----
Apple Bloom, Sweetie Belle, and Scootaloo...
I have left the hut for a few moments, because I know how I can help you. I should be back before the three of you wake, but if I'm not, please just stay inside until I return for your own sake. I know things have been bad for you, but I promise that this will all be over soon.
Zecora.
For a long moment, Apple Bloom, Sweetie Belle, and Scootaloo just stood there, silently taking in what they'd just read. The three of them hadn't been asleep for long, and had actually woken up just as Zecora had reached Ponyville. And ultimately, it had been Apple Bloom who'd left the zebra mare's bedroom first to find the hastily written note lying directly in front of the door.
And now, as Zecora's words continued to resonate throughout their heads, the three fillies could do nothing but wonder just what the zebra mare was planning.
...I know how I can help you...I promise that this will all be over soon...
"What does Zecora mean?", Sweetie Belle asked.
"Where is she going?", Scootaloo added.
For a few moments, Apple Bloom remained silent, but as the seconds ticked by, the pieces of the puzzle began to come together, and the most likely answer gradually became obvious...
Zecora had clearly thought that the Crusaders should go back home, and had done her best to convince them that they're friends, and family loved them, and wouldn't want them gone. But the three fillies had been too distraught to listen to the zebra mare's advice, so Zecora had then suggested that they go into her bedroom to get some rest. And then, while the fillies had been asleep, Zecora suddenly up and left the hut, leaving behind a note saying that she knew how to help them, and telling them to stay inside until she returned...
"Ah...Ah think...", Apple Bloom started to say before trailing off.
"She went to Ponyville, didn't she?", Sweetie Belle finished for her.
Slowly, Apple Bloom nodded, "Ah think she went ta go talk ta our friends, an families..."
The three little fillies were silent for a long time as the realization fully sank in; Zecora probably thought that she could convince the Crusaders' loved ones to come for them.
"Zecora doesn't understand...", Scootaloo said at last.
Apple Bloom, and Sweetie Belle didn't disagree, and before long, terrible new fears began to fill the three fillies' minds...
Zecora hadn't been angry with the Crusaders for what happend, but would hearing everypony else's side of the story change that? She had said earlier that she was a little disappointed by their actions. Nopony would be coming back with Zecora, the Crusaders were sure of that, but what if she came to agree with everypony else? What if she came back, and now wanted them to leave? Then another horrible possibility came to mind. By now, Diamond Tiara had certainly printed those embarrassing pictures of the Crusaders in the school paper, and for sure everypony in town had seen them. What if somepony DID come back with Zecora just to mock them in revenge for what they'd done?
Tears began to well in Apple Bloom, Sweetie Belle, and Scootaloo's eyes at these terrible thoughts, for they simply could not bear to face treatment like that again...
Not again...
"So what do we do?", Sweetie Belle finally asked.
In the end, the three fillies decided that there was only thing they could do. So they headed back into Zecora's bedroom to get their things, for they had already made their choice.
----
Applejack, Rarity, Rainbow Dash, Twilight, Fluttershy, Pinkie Pie, Spike, Big Mac, and Granny Smith all raced through the Everfree Forest as Zecora led them on towards her hut. For the first time since this whole mess began, they were overjoyed, for they were finally going to be reunited with the Cutie Mark Crusaders, and they let that drive them on.
"Oh Zecora, how can we ever repay you?", Rarity asked.
"I assure you, my befriended...", Zecora said, "That all debts can be collected once this crisis has ended."
"Yeah. But still, we owe ya one! Boy, do we ever owe ya one!", Applejack said.
Big Mac couldn't agree more, "Eeyup!"
Rainbow Dash's eyes suddenly lit up, "There! I can see the hut up ahead!"
Encouraged, everypony eagerly put on speed. At last, this would all be over soon.
But then, a thought suddenly came to Applejack, and she began to slow down, before finally coming to a stop altogether. A moment later, Big Mac followed his sister's lead, and stopped running as well. Then, Rarity also gradually slowed to a halt. And finally, so did Rainbow Dash, who slowly lowered herself to the ground.
Upon realizing that Applejack, Big Mac, Rarity, and Rainbow Dash had fallen behind everypony else turned back to see the four of them standing silently in the center of the trail, and looking rather crestfallen.
"Why'd you guys stop?", Spike asked.
Concerned, Twilight stepped forward as well, "What's wrong?"
"Ah don't know.", Applejack said sadly, "It's just that... Big Mac, an' Ah wanted nothin' more than ta get Apple Bloom back, but now that we're here...". For a moment, she trailed off. "What're we gonna say ta her? We hurt our little sis so bad, an' drove her away..."
Guilt-ridden, Big Mac lowered his gaze, "Eeyup..."
"How're we supposed ta apologize fer somethin' like that?", Applejack asked, her voice filled with remorse.
"And what about me?", Rarity sniffed, "I betrayed Sweetie Belle as a sister. How can I ever face her?"
"Tell me about it...", an ashamed Rainbow Dash put in, "Scootaloo looked up to me, believed in me, and I let her down. I want more than anything than to make things right with her, but she probably wouldn't even speak to me now."
Twilight, Fluttershy, Pinkie Pie, and Spike all bowed their heads in regret as their friends' words sunk in, and they were once again reminded of their own wrongdoings.
The truth was, ever since they'd left Ponyville, everypony couldn't help but wonder why Zecora had not simply brought the Crusaders back herself, but nopony had bothered to ask, because deep down, they already knew the answer. It was because Apple Bloom, Sweetie Belle, and Scootaloo probably didn't WANT to come home. And after everything that had happend, who could blame them?
But then, Granny Smith stepped forward, "Everypony, I want y'all ta look at me."
Ultimately, everypony obeyed, and met the elderly earth pony's gaze.
"Are y'all sorry fer what ya did?", she asked.
"Yes!", Applejack said, "Big Mac, an' Ah are more sorry than we've been about anythin' in our entire lives!"
"Eeyup...", Big Mac confirmed.
Rarity couldn't agree more, "So am I."
"Me to.", Rainbow Dash added.
Twilight, Fluttershy, Pinkie Pie, and Spike all nodded.
"Then y'all need ta let Apple Bloom, Sweetie Belle, and Scootaloo know that.", Granny Smith said firmly, "Or else y'all are never gonna make things right!"
"Yes! Yes! Listen to Granny Smith!", Zecora agreed, "I know what you all fear, and it is true. Apple Bloom, Sweetie Belle, and Scootaloo are afraid to come home to you. They believe that they are no longer wanted, but that is exactly why you must go to them undaunted. You must let them KNOW that you love them, and that you DO want them back."
