The Cutie Mark Crusaders were cleaning up their clubhouse in Ponyville. When everything was done, they were very pleased.
“Well, Crusaders,” Apple Bloom said, “this place is shinier than apples freshly picked.”
“You’re right, Apple Bloom.” Sweetie Belle stated. “Anyone coming over should not come to a dirty clubhouse.”
Then, a knock was heard from the door. Scootaloo answered the door. “Come in.”
The door opened. In steps a human girl with blonde pigtails, a white shirt and pink overalls. Sweetie Belle recognized the girl. “Hey, you guys. It’s Molly!”
The Crusaders were very pleased as Molly comes in their clubhouse.
“Hi, Cutie Mark Crusaders.” Molly greeted. “I hope you don’t mind me visiting.”
“Not at all.” Apple Bloom cheered. “What brings y’all here anyway?”
Molly explained her visit. “My mom and dad were ready to have a babysitter arrive when we saw one of Rainbow Dash’s friends from the Wonderbolts, Soarin Skies, come along. They figured a day in Ponyville is better than leaving me with a babysitter. So, here I am.”
“Works for me.” Scootaloo added.
Molly looks around. She sees the pictures of all the ponies they helped. “So, these are all the ponies that are grateful to you three.”
“Yep.” Apple Bloom answered. “For a while, Sweetie Belle, Scootaloo, and I wondered how we'll ever gonna get our Cutie Marks.”
“Just then,” Sweetie Belle continued, “Diamond Tiara helped us by standing up to her mother. That’s when we realized, we can help other blank flanks find their destinies so they can obtain their Cutie Marks.”
“That’s how we got ours.” Scootaloo finished. “And, we’ve been helping others ever since.”
Molly looks at their cutie marks, and is impressed. “Your Cutie Marks are all shields. Each shield holds a different meaning.”
“Explain, if you know.”
Molly approaches Apple Bloom. “For instance, Apple Bloom. Your shield had a big apple with a heart in it. Must be to symbolize your love for your family.”
“That’s right.” Apple Bloom realized. “Y’all are very clever.”
Molly then comes to Sweetie Belle. “Sweetie Belle. Your shield has a big star with a music note in it. That means you want to be a star like your sister, Rarity.”
Sweetie Belle blushed. “I never thought about that.”
“And finally,” Molly finished, “Scootaloo. Your shield has a wing with a lightning bolt in it. A symbol of your devotion to Rainbow Dash.”
Scootaloo’s eyes widened. “That’s so cool. Good thinking, Molly.”
They all hear the voice of Diamond Tiara call to them. “Hey, Cutie Mark Crusaders!”
Apple Bloom answers the call. “Howdy, Diamond Tiara. What brings you here?”
“Silver Spoon and I saw something amazing near your home at Sweet Apple Acres.” Diamond Tiara answered. “You all have to look at this!”
Hearing the call, the Cutie Mark Crusaders exited the clubhouse, to be with their friend.
“I hope you don’t mind,” Sweetie Belle said, “we have another friend with us.”
Sweetie Belle gave a loud whistle. And, Molly came out to join the group.
“Oh my.” Diamond Tiara yelped. “Molly. Nice to see you again.”
“Good to see you too, Diamond Tiara.” Molly replied. “What’s this thing you and Silver Spoon found?”
“Friends, follow me.”
Molly and the Cutie Mark Crusaders followed Diamond Tiara to a wooded area near Sweet Apple Acres. They soon met up with Silver Spoon.
“Diamond.” Silver Spoon greeted. “You and the Crusaders are here.”
“Of course, Silver.” Diamond Tiara replied. “And, we brought someone else.”
Silver Spoon spotted Molly joining the young foals. “Hi there, Molly.”
“Hi, Silver Spoon.” Molly called out. “Diamond Tiara told us you found something.”
“I sure did.”
Silver Spoon pointed her hoof to behind her. “This!”
The youngsters saw something fantastic. An old playground with a swing set, monkey bars, a seesaw, and a slide. All of which is littered with garbage, leaves and the equipment is all covered with vines.
“Whoa!” Scootaloo yelped. “Look at this place.”
“Last time I was here,” Apple Bloom recalled, “I was a baby. Granny took me to this place, and we both watched Applejack and Big Macintosh play here.”
“Looks like this place had seen better days.” Molly sadly uttered.
Diamond Tiara looked at this old playground. “I think my mother told me about this place.”
“Too bad nopony can play here now.” Silver stated. “With all this trash around and the equipment shot, this place is run down.”
Just then, Sweetie Belle got an idea. “Maybe this place can be restored.”
“How do you figure that, Sweetie Belle?” Molly asked.
