Crusaders Forever

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In Canterlot, in the usual place. The Wonderbolts had thrown an after party celebrating another successful show, but somepony was missing.

"Hey Vinyl." Shouted Rainbow Dash trying to get the DJ's attention, "have you seen Scootaloo anywhere?"

"No," Replied the DJ, "sorry."

Rainbow looked what seems to be forever to find Scootaloo. She looked through every single crowd, and through every single crowd that was going in the party. "Where is that pony?" Asked Rainbow Dash.

"Hey Rainbow Dash." Said Soarin as he trotted up to her, "who are you looking for?"

"Scootaloo."

"She told me that she wasn't going to the party."

"Why?"

"How should I know," Said Soarin, "that kid has been acting strange lately."

Look, here are three little ponies,
Ready to sing for this crowd!
Listen up, cause here's our story,
I'm gonna sing it very loud!

It was late, but that didn't matter. Scootaloo wanted to make sure that it what still there. As she made sure not to make one single sound to wake up the Apple family she flew as fast as she could. When she saw it, she stopped. It had almost brought her to tears. It was their old clubhouse, it was still here. The Cutie Mark Crusader Clubhouse.

When you're a younger pony,
And your flank is very bare,
Feels like the sun will never come,
When your cutie mark's not there.

It looked like it had seen better days. The door was completely busted, the window was broken, the roof with a big hole, the fence broken up with a few pieces on the ground. At first glance of it, Scootaloo had completely forgotten that Apple Bloom had even fixed it all up. But, looks didn't matter, of was their clubhouse, nothing could take it from them.

Scootaloo remembered all the memories she had of that clubhouse, them running and hiding it whenever that made Applejack or Big Mac mad, coming up with new ideas for getting their Cutie Marks, and of course that many sleepovers that they had.

So the three of us fight the fight!
There is nothing that we fear!
We'll have to figure out what we'll do next,
Till our cutie marks are here!

"Not quite as I remembered it." Said Scootaloo. But that didn't stop her, she still went in it.

She saw that everything in the clubhouse again. The same map of Ponyville with places they used to go to and try to earn their Cutie Marks and the same comments they wrote.

The drawing of Twilight's library with a comment, "Why here?"

Scootaloo laughed as she read the comment on the Carousel Boutique drawing, "Rarity is still mad at me for wasting all that dye."

The comment on the cliff drawing, "Maybe..."

Lastly, the comment on the pond drawing, "Never again."

Scootaloo looked around the clubhouse a bit and saw everything was still there. Same old toys all over the place, Sweetie's unfinished fashion designs, lyrics to Scootaloo's unfinished songs, and Apple Bloom's unfinished plans on expansions on the club house.

It had took them a while to realize, they had it all wrong. Apple Bloom was good at designs, and fixing things, Sweetie Belle had an amazing singing voice, and anything with the word extreme Scootaloo was good at it. But it didn't matter, they still had fun.

"Why did it have to go all away?" Asked Scootaloo looking on old pictures of their younger selves. They looked happy, and carefree, "I wish we were still friends. It all happened way to fast."

When they finally had gotten their Cutie Marks, Sweetie gotten hers when she was singing Rarity a birthday song, Scootaloo got hers when performing a stunt trying to get Rainbow Dash's attention, and Apple Bloom had gotten hers when she was fixing the farm equipment on Sweet Apple Acres.. They weren't the same anymore. Sure, they still talked, had fun, and had the occasional sleep over. But it just wasn't the same. Their taste for adventure and fun changed.

They soon, just split apart from each other. Sweetie Belle focused on her singing, Apple Bloom decided she wanted to make art with her special talent, and Scootaloo got to be with the Wonderbolts with Rainbow Dash. No matter what happened, they would still be the Cutie Mark Crusaders.

We are the Cutie Mark Crusaders,
On a quest to find out who we are.
And we will never stop the journey,
Not until we have our cutie marks!

Scootaloo checked the clubhouse and saw everything was still the same. Like if they just got done with crusading yesterday, instead of several years. Twilight's old Smarty Pants doll that they hid from Big Mac, check. Rainbow Dash wig for the old Rainbow Dash Fan Club, check. Everything was still the same.