That last sentence caught everypony off guard, for Zecora had spoken it without her usual rhymes, something VERY out of character for her. If Zecora wasn't speaking in rhyme, then she must REALLY be serious.
For a long moment, nopony spoke; they all just stood there, silently pondering what Granny Smith, and Zecora had said. At last, Applejack straightened back up, a new look of determination spreading across her face.
"C'mon, y'all. Let's do this.", the earth pony said without a trace of doubt in her voice.
With their friend's voice filling them with a new sense of purpose, everypony quickly continued on their way. A short time later, they all arrived at Zecora's hut.
However, before anypony could enter, Zecora quickly planted herself before the front door.
"Wait, everypony.", the zebra mare said, "Let us not be hasty, and approach this gently."
After a moment of pause, everypony nodded. Zecora had a point; they didn't want to scare the three little fillies. And so, the zebra mare slowly opened the door, and everypony quietly gathered inside the main chamber of the hut.
"Everypony just wait out here.", Zecora instructed as she headed towards her bedroom where she'd left the Crusaders, "Let me assure them that there is nothing to fear."
Everypony obediently did as Zecora asked, and only watched in silent anticipation as the zebra mare gently opened her bedroom door, and went inside.
"Apple Bloom? Sweetie Belle? Scootaloo?", they heard Zecora call out.
As the seconds slowly, and silently ticked by, everypony suddenly began to get an uneasy feeling. What was going on in there?
Suddenly, they heard a loud gasp come from inside the bedroom. Alarmed, everypony forgot Zecora's instructions to wait outside, and rushed into the bedroom to find the zebra mare standing before her bed, looking down at something she held in her hooves.
"Zecora! What is it?", Rarity inquired.
Slowly, Zecora turned to face everypony, and showed them what she'd found lying on her bed. It was a note, and this is what it said:
Dear Zecora,
Thank you so much for taking us in. If it weren't for you, we would still be lost out there. We know that you want to help us, but there is just nothing you can do.
We know that you've gone to Ponyville to talk to our friends, and families, but we already know that it's no use. You just don't understand how bad things are, but maybe you will once you've seen it all for yourself. Honestly, you might even agree with everypony else after hearing their side of the story. And that is why the three of us have decided that it's probably best for all of us if we just left.
Please don't worry about us, we aren't lost anymore. Goodbye, and thanks for everything.
Apple Bloom, Sweetie Belle, and Scootaloo.
----
Not only were Apple Bloom, Sweetie Belle, and Scootaloo gone, but everypony had missed them by only a few scant minutes. In fact, at that very moment, the three little fillies were barely a mile away from the hut, but neither they nor their friends, and family had any way of knowing that. The only thing the Crusaders knew was that they needed to keep moving as Apple Bloom once again led her friends on.
"Sweetie Belle, what wrong?", Scootaloo suddenly asked.
Apple Bloom stopped, and turned around to see Sweetie Belle facing back the way they'd come.
"I don't know...", the unicorn filly said, "I've just got this weird feeling... Like something's telling me that...we should go back..."
Apple Bloom sighed, "We can't go back, Sweetie Belle. Ya know that..."
"I know, I know...", Sweetie Belle conceded, "I just... I don't know..."
Neither Apple Bloom nor Scootaloo could really blame their friend for having doubts. It had felt terrible to just leave Zecora's hut like that, but there hadn't been any other choice. Finally, Scootaloo walked up to Sweetie Belle, and placed a hoof on her shoulder.
"Apple Bloom's right, Sweetie Belle.", the pegasus filly said, "It's better this way."
Ultimately, Sweetie Belle nodded, and fell back into step.
The three fillies continued on their way into the forest for a few more minutes, until Scootaloo spoke up again.
"So Apple Bloom. Where exactly are we going now?", she asked.
The question made Apple Bloom suddenly stop dead in her tracks, and she was silent for a very long moment until finally...
"Ah'm not sure...", she said at last.
Scootaloo stared at her, "What?!"
Apple Bloom fumbled her words, "Well, uh, Ah..."
"You mean you don't even have a plan?" an incredulous Scootaloo asked.
"Well, it's just that...", the yellow earth filly stammered, "Ah never really thought about it 'til just now."
"Oh, you've gotta be kidding!", Scootaloo cried, "This is just great! Here we are, stuck in the middle of the Everfree Forest with no idea where we're going AGAIN!"
Then Sweetie Belle stepped up, "Why didn't we just take the trail in front of Zecora's house? You know, the one that leads back to Pony...ville..." She trailed off just as the answer hit her.
Apple Bloom rolled her eyes, "Why do ya THINK we didn't take it?"
"Oh, yeah...", Sweetie Belle flushed.
It was only now that it finally hit the Crusaders that their decision to leave Zecora's hut had not been well thought out. Unable to take the trail that lead back to Ponyville, the three fillies had rather impulsively just headed out into the forest again, only to now realize that this essentially left them right back to where they started.
"Well, what do we do now, Apple Bloom?", Scootaloo asked, "We can't just wander around in circles for the rest of our lives!"
Apple Bloom sighed, "Okay...okay... Lemme think, lemme think..."
But there wouldn't be much time to think, for little did the Crusaders know, they were being watched...
----
Hidden in the forest foliage a short distance away, a pair of large glowing green eyes were intently observing the three little fillies.
The Timberwolf suddenly recalled a moment from the previous day when it had been wandering through the forest, and had suddenly caught an unusual scent in the air, but was unable to find the source, and forced to move on.
But now, the huge creature finally realized just what that scent had been, and as it continued to watch the unsuspecting fillies, it could think of only one thing:
Easy prey.
And this time, there wouldn't be any time, or any place for the fillies to hide...
----
For a few moments, the Crusaders just stood there silently, trying to figure out their next move. But then, Sweetie Belle looked up in alarm as she suddenly noticed a strong, unpleasant odor in the air, and she began to tremble uncontrollably, her eyes widening with terror, as she realized what that smell was.
"Sweetie Belle?", Apple Bloom inquired, noticing her friend's distress.
"What's wro-", Scootaloo started to ask.
But then, both fillies froze in place as the smell suddenly hit their nostrils as well. Sweetie Belle instinctively began to scan their surroundings, until her gaze suddenly came to rest on a spot in the foliage some distance away where she could just make out two glowing objects, which she realized to her horror were a pair of eyes. Then, the Timberwolf let out a low, menacing growl.
"Run...! Girls, RUN!", Sweetie Belle screamed.
Apple Bloom, and Scootaloo didn't even ask, for there was absolutely no need to. All three fillies took off into woods in a blind panic. They ran with no sense of direction, stumbling over tree roots, scrambling past rocks, or tree limbs, and unable to think of anything but the desperate need to get AWAY.
