A single carriage descended upon Ponyville, pulled by two Royal Guard pegasi. The occupant disembarked and nodded to the pegasi, stopping for a moment to enjoy the warm breeze caressing her face.
“It was a pleasure, princess. How long will you be staying?”
The mare rolled her eyes. “I already asked you not to call me that. And for a week.”
“It was something we were told to do by another princess, princess.”
The mare scoffed. “Of course. And I’ll bet I know exactly who that is. She’d find that hilarious. Thanks for the ride, you guys can leave.”
Shaking her head, the mare made her way to the castle, muttering something about kicking Rainbow Dash’s flank. Tepidly pushing the door open, she had to shield her eyes as the warmly lit interior contrasted poorly with the gentle sunset outside.
Immediately there was a cacophony of voices directed at the mare. Two very specific ones, choroused by two mares, stood out the most.
“Scootaloo!”
Scootaloo immediately found herself on the bottom of a dogpile as Applebloom and Sweetie Belle both threw themselves onto their friend.
“Land sake Scoot! It’s been forever!” Applebloom shouted.
“Yeah!” Sweetie Belle agreed. “And congratulations!”
Chuckling, Scootaloo crawled out of the pile and pulled her friends into a hug.
“Thanks! I’m just as shocked as I am proud that I finally got it. All those years of college, but it finally paid off!”
“I’m real proud of you, Scootaloo.” Applebloom grinned.
“Actually, that’s Doctor Scootaloo now!” Sweetie Belle grinned too.
“Oh, I love it when you call me that~” Scootaloo purred, smiling at Sweetie Belle with half lidded eyes.
“Gay.” Applebloom chuckled.
“You’re gay!” Scootaloo fired back.
“This is true.” Applebloom nodded.
“Do my eyes deceive me?” Came a raspy voice from behind Scootaloo.
Scootaloo’s eyes lit up and she spun around, throwing herself into the embrace of the pony right behind her.
“Mom!”
“Hey kiddo.” Rainbow gave Scootaloo a tired smile, tousling her mane. “I’m so dang proud of you. And it’s so good to see you.”
Scootaloo chuckled, looking her mother up and down.
“I see you went with the Spitfire manestyle, mom. And is that…” Scootaloo let out a mock gasp, pointing at Rainbow’s mane. “Is that a gray hair I see?”
“Pfft.” Rainbow scoffed. “It is not, Princess Doctor Scootaloo.”
Scootaloo let out a guffaw. “That reminds me, screw you for insisting all the guards have to call me princess now.”
“It is your title.”
“Oh, okay Princess Captain Rainbow Dash.” Scootaloo teased.
Rainbow Dash made a face at that. “Alright, fair point, I’ll take my order back.”
Scootaloo giggled and shook her head. “Is Twilight here?”
Rainbow shook her head sadly. “She said she’d try her best to make it. She’s... probably still on her way.”
“...Oh.”
Rainbow chuckled. “Don’t worry kiddo, I know she’ll find a way to be here. It’s not every day your daughter comes home with a Doctorate.”
Scootaloo gave a small smile.
“Pluuuusss,” Rainbow started. “She also said she was planning on bringing along somebody very special. Somebody who you haven’t seen in over a year?”
Scootaloo gasped. “Flur is coming?”
Rainbow smiled and nodded.
“YES!” Scootaloo shouted, taking to the air and doing a flip.
Moments later the castle doors opened and a large mare stepped in..
“MOOOOM!” Scootaloo cried as she and Rainbow tackled Twilight in tandem.
Twilight fell over, laughing with the other two, and pulled them into a hug.
“And how are my girls?”
“Still totally awesome!” Rainbow replied.
“I’m great! And it’s so good to see you again!” Scootaloo squealed, hugging the alicorn tighter.
“It’s good to see you too, Scootaloo.” Twilight smiled. “I know I haven’t been able to check in with you recently, how has college been? Do you have any friends coming with you?”
“Well,” Scootaloo frowned. “As I am the daughter of the ruler of Equestria and the Captain of the Wonderbolts, and technically royalty, I was a bit… more popular than I’d like. Most ponies only really wanted to talk to me because of my title. I only managed to make some real friends after falling on my face about a thousand times in dance club, but all those ponies are busy with their own stuff.”
“Aw,” Twilight smiled sympathetically. “That makes sense. Sorry, sweetie.”