When Scootaloo was walking out of the clubhouse, a little book had gotten her attention. It was on the wooden table Apple Bloom had built.

"Hello," Said Scootaloo as she grabbed the book with her hoofs, "what's this?"

The yellow book was old and dusty, when Scootaloo had dusted it off. Her eyes began to be filled with tears. It was the yearbook they had gotten when the graduated elementary school. She had saw what was written on the title and gave a weak smile.

"To The Cutie Mark Crusaders"

- Cheerilee

"Cheerilee, you were the best teacher ever." Said Scootaloo has she opened the book. Each picture, filled with memories made her smile with delight.

The Infamous Gabby Gums
A picture of Sweetie Belle, Scootaloo, and Apple Bloom was shown smiling with pride when they saw Diamond Tiara was being yelled at by Cheerliee.

Scootaloo laughed, "Best day ever."

Scootaloo looked through other pages and gave a smile. On career day, she remembered her dad showing the kids all kinds of stunts, Rarity giving the kids tips on fashion, and of course Applejack's long speech about the history on apples.

"All I remembered was the free apples at the end." Said Scootaloo as she flipped threw the pages, giving a quick glance at each one.

On the back of the book, Scootaloo saw that other ponies had written on it. Each comment brought back memories of school. Which gave Scootaloo a smile.

To the Sweetie Belle, I really liked the song that you sung, it was pretty.

-Dinky

To Scootaloo, You may be a chicken, but you're a rocking one.

-Truffle Shuffle

To Apple Bloom, I liked how you and Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo stood up to Diamond Tiara. It gave me hope that some day I could be a reporter.

-Feather Weight

Scootaloo got up from the ground and started to think. She started to think about the theme song they had. She knew they had one, but how did it go?

"How did that theme song go again?" Said Scootaloo as she tried to remember that song from the talent show.

They all say that you'll get your mark,
When the time is really right.
And you know just what you're supposed to do,
And your talent comes to light.

"We are the Cutie Mark Crusaders." Sang Scootaloo.

"On a quest to find out who we are." Sang a familiar voice.

"I know that rocking singing voice." Said Scootaloo, "Sweetie Belle?"

Scootaloo went outside the clubhouse to find the other two crusaders, Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle. They looked almost the same. Sweetie Belle still had her curly mane, Apple Bloom still had her bow. It was like old times again.

But it's not as easy as it sounds.
And that waiting's hard to do.
So we test our talents everywhere,
Until our face is blue!

"Hi." Said Sweetie. She looked different, her mane was longer.

"I really like your mane." Said Scootaloo.

Sweetie Belle laughed, "I still can't believe I used to say that."

"Howdy," Said Apple Bloom, "still a dodo, Ah see."

Scootaloo laughed, "Stop using words I don't know the meaning of."

The three laughed remembering all the fun that they had. Sure, other ponies got mad at them, they always ending up covered in either syrup or anything sticky. They got in trouble and sometimes got injured. But that didn't stop, they would learn from their mistakes and keep on crusading on the next day. The day after that and the day after that. They wouldn't stop until they had gotten their Cutie Marks.

We are the Cutie Mark Crusaders,
On a quest to find out who we are,
And we will never stop the journey,
Not until we have our cutie marks!

"Its been a while." Said Apple Bloom with a hint of sadness in her voice.

"A bit too long," Said Scootaloo softly, "Where do you girls live now?"

"Canterlot," Said Sweetie Belle giving a weak smile, "I got a new record deal."

"Same," Said Apple Bloom, "mah art is getting real famous."

"If you two live in Canterlot," Said Scootaloo in a confused way, "then why haven't I seen you?"

"Been busy." Said Apple Bloom has she lowered her head, "Mighty sorry."

"So," Said Sweetie Belle, "what is like living the dream Scootaloo, met a special somepony yet?"

"No," Said Scootaloo, "Well..um.."

"That's perfect," Said Sweetie Belle giving a huge grin, "I know a colt that would be perfect for you."

"Ah I know one too." Said Apple Bloom.

"Thanks for the offer," Said Scootaloo, "I guess."

"So, what's it like Scoot, being a role model an all?" Asked Apple Bloom.

"It's fine," Said Scootaloo, "being with the Wonderbolts and everything, invited to all the parties, colts eyeing my flank and all. It's great but..."

