The Cutie Mark Crusaders reluctantly returned to Ponyville, but were relieved that no one was angry with them any longer. Apparently, they might have figured out on their own that they never irritated the Timberwolves to begin with. But there still remained the question of who might have. Who could have possibly wanted the Cutie Mark Crusaders in so much trouble that the denizens of Ponyville would be driven to resolve to anger and hatred? In any case, Applejack, Rarity, and Rainbow Dash were glad to have their sisters back. Granny Smith and Rarity's parents decided that since Applejack and Rarity respectively were just totally upset to put the whole matter behind them, provided that the fillies would be treated somewhat better than just mischief makers. During the same day the Cutie Mark Crusaders returned, Applejack, Rarity, and Rainbow Dash decided to confront Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon.
"What?" snapped Diamond Tiara. "Us?! You think we irked those Timberwolves so that they would run loose through Ponyville and those stupid blank flanks would take the heat for it?!"
"You stop that this very instant!" snarled Applejack. "Mah sister isn't stupid and if you keep callin' her a blank flank, ah swear ah'm gonna talk to yer dad about your inexcusable behavior, young missy!"
"Try it!" sneered Diamond Tiara. "My daddy is the richest pony in Ponyville! He has friends in high places!"
"And don't think you can intimidate us with that trash talk!" warned Rarity. "We are friends with Princess Celestia herself! And I have friends in Canterlot!"
"Not to mention, the Riches are friends of the Apple family," Applejack added on. "So if you keep on insultin' Apple Bloom like no tomorrow, yer gonna find yerself addin' salt to that wound you've already created. And if yer folks can't teach y'all any manners, then maybe they just might have to go to drastic measures with y'all."
"And if you insult my little Sweetie Belle, you'll have to answer to me!" said Rarity.
"And if you even dare to poke fun at Scootaloo just because she can't fly..." warned Rainbow Dash. "Well... I'm gonna give you both a two-second head start and then I can't be responsible for what's gonna happen after that."
"We're still talkin' to yer parents," said Applejack to both Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon. "They're not gonna be happy when they learned what you two did to our little sisters."
"We didn't do it!" shouted Diamond Tiara. "Do you think we want to go near any Timberwolves?"
"I would," said Rainbow Dash. "Well... but I wouldn't do it to frame anypony or something stupid like that."
"Okay, so you didn't do it," said Applejack. "But who did?" That's when Twilight and Fluttershy stepped forward.
"Well, there is undeniable evidence that points to Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon," Twilight admitted. "I did once overhear that they were going to have a party. And I'll bet it was because the Cutie Mark Crusaders had been exiled from Ponyville."
"Maybe," sneered Diamond Tiara. "But like I said, we didn't frame those Stupid Mark Crusaders." Five of the six ponies got angry at them, hearing this, but Fluttershy was in thought.
"Wait a minute," said Fluttershy. "I just remembered... That same day the Timberwolves ran loose, Angel was late for his meal. And I know how fussy he gets when I'm late with his meals sometimes, so I didn't know why Angel would... be late himself... Angel... Late for his meal... Angel..." The other five ponies looked back at Fluttershy, whose eyes suddenly widened. "Oh, no..."
Back at Fluttershy's cottage, Angel was relaxing on the couch, eating a salad with cucumbers and carrot slices. He seemed rather content, but it was about something apparently. That's when the door flung open and there stood an angry and disappointed Fluttershy, along with Applejack, Rarity, and Rainbow Dash, startling Angel.
"Angel Bunny," said Fluttershy. "You... are in so much trouble." Angel's ears drooped, realizing that he had been caught.
In a flashback scene, Angel was seen in the Everfree Forest, making faces at a group of Timberwolves. The Timberwolves got riled up with rage and chased after Angel, who was far too fast for them. After the Timberwolves lost sight of Angel, they howled and cursed, which led to their unnatural behavior of barging into Ponyville, taking out their frustration on whatever they could sink their teeth into.
"Why did you do it, Angel?" Fluttershy asked. Angel just frowned. And then, Fluttershy understood everything.
"What?" said Fluttershy, exasperated. "For that?!"
"You gotta be kiddin' me," said Applejack.
"I'm so disappointed in you, Angel," scolded Fluttershy. "I already forgave those sweet little angels for that and they certainly didn't deserve what you did to them!"
A big metal cage was placed around Angel's little house. He still had plenty of space to move around outside, but he was now forbidden from going anywhere on the chance he would be all too mischievous, including the comfort of Fluttershy's cottage. So now, Fluttershy had to pass food through the narrow spaces of the cage to feed him. Angel begged, pleaded, and cried, even banging on the metal bars, and although it pained Fluttershy to see him this way, acting all pathetic, she was still able to keep her hoof down rather firmly.
"I'm sorry, Angel," she spoke through tears. "But it's for your own good. Those poor, sweet little angels. I've seen them recently. They may not ever be the same again... living their lives... in fear."
Sadly, and sorry to say, Fluttershy was quite right. In the following days, the Cutie Mark Crusaders would wake up each morning, but they would be scared and shaken up. Not having cutie marks made them victims of Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon. And now they were too afraid to do any more crusading, under the impression that all the unintentional trouble they caused led others to scorn and hate them. The memories of how badly they were treated as Gabby Gums came back to haunt them. And since Angel was the true perpetrator behind their exile, they believed that anyone could be out to get them for almost anything.