“Maybe if we can clean up this place, then new equipment can be put here.”
“I get it.” Scootaloo figured. “We save time by cleaning this place ourselves.”
The friends all agree with the idea.
“In a case like this,” Diamond Tiara proudly said, “even I don’t mind getting my hooves dirty.”
Apple Bloom prepared to start the project. “Since my home is near here, I can get some tools and garbage bags so we can start cleaning.”
“I’ll come with you, Apple Bloom.” Molly suggested. “You’ll need help carrying that stuff.”
“Good idea, Molly. Let’s go.”
As Apple Bloom and Molly head for Sweet Apple Acres, little does anyone know is that the mean foal, Babs Seed, was spying on the group. “Wait until I tell Spoiled Rich about this. She’ll punish Diamond Tiara for sure.”
Babs Seed zipped off for Ponyville. Meanwhile, Molly and Apple Bloom arrived at Sweet Apple Acres. Applejack spotted them coming.
“Howdy, sis. Howdy, Molly.” Applejack greeted.
“Hi, Applejack.” Molly responded. “We need a little favor from you.”
Apple Bloom explained the situation. “Do you remember the old playground near here?”
“I sure do.” Applejack answered.
“Well, we and four others are planning to clean up the place so new equipment can be place in there.”
“Wow! If anypony cares about that place, it might as well be the kids.”
“That’s right.” Molly agreed. “So, we wonder if you got some cleaning tools and garbage bags we can use.”
Applejack thinks that this is a good idea. “I think you’re on to something, Molly. Wait here for a moment.”
Applejack went to the shed to get what’s needed. Later, Apple Bloom and Molly came back with rakes, garbage bags, and other cleaning supplies.
“You got the stuff.” Diamond Tiara cheered. “Excellent.”
“We sure did.” Molly replied.
Sweetie Belle then got things started. “Let’s get to work!”
The six youngsters got busy. They picked up the trash, raked up the leaves, and used clippers to remove the vines. One hour later, the park was cleaned up.
“Whew!” Diamond Tiara gasped. “I never knew hard work would be rewarding. This place looks better than ever.”
“Cool!” Scootaloo chirped. “All we need now is new equipment. And, this playground will be usable again.”
Suddenly, Babs Seed arrived with Diamond Tiara’s parents with her.
“Diamond Tiara!” Her mother, Spoiled Rich yelled. “What have you been doing?”
Diamond Tiara saw that her mother was getting miffed. “If you must know, me and my friends were cleaning this old playground. Hopefully, it can be restored.”
“Forget it!” Babs Seed growled. “Your mother doesn’t want you to do manual work. Now, you and these other brats are in big trouble!”
Spoiled Rich looked at the playground. She soon developed a sense of honor. “Wow! I remember being here when I was a foal myself. Diamond, it took a lot courage for you, Silver Spoon, and the Cutie Mark Crusaders to care about this place.”
“Mother,” Diamond indicated, “don’t forget our human friend, Molly, helped too.”
Shyly, Molly steps forward as Spoiled Rich approached her.
“My daughter is right, Molly.” Spoiled said as she gives Molly a hug. “You’re a true friend.”
“Thank you.” Molly cooed.
“I’ll be back with some workers and materials needed to fix this playground.” Filthy Rich informed.
“Take Babs Seed with you.” Scootaloo suggested. “She’s cramping our good deed.”
Filthy Rich soon walked back to Ponyville with Babs Seed being taken back too.
“Sorry, Miss Seed.” Filthy Rich said. “Better luck next time.”
Babs Seed growled, knowing her plan to get Diamond Tiara and her friends in trouble was ruined. Hours later, the playground is restored, new monkey bars, swings, a slide, a seesaw, and a new sandbox were put in. Mayor Mare gives a speech to citizens of Ponyville.
“Fillies and Gentlecolts.” The mayor announced. “This old playground is now given new life, and is safe for all foals to play in. We must also congratulate these fine youngsters, Silver Spoon, Diamond Tiara, Molly Williams, and the Cutie Mark Crusaders. They helped clean up this place, ready for the restoration.”
Everyone clapped and cheered for the six youngsters. Soon, Photo Finish had them line up for a picture. Scootaloo, Apple Bloom, and Sweetie Belle on the bottom, and Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon above them. Photo, however, had a thought.
“Molly.” Photo Finish called. “How about being in the picture?”
Molly got confused. “Me? Why?”
“You helped out quite a lot. You are getting credit too.”
Happy to hear that, Molly makes her way to the group. She stands between Silver and Diamond. The six youngsters smiled as Photo Finish took the picture.
Helping in something like this makes those involved feel good. Even Diamond Tiara.
THE END