//------------------------------// // Chapter 03 - Respect // Story: The Scoota Finale // by thedarktome //------------------------------// After the search team made the discovery, they made their way sadly, and slowly, back to Ponyville. Twilight had a wing over Rainbow Dash's back while she sobbed, trying her hardest to provide comfort for her. She couldn't believe it. There was no body. Just a bunch of blood and her wings. And probably more... Pieces. Rainbow looked over at the guards that were carrying a rubber box next to her, containing her remains before she sobbed even louder. "Oh, Rainbow," Applejack whispered. She quickly walked over and gave her a nuzzle, trying to cheer her up. But she knew this was just going to tear her to pieces when she was alone. Twilight sighed and looked from her to back in front. They were approaching the treeline now. Which meant she had to deliver the news. "If..." Rainbow said suddenly, catching her friends' attention. "Even if we... c-couldn't find her... We should at least bury what we have." Celestia nodded in agreement and asked, "Does she have any parents?" "Not that I know of. Sh-she never spoke of any, and we hung out all the time." Rainbow sniffed and trembled. Her body was growing pale. It was starting to worry Twilight. "We will check the census when we are back in town. Guards? Hand over the case, please." The guards in front of her handed her the rubber box which she took in her magic. "We will bury her where she would want to be buried." "She was always the little Crusader, so maybe at the clubhouse," Twilight suggested before both Rarity and Applejack gasped. "The girls!" Rarity exclaimed. "Oh no, they're going to be so so devastated!" "Especially them," Twilight agreed. They crossed the treeline into view and slowly made their way back to the town, the sun's heat beating down their coats. Luna dismissed the guards, ordering them to head back to Canterlot while the Elements and the Princesses walked back onto the main road of Ponyville, although begrudgingly. They were all dreading what was going to happen next. But sadly, it had to be done. And Applejack and Rarity were definitely not looking forward to the future. They walked down the street with their heads held low, Rainbow Dash's crying was the only thing making noise at the moment. When ponies saw Rainbow Dash crying like this, they'll know something terrible has happened. Fluttershy walked around to the other side of her and put her own wing over her barrel, cradling her as much as she could. She was crying as well, remembering the orange little pegasus. Only eight years old when they first met. She knew her for maybe three years before this moment. Scootaloo was way too young to have this happen to her. Way too innocent. How did a day planning a celebration turn into a young foal's tragedy and demise? "There they are!" They all glanced up and saw not only Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle, but their whole class. Twilight bit her bottom lip before she looked towards Rainbow Dash who had turned around, trying to keep them from seeing her tears and hearing her whimpers. "Did you find Scoots?" Apple Bloom asked happily. "We're really worried about her!" "We all are!" Pipsqueak added with a jump in the air. The rest of the foals voiced their agreements before they all listened intently to the Princesses. How exactly do you tell a child, a very young one, that their friend is no longer with them? "Well, ummm...." Twilight stammered. She took a deep breath and glanced over at Rainbow for a moment. "Girls... Children... I'm afraid... That Scootaloo will not be joining us in the future." Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle shared a look before they returned her comment with a confused facial expression. "Twilight?" Apple Bloom asked. "What are you talking about?" "What I mean is..." She looked back towards Rarity, hoping for some help. She was trying to come up with her own words. "We didn't exactly find Scootaloo..." Applejack sighed and moved towards her little sister. "Applebloom?" "Yeah?" She responded. "You know... Ma and pa... Where they are now?" "Yeah. There in..." Apple Bloom lost her smile before she looked up at Applejack in anger. "That's not funny, Applejack." "I'm sorry, Apple Bloom. We... We only found what was... Left of her, Sugarcube. I'm sorry." "Stop it!" Apple Bloom yelled. Applejack flinched a little. "Stop it, right now! Scoots can't be gone, she can't be! That's not funny, Applejack!" "Darling, we're sorry, but—" "No!" Sweetie Belle retorted, stopping Rarity. It looks like all the foals weren't believing it since they all had a look of disbelief on their faces. "Scoots can't be gone! We just saw her, she can't be gone!" "Yeah! If she's gone, then where is she?" Diamond Tiara asked. Twilight raised an eyebrow at her. What did she know about... All these foals probably knew about how it worked by now. Rarity shook her head. "We couldn't find her, darlings. Only her remains." "Prove it to us," Sweetie Belle requested, tears leaking. "I won't believe Scoots is gone until I see proof." "Sweetie—" "Prove it to me!" The elements all looked at each other before they turned and nodded to Celestia. She retrieved the box from underneath her wing and held it out in front of them. She was really going to hate this. Once they were all in position, she popped the lid open, revealing the orange wings with blood all over them. Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle gasped before she snapped it shut. She did not want it to be imprinted in their minds. "We found them wedged between the blades of the filter in the Everfree Forest," Luna whispered. "We found more... But that is all we are saying." "We're so sorry girls," Twilight whispered, trying her hardest not to cry at their crestfallen faces. "We're really sorry." Rarity quickly pulled her sister into a hug before she started bawling into tears. She cried loudly, soaking her sister's coat and squeezing her tightly. Apple Bloom was no better. Applejack was crying along with her. Rainbow just couldn't hold it in no more before she too started bawling in the back. Twilight was leaking tears, prompting Celestia to pull her into a hug. This was going to be a hard year. She could tell already. The rest of the foals all went back to their parents to seek comfort while the two remaining Crusaders continued to sob loudly, along with Rainbow Dash. They stayed like that for maybe ten minutes before Apple Bloom had cried herself to sleep. "Let's get you home, Sugarcube," Applejack whispered. She grabbed her in her teeth and trotted back to the farm. "I have to get Sweetie home as well," Rarity told them. She grabbed Sweetie Belle's sleeping body in her magic and dropped her onto her back. "I'm afraid I won't be available for the rest of the day. I have to grab my parents and let them know Sweetie Belle's friend...has passed away." She made her way back to the boutique with the weeping filly on her back. That just left the five of them with a crying Rainbow Dash. Fluttershy turned to her and sighed. "Rainbow—" "I need to be alone," she whimpered before taking off into the sky, leaving Fluttershy with her mouth open. "This is disastrous," Celestia said sadly, She shook her head and turned to Twilight. "What will you do with the wings?" "They will be put in the hospital here in a freezer until Rainbow, the Crusaders, and possibly her parents are ready for a burial. That might be awhile from now though." She took the box in her magic and made her way towards the hospital with the other Elements behind her. "Thank you, Celestia." "You're welcome, my faithful student," she replied sadly. She and Luna took back off into the air, heading back to Canterlot while the Elements went and filed the report. As well as plan. This was going to be a hard year indeed. After Twilight had dropped the wings off at the hospital, she walked back out and was immediately surrounded by the parents of the foals. Not to mention Ms. Cheerilee. "What happened?" "Why is my baby crying?!" "Everypony, everypony, please!" Twilight yelled. "We just got back." "Princess Twilight," Ms. Cheerilee said timidly. "What happened?" Twilight sighed and looked to the ground for a moment. Then straightened up and answered, "We found... Her wings in the filter in the Everfree Forest. As well as blood and fur. We did not find her. There was a lot of blood and the blades were clogged when we got there by wood, but there is absolutely no way anypony could have survived that." Ms. Cheerilee whimpered and put a hoof over her eyes. She remembered that little filly. She taught her. "Did she ever have any parents, Ms. Cheerilee?" "If she did, I don't remember seeing, meeting, or greeting them," she whimpered. "Okay. I hope the class can transition after a time like this." "The school will more than likely be closed for two weeks starting tomorrow, your highness." "Okay." Twilight made her way to Town Hall, leaving the parents and teacher to hold and console their children. They were going to need it. The Crusaders definitely. That night, Sweetie Belle couldn't sleep. Nor could Apple Bloom. Both of them too teary eyed and busy reminiscing to do anything. Sweetie was crying so much she had hiccups. She was laying back in her bed, staring at the ceiling and sniffling back tears. Scootaloo... Her best friend was gone. There were three of them before. Now there's only two. Were they... Were they even the Crusaders anymore? "We're the the toughest little ponies in town," she sung quietly. ".........got the moves, got the mojo........no harder working ponies around.......we are a....." She whimpered before she turned over in her pillow and started crying again. It was so hard. They were only eleven. And Scootaloo had just got her cutie mark. "What was it even for?" She muttered into the pillow. "These... These stupid cutie marks." She looked at her flank, grimacing at the various purple hued shield with an eighth note inside of a purple star. Scootaloo had a lightning bolt inside of a wing. They had it for almost two years. And Scootaloo was so proud of hers. Oh, so proud. "The Cutie Mark Crusaders is a trio," she muttered, not taking her eyes off her flank. "What are we now? A duo? There is no Cutie Mark Crusaders with only two ponies. We have always had three. There is no two." She looked at her hooves, tears pouring down