Scootaloo pursed her lips. “Yeah, and you don’t have to worry or anything. Everyone is okay and there are no concerns."
"Trust me, I'm not. Glad they’re doing well.” Twilight continued smiling.
Scootaloo blinked. “...Who are you?”
Twilight chuckled. “I’m Twilight Sparkle, leader of Equestria, wife of the coolest pegasus ever, and mother of one of the most amazing ponies known to ponykind. You may have heard of me.”
Scootaloo’s eyes flitted between Rainbow’s face and Twilight’s face. Twilight’s face showed nothing but a neutral smile, but Rainbow Dash was laughing into her hoof.
“I was… uh… expecting more of an… animated response from you.” Scootaloo admitted.
Twilight tittered. “Being the leader of Equestria means I needed to learn to be a little better at ‘chilling out’, as your mother says. Plus, being married to her for thirteen years has weathered me down a bit.”
Scootaloo hummed. “I mean, that makes sense, I guess.”
Scootaloo was interrupted again as the door to the castle swung open again, revealing one mare, one stallion, and one foal.
“Hey, you guys!.” Scootaloo chirped, throwing a hug around Cadance, Shining Armor, and Flurry Heart.
“Scootaloo!” Flurry Heart eagerly accepted the hug. “It’s been forever!”
“It really has.” Scootaloo sighed. “Almost two years. How old are you now, my favorite little troublemaker? Five? Six?”
“I’m thirteen!” Flurry squealed indignantly.
“Oh, my mistake. Thirteen.” Scootaloo suppressed a snort.
“Okay, so that’s all handled, Twilight. What abou-” A voice came from behind the ponies.
Scootaloo gasped and threw herself at the newcomer.
“Spike!”
“Hey- Woah!” Spike grabbed Scootaloo just in time, before returning the hug. “Scoot, great so see you again!”
“I thought you hadn’t left the Dragon Lands yet!”
“What, do you think I’d miss my baby sister’s homecoming? No way!” Spike noogied Scootaloo.
Scootaloo deadpanned. “Spike, I’m four years younger than you. You never even knew me as a baby.”
Spike shrugged as the two broke the hug.
“So how were the Dragon Lands? You have your own harem yet?” Scootaloo winked.
Spike blushed as Flurry Heart piped in. “What’s a hare-”
“Nope. I don’t.” Spike responded hurriedly. “But I know Ember totally wants some of this.”
Spike went about flexing as everyone else laughed.
“It’s good to know that even if you’re buff now, you’re still a nerd.” Scootaloo chuckled.
“Coming from you, doc, that means nothing.” Spike smirked.
“Eh.” Scootaloo elbowed her draconic brother. “Whatever. Come on, join the party!”
Minutes passed as the party-goers mingled. After entering the castle proper, Twilight surrounded herself in a magical aura, and when it faded, she was the same size she was prior to taking Celestia’s throne. She explained that was for being able to cuddle her wife properly, since her larger form was closer to being used as a bed than as a cuddle buddy. With that, Rainbow and her took their leave, saying they were going to go raise the moon together.
Spike settled down with Cadance, Shining Armor, and Flurry Heart, regaling them with tales of his life in the Dragon Lands.
As the party progressed, the three Crusaders found themselves off to the side of the party, Applebloom enjoying her third cup of cider as Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle stuck with party punch.
“Oh Scoots, you’ll never guess who just announced they were eating for two!” Sweetie Belle gossiped.
Scootaloo’s mouth dropped open as she looked her friend up and down. Her gaze flickered to Sweetie Belle’s cup.
“No… Did you and Half Song…”
Sweetie Belle blanched. “What? No! Not me! Pinkie Pie! Half Song and I aren’t at that point yet!”
“Oh, my bad.” Scootaloo chuckled. “ I just thought you were talking about yourself because… You are getting kinda fat.”
A harsh silence spread across the mares.
Applebloom’s jaw dropped.
Sweetie Belle blinked once.
Sweetie Belle blinked again.
And then Sweetie Belle burst out into laughter.
“Oh Celestia, Scoot.” Sweetie elbowed her friend gently. “I forgot how much you suck.”
“Ah, you love me anyway.” Scootaloo smirked.
“I do.”
“So if you’re not actually pregnant, what’s with the punch instead of cider?”
“I just felt like drinking punch tonight.” Sweetie shrugged.