"But what?"

"That shouldn't take me from spending time with my best friends."

"Ah'm sorry too," Said Apple Bloom, "Ah've been meaning to send ya girls a letter, but have been so busy lately."

"Same." Sighed Sweetie Belle.

"Well we're here right now," Said Scootaloo, "we can start telling our new lives now."

"That's such an untarnished idea." Said Sweetie Belle.

"What are you, a dictionary?" Asked Scootaloo.

The three laughed and started talking about their new busy lives. Apple Bloom got talking about how much her art has gotten popular, Sweetie Belle started talking about how famous her and her songs are getting, and Scootaloo started talking about how awesome the Wonderbolts and Rainbow Dash are. They got reminiscing about the adventures they had.

"Remember when he hooked up Miss Cheerilee and Big Mac on Hearts and Hooves Day?" Asked Scootaloo.

"Don't remind me," Said Apple Bloom, "Ah had to buck so many apples."

"Rarity gave me a long lecture about not meddling in other ponies business." Said Sweetie Belle.

"And the time when we started Gabby Gums?" Asked Scootaloo, "all of Ponyville hated us, and I think that picture of Princess Celestia eating all that cake almost got us a ticket to the moon."

"Again," Said Apple Bloom, "Ah had to buck so many apples."

"And I got another long lecture, this time by my parents and Rarity." Said Sweetie Belle.

"Sometimes I'm lucky to have laid back parents." Said Scootaloo.

"Eeyup." Said Apple Bloom.

"Since we are doing this," Said Scootaloo, "should we?"

"I think so."

"Eeyup."

"CUTIE MARK CRUSADER REMINISCENERS YAY!!!" The three shouted and busted out laughing on the ground. Reminiscing about the old days.

Best Friends Forever

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The former crusaders laughed at the old memories they shared. The time when they tried to creature catchers, and how foolish they were going in the Everfree Forest at night trying to get Fluttershy's lost chicken, and how sorry they felt when Fluttershy had to go threw all those things just to find them.

"Ah'm mighty sorry to make Fluttershy go all through that." Said Apple Bloom.

"Me too." Said Sweetie Belle.

"Yeah," Said Scootaloo, "I do too."

Sweetie Belle and Apple Bloom had gotten talking about the Sisterhooves Social and how the two of them learned to love their sisters more. Scootaloo gave a weak smile has they talked. Sometimes, she was jealous at the two for having sisters. They would talk and talk forever and forever about their older sisters, sometimes it made Scootaloo sad that she didn't have a sibling. Sweetie must of saw that Scootaloo didn't look to happy, so her and Apple Bloom stopped talking for a bit.

"Why did you two stop talking?" Asked Scootaloo.

"Ya looked sad," Said Apple Bloom, "so we stopped."

"Are you okay Scootaloo?" Asked Sweetie Belle.

Scootaloo had the same look when Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon had told her that the only reason Rainbow Dash hung out with her because she couldn't fly and she felt sorry for her.

***

"Just face it," Diamond Tiara voice still rang clear in Scootaloo's mind, "you'll never able to fly ever."

"You'll be just a chicken for the rest of your life." Said Sliver Spoon, "like your mom."

"Oh wait," Said Diamond Tiara, "Didn't your mom die or something?"

"Shut up," Said Scootaloo trying to hold back her tears, "I will be able to fly. You'll see someday." Sniffled Scootaloo, "I-'ll fly with the Wonderbolts."

"Whatever," Said Diamond Tiara, "Come Silver Spoon, she isn't worth it."

"Blank Flank." They called out walking away from her."

"I will to fly someday," Said Scootaloo, "I'll show you."

***

"Scootaloo." Shouted Sweetie Belle shaking her hoof in front of her face, "are you sure your okay?"

"I'm fine," Said Scootaloo, "never better."

"Are you sure?" Asked Sweetie Belle.

"Positive," Said Scootaloo, "everything is just peachy."

"Ya sure don't look it." Said Apple Bloom.

"Are you sure your okay?" Asked Sweetie Belle.

"What are you talking about," Said Scootaloo, "I'm not sad."

"Scoots," Said Apple Bloom, "Ah know what sadness looks like."

