Author's Note
I've done so many stories involving Diamond Tiara, and so many that had my headcanon for Scootaloo's parents before the show introduced her canonical ones. So I wanted to give both a rest and focus on someone who doesn't get much attention, Silver Spoon.
For the most part the headcanons are my own, but I have Latecomer to thank for the headcanon of Silver Spoon's mother working at a bank. I also can't take full credit for the idea of Octavia Melody as Silver Spoon's big sister, but I don't remember the original group thread that suggested the idea to me.
My intentions here are to try and show a couple that is "Divorced on Good Terms". Not every divorced couple become hostile to each other after the marriage is dissolved. But I understand that divorce can be a very complicated subject.
Silver Standards
The Cutie Mark Crusaders were certainly no strangers to having their talents be called upon unexpectedly. They'd even been called by the map in Twilight's castle and had become part time friendship tutors at her school. By this point it'd be foolish of them to expect their reputation not to preceed them somewhat. Even so, it was quite a surprise for the three fillies to find their clubhouse, their headquarters and base of operations so to speak be occupied by somepony else. Not just anypony in fact, but one of the ponies who'd used to bully and tease them relentlessly: Silver Spoon.
What she was doing inside the clubhouse was a mystery. She wasn't an orphan, she already had her cutie mark and unlike Diamond Tiara she hadn't really spoken to the Crusaders since they'd gotten their cutie marks.
Apple Bloom was the first to greet the unexpected guest, and the first to try and determine what had brought the filly to the Crusader's doorstep. "Silver Spoon, what are you doin' here? Somethin' we can help ya with?"
Silver Spoon was startled for but a few seconds. Of course, she knew this clubhouse belonged to them. How silly of her not to expect its owners to come here eventually. "Oh, hey Crusaders. Don't mind me, I just need a place to stay for the next couple of days or so. A temporary living arrangement, nothing more."
"Why? Is something wrong?" Scootaloo innocently questioned.
Sweetie Belle was quick to chime in. "If you have a problem, we're here to help. We're the Cutie Mark Crusaders, solving problems is what we do best."
Silver just let out a sigh. "Look, there's no need to act like we're friends or anything. I've barely spoken to you girls, although I suppose I do owe you for helping Diamond turn over a new leaf."
"So, why won't you let us help?" Scootaloo pondered. "If you're gonna be staying in our clubhouse I think we deserve to know why. Did you do something wrong?"
The grey coated filly shook her head from side to side. "It's nothing that concerns you three. Besides, I doubt you could really help me. This is something I don't think anypony could really solve, not even the princesses."
"Come on, you ain't been livin' under a rock these past few years," Apple Bloom frowned at her fellow earth pony. "You know about what it is we do, and if you came all the way here you had to know we'd find you eventually. The least you can do is let us try to help you."
"Look, I'm in trouble, but not the kind of trouble that can be solved by anypony in particular." Silver Spoon replied and turned her head.
The Crusaders were left stumped by this unusual display of stubbornness. They'd never encountered anyone who'd refused their services on the spot before. What could they do? What should they do?
Fortunately, there was no need for any of the three to consider what their next move might be. For at that moment who should show up but Diamond Tiara, the one pony who knew Silver Spoon better than anypony else?
Diamond seemed to quickly size up the situation without speaking a word. The signals she gave off to the Crusaders seemed to indicate that she should take charge, and they wisely let her do so. Even though she'd turned over a new leaf Diamond Tiara was still not a filly who would take no for an answer. The only difference was that it was if she was convinced she knew what the problem was. And it just so happened that she did.
Silver turned around as her best friend approached, appearing to relax ever so slightly. "Hey, Diamond Tiara. Guess I should've known you'd find out about this too. Now that I think about it, this clubhouse isn't much of a hiding place. I just wanted to go somewhere I was certain my parents would never consider looking for me in."
"Is that what this is all about?" Diamond asked with a quirked eyebrow. "You're only supposed to bring one parent in for Family Appreciation Day, that's how it's supposed to work. Just because Scootaloo brings her aunts in all the time doesn't mean everypony can bring their whole family."