“Ah, gotcha. And in all seriousness, congratulations to her. I can’t imagine how wild a foal Cheese and Pinkie will have.”
“Apparently she’s already planned his first fifteen birthdays.” Applebloom chuckled. “And his half birthdays. And his quarter birthdays.”
“Considering his or her parents, that foal is either gonna be a crazy corroboree radge, or an explosives expert.” Sweetie Belle tittered. “Did you know Cheese and Pinkie both autodidactically learned how to craft their own party artillery?”
Scootaloo and Applebloom were struck silent.
“Sweetie... I have a PhD and I don’t know what the heck you just said.” Scootaloo commented. “Maybe come back to normal Ponish, please?”
“He’s gonna be a party pony or he’s gonna be good at blowing things up.”
“Oh.”
“So anyway, in all seriousness, how are you and Song?” Applebloom interrupted.
Sweetie Belle’s eyes shined. “Oh, he’s the best! I mean, I knew he was nice considering we met while working at a charity, but he’s funny, and so cute, and sometimes he’ll take me flying which is so cool! It’s also a little terrifying, truth be told.”
Applebloom shook her head violently. “Goodness no, I hate heights. I don’t understan’ why you like ‘em Scoots. By the way, you got a stallion of your own?” Applebloom winked seductively, slinking a foreleg around Scootaloo’s shoulders. “Or a mare? ‘Cuz the farm’s always open if you decide you wanna swing that way. And my bed can fit two.”
Scootaloo pretended to retch. “Ew, romance? Nah, that’s not for me. I’ll be happy just marrying myself to my job, thanks.”
“Aw, so we can’t count on seeing any tiny versions of you running around?” Sweetie Belle winked.
“Nah,” Scootaloo chuckled. “I reproduce asexually. And with the power of me and my duplicate we will march on Canterlot and take Twilight’s throne by force.”
“How the hay are you gonna take her throne with only two of you?” Applebloom snarked.
“You underestimate me.” Scootaloo replied with a smirk. “I grew up with her, I know all the ways to get under her skin. And now there shall be Scootaloo and Scootatwo! She stands no chance!”
“That didn’t answer my question.” Sweetie Belle said.
“Alright, I’ll spell it out plain for you.” Scootaloo giggled. “No dating, and definitely no tiny Scoots ever.”
“But that’s so boring.” Sweetie Belle whined. “Where’s your sense of romance?”
“Lying dead in the backyard of my house with my sense of adventure.” Scootaloo snarked. “A couple years of psychology tests beat that out of me. Where was my self-appointed bodyguard for that, Applebloom?” Scootaloo elbowed her cream colored friend.
“Doin’ all the work at the farm.” Applebloom said casually, rubbing her hoof on her pink neckerchief. “Speaking of which, Sugar Belle just entered her third semester! We found out it’s gonna be a colt!”
“Oh, awesome!” Scootaloo chirped. “And hey, speaking of you being my knight in tarnished armor, remember Snow Shine?”
“Wasn’t that the one drunk stallion that kept hitting on you during our prom?” Sweetie Belle questioned.
“The same one Applebloom knocked out with one punch? Yeah. Did you know he needed stitches from that?” Scootaloo chuckled.
“He had it coming.” Applebloom shrugged. “You don’t freak out my Scootaloo and get away with it.”
“After you stormed off I had to literally fight to hold Spike back from doing worse.” Sweetie Belle giggled.
Scootaloo chuckled too. “I remember that. Anyway, I saw him in Manehatten a couple weeks back. He’s got a couple foals.”
“Crazy to think somebody actually liked him enough to have foals with him.” Applebloom chuckled.
“Speaking of which…” Sweetie Belle warned.
“Scootaloo! Auntie Applebloom! Auntie Sweetie Belle!” A small voice from behind Scootaloo called out, bouncing over to the trio.
“Hey Flurry Heart!” Sweetie Belle exclaimed happily. “Wow, you’re getting so big! I swear you were half this size when I last saw you!”
Flurry stuck her tongue out. “Nuh-uh!”
“Well, how’ve y’all been?” Applebloom asked.
“I’ve been okay.” Flurry replied. “I’ve missed you guys! I rarely ever see you anymore since Scootaloo has been away. You guys used to be inseparable! Haven’t you known each other like… forever?”
“Actually,” Scootaloo clarified. “We met when we were just a little younger than you.”