her face. "Scootaloo, we love you," she sobbed quietly, her voice becoming a whisper. "We love you so much. And I miss you so much. You were my first and best friend, I love you, please, please come back. Please come back to me." She was about to cry before a pair of hooves wrapped around her, pulling her into the pony's chest softly. "She loved you too, darling," Rarity whispered to her, rubbing her back. "And we all loved her." Their parents walked into the room and joined in the hug. "I miss her... I miss her so much," Sweetie cried. "I know dear," Cookie whispered. She leaned over and nuzzled her head. "I know." A few minutes after that, Sweetie had cried herself to sleep once again. So Rarity tucked her back underneath the covers and kissed her on the forehead before the three of them left the room, softly shutting the door behind them. Rarity sighed and turned to face her parents, her eyes full of worry. "She's falling," she told them. "I can see it now." Hondo reminded her, "Well we have to be there for her when it does happen. She's going to be a hoof of thorns in the future." "Her and Apple Bloom," Cookie added. "They're both taking this pretty hard." "I would as well if I lost Fluttershy," Rarity commented. Then turned back to the door that was Sweetie's room. There was a little filly in there who just lost her best friend. What next? She sighed and turned back to her parents. "I'll be ready in the morning for a bunch of retaliation and neglect. Are you staying the night?" "We'll be here in the morning," her mother promised. "We have to get some sleep in. As well as try to plan her future." "Very well. Good night, mother and father." "Good night, Rarity." The two of them walked back down the stairs and out the front door before it closed, leaving Rarity alone with her distraught and devastated sister. She looked back at the door once more before she sighed and walked briskly back to her own room to get some rest. Hopefully, Sweetie Belle will have good dreams. Hopefully. ~✶~ The next morning, the same expected thing happened in both of the families. The foals would not get up. No matter how many times they knocked on the door, called for them. They would not move. Eventually, they decided to just leave them alone. All of this was unexpected after all. Nopony expected Scootaloo just to... Leave everypony. It was so abrupt. So instant. Just thinking about it had Applejack leaking small tears while she worked on breakfast. She figured if Apple Bloom wasn't going to come down for breakfast, she would bring it up to her. She piled the eggs on the plate as well as some flapjacks before she set it on her hoof and turned around. Then nearly screamed at what she saw. Apple Bloom was standing in the doorway to the kitchen with her eyes narrowed and red with tears. She also wasn't wearing her large bow that would be tied behind her hair, so her mane was draped down over her right eye. She did always have a lot of hair. Applejack, Granny Smith, and Big Mac stared wide-eyed at her. They didn't even hear her door open. "Er... G-good mornin', Applebloom!" Applejack greeted enthusiastically. She didn't respond for ten full seconds. "I'll t-take my breakfast to go," she stuttered. Applejack sighed. She was trying to push down her feelings. That wasn't going to end well. At all. But Applejack would just let it be for now. "Okay." She put the food on a foam plate and hoofed it to Apple Bloom who snatched it with her teeth and made her way outside where her saddlebags were, leaving the family in worry. Once the door shut, she set the plate down for a moment so she could put the bags on, then picked it back up again before she made her way towards the entrance of the farm, taking note of all the happy looking trees. Just full of fruit. What the hay were they so happy about?! She ran over to one and bucked it, successfully knocking down all the apples before she continued on her way. Stupid bucking trees mocking her. Mocking Scootaloo. She stopped for a moment by the gate to eat her food. It was a nice day. Nice day for Twilight's birthday bash. Ugh. And speak of the devil, looks like some Royalty have arrived. She looked up and spotted Princess Cadance and Shining Armor flying by chariot overhead. Don't let the death of her best friend stop you from having your twenty-first, Sparkles. Apple Bloom groaned and threw her empty plate on the ground before she continued on her trek towards the town. She had somepony to grab. And something important to do. After a few more minutes of walking the dirt path she made her way into the town, eyes on the banners and smiling faces. Why the hay were they so happy?! She sighed loudly before continuing on her way. Thankfully, nopony stopped her yet. But that could only last but so long. Pinkie slid out in front of her and greeted happily, "Hiya, Applebloom!" Apple Bloom jumped back in surprise before rolling and narrowing her eyes. Looks like Pinkie's okay now. Well... Okay for her. "I made ya' a cake! Have some!" She thrust a slice into her mouth. Applebloom's eyes fly open in shock. She stared at Pinkie, not even moving her eyes or mouth before she spat the cupcake out on the ground. "MOVE IT, PIE!" Pinkie yelped