew what I was about to do. I'm sure nopony else there did either. I completely lost it, and all I could focus on was that Diamond Tiara had to pay for what she had said. What I do know is that for the next minute or so, I was punching and kicking the filly. She didn't even put up a fight. When it was over, I had her against the wall of the school, my right forehoof around her throat. Her nose was bleeding, her right eye was starting to swell, and I had cut her lower lip. She let out a whimper.
"You ever... fucking ever...make fun of Scootaloo, or anypony else like that again, and I'll rip your face off and mail it to you...you hear me?!" I growled at her. With a scared look on her face, she nodded. I let her go, and she gasped for breath. She reached for her tiara, which had landed on the ground during the fight. I stomped it, breaking the glittery piece of crap in front of her.
"My tiara!" She whimpered. I took a step toward her, and the rich bitch broke into a dead gallop out of the school yard. I turned to talk to Scootaloo, but she was nowhere to be seen. I ran to where she had been, and looked around
"Hey..." I said softly. I heard Scootaloo sniffle. I sat down beside her, and put a foreleg around the filly I was sure that I was in love with. "Are you okay?" She put her head on my shoulder, and started crying softly. I started petting her mane. "It's okay..."
"No it's not..." Scoots whimpered. "Diamond Tiara is going to tell her dad what you did..."
"So?" I asked. "Who's her dad anyway? She acted like he was some big butt-kicking commando or something."
"Worse!" Scootaloo answered. "He's the richest pony in the whole town. He has more money than the city and stuff, and pretty much owns or runs everything around here. That's why everypony lets Diamond Tiara get away with so much, cause they're afraid of her dad and his money."
"And?" I asked. She looked up with questioning eyes. "Me and Drake have fought freakin' assassins and gangsters, and been up against ghosts and zombies and crap. I'm not afraid of some stupid rich pony and his spoiled brat daughter." I hugged her. "She needed to get her ass kicked anyway."
"Why did you do that?"
"Cause I ain't lettin' nopony mess with you, Scoots." I said. "Ever."
"Why are you so nice to me?" She asked.
"Because you're awesome..." I said quickly. "And...well..." I got nervous, and didn't know what to say, or if I should say anything.
"What?" She asked.
"Naw...I just...really like you...and I want to take care of you..." I forced myself to say at least that much. She sniffed and hugged me close. It felt good. It felt right. I was protecting her and taking care of her. I had felt really warm and comfortable when me and Echo had fallen asleep cuddling, but this was different. I smiled. "Come on. I was gonna take you out to dinner, but I think we should get back to Twilight's."
"You mean because of Diamond Tiara's dad?"
"Yeah. There's gonna be a rich assbutt looking for us, and I gotta do what bubby always says to do when you're in battle."
"What?" Scoots asked curiously.
"Retreat to a place you can defend." I grinned.
End Budder's POV
I hated getting all dressed up. Military dress uniforms are about the most stifling and unimaginably rigid outfits one can wear, especially if you have the dubious honor of being an officer. Celestia had suggested I wear my dress uniform, and with Dashie and Twilight both insisting that it would be appropriate (I had to agree with them), I gave in. And so I stood in front of the mirror in the master bathroom, straightening my short gray dress jacket and my sword belt. It had been ages since I'd last worn this thing, and due to regulations (there's always regulations about these kinds of things), I had to wear all of the medals I had earned. Bear in mind that I had gotten a couple here and there for my service to the Princesses, so I practically looked like some swagged out old major general with a breastplate of decorations at this point. I sighed and shook my head. Every little piece of gold or silver hanging from a blasted ribbon was a separate occasion that I'd about gotten my ass handed to me, but somehow come out on top, no more, no less.
I had just put my hat on and adjusted it, when I heard the door close downstairs. I thought it was odd. Dashie didn't say she was going anywhere today, and Twilight was out doing whatever it was that the alicorn did these days. I walked out of the bathroom, and got halfway down the staircase, when I was met by my sister and Scootaloo. Both of the teens looked like the marines were landing or something, and I sighed again, knowing that whatever was going on, it would probably implicate me in some way.
"Bub..." Budder panted. "We kinda...maybe...have a little problem." I raised an eyebrow.
"What kind of problem?" I asked curiously, looking back and forth between the two. "You two been crying?"