Silver Spoon sighed as she locked eyes with her fellow rich filly. "I know, I know. I didn't even want to include either of them since Dad's coming home. I wanted to get my big sister to do it, but she's too busy practicing for her next gig."
"Your sister's a musician?" Sweetie Belle innocently inquired.
Silver seemed to force back a growl as she replied with a definitive nod. "Yup. In fact, she's perhaps the greatest musical talent of all time: Octavia Melody. She's so good she never has to use her full name."
"So I guess your entire family's a bunch of classy musicians or somethin' then?" Apple Bloom concluded. "Don't see what's so wrong about that."
But the grey coated earth pony just groaned as she narrowed her eyes. "It's way more complicated than that, Apple Bloom. I don't think you or your fellow Crusaders would understand, no offense."
Scootaloo seemed to take that as a challenge. "Oh really? You know we have family situations that almost nopony else has. Apple Bloom's parents are dead, Sweetie Belle's are always on vacation, I told you about what my parents do for a living and you know full well what Diamond's mom is like. You think yours is worse?"
"Not necessarily worse, just very complicated," Diamond corrected. "If you must know, her parents are divorced. She lives here in Ponyville with her mom. And her dad works in Canterlot."
"Usually I've just gotten a relative or my mom to come in for Family Appreciation Day when it's my turn, like how Di always bring her father and not her mother," Silver explained. "My dad's Greasy Spoon, his work involves restaurants. Managing them that is, not working in them."
Sweetie then questioned. "And your mom?"
"She works at a bank, goes by the name of Silver Standard ever since the divorce," Silver answered as her light purple eyes seemed to reflect a look of sorrow and regret. "They split up when I was young. What little I remember is that Mom didn't wanna raise me in Canterlot society even though our family's descended from Princess Platinum, or so I've heard. Dad didn't agree and they got into a pretty big fight. Mom took my sister and I, and Dad threw himself into his work."
"So, what seems to be the trouble?" Scootaloo innocently asked. "We dealt with something kind of similar on Mount Aris."
Silver let out another sigh, looking down at the floor as if it were suddenly infinitely more interesting than looking at any of the ponies that kept prodding her for information. "Well, Dad's coming home for a visit and he wants to come in for Family Appreciation Day. But Mom already volunteered to do it. Dad's determined to come anyway and he proposed he and Mom show up together. So here I am, about to risk a family brawl on Family Appreciation Day. Unless," Her eyes seemed to light up briefly. "You could all help me hide out here until Dad goes back to Canterlot?"
The Crusaders were silent as they pondered the offer. They weren't sure what the answer was. They'd never dealt with divorced parents before despite knowing that not every marriage was perfect considering Diamond's parents could easily attest to that.
But Tiara immediately shot the idea down without hesitation. "No chance, Silver Spoon! Don't you think I've tried running away when my parents have fights or arguments? There's never any place you can run to or hide in where you'll be safe. Your parents will inevitably come looking for you. And you can't ask the Cutie Mark Crusaders or myself to lie to them for you and get in trouble."
"Why not? I've always been happy to 'arrange' sleepovers at my place whenever you need to get away from your parents," Silver pointed out in protest. "And don't tell me that's different, I'm already lying through my teeth and making Mom do the same. The sleepovers are just so your parents never suspect anything."
"I think what Diamond Tiara's tryin' to say is, it's not gonna work because they'll see right through us," Apple Bloom pointed out. "If we found you here without knowin' about it, then how long do you think it'll be before your mom at least considers checkin' here? And she could do it while we're at school or helpin' one of our clients, meanin' we wouldn't be able to stop her."
Scootaloo added. "If grown-ups want something badly enough they usually get it," She then proposed. "Why not just talk to them, even one of them? Even if they're not together anymore they should at least care about your feelings."