at her exclamation before she dove to the side, getting out of the raging filly's path. "I don't want no dang cake!" The ponies nearby looked at her in surprise and a little in sadness before she continued along her way, heading towards a certain store and a weird carousel home. She walked through the square and glanced towards the vegetable stand, which was right next to a food table. Looks like the party was going to be underway in a few minutes. Well they're going to have their own. She walked into a nearby store and grabbed some chemicals, water, and strings. Not to mention tubes and more things. She also grabbed some paint. All different shades of purple and a little orange. Once she paid for it, and ignored the store clerk's rambling, she walked out with her saddlebags full, making her way to the boutique. There was her one remaining friend left in there waiting. And probably still in bed if she's anything like her sister. On the way, she looked towards the Castle of Friendship, spotting Twilight making her way out the doors. Princesses Celestia, Luna, and Cadance was right there beside her, including Shining Armor. Making conversation and smiling. Maybe someday she could smile again. Probably not though. She continued on her way, passing by Sugarcube Corner and soon arriving at Rarity's Boutique. She heard some voices inside before she pushed the door open with a groan. The ponies in there stopped their talking and looked her way, a little surprised. Rarity and her parents were in the kitchen discussing what to do when Apple Bloom walked in with a bag full of stuff. What was she doing with a spray can? "Oh good morning, precious!" Cookie greeted. "How are you?" Apple Bloom just rolled her red and teary eyes before she huffed and headed up the stairs, destination apparently obvious. "Uh, Apple Bloom?" Rarity called out, trying to grab her attention. She continued walking. "Sweetie Belle doesn't want to see anypony right now." She ignored her and stopped at her final friend's door, banging on it. "Sweetie! Let's go!" She yelled, making the adults' ears ring. "We gotta do this last thing before we call it in!" The door opened immediately, revealing Sweetie Belle's soggy eyes. They stared at each other for a moment before sighing. "So... This is it?" Sweetie whispered. "Yeah.....this is it, Sweetie. It's over." Sweetie glanced to the floor before she sniffed and wiped her eyes, nodding in response. "Alright. Let me get one more thing." she walked back in her room and grabbed her cutie mark crusaders cape before she trotted back to the door. "Let's go." She walked out and closed the door behind her while Apple Bloom walked back down the stairs. She followed along shortly, still sniffling, walking right past Rarity and her parents. She glanced at them for a moment, meeting their worried gazes, before the two walked out the door and Sweetie Belle slammed it behind her. Rarity and the parents shared a glance before shrugging. At least she's out of her room. Hopefully she wouldn't make any mistakes. "So, Twilight," Shining glanced with a hint of tease in his voice. She glanced over at him from her throne before she rolled her eyes. Here he goes. "How does it feel to be my age when I was your age?" Twilight looked at him in confusion while Cadance chuckled. The party was in full swing at this point, ponies dancing left and right. Including Pinkie Pie, who didn't have much to do except clean up the mess that Applebloom made. "Well... I guess...fine?" She responded, unsure. "I just turned twenty one this morning. You can't expect me to be old like you, Shining." Cadance laughed at her husband's shocked face while Twilight just winked at him. "Uhh... Well, then!" He said, pointing his muzzle up in the air. "I take that as a compliment." "Whatever you say, Mr. Armor. Isn't Shining Armor old, Flurry?" The foal in her hooves laughed and nodded, not really understanding what was going on. She was biased in this situation anyway. Shining groaned and put his face in his hooves. "What exactly are we going to do?" A voice said from behind them. Twilight's ears twitched, recognizing that voice. Sweetie Belle. Looks like they're out of the house. She looked over at Celestia and Luna who both were staring back at her in realization. They must've heard her too. "We're doing this one last thing that she would absolutely love," Apple Bloom answered. They walked past the stage and into view, stopping and staring at the party. She slowly shook her head, tempted to just go over and ruin everything. But she had something to do. Ruining the party could wait. "Something totally... Awesome." The two carried on their way before Sweetie Belle stopped and glanced at the Princesses, who were watching in return. Cadance didn't really know what was going on yet. But those cold and lifeless eyes were a sure indicator it was bad. Sweetie Belle looked back forward before she followed after the emo looking Apple Bloom, who was watching in patience. Once she was close enough they continued on their way. "What was that about?" Shining asked, looking up at Twilight who sighed and lowered her head. "Yesterday, tragedy struck Ponyville," she responded, shocking the two of