Tempest Poppins
by Present Perfect

Part 2: Sister, Suffer Yet

"Sorry I couldn't get here sooner," Tempest said, making landfall amidst the Cutie Mark Crusaders. She folded her umbrella. "Had some business with a dream serpent and an erupting volcano."

"Tempest!" the three fillies cried, crowding around her and hugging her legs. "You came!"

"Yes, yes." Tempest gently shooed them away. "Now. Your letter wasn't very clear." She dug from her carpet-saddlebags a sheet of paper smeared with tears, crayon and probably lipstick. "What's the situation?"

"Oh, Tempest, it's awful!" Apple Bloom shouted. "Diamond Tiara has gone back to her old ways!"

"We thought she was our friend!" Sweetie Belle added. "Silver Spoon, too!"

"But she's been bullying Apple Bloom and me about being poor!" Scootaloo sniffled, wiping at her face. "She's absolutely the worst!"

Tempest narrowed her eyes, gazing off across Ponyville. "I know what must be done. Come with me."

It didn't take them long to arrive at the Rich estate. It was, after all, the largest, most opulent manor in the plebeian farm town of Ponyville. The whole time, the Crusaders peppered Tempest with repeated affirmations about how awful Diamond Tiara was being, which she ignored, along with the stares of the townsponies.

A sign at the gate asked visitors to please ring in. Tempest ignored it and, head down, muscled the gate open with no small amount of squealing and bending metal. The CMCs followed behind, stunned into silence.

When they reached the front door, a frantic Randolph the Butler attempted to ask them their business, until Tempest backed him up against the door frame.

"Where's Tiara?" she hissed.

A shaky, knobbly hoof pointed into the house. "Th-the boardroom, ma'am. Straight ahead. C-can't miss it."

Tempest glowered at him until he was but a quivering wreck of a pony balled up on the front stoop.

"Thank you," she growled. "And have a nice day."

The four ponies stalked down the hallway, turning in at the first door on the left. Before them was a stately room dressed in warm hardwoods and soft carpeting. Antique bronze light fixtures kept the gloom away, while plush chairs and small bookshelves gave the room a welcoming, homey atmosphere.

In the middle, sprawled across the arms of an expensive-looking stuffed maroon chair, was Diamond Tiara. She was busy filing her hooves while pointedly ignoring the angry, purple mare stomping toward her.

"That's her, Tempest!" said Apple Bloom. "She said me an' mah family should just eat dirt like the pigs!"

"Pigs are an inferior species!" added Sweetie Belle helpfully.

Scootaloo pointed accusingly at her. "And she said I don't have a mom because of buyer's remorse! Kick her butt, Tempest!"

Tempest marched right up to the armchair and stuck her face in Diamond Tiara's guff.

"Is that true?" she hissed.

Diamond blew casually on her hoof, admiring the shimmer along the edge. "I lash out at other ponies because my mother is a controlling bitch who loves my father's money more than she loves me."

Tempest reeled back, her eyes flashing an angry, firey red. She snorted smoke.

"Take me to her."

Diamond smiled. "Oh, Randolph!"

A few minutes later, as Diamond continued working on her hooficure, she was greeted to some muffled sounds from upstairs: some bellowed accusations, followed by screeching denials. Then some thumping. And some more thumping. And the Cutie Mark Crusaders cheering and chanting something or other.

She supposed it was all very crass and brutal.

A little while later, Silver Spoon trotted into the boardroom.

"Is it over?" she asked.

Diamond Tiara blew on her hoof. She sniffed and nodded.

"We're free," she whispered.

Author's Notes:

This chapter has the worst title, most likely because "Sister Suffragette" is not a song most people think of when they think of Mary Poppins. But I think the pun was worth it. :V