//------------------------------// // Chapter 4: Victory Through Compromise // Story: Cutie Mark Crusader Revengers // by Minds Eye //------------------------------// Scootaloo fought to keep sleep at bay. The slow, steady rhythm of Apple Bloom’s footsteps was the only sound inside the Carousel Boutique. Sweetie Belle was out and about in Ponyville, hopefully returning with their new accomplice. Scootaloo tightened her grip on the package she held. The package was what the three of them worked all night for. The package was their only hope, and was the result of their grit and determination. And that stuff Sweetie Belle made for them. Coffee? Yeah, coffee. They needed some of that for the clubhouse. Apple Bloom stopped pacing. “It’s not gonna work!” “Why didn’t you say so before?” “I did say so before. This can go wrong in so many ways...” “I know.” Apple Bloom smiled at her. “So if this doesn't work, do Sweetie Belle and I have your permission to kick you out?” Scootaloo smiled back. “If we ever see the light of day again, yes. You can kick me out.” “And you’re still going to trust her? She doesn’t have the best reputation at her job.” Scootaloo chuckled. “We know her weakness, at least. She’ll listen to us.” There was a thud against the door, and a call of “My bad!” Apple Bloom shook her head and took her position behind a counter. Sweetie Belle opened the door and entered. She was followed by a gray pegasus who smiled and waved at the girls. “Derpy Hooves, at your service!” Scootaloo dropped her voice to a whisper as Sweetie Belle walked towards her. “Did you tell her what’s going on?” “I told her what you told me to tell her.” “Good.” Scootaloo held out the package for the mail mare. "So you know what to do?" The blond-maned pony managed to roll both of her eyes. "Duh. I take the package, fly around, find the pony on the label, and give it to them. I know how the mail works." Scootaloo ignored Sweetie Belle's giggles. "We need this done fast. Can you handle it?" "You know this isn't normally a mail day. Your friend there mentioned something about payment..." Scootaloo nodded to her right. Apple Bloom put a covered tray on the counter. "One dozen," she said as she lifted the lid. The mail mare lifted one of the muffins from the tray. She turned it in her hooves, inspecting every crumb. "Brown, but not burned. Not too dry. Ohhhh, these are fresh. And that smell," she took a long sniff before gasping in surprise. "Chocolate chips! You three just hired a mail mare!" She reached for another muffin, but Apple Bloom slammed the lid down. "After we know the package was delivered safely." The gray pony looked back to Scootaloo. "This is a long way you're sending me. It'd be a shame if I ran out of energy..." It wasn't that long of a way, but this was their last chance. "Half now, half when we know the delivery was made. Take it or leave it." The offer was taken, of course. Their package was out of their hooves now, and was carried in a beeline straight out of the Carousel Boutique. Which meant- "She's going the wrong way," Sweetie Belle said. "I noticed," Scootaloo sighed. Apple Bloom moaned in frustration. "Now what?" "Let’s...give her some time, but we have to go to the library," Scootaloo answered. "Fluttershy, Applejack, some pony will force our hand sooner or later. So let's go do it ourselves. Slowly." --- Princess Twilight Sparkle couldn't believe what she was hearing. The Cutie Mark Crusaders sat before her, heads hanging in shame, recounting their various misdeeds of the past days. It was a heartfelt confession starting from the moment she slammed the door in their faces. She hadn't even thought of the book incident since that evening. Still, she thought it was best to let the girls get everything off their chests. "Then we dropped poison joke in your drink. Big Mac talking funny was us too." "So we tried to scare you with a Sass Squash suit, but we took a wrong turn and scared Fluttershy." "She, um, caught us and told us we needed to straighten this out. So, here we are." Twilight was silent for a moment. Three attempted pranks, and the girls tried to use her friends' knowledge of her against her. "All of this...because of me? Girls, I wasn't trying to hurt you. I'm sorry-" "No," Scootaloo interrupted, "don't. It's all my fault. I made too big a deal about it that night, and it was my idea to start this." "It's my fault," Apple Bloom insisted. "I didn't think this was a good idea at first, but I went along with it anyway. My friends needed me to talk some sense into them, and I let them down." "Girls, you know this was my fault. I...wait." Sweetie Belled scratched her head. "What did I do?" Twilight smiled down at the crusaders. "I haven't even-" "Oh! I was the one who summoned Madame Pinkie!" She...summoned...it was probably better not to ask. "Girls, I haven't even thought about that night. I'm so glad you listened to Fluttershy. It's always best to talk with each other before little problems become big ones." Sweetie Belle nodded. "We've learned not to hold a grudge. It's worthless. The pony you're holding it against probably doesn't even know about it." "And we've learned not to take advantage of some pony's