"Same with me." Said Sweetie Belle, "we all had sadness in our lives Scootaloo."

"What do you mean?" Asked Scootaloo.

"Ma and Pa passed on when Ah I was just a few months old," Said Apple Bloom fixing the pink bow in her mane, "But Ah do remember this, ma gave her bow to me. Pa gave AJ his hat, and his yoke to Big Macintosh. They said, wear it proud, and Ah haven't took this bow off since then."

"Ah remember AJ and Granny Smith used to tell me this story whenever Ah asked about ma and pa."

***

There stood a three month year old Apple Bloom, in the hands of Granny Smith. Why was everypony so sad. Why was Applejack, Big Macintosh, and Granny Smith crying. She saw, Uncle and Aunt Orange, and Cousin Braeburn was here, but why were they were all crying. Why was eveypony so sad?

"Some day," Apple Bloom heard Granny Smith say, "When ya older, Ah tell ya."

Tell her what when she was older? Apple Bloom was confused. All that confusion went away when Apple Bloom saw her older sister. She, like the rest looked all sad.

Apple Bloom saw Applejack trotting up to her, and she was holding something in her month. Why did she have pa's hat on? And why did Big Mac had Pa's yoke on? Apple Bloom wanted answers.

Applejack looked sad, and gave the occasional sniffle.Why was she sad. When she reached Granny Smith. Granny Smith had put her down, and gave Applejack a huge hug.

"It's okay," Said Granny Smith, "Ah'm still around, Ah will take care of ya."

Applejack sniffled and came closer to Apple Bloom. Applejack had put something in her mane. It was her mother's pink that her mother had gotten when she got married.

"Ma wanted ya to have it," Said Applejack trying her best not to cry, "Ya have ma's bow on. Wear it with pride. Ya a real Apple now."

***

"And that how Ah got mah bow." Said Apple Bloom with a big toothy grin.

"Before I lived in Ponyville, we used to live in this small little village, and my parents traveled a lot because their job. So I was left with Rarity a lot. One night, I heard Rarity crying in her room," Said Sweetie Belle, "so, I went in her room, and sang the lullaby she sung to me every night."

"I remember as if it were yesterday."

***

A young Rarity was crying. She was fed up with it all. She was fed up with her parents leaving them for a couple days, leaving her to care for her younger sister, all alone. Rarity thought she had closed her door, but was startled to hear Sweetie Belle's voice.

"Hush now, quiet now," Sang Sweetie Belle has she quietly went in to her sister, "It's time to lay your sleepy head."

"Sweetie Belle?" Sniffled Rarity.

"Rarity?" Said Sweetie Belle as she went to her comfort her sister, "Why are you crying?"

"Sweetie?" Said Rarity, "Why are you still up? Its bedtime."

"I couldn't go back to sleep," Lied Sweetie Belle, "Can you sing that lullaby again?"

"Not now Sweetie." Said Rarity.

"Why?"

"Its just--"

"Are you mad at mom and dad?" Asked Sweetie Belle, "Mad for them leaving a lot?"

"Sweetie," Said Rarity, "Why would you think that?"

"I dunno." Said Sweetie Belle, "But I miss them a lot."

"As do I." Said Rarity, "Now go to bed."

"Can I sleep here?" Asked Sweetie Belle, "Please?"

"Of course you can." Said Rarity.

As Sweetie Belle had gotten herself in her sister's bed, she asked, "Can you sing lullaby now?"

"Of course." Said Rarity, "Hush now, quiet now. It's time to go to bed."

"Hush now, quiet now." Sung a drowsy Sweetie Belle, "It's time to lay your sleepy head."

"Good night little sister," Said Rarity," I love you."

"I love you too." Said a half asleep Sweetie Belle.

***

Sweetie Belle had cleared her throat, and started to sing.

Hush now, quiet now
It's time to lay your sleepy head
Hush now, quiet now
It's time to go to bed

Hush now, quiet now
It's time to lay your sleepity head
Said hush now, quiet now
It's time to go to bed

Drifting of to sleep
The exciting day behind you
Drifting of to sleep
Let the joy of dream land find you

Hush now, quiet now
It's time to lay your sleepity head
Said hush now, quiet now
It's time to go to bed

"That's why I always loved singing," Said Sweetie Belle, "It stopped my sister from crying, and that was all I cared about."