Behind them, the Crusaders could hear the sound of thundering hoofsteps crashing through underbrush after them; the Timberwolf was coming...
Out of pure instinct, and against all rational thought, the three little fillies risked a look behind them...
And SCREAMED...
----
"APPLE BLOOM!!!" SWEETIE BELLE!!! SCOOTALOO!!!", Applejack, Rarity, & Rainbow Dash desperately called out into the forest.
Now gathered outside Zecora's hut, everypony else all took up the call as well, but it soon became clear that it was useless, for they were only answered with echoes.
Overwhelmed with anguish, Applejack all but collapsed into Big Mac, and Granny Smith's hooves.
"NO! This ain't happenin'!", the cowpony wailed, "Big Mac! Granny Smith! PLEASE TELL ME THIS AIN'T HAPPENIN'!"
Her brother, and grandmother however, could think of nothing to say, as they were just as devastated by this turn of events as she was. To have been so close to reuniting with Apple Bloom, and her friends only to have that hope suddenly snatched away from them was nothing short of shattering.
"No...no...no...no...", a tearful Rarity said in uncharacteristically quiet sorrow, "Not again... They CAN'T be gone again...!"
Rainbow Dash broke down in tears, "I KNEW it! They don't want to see us! And they ran away again!"
Zecora hung her head in utter failure, "I am sorry, my friends... I am so sorry... I never should have left them... I thought...I thought..."
Everypony was at an utter loss for words, and on the verge of tears. Twilight, however, quickly wiped away the salty water that was welling in her eyes, and tried to recompose herself.
"It's not your fault, Zecora.", the lavender unicorn insisted, "You were just trying to help all of us." She paused to choke back more tears, "But we can't just stand here, you guys! We've got to find them while there's still time!"
"But how, Twilight? We don't have any idea which way they went!", Spike pointed out.
"They could be anywhere out there, Twilight!", Big Mac agreed, slowly shaking his head, "Like tryin' ta find a needle in a haystack...!"
"Yeah! We're pretty much right back to where we started!", Rainbow Dash said through her tears.
Twilight began to falter; their statements weren't exactly wrong...
"We'll never find them...", Rarity sniffed, "They are gone forever!"
At that moment, Granny Smith stepped up, forcing her own fear, and disappointment down. Once again, she knew she had to take charge, just as she had when this whole thing began.
"Everypony calm down! Twilight's right! They can't have gone too far! We gotta-"
"That's what ya said last time, Granny!", Applejack protested, "An' just look where that's got us!"
Granny Smith glared at her granddaughter, and raised her hoof. "Do Ah need ta slap some sense inta ya again, young lady?"
Suddenly, Pinkie Pie, and Fluttershy began to shout, trying to get everypony's attention.
"Hey! Everypony!", Pinkie Pie yelled.
"Quiet! Listen!", Fluttershy added.
The two ponies had heard something off in the distance, and at their alert, everypony quieted down, and listened. For a moment, there was only silence, but then, from somewhere out in the forest, there came the sound of distant screams.
Everypony froze as they realized what they were hearing.
"Where's that coming from?", Twilight finally asked.
Before anypony could answer, another scream pierced through the forest.
"HELP!"
Applejack's heart leapt into her throat. "That was Apple Bloom!!!"
"This way!", Rainbow Dash shouted, pointing into the forest, "Come on!"
Everypony immediately took off in the general direction of the screams. Any relief that they might have felt at the knowledge that the Crusaders were nearby was drowned out by the realization that the three fillies had to be in danger. Everypony put on as much speed as they could muster, praying that whatever was happening, they wouldn't be too late.
----
Apple Bloom, Sweetie Belle, & Scootaloo ran through the forest as fast as their little hooves could possibly carry them. All the while, the three terrified fillies could hear the fierce barking, and growling of the Timberwolf right behind them; the huge creature was breathing down their necks.
But they would NOT risk another look behind them.
They COULD NOT stop.
Then, up ahead, they could see a large briar patch with a gap near the bottom that was just big enough for the three little fillies to fit through.
Somehow willing themselves to go faster, Apple Bloom, Sweetie Belle, & Scootaloo actually heard the loud snap of the Timberwolf's powerful jaws behind them as they all dived one after the other through the gap in the bottom of the thorn bush. Unable to stop itself, the Timberwolf ran headfirst into the thorns while the Crusaders exited out the other side without a scratch.
The huge creature snarled viciously as it jerked itself free, and struggled to brush off the thorn vines entangling it's head with it's paws.
"Don't stop! Keep going!", Sweetie Belle urged her friends, knowing that the Timberwolf wouldn't be kept busy for long.
The Crusaders ran on; they were sure that this was their chance to escape, or at least to find somewhere safe. Eventually, they rounded a corner, their little hearts pounding...and then sinking as they found their path blocked by a towering cliff face. Skidding to a stop, the three fillies frantically looked around, desperately hoping to find another way out, but the huge rock wall snaked around, closing off any other route of escape.
"Oh, no...!", Apple Bloom breathed.
"We're trapped!", Scootaloo cried.
And then, from behind them, Apple Bloom, Sweetie Belle, & Scootaloo could hear the Timberwolf's massive hoofsteps approaching...
In a last desperate effort, the Crusaders actually tried to scale the cliff wall, with Scootaloo even flapping her ineffective wings in the hope that it would at least give her an extra boost. But it was futile, as they just couldn't get a good enough grip on the cliff wall, and Scootaloo's wings simply could not carry her weight. In the end, there was no choice but to give up, and face the predator that was closing in.
The Timberwolf was there, standing only a short distance away. It was taking it's time, knowing that the fillies had nowhere left to run, and staring at them with cold, calculating eyes. Gripped by terror, there was nothing that Apple Bloom, Sweetie Belle, & Scootaloo could do but huddle together, trembling, and whimpering uncontrollably.
Tears of fear, and self-condemnation flowed down their cheeks. What had they been thinking? Why did they ever leave Zecora's hut? Whatever they'd been afraid to face if they'd stayed there would've been nothing compared to this.
The Timberwolf menacingly opened it's jaws as it came closer, revealing it's sharp fangs. As the huge creature's hot breath washed over them, Apple Bloom, Sweetie Belle, & Scootaloo closed their eyes, unable to face the horror before them, and trying to convince themselves that this wasn't really happening. That this was all just a bad dream, and that they'd soon wake up safe back in Zecora's bed.
But if they didn't...
