Sweetie Belle sprang to her hooves, and trotted out the door.
Rarity closed the door and followed behind Sweetie Belle.
Sweetie Belle turned to face her sister. "Twilight told me how much you enjoyed using the magical wings spell."
"Did Twilight also tell you how much trouble she had controlling the spell?" said Rarity. "You shouldn't be casting..."
Rarity began to rise into the air as a cocoon of magic formed around her.
The air shimmered and the magic flashed, leaving Rarity in mid-air under the power of her butterfly wings.
"See, I can do it," panted Sweetie Belle.
"I didn't say that you couldn't do it," said Rarity, "I said that you shouldn't do it. I didn't want you to expend that much magic before your concert, and I'd have been fine just walking on clouds."
"Then I would have had to carry you up to Cloudsdale," said Sweetie Belle. "Besides, your 'seat' isn't on ground level anyway. None of the good seats are."
"Then what would I have done if the spell had failed?" asked Rarity.
"It wasn't going to fail," said Sweetie Belle, as she slowly took to the air.
Rarity sighed and took off after her.
----
Sweetie Belle carefully measured her pace so her sister could keep up with her. She looked back and saw Rarity floating along, clearly enjoying herself. She slowed down further.
She went over her upcoming performance in her head, without a word spoken between her and her sister, as she got closer to Cloudsdale.
She broke out of her mental practicing when Rarity pulled on her tail, and pointed at the city. Looking up, Cloudsdale seemed ablaze with torchlight.
Sweetie Belle touched down on the clouds with Rarity landing beside her.
"Break a leg," said Rarity.
"Actually," said Sweetie Belle, "the ancient pegasi used a...never mind. Thanks Rarity."
Sweetie Belle watched as Rarity fluttered off, then she sighed and took a moment to absorb the ambiance of the city. She shook herself off, cast a quick spell to freshen up her coat and mane, then followed with another spell which hid her horn.
She took a wide path around the event area, avoiding the hundreds of pegasi that were flooding in to see the spectacle.
Sweetie Belle flew around the stage, and came to a landing at the edge of the cloud platform, well behind the throne. She dismissed her invisibility and walked slowly towards the wind harps.
She took her position between the harps and tried to relax, alternatively watching the audience, and the actor ponies taking their marks on the stage.
Horns rang out from the opposite end of the space, signalling the beginning of event.
Sweetie Belle quickly went over the song in her mind one last time, then after taking a deep breath, she flexed her wings.
The haunting tones of a three thousand year old melody rose from the wind harps.
Sweetie Belle took care to play each note with precision, what few butterflies she had in her stomach vanishing, as each note was played correctly.
The audience gave her music their rapt attention.
Sweetie Belle continued, her training allowing her to scan the audience for their reactions while still playing well.
She noted their reactions and it encouraged her to play even better, working through the most complicated section with ease.
The piece slowed as it neared its ending, Sweetie Belle holding each note for maximum effect.
She felt her flank glow as she played the final notes of the piece.
The music faded, leaving the area in a state of complete silence.
She glanced at her new cutie mark, a lunar moth in flight, trailing musical notes in its wake, and it took all her strength to not interrupt the proceedings.
Princess Luna walked down the aisle to the dais where an actor playing Commander Hurricane the Fourth was standing.
"While some may have attempted to win us over with words, you have won us over by deeds," said Hurricane. "The trust of the pegasi is not easily won, but in so doing, you have proven yourself worthy. We have made our decision."
Princess Luna turned to the assembled pegasi.
"I pledge to respect the customs of the pegasi, that their traditions shall not falter under my rule, that they will retain their unique heritage over the span of time
"I will soar with the spirit of the pegasi. This union shall not fail to earthly desires.
"I will spread my wings over the pegasi, and keep them safe from harm in the stormiest times.
"This and more shall I do til the end of time, or my place within it."
"I accept your pledge, and yield the throne to Princess Luna," said Hurricane.
Hurricane exchanged places with Princess Luna.
"I accept your fealty," said Luna.
A cheer rang out from the other pegasi.
Luna waited until the noise died down.
"As Princess of the pegasi and Equestria, I have chosen this time and place to induct another into our order. It has a special sentiment to me, and I could think of no better place to do so. Sweetie Belle, please stand.
"Do you, Sweetie Belle, swear to serve Equestria to the best of your abilities?"
"I object," said Prince Blueblood. "She is distinctly unqualified to be a Princess, both in temperament and training. As such she is an unfit candidate."
