Later that evening, at the Rich Mansion...

Filthy Rich was furious when he learned what Diamond Tiara had done with the school newspaper. He had yelled at her for tarnishing the family name and bullying three innocent fillies, and he ended up grounding her for nine months. In addition, she had to write apology letters to everyone in Ponyville, and she would no longer be allowed to have any contact with Silver Spoon, until her parents decided she could.

She had just finished her apologies to the Cutie Mark Crusaders, and she decided to sneak out of her room and check things out. She then saw her parents in a heated argument. "I just can't believe our daughter would do something like this! I thought we raised her better!" Filthy Rich said. "Filthy, darling, you're overreacting," Spoiled Rich replied. "Our daughter was merely engaging in harmless gossip! Those three blank flanks don't know what they're talking about."

But Filthy had an answer ready, "What about Applejack, Big McIntosh, and Rarity!? They're not blank flanks, and they agree with their sisters! Diamond Tiara has associated our name with slander and gossip." Spoiled argued, "Gossip is not slanderous! It's the hottest buzz! In our social circle, ponies are always clamoring for the latest news. As a matter of fact, did you know what Fancy Pants and Fleur Dis Lee did at last week's fashion show?"

Filthy Rich sighed, "Now I think I know why Diamond endorsed all Gabby Gums' gossip." Spoiled reminded him, "Yes, darling. Everypony in Ponyville was excited to read what juicy things Gabby had to say." Filthy admitted, "Yes, that's true. Maybe you're right. Maybe everypony is overreacting to the gossip. But why in Equestria is everypony angry at the Cutie Mark Crusaders?"

Spoiled answered, "They're just a bunch of confused, insignificant lowlifes who fly off at the slightest fluff of a feather." Filthy reminded her, "Several of them are in our social circle! You wouldn't call them confused, insignificant lowlifes, now would you?!" But Spoiled was still unconvinced. "There's nopony in Equestria with such a social standing as ours, darling. Nopony would dare slander a Rich."

Just then, Randolph the butler showed up with the latest issue of the High Society Tribune, the biggest high-society newspaper in Equestria. "Here you are, sir, madam." Spoiled immediately grabbed the newspaper, eager to see the latest gossip. But what she saw made her gasp. It was an anonymous article titled, "Are the Riches the Ponies We Think They Are?" She read slanderous writing that suggested that the Riches were swindlers, cheaters, and price gougers. Behind all that glitz and glamor lay sleazy, no-good lowlifes.

She let out a bloodcurdling scream and almost passed out! Filthy took the paper from his hyperventilating wife, read the gossip, and let out his own bloodcurdling scream. Diamond Tiara overheard them, panicked, and ran over, asking, "Mother, Father, what happened?!" They showed her the gossip, and she let out a bloodcurdling scream. Who in Equestria would do such a thing to her family?

Filthy Rich was the first to regain his composure. "It doesn't sound so harmless when it's done to us now, does it." Spoiled Rich and Diamond Tiara were still in shock, but their brains were able to process what he was talking about. The gossip they had endorsed was hurtful indeed, especially when it was targeted at them.

When they regained their composures, Spoiled took Diamond back to her room and had a talk with her. "It looks like you'll have to find some other way to move up in Equestria. It seems like we both needed this lesson. Gossip can be very harmful, whether it involves lower-class ponies like those blank flanks, or upper-class ponies like us." Diamond added, "Or both." Spoiled answered, "Right, darling. Personally, I don't like you associating with those low-class ponies. You should spend more time with your social class." Diamond replied, "Yes, Mother."

And at the Spoons' house...

"We heard that your friend Diamond Tiara did to the school newspaper," said Mr. Spoon. Mrs. Spoon agreed and said, "We forbid you to ever hang out with that spoiled pink brat again!" Silver Spoon smirked. "I'm way ahead of you on that. Why do you think I wrote that anonymous gossip for the High Society Tribune?"

And that wraps up this story. It looks like Spoiled Rich and Diamond Tiara have learned a big lesson: gossip is harmful, regardless of class. Can you believe it took that to convince them? But who would have suspected Silver Spoon of writing gossip against Diamond Tiara and her family?

What did you think of the story? Did you like it? Is there room for improvement? Please review. I appreciate your feedback.