"Yee...well...that's kinda because of what happened..." My sister explained. I motioned with my head, and we went down the stairs to the sitting room. I dropped onto the comfortable chair I had claimed.
"Shoot." I stated.
"Well, this rich bratty filly named Diamond Tiara, she was picking on Scootaloo..." My sister began.
"Picking on her?" I questioned. I looked at the purple-maned filly. "What was she doing, Scootaloo?"
"She's always picked on me and my friends." Scootaloo answered. "She calls us names and tricks us and stuff. It's gotten worse as we've got older, and she says really mean things."
"Like what?" I asked. She looked embarrassed. "If I'm gonna help you, I have to know everything. Details, young 'un, details. What does she say to you?"
"She makes fun of me because I can't fly..." Scootaloo said sadly. Budder put her foreleg around her. "And today...she started in on me, and she...she started calling me an orphan and saying that I'd never be able to do anything 'cause I didn't have a family and stuff..." I looked into my sister's eyes.
"Let me guess...you saw all this...and overreacted..."
"Uhhh...eheheh..." Budder chuckled nervously.
"Can't say I blame you." I remarked. "If I Was half my age, I'd have done the same thing. How bad you beat her, sis?"
"I dunno...she could still run?" I had to keep from laughing at that answer.
"So...let's get to the nitty-gritty. Rich girl picked on Scootaloo, and you stood up to her and decked her halls. So what's the problem?" I asked.
"Well..." Budder began. "Her dad is the big rich guys around here, and runs everything...and I guess he's prolly gonna come looking for us." I thought for a few moments.
"Good." I finally said, like the matter was concluded.
"Good?" They both asked.
"Yep." I nodded. "This rich geezer is coming here as soon as he figures out who we are, and he's probably dragging the kid with him. Sis, put yourself in her shoes for a minute. It ain't too hard. I spoil you rotten, I hardly ever get onto you for anything, and I treat you like a princess, right?"
"Heheh...yeeaahhhhh..."
"And I don't let anypony talk ill of you. But...BUT...who are you most afraid of?" I questioned. Budder looked at me a silent moment.
"You...bub..." She answered.
"And I'm willing to bet it's the same with her. Ya'll go over there to that shelf beside the door and get me that big blue book, the one that says 'Equestria Juvenile Law and Statutes' They soon found the book and brought it to me. I flipped through the index until I found what I was looking for, then opened the book to the right page. There, I read everything I needed for what was about to happen. Now, we just had to wait, and since the girls had gotten us into this mess, I insisted that they stay downstairs until it was over.
We didn't have long to wait. Within an hour, there was an impatient knock at the door. I took a deep breath, told the teens to wait in the sitting room, and walked to the door. I hate rich ponies, especially the ones that think they can do or say whatever they want just because they have money. Apparently, this rubbed off on my sister as well. At least she'd had the nerve to actually slug one of them. I'd always told Budder to never start a fight unless it was necessary, and this had been. She did what she needed to, and I was proud of her. So proud in fact, that was about to end what she started...maybe with a little more tact and finesse than she had used. I opened the door a little and stuck my head out. Standing on the doorstep was a light brown stallion with a black mane (Some of which was fake), wearing a tailored dark blue suit and a red silk tie with dollar signs embroidered on it.
"Are you Lieutenant Drake?" The light brown stallion in the suit asked seriously. I opened the door fully, and he was obviously taken aback by seeing what appeared to be a decorated war hero standing before him.
"Yeah, I'm Drake." I answered, then sucked my teeth.
"Um..." He began, then composed himself, standing up tall. "My name is Filthy Rich..." He stated, obviously trying to name drop himself just in the way he said it.
"Good to meet you sir." I replied tersely. "Nice hairpiece." He instinctively reached up and pressed down on the top of his mane, then scoffed.
"Though I've heard that you did a great service to the town a while back, this is not a social call. It seems your daughter..."
"Sister...sir." I corrected.
"Right...your sister attacked my daughter after school. It was a vicious, unwarranted assault, and your sister even went so far as to destroy a valuable piece of jewelry I had bought for my daughter. I hope you understand the gravity of this situation." He opened up just the way I thought he would.
"Oh, I understand perfectly." I nodded.