"Wow, there Sweetie," Said Apple Bloom giving her friend a pat on the back, "Ya voice gotten' mighty good."

Sweetie had blushed a little, "Thank you."

"Ya see Scoots," Said Apple Bloom, "We know how ya feel."

"If you want," Said Sweetie Belle, "Like old times, we could be your sisters again."

"Yeah Scoots," Said Apple Bloom, "How does that sound?"

"Great," Said Scootaloo, "You guys are the best."

They laid back on the ground talking about more old adventures they had. They talked about when Apple Bloom had gotten the Cutie Pox, how they thought the Love Poison was a Love Potion, and many, many other things.

"I still remember that song." Said Sweetie Belle, as she cleared her throat and sang again.

Cheerilee is sweet and kind
She's the best teacher we could hope for
The perfect stallion you and I must find
One to really make her heart soar

"I still couldn't believe how shy you were about singing," Said Scootaloo,"You have an amazing voice, why did you hide it?"

"I dunno." Said Sweetie Belle.

"Ah still couldn't believe how stupid we were." Said Apple Bloom.

"Agreed," Said Scootaloo, "how in all of Equestria, did I find zip lining to be okay idea."

"I couldn't believe how naive I was." Said Sweetie Belle.

"Uh, Sweetie." Said Apple Bloom.

"Shut up." Shouted Sweetie Belle as she stood up.

"Come on Sweetie," Said Scootaloo as she stood up too, "For the longest time, you thought babies still came from the baby store because Rarity said so."

"It not that bad," Said Apple Bloom as she was the last to stand up, "When I asked AJ, she told me babies came from the stork, Ah believed her."

"That was when you were a filly," Said Scootaloo, "Sweetie Belle still believed that even after she got her Cutie Mark."

"And when Rarity finally told me the truth on how babies were made." Said Sweetie Belle closing her eyes, "I don't want to talk about it."

"You didn't talk to anypony for at least a month," Said Apple Bloom, "Ya told us that story a billion times."

"I was scared." Said Sweetie Belle.

"All she said as when a daddy pony and a mommy pony love each other very much--"

"Stop," Said Sweetie Belle, "please, I'm begging you."

"But all I said was-"

"Please?"

"Fine."

"Who's arguing now?" Said Apple Bloom, "come on girls, we just say each other after several years. Can we please not argue?"

"Apple Bloom is right," Said Sweetie Belle, "we have so much to catch up on."

"She's right," Said Apple Bloom, "Scoots, we haven't seen each other in years."

"We missed you." Said Sweetie Belle.

"I missed you girls too," Said Scootaloo, "but, I have to go."

"What?" Sweetie Belle's voice squeaked. Even after all these years, her voice still did that, "b-but why?"

"I sort of ditched the Wonderbolts at a party," Said Scootaloo, "I'm sorry."

"No," Said Apple Bloom, "Scoots, we won't split up again."

"Yeah." Said Sweetie Belle, "me and Apple Bloom are sort of of famous around Canterlot."

"We can go with ya." Said Apple Bloom.

Scootaloo gave a weak smile, "Thanks."

"That's what friends are for," Said Sweetie Belle, "right Apple Bloom?"

"Eeyup." Said Apple Bloom.

"We can be party crashers." Said Sweetie Belle, "I just don't want to loose you two again."

"Same here."

"Yeah," Said Scootaloo, "come on girls, we got a party to crash."

"Can we?" Asked Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle, "pretty please?"

"Sure," Said Scootaloo, "we can."

"CUTIE MARK CRUSADERS PARTY CRASHERS YAY!!" The girls said as they gave on final laugh.

"After this," Said Sweetie Belle, "Will we still be friends?"

"Eeyup."

"Of course we will."

"After the party, will we meet again?" Asked Sweetie Belle, "I don't want to loose you girls again."

"Of course." Said Scootaloo.

"How about, three times a week we meet up?" Said Apple Bloom, "Sounds good?"

"Yeah."

"Sure."

"We'll still got on adventures," Said Sweetie Belle, "right?"

"Crusaders till the end." Said Apple Bloom.