The rich filly frowned anew. "Already tried that, didn't really work. Mom refused to reconsider the agreement she reached with Dad. And since Octavia's busy with rehearsal she can't lend a hoof like she normally does. I also don't know how to pass word on her roommate, though I doubt even DJ-PON-3 could help convince them. What else am I supposed to do?"
Diamond seemed to know the answer. "You know, this sounds a lot like when Apple Bloom's grandmother came in for Family Appreciation Day that one time. Apple Bloom told me how we ended up making her so embarrassed about her grandmother she tried to keep her from showing up. Obviously it didn't work."
"Yeah, I remember that, Granny Smith turned out to be an incredible storyteller. And there was a method beyond all those crazy things we saw her do," Silver Spoon recalled, remembering that day when she'd stood up for herself and stepped out of her friend's shadow for the first time. "You honestly think the same thing will happen to me? That somehow all my worries will just magically vanish and my parents somehow won't cause a scene?"
Sweetie chimed in with support. "If that does happen I'm sure Miss. Cheerilee will intervene. And even if she doesn't you'll still have us for friends. We aren't going to think any less of you because of your parents."
Silver's ears perked up. "Really? You'd consider me friends when we've barely spoken to each other until now? I mean, I never really enjoyed picking on you girls like Di used to."
"Silvy, I'm right here, you know!" Diamond protested with a growl.
Silver blushed a bit. "Sorry, Di, it's the truth," She then quickly recovered and corrected herself. "Still, if you Crusaders really mean it then I appreciate the sentiment. At least I'll have that going for me tomorrow."
"Is that when your folks are goin' to show up?" Apple Bloom questioned.
"Yeah," Silver Spoon explained. "Sorry to spring this on you all so soon. I just didn't know where else to go."
Scootaloo smiled. "It's okay. But if you really wanted our help or even just wanted to borrow our clubhouse, you could've asked," She then offered. "If you want to stay here just for tonight you can, I'm sure we can get you set up."
But the rich filly rose to her hooves. "No thanks. I think I'll be just fine in my own bed."
The next day came and all too soon it was time for Family Appreciation Day with Silver Spoon as the next to bring in a family member. The filly had to force back a gulp as she waited while seconds ticked by in agonizing slowness.
But nopony came, something that did nothing to alleviate the rich filly's concerns. She was practically a nervous wreck by now even though she was trying her best not to let it show.
The uncomfortable silence was broken up when Cheerilee cleared her throat and appeared to be looking directly at Silver Spoon. "Silver Spoon, I did specifically tell you that it was your turn for Family Appreciation Day a week ago, right? And you promised me that somepony would come in."
"Yes, Miss. Cheerilee," Silver forced back a gulp. "I'm sure somepony will be here. Mom probably just got held up at work or something," Under her breath she silently added. "I hope."
Cheerilee seemed to adopt a sympathetic tone as she told the child. "It's okay if you don't have any family members or relatives who could come. Sometimes things happen. You wouldn't be the first to have your day rescheduled."
As tempting as the offer sounded, Silver Spoon didn't get a chance to accept it. For at that very moment a familiar, plump earth pony mare came trotting in. Her colors were a near-perfect reversal of Silver Spoon's, for she had a shiny silver coat and a darker grey mane. However, her eyes were a sparkling ruby red in color which fittingly matched her velvet red shirt. And yet her cutie mark was visible clear as day, three small jewels spaced apart just roughly enough to form a triangle. "Sorry for being late," She sincerely apologized in what sounded like a common pony trying to sound like an uppercrust. "I had an 'unexpected' client to deal with."
"That's certainly one way of saying I kept you waiting at the train station," A male sounding voice replied. And in trotted a slender earth pony with a dark grey coat not unlike Silver Spoon's. But he had a light green mane and tail, though his violet eyes closely matched Silver's. His cutie mark depicted a wooden spoon. "I just hope we're not too late for Family Appreciation Day."
Cheerilee looked up, eyeing the guests. "Not at all, you're just in time. You're Silver Spoon's parents: Mr. Spoon and Ms. Standard, right?"