Most days, they would leave their homes only to get together in the clubhouse, using the shed as sort of a sanctuary to get away from everything. But they also knew that Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon knew where the clubhouse was and many times, the three fillies huddled together, scared that they would be harmed. Their fear was sometimes so bad, they would cry together, and when they did, Applejack overheard them, feeling sorry. Granny Smith would just give Applejack the occasional evil eye, because the farm pony had a hand to play in all this. And not just for part of the exile, but also while they were Gabby Gums. Now, Applejack and Big Macintosh were forced to live with themselves for what they did. Rarity wanted nothing more than to hold and cuddle the three sorry little fillies and win back their trust, but in the end, it would be Fluttershy who would do that. Once in a while, Rainbow Dash was able to convince Scootaloo to come visit her in her cloud home. During their time together, they would reconcile, little by little, as Rainbow told Scootaloo just how much having a huge fan meant to her, especially when the Mare-Do-Well incident practically left her with nothing.
One time, Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon decided to take full advantage of the Cutie Mark Crusaders, but Fluttershy was at the clubhouse visiting at the time, so instead, Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon got the full receiving end of Fluttershy's signature stare instead. Sympathizing the little fillies, Applejack started serving them lunch and allowed them to eat in the clubhouse. Meanwhile Twilight was talking with Cheerilee about what had become of the Cutie Mark Crusaders and poor Cheerilee was crestfallen, even coming to tears.
"Those poor dears," murmured Cheerilee. "Do you think they need a bodyguard?"
"I don't know," said Twilight sadly. "Maybe. I'm so sorry, Cheerilee. My friends and I are to blame... somewhat."
"It's all right, Twilight. But I just never thought things would be so bad. All they wanted were their cutie marks. And they were picked on for not having them. It's very sad. Well, something has to be done. School will start again in about three weeks. But I'm sure that they'll be too scared to even attend."
"Well, I don't think Fluttershy will hesitate to help watch over them," assured Twilight. "She's tougher than she looks."
One day, Fluttershy decided to go to Canterlot for a visit. But the real reason she went was to see an old friend, so she went to the Canterlot Gardens. And there was Discord, still imprisoned in stone for his deceptiveness. Fluttershy looked up at Discord, greatly saddened and brokenhearted by the pose he was frozen in. But that wasn't all. Something else caught her eye. Looking closer at his face, she was wide-eyed when she saw one tear running from the statue's regretful eyes down his face. Fluttershy could hold back her tears no longer. She cried for Discord. And she also cried for the Cutie Mark Crusaders.
THE END
Mares in Black
performed by Apple Bloom, Sweetie Belle, and Scootaloo
Whoo...
Here come the mares in black
It's the M.I.B.'s, uh, here come the M.I.B.'s
Here come the mares in black (Mares in black)
They won't let you remember
Nah, nah, nah
The sweet little angels dress in black, remember that
Just in case we come face to face and make contact
The title held by us, M.I.B.
Means what you think you saw, what you didn't see
So don't blink, think what you want, but it's now gone
Black suit with the black Ray Ban's on
We walk in shadow, we move in silence
Guard against interplanetary violence
We were once on a Cutie Mark Crusader's list
Now we straight don't exist, no names and no hoof prints
Saw something strange, watch your back
Cause you never quite know where the M.I.B. is at
Uh, and...
Here come the mares in black (Mares in black)
Equestrian defenders (uh oh, uh oh)
Here come the mares in black (Mares in black)
They won't let you remember (won't remember)
Uh uh, uh uh
Now from the deepest of the darkest of night
On the horizon, bright light in the sight tight
Cameras zoom on the impending doom
But then like boom, black suits fill the room up
With the quickness, talk to the witnesses
Hypnotizer, neuralizer
Vivid memories turn to fantasies
Ain't no M.I.B.'s, can I please
Do what we say, that's the way we're kickin'
You know what I mean?
I see my noisy chicken get lickin' on ya
We're your first, last and only line of defense
Against the worst scum of the universe
So don't fear us, cheer us
If you ever get near us, don't jeer us, we're the fearless
M.I.B.'s freezing up all the flack
(What's that stand for?) Mares in Black
Uhh, M, m, m...
The mares in black...
(Uh uh uh...)
The mares in black...
(Uh uh uh, ah ah ah)
Let me see you just bounce it with me, just bounce it with me
Just bounce it with me, come on
Let me see you just slide with me, just slide with me
Just slide with me, come on
Let me see you take a walk with me, just walk with me
Take a walk with me, come on
And make your neck work
Now freeze...
Here come the mares in black (Mares in black)
Equestrian defenders (ooh, ooh)
Right on, right on
Here come the mares in black (Mares in black)
They won't let you remember (ohhh no)
Alright, check it, let me tell you this in closing
I know we might seem imposing
But trust me if we ever show in your section
Believe me, it's for your own protection
Cause we see things you don't need to see
And we're in places you don't have to be
So go with your life, forget that Headless Horse hooey
Show love to the black suit,
Cause that's the mares in, that's the mares in...
Here come the mares in black (here they come)
Equestrian defenders (Equestrian defenders)
Here come the mares in black (ohhh, here they come)
They won't let you remember (won't, let you, remember)
Here come the mares in black (ohhh, here they come)
Equestrian defenders (ohh ohh, ohh ohh, ohh ohh)
Here come the mares in black
They won't let you remember