----
Hearts pounding, everypony raced through the forest, first heading in the general direction the Crusaders' screams until a second sound made itself known, a sound which everypony recognized as the fierce barks of a Timberwolf. The implications of this fact were alarming to say the very least, and a cold, horrifying dread spread throughout the group at the realization of what must be happening.
"Apple Bloom! Sweetie Belle! Scootaloo!", Applejack, Big Mac, Granny Smith, Rarity, & Rainbow Dash all called out frantically.
There was no response, and they were just about to call out again when suddenly...
"Everypony stop!", Zecora shouted. "Look!"
As everypony skidded to a halt, the zebra mare pointed to a trail of trampled underbrush, and a set of very large tracks in the dirt. There was no question, they were the tracks of a Timberwolf all right.
"This way! Follow th' trail!", Granny Smith instructed.
The next few moments were nothing short of a mad dash as everypony knew now that they were in a race against time. If they didn't make it... If they were too late...
Refusing to slow down, they all ran on, through the thick woods, past a large thorn bush, around a corner of trees... And once again, everypony skidded to a stop at the sight that met their eyes...
The Timberwolf was right there, standing only a short distance away with it's back to them. And there, trapped by the cliff wall, and cowering in terror before the huge creature were Apple Bloom, Sweetie Belle, & Scootaloo. But any joy that their families, and friends might have felt at having found them at last was drowned out by the horrifying reality that the three little fillies were about to become lunch for a Timberwolf.
Ultimately, it was Applejack who made the first move; she had failed to be there for her little sister once, and she was NOT going to fail her again. Quick as a flash, the orange earth pony picked up a large rock, and bucked it as hard as she could at the Timberwolf, striking the huge creature in the head with a loud thunk.
Forgetting about the three little fillies, the Timberwolf shook it's head before turning to face it's attacker. At the same time, the Apple Bloom, Sweetie Belle, & Scootaloo opened their eyes, and were somewhat stunned when they looked up to see their friends, and loved ones standing there. They... They'd really come for them?
"GIT! AWAY! FROM THEM!", Applejack roared.
Big Mac was at her side in an instant, "Redwood varmint!"
"Or you'll deal with us!", Rainbow Dash fiercely joined in.
"That's right!", Twilight stepped up with Spike, Fluttershy, Pinkie Pie, and Zecora right behind her.
Then came Granny Smith. "Boy, did YOU pick th' wrong fillies ta go after!", the elderly earth pony asserted as she took her place beside Applejack, and Big Mac.
"Fighting is not really my thing, I'm more into fashion...", Rarity casually brushed her mane back before taking her place with the others, and viciously screaming, "BUT I'LL RIP YOU TO PIECES IF YOU TOUCH ONE STRAND OF MANE ON THEIR SWEET LITTLE HEADS!!!"
The Timberwolf snarled defiantly, and started to advance on the group of ponies.
"Fluttershy, let 'im have it!", Applejack called.
At her friend's signal, the yellow pegasus unleashed "The Stare" on the Timberwolf. The huge creature froze in place, until finally, it began to whine, and shrink backwards.
"Apple Bloom! Sweetie Belle! Scootaloo!", Granny Smith called to the three fillies, "Now's yer chance! Come ta us, girls!"
For a moment, the Crusaders understandably hesitated, but then slowly began to make their way past the incapacitated Timberwolf, and over to their friends, and family. As the three fillies drew near, Granny Smith, and Rarity quickly gathered Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle in their hooves, while Rainbow Dash nudged Scootaloo to get behind her.
For a brief moment, everypony was overjoyed. After so much pain, worry, and regret, they had finally found Apple Bloom, Sweetie Belle, & Scootaloo. Soon everypony would be safe back home, and perhaps everything would finally be okay.
But then, Fluttershy suddenly let out a loud gasp of horror, causing everyone to look up in alarm, and it quickly became apparent that their feelings of relief had been a little premature.
Several MORE Timberwolves had appeared at the top of the cliff, and even as that fact fully sunk in, the huge beasts proceeded to leap down to join the first, which quickly shook off the effects of "The Stare", and took it's place at the head of the pack. The Timberwolves growled viciously; now they were ANGRY, and suddenly, everypony was starting to get a little scared...
"N-N-nice doggies... Now, st-stay...", Fluttershy stammered to no avail as her resolve crumbled.
"Wh-Wha-What do we do now?", Spike asked.
Applejack gulped, "I...uh...think it's high time we all got th' heck outta here..."
"That would be wise...", Zecora concurred.
"I wh-wholeheartedly a-agree...", Rarity's voice trembled.
"Eeyup...", Big Mac put in.
Everypony else hastily voiced their agreement as well.
Well... Almost everypony else...
"Run away? That's not my style...", Rainbow Dash insisted, but even she didn't sound totally convinced by her own words.
"Think of it as a tactical retreat.", Twilight urged.
With that, everypony else began to hightail it back the way they came, leaving Rainbow Dash alone to face the Timberwolves. For a brief moment, the sky blue pegasus stood her ground against the advancing pack, until at last...
"Tactical retreat...", she said to herself, "Yeah, I can live with that."
Having finally lost her nerve, Rainbow Dash promptly about-faced, and soared after her friends.
The group consisting of the Mane Six, Spike, Big Mac, Granny Smith, Zecora, and now the Cutie Mark Crusaders fled back through the forest with the Timberwolf pack in hot pursuit. The piercing barks, and snarls of the pursuing beasts urged everypony on, but the Timberwolves were brutally fast, and rapidly gaining on them. It also suddenly hit everypony that they couldn't just head back to Zecora's hut, as they'd just be leading the Timberwolves right to it. And that was assuming that they'd even have time to find the way back to Zecora's hut in the first place.
Twilight's teleportation spell was their only chance, and the lavender unicorn knew it. But she felt daunted by the required task; teleporting the entire group all the way out of the Everfree Forest would require a lot of power, skill, and concentration. Twilight didn't know if she could do it alone. She needed help, and turned to the only other unicorn mare in the group.
"Rarity, help me!", Twilight called to the white unicorn.
Understanding her friend's intentions, Rarity nodded. As the two unicorns began to power up their horns, Twilight snuck a look behind them to see two more Timberwolves join the hunt, and that the pack was getting dangerously close. They had perhaps a few seconds...
As the two unicorns combined their magic, the forest suddenly lit up in blinding flash of blue/purple light as the entire group was finally teleported away. Blinded by the flash, the Timberwolf pack proceeded to crash directly into the trees before ultimately collapsing in a heap wooden limbs.
----
With a brilliant flash of blue/purple light, everypony reappeared just outside the Everfree Forest. Winded from using so much magic to teleport the whole group like that, Twilight and Rarity both tumbled to the ground as everypony brought themselves to a stop.