"Our sister's nephew, Blueblood the..." said Luna. "Just which number are you up to now?" She paused for a couple of seconds. "Diluted by 67 generations has decided that he is more knowledgeable about who should be a Princess than we, who stood before you, long before that ancestor was even born.
"We think you should sit down before you embarrass yourself further and remember that we are not as forgiving as our sister."
Blueblood seemed even paler than usual, as he slunk down into his seat.
"I do swear," said Sweetie Belle.
"Then I declare you a princess, with all responsibilities that go with the position," said Luna.
An even louder cheer rang out from the audience.
When the cheering died down, music began to play in the background, and some of the pegasi started to sky dance. Refreshments were carted out from several hidden locations around the stage to the delight of other pegasi who approached the grub with little sense of order.
Luna and Rarity glided over to Sweetie Belle.
Sweetie Belle looked to Luna, who nodded.
"I present you the deed to lot 5780," said Sweetie Belle. "This is a sizable, but currently vacant shop right across from the Canterlot Opera House."
"You are giving me a shop in Canterlot?" muttered Rarity.
"I know it's a dream of yours to own a shop in Canterlot," said Sweetie Belle, "and it became available."
"I don't know what to say," said Rarity.
"It is not totally selfless. I will be moving to Canterlot to apprentice under Luna, and I wanted it to be easier for us to see each other."
"Are you sure you want to make such a commitment?" asked Rarity.
"Well, with Apple Bloom, Celestia, Cadance, Scootaloo, and Twilight active during the day, some pony had to take the night with Luna. It just wouldn't be right for her to be alone, and besides, she needs me."
"If you think it best," said Rarity, "I'll support your decision."
"It truly is," said Sweetie Belle.
"Then with that settled," said Rarity as she began to twirl Sweetie Belle, "I have a boutique in Canterlot."
-----
The moon was directly overhead as Scootaloo left Cloudsdale. Sweetie Belle getting her cutie mark filled her with a sense of nostalgia, and she soon found herself flying over the clubhouse where it all started. She descended and entered the old clubhouse.
A layer of dust covered the room, and a small water stain was distinctly visible in front of the podium. The fireflies had long escaped the lantern that hung over podium. Scootaloo concentrated and it began to emit a soft light.
As she stood in the middle of the clubhouse, she noted that it wasn't the signs of neglect that really got to her most, it was the size of the place. It just somehow felt smaller.
Scootaloo heard the door open behind her.
"Hey, Scootaloo," said Apple Bloom. "I saw the light on, and well, I guess you feel the same as I do about now."
"We had a lot of fun times in this place," said Scootaloo.
"Yeah," said Apple Bloom, "lots of fun times."
"And now it's done," said Scootaloo.
"Sweetie Belle sure did look good out there," said Apple Bloom.
"Mhmm," said Scootaloo. "I guess now we just have the cutesenera to plan."
"I know we agreed to wait until we all had our marks to do it," said Apple Bloom, "but somehow..."
"I know," said Scootaloo. "I certainly don't need a bunch of gifts with my cutie mark on them. My budget is high enough to buy anything I'd want, even if I hadn't emblazoned it on my stuff myself already."
"And then there would be the guards," said Apple Bloom, "and all the ponies and griffons that would want to be there just because you are princesses and all. I had enough of Tiara sucking up to me. I don't need to be the center of attention."
"So that's it then," said Scootaloo.
"I reckon it is," said Apple Bloom.
"Let the final meeting of the Cutie Mark Crusaders come to order," said Scootaloo from behind the podium.
Sweetie Belle flew in through the open door. "I hope I'm not too late."
"Fashionably late as usual," said Scootaloo. "You do seem to have your sister's sense of timing."
"I did have quite the big night," said Sweetie Belle.
"You sure did," said Scootaloo. "Welcome to the club."
Sweetie Belle giggled. "Yeah, I guess I joined the princess club as well as gaining my cutie mark."
"Don't look at me," said Apple Bloom.
"I admit I was kind of surprised to see you all here, although I probably shouldn't be. I came to collect my things from up above, now that I'm moving to Canterlot."
"Canterlot isn't all that far away you know," said Scootaloo.
"My new nocturnal schedule might also interfere," said Sweetie Belle.
Scootaloo sighed. "We all have things in our lives that limit us. While it may not be as easy for us to get together..actually..one last time.."
The Crusaders joined hooves.
"Let us always keep our friendship alive," said Apple Bloom.
"No matter how far our duties take us," said Scootaloo.
"We always were Crusaders," said Sweetie Belle.
"Cutie Mark Crusaders, completed!" shouted all three.
They shared a heart-felt hug together.