" A violent act like this can't go unpunished, and though I do not wish to press charges against you and your sister, I am well prepared to do so if we cannot rectify the situation at once."
"Did your daughter tell you why my sister attacked her?" I asked.
"Well...not that it matters, but she said she was talking to another student, and your sister attacked her if front of all the other students."
"That's what happened, daddy." A light pink filly stated, standing beside Filthy Rich. I gave her a quick glance. Damn sis...you must have been pissed or something. I turned my attention back to the big man.
"Sir...are you familiar with the Anti-bullying Act of 2013?"
"Um...no..."
"Well...you remember that foal that killed herself because she was bullied at school?" I asked.
"Yes...I think I read about it in the news..." The rich stallion answered. "Now look, I know some very powerful ponies..."
"Well, following that incident..." I continued, "Princess Celestia passed a law that bullying is in of itself a crime, tantamount to a an act of physical violence. Are you aware that your daughter here has a long history of bullying other students?"
"Well...I mean...I've been told that she was teasing some other students a couple of times...but I didn't really think anything about it."
"Well...today, she was...teasing one of my sister's friends a little too much...and that brings me to another point, Mr. Rich...hate crimes."
"What?!"
"Oh yes...you see, my sister's friend is handicapped. She's a pegasus, but she can't fly. Your daughter was making fun of her for her disability, which is a hate crime by law."
"I did not know that..." Rich stated, looking down at his little princess with contempt. "I didn't raise you to make fun of ponies with disabilities, did I?"
"No, daddy..." The filly whispered.
"Not to mention the filly she was picking on is also an orphan." I added. "And your litt'lun here was calling her an orphan and making fun of her for not having a family...all in front of the other students. I'm sure they would attest to that."
"Well I...I mean to say..." He stammered.
"What about my tiara, daddy?" His daughter whined.
"Not now, princess." He said in a harsh whisper.
"Now...since your daughter there has broken the letter and the spirit of several laws regarding hate crimes and bullying, and my sister was acting in defense of the tormented student, sort of quasi tempus proxi of the law, that leaves only one thing left to resolve." The stallion stood there a moment, looking like he was unsure of whether or not to argue with me. "You said you have powerful friends, and I'm sure with your money and influence, you could buy a jury or hire a bunch of lawyers and things like that..." I smiled. "So if you still want to push this issue, I will call my friend Luna, and allow her to look at the facts and decide the matter."
"Luna? You don't mean..." Filthy Rich said nervously.
"Princess Luna? Yeah, the same. Then again, if there's to be an investigation, I can have my old buddy Special Agent Shackleford of the EBI to come down and head it up. Then again..." I stepped out the door, causing Filthy Rich and his daughter to back up. "Any pony who overlooks his child bullying and hurting others isn't much of a father, sir. So I'll tell you what we're gonna do, sir. You're gonna take your spoiled little brat home and give her a couple of good licks with a belt like you should have done a long time ago. Either that, or we're gonna take this before Princesss Luna, and let her press charges against you two for what your daughter has done. OR...sir...we'll step out her in the yard, and I'll show you how we handle things in the cavalry." His eyes grew large, and he took a couple steps back.
"THAT...won't be necessary, Mr. Drake..." He said immediately.
"Lieutenant Drake, sir." I corrected.
"Right...um." He stammered. "I'll take care of the situation, Lieutenant...and make sure Diamond Tiara doesn't bully anypony else."
"But..but...daddy..." Diamond Tiara whined.
"Enough, Diamond." Rich stated angrily. "You brought all of this on yourself. Now we're going home to talk about your punishment." He turned back to me. "Sorry to bother you..." He remarked, and then began leading his daughter away.
"No problem at all." I answered with a smile.
"You're gonna apologize to that filly before you get us in big trouble, little missy..." I heard the rich stallion say before I turned and walked back into the house. I closed the door and walked back into the study, where my sister and Scootaloo were still waiting nervously. I smiled.
"So, who wants takeout?" I asked
I hope you all liked this chapter. Nothing like a bully getting their comeuppance, eh? And yes, I am an advocate of beating the hell out of a bully like Budder did here. I look forward to your reviews, loyal readers. I will try to have the next installment up in the next couple of days, so until then, thanks for reading.