"Muh-My...", Rarity panted, "That was close..."
"Is...is everyone all right?", Twilight asked as the two unicorns slowly pushed themselves back to their hooves.
Zecora nodded, "I think so."
As everypony gathered their bearings, all attention was promptly turned to Apple Bloom, Sweetie Belle, & Scootaloo. It was the moment that everypony had been praying for since this whole mess began. The three fillies were okay, and they had gotten them back at last...
But for a long moment, everypony was at a loss for words, for it was all so much to take in. Now that they were all standing face to face again, the Crusaders, and their loved ones were inevitably reminded of the last time they had seen each other, and the painful circumstances of how they had parted.
All of the hurt...all of the regret...all of the shame... All of it came rushing back at once, and within seconds, everypony was overcome with emotion.
Bursting into tears, Applejack threw her hooves around her little sister so tightly that it seemed as though she'd never let go. "Oh, Apple Bloom! Oh, thank Celestia...! Th-thank... You're... Ah..."
"A-Applejack...", Apple Bloom choked out.
"Oh, lil' sis...", Applejack wept, "Ah'm sorry...! Ah'm SO SORRY!"
Tears welling in his own eyes, Big Mac joined the embrace, wrapping his own hooves around his two sisters. "W-We...we thought we'd never...", he began, but ultimately found himself unable to continue.
"Sweetie Belle!", a crying Rarity gasped out as she hugged her own little sister, "Oh my gosh, you're all right! I was so afraid! I was going crazy! I was...I was...!"
Sweetie Belle opened her mouth to reply, but found that she was just too choked up to speak.
For a long moment, Rainbow Dash, and Scootaloo could only stare at one another, for neither was sure of what to say. Tears of shame welled in Rainbow Dash's eyes as she remorsefully gazed down at her self-proclaimed biggest fan, whose own eyes betrayed a look of sadness, confusion, and even a touch of bitterness.
"Scoot, I...I...", Rainbow Dash sniffed as she held the little filly's gaze, "I'm sorry... I-I-I just don't know what else to say. I'm so sorry for what I did... I don't know if I can ever make it up to you, but I... I just...I just wanted to let you know that... I j-just..."
At last, Scootaloo slowly lowered her gaze, and began to cry; it was all just too much for her. Rainbow Dash immediately stepped forward to hug the pegasus filly, and after a brief moment of hesitation, Scootaloo ultimately returned the hug as she sobbed into Rainbow's chest.
Before long, everypony else had gathered around, coming together in group embrace. The Crusaders almost couldn't believe it. Zecora had been right all along...
At last, Sweetie Belle found her voice, and tearfully looked up at them, genuinely surprised. "You... You came back for us..."
"Of course we came back...", Twilight said, overcome with emotion, "We were so worried... We couldn't just let you... Oh girls, we should have... If only we'd..."
"B-But w-we... We thought y'all hated us, an' wanted us ta go away forever...", Apple Bloom sobbed.
"No, Apple Bloom...", Applejack insisted, "There ain't NOTHIN' that could EVER make us hate you..."
"Nnnope...", Big Mac choked out, "An' there ain't NOTHIN' that could EVER make us want you ta go away forever..."
"Nothin' in all th' world...", Granny Smith confirmed.
Rarity sniffed, "We love you... And w-we want you back... We want you to come home..."
"B-But...But what about Gabby Gums?", Sweetie Belle protested, "What about all that we've..."
"We know about Diamond Tiara, girls...", Twilight said quickly.
Scootaloo looked up, "You... You do?"
"We know that she was blackmailing you...", Rainbow Dash joined, "Everypony in town knows..."
"Featherweight told us everything.", Fluttershy stepped up.
"Featherweight...?", all three fillies asked, stunned.
Fluttershy nodded, "When he heard that you'd run away, he felt awful about what he'd done, and wanted to make things right. So he...he came, and told us the truth..."
"H-He... He really did that?", Apple Bloom asked.
"Yes. Everypony knows the truth now. ", Twilight assured, "We all know that it wasn't your fault."
For a moment, the Crusaders seemed hopeful at this news, but their expressions quickly turned somber again.
"But it was our fault...", Sweetie Belle said sadly, "WE started the Gabby Gums Column in the first place. We wrote those embarrassing, and hurtful stories even before Diamond Tiara blackmailed us. And all because we wanted our stupid cutie marks so badly that we never even stopped to think about other ponies' feelings..."
"No, Sweetie...", Rarity reassured, "We're all to blame. I was the one who encouraged you to start the gossip column, remember? And I was all for it even though I knew that it was spreading hurtful gossip..."
"We all were.", Applejack confirmed, "Gabby Gums never even woulda got as far as it did if it weren't fer all o' us likin' it so much. We only decided it was bad when th' joke was on us..."
Twilight spoke up, "What's worse, nopony ever tried to actually DO anything about it. I was against Gabby Gums from the start, but not even I ever bothered to go to Miss Cheerlie or anything... All we did was unfairly treat you three like social outcasts..."
Spike stepped forward, tears of remorse welling in his eyes, "We should've listened to you. But we didn't even give you a chance to explain."
"We were all so mean...", Pinkie Pie said sadly.
Rainbow Dash sighed in regret, "Yeah, and not only that, but I basically ASKED for a story to be written about me. And what do I do when I get it? I turn around, and dump a raincloud on the three of you like a bully...". She paused, before looking Scootaloo in the eye, "Some hero I turned out to be..."
Blinking back tears, Scootaloo sadly lowered her gaze. "That really hurt...", she choked out.
"I'm sorry...", Rainbow Dash apologized again, "I was just...just so angry. But that's no excuse for what I did, and I honestly don't blame you if you don't want to be my #1 fan anymore..."
Scootaloo looked back up, still upset, but also touched by Rainbow Dash's sincere regret.
"It was still stupid an' wrong of us ta write those stories...", Apple Bloom sighed, "But we never wanted ta write anymore after we realized how much pain we'd caused everypony..."
"We know ya didn't, sis.", Big Mac assured, "Diamond Tiara forced y'all ta keep doin' it. We shoulda known all along that y'all never meant ta hurt us on purpose."
"Please, don't apologize...", Twilight insisted, "We've already forgiven you. You three deserve all the forgiveness in Equestria. We're sorry we couldn't let you know that sooner, and... And we're all truly sorry for being so harsh on you. Everypony back home is to..."
Applejack nodded sadly, "We had no right ta treat y'all like that, even if ya did make a mistake. It was wrong, real wrong, an' there ain't nothin' we can do ta take it back. All we can do is ask fer yer forgiveness..."