generosity," Apple Bloom added. "They're trying to do something for you out of the goodness of their heart. You shouldn't hurt them for it." Scootaloo looked to the ground, rubbing one of her legs with a hoof. "Just because you're a princess and really special now doesn't give us the right to ask special favors from you." Sweetie Belle looked up with big, sad eyes. "Please don't hate us?" "Hate you?" Twilight laughed and wrapped the girls in her front legs and wings, holding them close. "I could never hate you! You're welcome here anytime! Watching you three grow up like this is a joy!" Twilight gasped as an idea struck her. She grinned excitedly as she loosened her hug on the crusaders. "Why don't you three write a letter to Princess Celestia? It's been so long since she's read a report on the magic of friendship. She'll be thrilled!" "BUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUURP!" Right on cue, Spike belched somewhere in the library. The girls started giggling. Apple Bloom answered Twilight's questioning look. "We've, uh, heard about Spike burping like that, but we've never actually heard it before." The little dragon ran into the main room, waving a scroll. "Letter from Princess Celestia! Should I read it now?" "Go ahead, Spike. The girls might need you for a minute afterwards." Spike straightened the scroll and began to read. "My Dearest Princess Twilight Sparkle, you simply must forgive this...wait, what?" "Spike, you've never stopped reading before! That is a letter from our teacher, friend, and reigning monarch! Interruptions simply won't do." The dragon quickly read through the letter. "If you say so." He cleared his throat, and started again. "You simply must forgive this foolish old mare, but like all ponies my age, I find myself thinking back on younger times. I can’t help but recall your earliest days under my wing. To see you now, I am very proud of the princess you have become. It has always been a pleasure of mine to watch my students grow. I hope, dear Twilight, that you will find the same pleasure. Teaching our subjects, be they young or old or great or small, is a privilege that you should take advantage of. You do, after all, live in a library. Don’t be stingy with the books! Yours, Princess Celestia." Spike finished and rolled the scroll back up. Twilight blinked. "Wait, what?" "That's what I said." She looked down at the Cutie Mark Crusaders, who looked as confused as she was. Then 1, 2, 3, they smiled up at her. Scootaloo had an eager glint in her eye. "Can...Can we borrow that book? Please?" This was uncanny. "Spike, are you sure that's from Princess Celestia?" "Totally. I've seen more of her letters than you have. This is her writing." The girls smiled wider. What were the odds? She glanced back to Spike. He pored over letter again and shrugged his shoulders. Teaching is a privilege. If any pony knew that, it was Princess Celestia. The girls...they did learn some valuable lessons. Celestia always rewarded her when she did that. Maybe she was wrong. Maybe she could trust them after all. Twilight lit her horn and summoned a book. The Cutie Mark Compendium floated down and rested in the air in front of the crusaders. Scootaloo grabbed it, but the purple aura did not disappear. "You promise to take care-" "Yes! Yes, we promise! Thank you, Twilight!" Twilight lowered her spell, and two of the girls galloped out of the library. Sweetie Belle jumped up and hugged her around the neck before chasing her friends. "Hey, this is weird." "Huh? What's weird, Spike?" "Here, on the back of the scroll. It says 'From the Desk of Princess Celestia.' They only say that on fliers, or mass announcements, or something like that. I've never seen it on a private letter." Twilight pulled the scroll over and examined it herself. "That is weird..." --- In the gleaming city of Canterlot, Princess Celestia strolled through the castle halls on her way to her office. The door leading inside opened before she could reach it, and Celestia was surprised by the exit of a certain pony. The pony turned to walk away before Celestia called out. "Sister! Did you need me for something?" Princess Luna looked back equally surprised. "Oh! Good morning, Tia. No, I was just looking for my favorite quill." "And you left it in my office?" "Apparently not," Luna answered with a smile. "I'll check my room again. Have a good day, sister." The Princess of the Night left a confused Celestia in her wake. True to her word, she returned to her room, but she didn't look for a quill. A package was lying on her bed. A letter signed by young Scootaloo was on her nightstand. The message was quite simple. She explained the situation and offered the contents of the package as a gift. In exchange, all she wanted was a letter sent through little Spike signed by Princess Celestia. And what a gift it was! Luna threw the crimson cape around her shoulders. The deep red, the bright yellow underneath, the blue patch resembling a cutie mark, it was a beautiful piece. And it fit perfectly! What craftsmanship from three little fillies! Luna turned and admired her reflection in a mirror. Perhaps she would wear it to the next Grand Galloping Gala...