“Oh.” Flurry responded quietly. “How did you guys meet?”
"Well," Scootaloo began. "To meet Sweetie Belle, I had to rescue her from a dragon’s lair. It was ninety million hundred fifty thousand hundred feet in the air, then I punched the dragon so hard it caused a sonic boom that ruptured space and then exploded the sun.”
“And what about Applebloom?” Flurry asked, eyes widening.
“Oh, we met at a party.”
Flurry giggled. "You're full of hot air, Scootaloo."
"Oh, is that so?" Scootaloo smirked. "Nah, I'll show you what I'm really full of!"
Scootaloo pulled a feather out of her right wing. Flurry started backing away, a mock look of horror on her face.
"I'm full of tickles!" Scootaloo announced, pouncing on Flurry and proceeding to tickle her with the feather. Flurry squealed happily and fought to get away.
After a couple seconds of ruthless attack, Scootaloo let up, spitting out the feather as her face turned serious.
"But that aside, your mom tells me something's really been eating at you recently. You wanna tell me what's up?"
Flurry hesitated.
“I mean… I’m one of the last foals my age to get my cutie mark…”
The mares shared a quick glance.
“And I…” Flurry hesitated. “I mean, what if… I’m kinda scared of what it will be. I mean, what if all I’m meant to do is like… polish the Crystal Heart? Or just guard it? And that’s all I have to do with my life?!”
“I feel we’ve had this discussion before with somebody else before.” Applebloom tapped her chin.
“We have!” Sweetie Belle chirped. “Cutie Mark Camp.”
“Anyways, Flurry Heart, that idea is a bunch of bunk.” Sweetie Belle lectured, turning to the filly. “The idea that you’ll get locked into one purpose and can only do one thing when you get your cutie mark is fake. Ultimately, cutie marks are just a vapid symbol that you found something you’re really good at. It doesn’t mean that’s the only thing you can do.”
“I mean,” Scootaloo took over the conversation. "Take Rarity for example. Her passion and job is being a seamstress, but her cutie mark just shows her aptitude with finding gems. You know she came up with the gem hunting spell?”
“Woah… really?” Flurry asked, a smile slowly appearing on her face.
“Really, look no further than us.” Applebloom interrupted. “I work on a farm, Scoots here is a therapist-”
“Psychologist!”
“Whatever. And Sweetie Belle works at a charity. But we all got our cutie marks in helpin’ fillies find their cutie marks.”
“Basically, cutie marks are nebulous notions that show you one of the areas you shine through the brightest, but you can use that knowledge as a mere accessory if you want.” Sweetie Belle finished off.
Flurry Heart hummed and looked down, rustling her wings gently.
“So… no matter what my mark is, I can still be whatever kind of pony I want to be? I won’t be stuck in a box?”
“Exactly,” the Crusaders chorused.
“But since I knew you were all twisted up about this, we made you something cuz.” Scootaloo grinned. “Close your eyes and I’ll go grab it.”
Flurry Heart closed her eyes and held her breath. She always liked Scootaloo’s gifts. Scootaloo had a way of knowing automatically what would make you feel better, it seemed.
A couple moments later, Flurry felt something soft draped over her back and neck. It felt like… silk?
“Open your eyes.”
Flurry opened her eyes and snapped her head around to view her cousin’s and aunt’s gift. It was a red silk cape with twin yellow patches at the ends where a cutie mark would be on a pony. On the patches were images of a pony rearing up on its hind legs. A quick look under it showed that the underside was made of golden silk.
Flurry Heart looked back up at Scootaloo, stunned.
“A… Crusaders cape?”
“From this day forward Flur, you are a Cutie Mark Crusader. May your legacy bring you peace, and for the sake of Celestia, may you be less destructive than we were when we were your age.”
“I swear,” Applebloom quipped with a small chuckle. “Sweetie Belle must have accidentally set at least a hundred things on fire when we was crusadin’. ”
“The flames. They speak to me.” Sweetie Belle whispered, staring straight ahead, eyes wide open. There was a ghost of a smile on her face.
Flurry Heart let out a giggle at her aunts’ antics, then turned back again to face Scootaloo.
“Thank you!” Flurry grinned wildly.
“You got it, squirt.” Scootaloo tousled Flurry Heart’s mane. “Now why don’t we go out in town and make some new friends? I heard the Cake twins are pretty cool.”