For a long moment, Apple Bloom, Sweetie Belle, & Scootaloo were silent as it all sank in. Their friends, and loved ones forgave them, were asking for their forgiveness, and wanted them to come home. The three fillies didn't know what to say, but they could also feel all of the hurt, shame, and bitterness of the past two days slowly, but surely begin to fade away.
"Please...", Rarity implored, "Even if you can't forgive us, will you at least come home...where it's safe...?"
Ultimately, after a final moment of hesitation, the Crusaders stepped forward to embrace their siblings, and idol respectively.
"Yes...! Thank you!", Sweetie Belle burst out, "Thank you...!"
"We do want to go home...!", Scootaloo sobbed.
"And we do forgive you!", Apple Bloom sniffed, "All of you!"
Within moments, tears of joy, relief, and gratitude were streaming down everypony's cheeks. After so much pain, their hearts were finally beginning to heal, and be made whole once again.
Standing a few feet away, Zecora smiled warmly at the joyful scene playing out before her. She'd remained silent all this time, not wanting to disturb this special moment everypony was sharing. She was just happy that the Crusaders were safe, and that all had turned out all right, just as she'd told them earlier.
"Oh girls, we missed you so much.", Twilight said at last.
"Darn tootin' we did...", Granny Smith agreed.
"We missed y'all to!", Apple Bloom sniffed, "We-we're sorry we ran away! We didn't mean ta worry y'all so bad!". She then turned to Zecora, "An' Zecora, you were right. We shoulda listened ta ya, an' we never shoulda left th' hut like that!"
Zecora smiled reassuringly, "It's all right, my little friend. Everything turned out all right in the end."
"Still, it was stupid!", the earth filly said through tears, "W-we were ju-just so... We th-thought..."
"Shhhh...", Applejack hushed her little sister, "It's okay. It's over. You're safe now. Just remember that y'all never have ta do anything like that again, 'cause no matter what happens, no matter how bad things may get, you'll be in our hearts...from this day on, now an' forevermore..."
Rarity nodded, "Yes... No matter what they say...you'll be here in our hearts... Always..."
These warm, loving words melted the last vestiges of the cold emptiness that everypony had been feeling ever since this whole mess began, and for a long moment, the Crusaders, their friends, and their family all stood there, nuzzling one another lovingly, and forgivingly...
Until finally...
"Okay, everypony...", Fluttershy said at last, "Whaddya say we head home?"
"Yes, that's sounds wonderful.", Sweetie Belle nodded eagerly.
Twilight smiled, "Yes, everypony will be so happy to see you."
"But wait, wait...", Scootaloo suddenly had a thought, "What...what about Diamond Tiara?"
Granny Smith quickly answered, "Oh, she's been taken care of. Y'all don't have ta worry about her no more. Her days as chief editor o' th' school paper are done fer good."
"Yeah.", Rainbow Dash grinned, "And judging from what we heard, her flank is probably gonna be sore for awhile."
The Crusaders couldn't help but smile a little at the thought.
"Well, come on then. Let's get y'all home...", Granny Smith said gently.
Everypony nodded in full agreement, and with that, they all began to make their way back to Ponyville, ready to start anew, and feeling happier than they'd felt in what seemed like ages. For at last, after so much pain, fear, regret, and worry, the nightmare was finally over.
----
It was a joyous homecoming. As the group made their return to Ponyville, they found the whole town eagerly waiting for them, for everypony had gathered to see the safe return of the Cutie Mark Crusaders. Several townsponies, including Berry Punch, Mr. & Mrs. Cake, and Derpy came out of the crowd to personally greet the Crusaders, and to express their regrets, as well as their relief. Several of Apple Bloom, Sweetie Belle, and Scootaloo's classmates also came forward, glad to see that they were okay.
Apple Bloom, Sweetie Belle, and Scootaloo could barely contain themselves at this massive show of joy, and affection from the whole town. For the longest time, they'd been afraid to come home, feeling that they could never face everypony again after all that had happend. But now, they knew that they had been wrong. It was just as their friends, and loved ones had said. Everypony in town was sorry for what they'd done, and were so happy to have them back.
It was all true...
Suddenly, the Crusaders stopped in their tracks, and looked down to see Fluttershy's bunny Angel standing before them, the small white rabbit having hopped all the way from Fluttershy's cottage to see their safe return.
"Oh. Angel...", Sweetie Belle said.
For a moment, Angel looked up at the three fillies with a look of deep regret etched on his face, clearly ashamed of his previous behavior. He never should have slammed his owner's door in their faces. If only he'd known the truth...
Angel sadly began to lower his gaze, when to his surprise, Sweetie Belle smiled, and reached out to pet him, with Apple Bloom, and Scootaloo quickly following suit to let the small white bunny know that they forgave him.
Touched, Angel smiled back in gratitude.
Next out of the crowd of ponies came Scootaloo's aunts, Holiday and Lofty, joyfully calling for their beloved niece. Overjoyed at the sight of her aunts, Scootaloo instantly ran to them, and the two mares lovingly gathered her in their hooves.
Rainbow Dash however, began to feel bad about herself again as she watched this happy reunion. She could only imagine what Holiday and Lofty had gone through since this whole mess began, worried sick, and terribly afraid that something horrible would happen to their niece...
Rainbow Dash sighed, ashamed. But then, to her surprise, Holiday and Lofty walked up to her, smiling reassuringly.
"Thank you, Rainbow Dash. Thank you for bringing back our Scootaloo.", Holiday and Lofty said respectively.
Shocked, Rainbow Dash didn't know what to say. She thought Scootaloo's aunts would be furious with her for her part in all of this. But instead, they seemed to just be happy to have their niece back, and were grateful to Rainbow Dash for bringing her home in spite of everything that had happend. All was forgiven...
Then, the sky blue pegasus suddenly remembered something...
"Hey, Scoot?", she said, holding something out to the pegasus filly, "I thought you might want this back."
As Scootaloo reached out to take the item, she was surprised to see that it was the picture she and Rainbow Dash had taken together at Sugarcube Corner, and that all of the marker she'd scribbled over it had been completely cleaned off. In the end, Scootaloo looked up at Rainbow Dash, and beamed, her whole face lighting up in a sweet, joyful smile.
"So...", Rainbow Dash began, "...does this mean we're cool?"
"Yes!", Scootaloo said simply as she came forward to hug her redeemed idol, and for a moment, the two of them just held one another in their hooves, their friendship fully repaired.
