“I can’t honestly say I care that much for tea,” Rarity said.

“I enjoy it to a moderate degree.”

“IS WICKED AWSUM!” Apple Bloom said, skateboarding across the shot. She ran into a wheelie bin offscreen.

“Rarity?” Octavia said.

“Yes?”

“I have several questions. In descending importance, is Apple Bloom all right?”

“Ah’m good,” Apple Bloom said.

“What is Apple Bloom doing?”

“Doesn’t matter what she’s doing, it’s what Alesi and Schumacher are doing that matters.”

“Why is there a wheelie bin inside the studio?”

“I don’t know... security, could you be so kind as to escort Apple Bloom, her skateboard, and the wheelie bin out of the studio? And what are you doing without at least a helmet, Apple Bloom?”

A commercial break was had to deal with these things.

“Hello,” Octavia said, “And welcome back to Tea Time. Today on Tea Time, we’re discussing the concept of thyme in tea.”

“The Wikipedia article about tea states that Armenia sometimes like their tea with thyme, but it doesn’t have any sources.”

“So perhaps tea time is a good time for thyme.”

Rarity took a sip of tea. “I find tea in general to be dull and contenting simulteaneously.”

“Perhaps you should find time to try some with thyme sometime.”

“Apparentea.” Rarity took a laptop from offscreen. “I’m going to quickly Google tea with thyme to see what I get.”

Octavia would’ve said “okay” or something if she didn’t have as quiet a nature.

“All right,” Rarity said, “I looked it up, and apparently tea time is the time for thyme whether you’re in Armenia or not.”

“I suppose I should try thymed tea sometime.”

“I agree, some thyme sometime could very well be a good time.”

“Well, with that, it’s time for our second commercial break.”

“That segment lasted what, a minute?” Sweetie Belle said, lying on Rarity’s television-facing couch with Scootaloo.

“Meh,” Scootaloo said, “When you have a five-minute show....”

“I suppose.”

“It’s so weird to hear a foal saying ‘suppose’.”

“Well, I’m the sister of Rarity, what do you want?”

“Hey, I didn’t say it was a problem.”

“You think it is, though....”

“No, I don’t. Fanciness is generally a good thing.”

“Oh. I guess I’m just paranoid.”

With all of the topic’s citrusy juice squeezed out, someone had to bring up something else.

“I’m in a house,” Scootaloo said as if it wasn’t obvious.

“Uh... duh?” exactly, Sweetie Belle.

“Well, it’s important to me.”

“I know....”

Silence.

“I am so sick of doughnuts,” Scootaloo said.

“Welcome back to Tea Time,” Octavia said. “So, Rarity. Do you think drinking Earl Grey tea should count as an automatic Backyard Sports reference?”

“Quite.”

“Next on the question agenda, is it racist to dislike black tea?”

“Hmm. I don’t think so. Now, a couple questions directed at you... do you get your tea from Price✓Rong, TeaTraders.com*, or Price✓Rong’s more aggressive rival Price✔Rong?”

“Actually, I get it from this little shop called Teak Tea Shop just outside of Ponyville. Besides tea, they have a bunch of tea-related things made from teak wood.”

“I see. Next question, if you had twelve hours to live, what would you do?”

“How does this relate to tea?”

Rarity looked at the leaf of paper she was holding. “I don’t know, that is a weird question... um, finally, then, what do you think of the upcoming video game Weltering Champion ‘12?”

“I’m Octavia, I don’t play video games. Or games in general, really.”

“I see. Well, for our third and final segment, it’s time for cricket news.”

“There were no games of cricket in Equestria in the past week.”

“That’s all for this installment of Tea Time.”

* Not to be confused with porn site TeatRaiders.com

Next Chapter: Chapter 11E: A Non-OC You Have Heard of and Who Has Said Something Before Dies Estimated time remaining: 6 Hours, 57 Minutes