them. "What?! Is everypony alright?" Cadance asked in worry. Twilight sighed and shook her head, "Not everypony. A few years ago, there were three fillies. In the past, they were really impatient for their Cutie Marks. So they created a secret society known as the Cutie Mark Crusaders. Apple Bloom, Sweetie Belle, and Scootaloo. Scootaloo was a special case. She idolized Rainbow Dash and always wanted to fly. She was a pegasus but had a wing deformity where she couldn't get off the ground. It would hinder her, but it wouldn't stop her. Anyway, they would go around trying to find their special talents by trying out different skills, or jobs. You name it, they've done it. And caused a lot of damage in the process." Twilight chuckled a little in nostalgia before continuing. "Eventually, they did get their Cutie Marks. They were all the same shape. Identical. And it was for helping other foals discover their own talents so they could gain their cutie marks. They loved each other. So much that you could never catch them alone. They stuck together and never left each other's side. Until yesterday." "What happened?" Shining asked. Twilight breathed really hard before she told the tale. "I don't know the specifics of how it got to this point. But I was doing my Princess duties when a loud, extremely loud, agony and pain-filled screamed pierced through the air. Everypony in Ponyville heard it. And it was a filly's. So I suspected the worse. I quickly gathered up all the foals in Ponyville here in the square. I took an attendance and discovered that Scootaloo wasn't present." "So she called for us," Celestia took over. "We searched over Ponyville before a guard said she went into the Everfree Forest. We all followed after and quickly searched before we came to a river, or more specifically, rapids." "Oh no," Shining muttered. "We paid it no mind before Rainbow pointed something out," Twilight said. "The river goes through different cities to get to the other side of Equestria. So it had a filter in front of it made of... Blades that chop up wood and anything else so it doesn't clog. But at this moment it was clogged. And Rainbow saw and pointed out an orange object at the top of a stopped blade. I quickly rushed over and turned off the machine to get a closer look. But Rainbow Dash recognized it immediately." She sighed and rubbed her eyes before she told them what it was. "It was a wing. A small orange premature pegasus wing. And it was bloody." Cadance gasped and held a hoof up to her mouth. "Celestia and Luna quickly tore apart the blades and I went inside to investigate. And what I found confirmed my worst fears." "She was..." Shining whispered. "Yes. She was sucked in. The water inside was still and smelled of blood. A lot of it. She's gone. And her friends aren't taking it well." The two fillies climbed a hill that overlooked the town of Ponyville below, full of ponies dancing, eating, then they'll be passing out presents. Hmph. "We're creatin' the big bangs, Sweetie," Applebloom announced. She placed her saddlebags on the ground and dumped out its contents. There were paint cans and a lot of other cans containing some type of powder. As well as a lot more materials. "This powder is what we'll use to create the rockets. We're using the paint to put..." She swallowed hard. "To put her mark on the grass. Our marks. Then we'll go and do the burial." Sweetie Belle nodded while Apple Bloom blew her long red mane out of the way of her eyes. She took out the materials and prepared the rockets while Sweetie Belle prepared the area for painting. As well as put on her bandana to cover her mouth and nose. Apple Bloom did the same. Once they were ready, they started painting. And building. Constructing. And digging. It was late afternoon when Twilight's party finished, meaning everypony was about to head home. It was a great day. Even if it was a light packing. Right now, everyone was cleaning up, ignoring the yellow coated, red maned filly knocking on doors and yelling, "Let's go!" Twilight took note of all the foals behind her before she abandoned the line and walked towards the Princesses. "Where is she?" She asked Twilight. She raised an eyebrow, not truly understanding what she meant before it clicked. She nodded and made her way to the hospital right across from the Square. A few minutes later, she walked back out, levitating the rubber black box and set it on Apple Bloom's back. "Aren't you going to wait for—" "Death waits for no pony," Apple Bloom interrupted her. She turned and walked back towards the line of foals, leading them back towards wherever they went earlier, the foals right behind her. "Should we at least pay our respects to a foal who lost their life unwillingly? It seems they are already doing it." Luna asked. "Yes," Twilight responded. "Let's go." The group of six royals walked behind the crowd of foals, who were quickly joined by the Elements. Including Rainbow, who was paler than last time. No words were spoken. None had to be. They were soon joined by most of the town, all wanting to pay their respects. Apple Bloom turned onto a hill where at the very top there was a large black blanket covering up something that was pointing up. But