Then, somepony else put a hoof on Rainbow's shoulder, and the sky blue pegasus was caught off guard when she turned to see that it was none other than Rainbow Blaze. Her mentor, who had earlier told her off for her treatment of the CMC, now smiled proudly at her, all of his previous disappointment gone.
"You did good, Dash.", the pegasus stallion said simply, "I knew you could do it."
Rainbow Dash had no words, but she felt as though she were positively GLOWING.
It was then that Apple Bloom, Sweetie Belle, & Scootaloo noticed Featherweight making his way towards them. The pegasus colt seemed happy to see them back, but at the same time, his face also betrayed a look of guilt for his previous actions.
Apple Bloom was the first to speak, "Oh, Featherweight..."
"Hey...", the pegasus colt said uneasily.
"Hey.", replied both Sweetie Belle, and Scootaloo.
For a long moment, Featherweight lowered his gaze, and was silent as he tried to find the right words. Finally, he looked back up, his face swimming with apology...
"Apple Bloom, Sweetie Belle, Scootaloo, I... I'm really sorry...", he said, trying very hard to look them in the eye, "I never should've given those embarrassing pictures of you to Diamond Tiara. You wanted to stop the gossip column... You knew that we were going too far... You were right. And if it wasn't for me, Diamond Tiara would never have been able to blackmail you, and none of this would've happend..."
Apple Bloom placed a hoof on Featherweight's shoulder. "It's okay, Featherweight. Ya did th' right thing in th' end."
"Yes, you told everypony the truth. Fluttershy told us.", Sweetie Belle put in.
"I had to fess up... I just couldn't live with the guilt.", Featherweight sighed, "And even then I almost backed out..."
"Believe me, we know what it's like to be afraid to face the music.", Scootaloo assured.
Featherweight felt hopeful. "Then does...does that mean you...?", he started to say.
Before the pegasus colt could finish, the Crusaders all stepped forward to hug him.
"Of course we forgive ya, Featherweight. Yeah, we ALL messed up. You're still our friend.", Apple Bloom, Scootaloo, and Sweetie Belle said respectively.
"Thank you...", the pegasus colt breathed, looking as though he was about to weep from happiness, "I'm... I'm so glad you're back..."
A short distance away, Cheerlie, and Mayor Mare smiled at the scene, for it warmed their hearts not only to see the Crusaders back safe, and sound, but also to see them make up with Featherweight after so much pain, and anguish. Not wanting to spoil the moment, the two mares waited until the children had finished their embrace before making their way towards them.
The Crusaders happily rushed forward to hug their teacher. "Miss Cheerlie!"
"Oh, girls...", Cheerlie happily returned the embrace, "Thank goodness you're safe."
Mayor Mare couldn't agree more, "We were all so worried; we thought we'd lost you..."
"We're sorry, Miss Mayor...", Apple Bloom apologized.
"Yeah, we never meant to cause so much trouble...", Scootaloo added.
Mayor Mare smiled reassuringly, "No, girls; there is nothing to forgive. We all made terrible mistakes, and we're all very sorry, but I, and all of Ponyville hope that it's still possible for us to put this whole thing behind us, and start anew."
"We'd like that, Miss Mayor. We'd like that very much.", Sweetie Belle nodded happily.
"Good. I'm glad.", Mayor Mare said, stepping up to hug the Crusaders.
"As am I.", came Zecora's voice a moment later as the zebra shaman walked up to them.
"Oh, Zecora...", Cheerlie addressed, "We are all forever indebted to you. I honestly don't know what we would've done if you hadn't found the girls."
"There is no need for praise...", Zecora assured, "For it is enough to see that they are no longer runaways."
"Nevertheless, you have our deepest gratitude."," Mayor Mare said, "And to think that we were all once foolish enough to be afraid of you."
"A mistake nopony'll ever make again.", Granny Smith declared as she, and the rest of the Crusaders' friends, and family came forward.
Zecora smiled, and Apple Bloom didn't think she'd ever seen her friend so happy. In fact, she didn't think she'd ever seen everypony so happy, nor for that matter, had she, Sweetie Belle, and Scootaloo ever felt so happy. After what had probably been the worst time of their lives, here they were, back home safe, and sound with their friends, and family, with no more hard feelings between anypony. It was almost too good to be true.
"Oh, everypony...", Apple Bloom said at last, "W-we thought we'd never come home again. But...but we were wrong, an' we've never been so happy ta be wrong. We're...we're home..."
"And you're all here...", Sweetie Belle added, "And we're never gonna leave here ever again."
"Never, ever again. Because we love you all.", Scootaloo concurred.
"More than anythin'...", Apple Bloom asserted.
Applejack smiled warmly, "So do we, an' we always will. An' we promise that we'll never, ever let y'all go..."
"Not ever again...", Rarity assured.
Nopony else could possibly have agreed more. Then, after of a long moment of silent affection from everypony, Twilight walked up the Crusaders.
Uh, girls...", the lavender unicorn began, "Would the three of you like to come to the library for a moment? I think there's somepony who might like to hear about what you've... No. What we've ALL learned."
The three little fillies only smiled, and nodded before saying together, "Yes, Twilight..."
----
And before long, a group consisting of the Cutie Mark Crusaders, the Mane Six, Spike, Big Mac, and Granny Smith had gathered inside the Golden Oak Library. As Spike dutifully fetched a pen, and paper, everypony sat in circle in preparation to begin the latest friendship letter to Princess Celestia. And the first to involve the Cutie Mark Crusaders as a whole.
"Are you ready?", Twilight asked the Crusaders once everypony was settled.
The three fillies simply smiled, and nodded, and that was all that was required.
"Dear Princess Celestia...", Twilight began, "So much has happend these past few days, and it's been a rather distressing, and scary time for us all, but thankfully, all has turned out well in the end, and we've all learned some very important lessons..."
Sweetie Belle went first, "Sometimes, when you make a mistake, it hurts...".
"And not just you, but also the ones you care about...", Rarity continued.
"But runnin' away from yer mistakes ain't th' answer..." added Apple Bloom.
Applejack spoke up, "An' lashin' out at, 'r ignorin' somepony fer their mistakes won't solve nothin' neither..."
"If anythin', it'll only make things worse...", Big Mac concurred.
"Instead, you should talk it over with them, and straighten things out.", Rainbow Dash added, "You may not even know the whole story."
Scootaloo piped up, "And even if you have messed up, remember that your friends, and family will always love you, and they will always be there for you no matter what."
"Everypony makes mistakes, but your mistakes do not define you.", Fluttershy said, "The important thing is that we learn from them, and try to make up for them."
"Because it's never too late to do the right thing.", Pinkie Pie nodded.