"Yup. Silver Standard, and this is my ex-husband, Greasy Spoon." Silver Standard replied.
Almost immediately, several hooves shot up in the air. It was a safe bet to assume they all had the same question.
"One at a time, please," Cheerilee instructed before settling on one of her students. "Yes, Snails?"
"Uh, why do you guys have two last names if you're both Silver Spoon's parents?" Snails questioned. "Shouldn't you both be Spoon?"
Silver Spoon gulped, she'd been dreading this question being asked. She kept a close eye on her parents, waiting for the fireworks she was sure would follow.
However, the question was answered without much fanfare as Silver Standard looked across to her ex-husband and then told Snails. "That's because we're not together. We are divorced, have been for many years in fact."
Greasy Spoon added. "We had... disagreements about our family. Disagreements that unfortunately we couldn't resolve. But we're both adults and we've come to realize that it'll do us no good to keep fighting and yelling at each other all the time. We agreed to go our separate ways and that was it."
Just like that, every hoof in the classroom that had previously been raised went down.
"How very interesting," Cheerilee commented in what sounded like the best neutral tone of voice she could muster up. "I suppose you two would like to now tell the class about your jobs?"
Silver Standard nodded and looked again to her ex-husband. "If you wouldn't mind, Greasy, I'll go first."
"Suit yourself, Silver," Greasy Spoon seemed to encourage. "Just try not to bore them too much."
"Funny, I could say the same to you," Silver Standard replied as she seemed to somewhat playfully roll her eyes at the stallion before clearing her throat and turning to the class. "The family I come from is actually tied all the way back to the house of Princess Platinum, and many in my family tree are unicorns. But as my recent lineage will attest there are more than a few earth ponies in it as well," She paused, sensing that the class was already starting to lose interest in what they assumed would be a long, winding and boring speech. "However, that's not what's important today. I'm here to talk about my job."
Snips innocently spoke up. "And uh, what is your job? Please tell me it's not something super dangerous like Scootaloo's parents. I still have nightmares." He visibly shuddered as he spoke.
Silver Standard chuckled. "Oh no, I'm certainly not the kind of pony to go trekking through dangerous jungles and face down exotic creatures for the sake of taming them. What I do is considerably more hum-drum, though it's by no means unimportant. I happen to work at the First National Bank of Ponyville. In fact, I'm the bank president. And do you know what a bank president does?" When she didn't get a reply she explained. "Well, I help oversee its operations. I make sure the bank has enough money to meet the demands of everypony who either puts money into it or takes money out of it."
"And she has a knack for keeping things on a budget, no ifs, ands or buts," Greasy couldn't help but chime in. "You always did love numbers."
"So do you, dear. You have to consider a lot of things when you manage the various restaurants you own in Canterlot," Silver Standard pointed out. "Perhaps you'd like to enlighten the class about it?"
Greasy Spoon smiled. "With pleasure," Looking over the class he began to speak. "You heard it right, folks. Almost every big name restaurant in Canterlot you've ever heard of, I own it. It was my idea to create Restaurant Row in the first place, as a way of showing off the best in fine dining that Equestria's capital city had to offer. Probably my brightest idea of all time."
Silver Standard could be heard whispering. "It's all you'd ever talk about for months on end."
Greasy seemed to pretend he hadn't heard the whisper as he went on talking. "I'm... ashamed to admit that I got so swept up in my line of work that I started paying less and less attention to my family, even my own daughters. It wasn't until my ex-wife filed for divorce that it hit me, but by then I knew it was too late. Still, she was nice enough to grant me visitation rights. Otherwise I wouldn't be able to come here and talk to all of you today. I can see now why Silver Standard thought Ponyville was a better place to raise a family."
"Oh come now, you know Canterlot has its charms," Silver Standard teased. "It was just a tad too 'stuck up' for my tastes. I couldn't ask you to give up your life's work for me though, I knew you cared about it too much. I thought the divorce would reluctantly give us both what we wanted most."