above that, on the grass, there was a pre dug hole. A grave. And Sweetie Belle, who was still wearing her bandana and leaning on a shovel, staring oddly at the group. Her eyes were narrowed like she were upset. But if she was remained a mystery. There were a lot of flowers behind her, mostly Roses and Bouquets. Once close enough, Apple Bloom turned to the side. Sweetie Belle, making her sister proud, levitated the box containing her wings off her back and held it over the grave. The foals nearby, Rainbow Dash, and Ms. Cheerilee quickly gathered around and either grabbed a bouquet of Flowers, or a rose and waited. Apple Bloom sighed while Sweetie Belle lowered her Bandana. "Well Scoots," Applebloom said, grabbing everypony's attention. "This is ya' final journey. You never told us ya' didn't have parents. So we're takin' over. Nopony else, you're our friend. The Cutie Mark Crusaders will never be the same without ya'." She stopped and looked at the black blanket before focusing on the box again. "So we're callin' it quits. The Cutie Mark Crusaders have been deprecated." The ponies nearby gasped before she continued. "We are a trio. Not a duo. If the whole trio can't be there, it will not be. The Clubhouse has been locked and every single thing involving the Cutie Mark Crusaders has been archived. So this........will be our last crusade. Here. On the Hill of Greatness. Sweetie Belle?" Sweetie Belle abandoned her spot and walked towards the black blanket while still levitating the black box. She grabbed a corner of it and ripped it off, making the ponies widen their eyes at what was underneath it. On the grass were perfectly spray painted versions of their Cutie Marks. And directly below that was a purple version of the Cutie Mark Crusaders symbol. And in the middle of the Cutie Marks were rockets. Fireworks. Two of them, on the far left and right, were way smaller than the the one in the middle. Wrapped around each of them were their capes. How they got Scootaloo's they'll never know. Sweetie Belle walked back to the grave site and handed Apple Bloom a shovel before she lowered the wings slowly into the grave. The ponies nearby walked closer to pay their biggest respects. Once it was softly on the ground below, the two previous crusaders threw in their flowers. They then stepped aside and motioned for everyone else. It took awhile and it was sunset before they had all said their words. Sweetie Belle and Apple Bloom quickly grabbed their shovels and trotted to the pile of dirt. They both took a scoop of it then turned back around, looking down into the grave. The two shared a glance before nodding and shifting the shovels, sending down the dirt, completing the tradition and causing Rainbow Dash to whimper. Fluttershy wrapped a wing around her, pulling her close. The Crusaders threw the shovels aside, stood on top of the pile, and started using their hooves to fill in the hole. After five minutes, it was completely full, leaving a small brown patch of dirt on the ground, sticking out amongst the rich green grass around them. Applebloom reached into the saddlebags nearby and pulled out a hoof full of apple seeds and planted them on the grave. Then she grabbed a bottle of water and lightly poured it on the spot. Applejack squeezed her eyes close and smile. She then tossed the bottle aside and grabbed her bandana from around her neck, placing it over her muzzle. She and Sweetie Belle walked towards the rockets in uniform, and took a seat in front of the grave. "Sweetie Belle? If you would?" The unicorn glanced at her with her cold eyes before directing her attention back to the rockets and lit her horn. "This is our last crusade, Scootaloo," Sweetie said loudly, making sure everyone heard. "If you're still alive, we hope you can find your way back. And if not, we love you and will always love you. We're about to take flight, Scoots. Hold on. CUTIE MARK CRUSADER ONE! TAKE FLIGHT!" Applebloom's rocket lit up for a moment before a stream of fire shot out of its end and it launched with a roar. Everyone looked at it soar until it was a faint object. Then it exploded into Apple Bloom's cutie mark. The Princesses gasped. They were not expecting that. And the design was big enough to cover half of Ponyville. "CUTIE MARK CRUSADER THREE! TAKE FLIGHT!" Sweetie Belle yelled. Her rocket launched into the sky, going at the same height as Apple Bloom's and exploding into Sweetie Belle's cutie mark. Once that was out of the way, they looked towards the large one in the middle and saluted. "CUTIE MARK CRUSADER TWO! TAKE...YOUR VERY FIRST FLIGHT!" Sweetie Belle lit her horn before the giant rocket in the middle took off with a much louder roar. It flew higher and higher, going past the distance of the others before it finally exploded into the biggest explosion Equestria has ever heard. And seen. A giant white light bathed over the darkened town of Ponyville, lighting the whole city, before it disappeared, revealing something beautiful. It was an Aurora. An Aurora shaped and colored like Scootaloo's cutie mark. Magic. "Congratulations, Cutie Mark Crusader Scootaloo," the two said, grabbing everypony's attention. "You just took your first flight. We love you."