Spike smiled, "And no matter how bad things may seem, you can always come home."
"Signed, now an' always, yer faithful subjects.", Granny Smith finished.
And with that, Spike promptly rolled the letter into a scroll, headed over to an open window, and used his flame breath to sent the letter on it's way to Princess Celestia.
----
The next morning, Apple Bloom, Sweetie Belle, & Scootaloo happily returned to Ponyville Schoolhouse. Miss Cheerlie had called together a meeting in the school basement, and upon entering, the Crusaders found that everypony was already waiting for them.
As the three of them made their way towards the back of the room, Featherweight happily nodded to them from where he stood before the rest of the schoolponies, while Miss Cheerlie smiled from behind the editor's desk.
"Welcome back, girls...", a kind voice said.
Turning in the direction of the voice, the three fillies were surprised to see that Filthy Rich, Diamond Tiara's father was also here.
"Do the three of you feel all right?", he asked as he approached them.
"Yes, Mr. Rich. We're fine. Just happy to be home.", Sweetie Belle, Apple Bloom, and Scootaloo said respectively.
"I'm glad to hear that." Filthy Rich smiled, "But if there's anything I can do for you, just let me know."
"Thank you, Mr. Rich.", the three fillies replied.
"But in the meantime...", Filthy Rich continued, his voice turning serious, "I believe my daughter has something to say to the three of you. Right, Diamond Tiara?"
It was then that the Crusaders finally took full notice of Diamond Tiara, who had been silently standing at her father's side this whole time with her head down, and her tail between her legs. The pink earth filly almost looked as though she'd shrunk a size smaller since the Crusaders had last seen her the day they'd run away, and they were nearly taken aback by the sight of their bully looking so defeated.
Diamond Tiara was silent for a long moment, until at last she let out a low, barely audible sigh, and muttered, "...I'm sorry..."
"Young lady...", her father said sternly, "We've been over this already. Now, try again..."
Needless to say, Diamond Tiara was going to have to do better than that. Finally, she raised her head to look directly at Sweetie Belle, Apple Bloom, and Scootaloo with eyes that were clearly a bit swollen, and puffy; the pink earth filly had not had the best of nights.
"I'm sorry that I made you keep writing hurtful gossip...", Diamond Tiara managed to say.
"And?", her father prodded.
"And for blackmailing you with those embarrassing pictures...", Diamond Tiara added begrudgingly.
Filthy Rich pressed further, "And?"
His daughter groaned, and looked up at Featherweight, "And I'm sorry for blackmailing you to, Featherweight."
"I'm sorry for everything I did to everypony...", the pink earth filly said at last, before looking at her father as though silently asking him if he was satisfied yet.
"Good.", Filthy Rich said, giving his daughter another stern look before turning to Cheerlie, "I trust that you can take it from here, Miss Cheerlie?"
"Yes, Mr. Rich. I will manage.", Cheerlie nodded.
"Well then, I should probably be going.", Filthy Rich declared, before giving the schoolponies a smile, "Good day, everypony."
"Good day, Mr. Rich." the colts, and fillies all politely replied.
And with that, Filthy Rich headed out to be on his way, leaving his daughter to Cheerlie.
"Diamond Tiara, please come over here.", the school teacher requested.
Diamond Tiara did as instructed, and took a seat next to Cheerlie, taking care to slowly, and gently ease her flank down on the floor, for she could still feel the spanking she'd received yesterday from her father.
She'd been put through the wringer. Besides losing her position as editor-in-chief, and being spanked by her father, he'd also given her the lecture to end all lectures before finally sending her to her room. And just when Diamond Tiara thought that it couldn't get any worse, she was stopped outside her bedroom door by her mother Spoiled Rich, who'd proceeded to give her daughter a terrible scolding for all the trouble she'd recklessly stirred up. Of course, unlike her husband, all Spoiled Rich had cared about was this little scandal harming their social image rather than about all the grief that her daughter had caused everypony.
And now, Diamond Tiara was about to receive a few more choice words...
"Well, staff, it seems that I gave a little too much authority to a first-time editor.", said Miss Cheerlie before giving Diamond Tiara a stern glare, "I'm sorry, Diamond Tiara, I have to strip you of your title."
Of course, Diamond Tiara had, for all intents and purposes, already been stripped of her position, Cheerlie's declaration was just a formality to make it official to the rest of the staff, a point she emphasized by then removing the poster of Diamond Tiara from the back wall, while the pink earth filly could only growl in helpless frustration as she walked over to stand with the other schoolponies.
"And for the next editor of the Foal Free Press...", Cheerlie then announced, "I think we can all agree that in light of recent events, the school paper could use some more responsibility. Somepony who knows when things are going too far, and who won't make the same mistakes as before. And so, I have decided that the new editor-in-chief will be...Featherweight!"
Everypony (except Diamond Tiara) cheered at the announcement, but Featherweight himself was left absolutely speechless. He'd never expected to be made the editor-in chief like his sister had, and despite being forgiven for his part in the Gabby Gums scandal, the pegasus colt was still shocked that Miss Cheerlie would actually give him the position after all that.
"Muh... M-Miss Cheerlie, I... I...", Featherweight stammered, "I d-don't think I...."
Cheerlie smiled, "But I do, Featherweight. You did a very brave thing by admitting that you'd done something wrong, and then doing everything you could to make things right. I'm very proud of that, and that's exactly why I think you should be the new editor. And I know that you'll make your sister proud to."
Featherweight didn't know what to say. Despite Cheerlie's reasoning, and assurance, the little pegasus colt was a bit hesitant, and he instinctively looked over at Apple Bloom, Sweetie Belle, & Scootaloo. The Crusaders smiled, and nodded, showing him their support, and their approval of Miss Cheerlie's decision. Touched by the show of encouragement, Featherweight finally took his place at the editor's desk as everypony cheered for him again.
Well, ALMOST everypony...
"Ugh! Him? But what about me?!", Diamond Tiara exclaimed, just before Shady Daze dumped the green visor, and apron for the printing position on her.
"Here you go! I've been promoted to staff photographer.", said Shady Daze, raising his camera to take a picture of her.
Blinded by the flash, Diamond Tiara slipped backwards into the printing press, splattering black ink all over her as the Cutie Mark Crusaders, and the rest staff all laughed at her. Unamused, the pink earth filly could do nothing, but lean back, and sulk against the printing press.
The Cutie Mark Crusaders however, were as happy as could be. They were home, surrounded by loving friends, and family, with all of the pain, and bitterness that had plagued the past few days having faded away.
Nothing could go wrong. Everything was right...
----
THE END.