Speaking up in her usual lisp, Twist asked. "Uh, if you two love each other so much, why are you still divorced?"
"It's more of a formal thing, really. But our careers keep us very busy." Silver Standard explained.
"It'd be hard juggling a family that has to constantly maintain a presence in Ponyville and Canterlot," Greasy Spoon added. "We tried to make it work for the longest time possible, but unfortunately it just made us unhappy. For the sake of our children we decided it wasn't best to pretend to be happy all the time. Sometimes, ponies just drift apart over time and it isn't anypony's fault. I hope that answers your question, young filly."
Twist nodded, lowering her hoof very slowly. "It does, I think. I'll ask my mom about it, she knows everything."
Silver Spoon was never as relieved as she was when it was time for her family's presentation to end and for Cheerilee to announce who would be next to host Family Appreciation Day. In fact, she barely even paid attention to that announcement as she was instead focusing her gaze on her parents as they departed the school house.
Silver soon followed after them, relieved that class was dismissed. She really wasn't sure what to make of the presentation her parents had given. But she would soon find out.
"Ah, Silver Spoon, my little girl," Greasy Spoon sincerely smiled as he let his youngest daughter hug him. "My, you're getting to be pretty big. Maybe old enough to start considering taking over the family business?"
"Nah, Mom won't even let me go with her to see clients at the bank," Silver Spoon pointed out. "She keeps saying she'll let me when I'm older, but she never says how old."
Silver Standard answered. "You've got your whole youth ahead of you still, my dear. No reason to feel pressured into something you may not want," Then she concluded. "But I suspect you have another reason for coming to see Greasy and I so soon after class."
Silver Spoon reluctantly confessed. "Yeah. I just want to apologize. I thought for sure you two would argue and bicker like you always used to do whenever Dad came home, so I tried to find a way to get out of having you two show up for Family Appreciation Day," She hung her head. "Obviously it didn't work."
Silver Standard and Greasy Spoon exchanged glances before Silver Standard replied. "Darling, we're sorry if we ever made you feel embarrassed because of all that."
"We were sincere about what we told your classmates back there," Greasy Spoon added. "And it's not like we're planning to get back together either. We're still going to be divorced. But that doesn't mean our family has to continue being defined by arguments. Both Silver Standard and I do want what's best for you and for your sister, even if we may still disagree on what that is."
The rich filly nodded very slowly. "I guess I get that now."
Silver Standard smiled at her daughter. "And you're always welcome to talk to us about how it's making you feel. If you're not happy we want to know so either Greasy or I can do our best to resolve whatever it is that's bothering you."
Just then, Greasy noticed something or rather someones. Four fillies that were almost immediately identifiable. "Oh, are these some of your friends you've made here, my little Silvy?" He asked his daughter.
Silver Spoon turned around to see the anxious looks of Diamond Tiara and the Cutie Mark Crusaders staring back at her. But she gave them a knowing wink that seemed to signify "I got this" and then turned back to her parents. "Well, sort of. You already know Diamond Tiara, I'm sure she needs no introduction. But she's a lot nicer now than she probably was the last time you saw her, Dad."
"It's true," Diamond Tiara confessed with a smile. "I'm a new pony now. And it's all thanks to those wonderful Cutie Mark Crusaders." She proceeded to gesture a hoof to each of them.
"I'm Apple Bloom," Apple Bloom introduced herself before gesturing to her friends. "And this is Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle. We've been best friends since the day we all met each other."
Sweetie Belle added. "And now we help other ponies with their problems, because that's what our special talent is: Helping others."
Scootaloo buzzed her tiny wings in excitement. "Yeah, and it looks like we can add Silver Spoon to the list now, sort of."
"I guess I do owe you Crusaders one for helping Diamond out. And I can see why Di was right to sing your praises," Silver Spoon realized. "If she considers you friends now, I guess that's good enough for me."
The Crusaders and Diamond Tiara smiled, delighted to share in a mutual friend at last.
