Prologue
“Sheesh.” A dejected Scootaloo walked into the Cutie Mark Crusader’s clubhouse and set a small pack onto the table in the room. “I really thought we had something going for us in the whole ‘Cutie Mark Crusaders Professional Wrestlers’ thing.”
Apple Bloom trotted in after the pegasus and sighed. “Frankly, Ah’m surprised that we managed to get out of Carousel Boutique with the fabric for the costumes without being noticed by Rarity.”
“Yeah, it’s too bad Twilight caught us when we went past Sugarcube Corner,” Sweetie Belle said, also trotting in. “Although, to be honest, I’m surprised she wasn’t at the library researching that box she got.”
Scootaloo brought a hoof up to her chin and hummed in thought, hoof tapping on the table slightly. “Why does she even have that box?”
The three fillies thought together for a few seconds, before Apple Bloom stated, “I got nothin’.”
“Me neither,” Sweetie Belle said, setting her stuff down onto a chair. “So, what are we doing now?”
Scootaloo jumped up onto a different chair. “Cutie Mark Crusaders Shark Jumpers!”
Apple Bloom jumped onto an opposing chair. “That’s way too dangerous! And where are we even gonna find sharks to jump over, anyway?”
Scootaloo got off of and sat down upon the chair she was once on. “I dunno. Fluttershy?”
Sweetie Belle nodded. “Fluttershy probably has sharks.”
Scootaloo stuck a hoof up into the air and started declaring “Then is it decided that we’re going to go for Cutie Mark Cru-” before Apple Bloom stuck her hoof into Scootaloo's mouth to interrupt her.
“No,” she said. “Ah still think It’s way too dangerous.”
“Aww…” Scootaloo spat out Apple Bloom's hoof and pouted. “Well then, do you have any ideas, Apple Bloom?”
Apple Bloom thought, as the trio have been doing a lot lately. “We could always try Cutie Mark Crusaders Bakers again.”
“No thank you.” Sweetie Belle shook her head.. “I still have no idea how Pinkie did that.”
The three of them had a collective shudder. “It hurts to think about it,” Scootaloo stated.
“Yeah, let’s get off the topic,” Apple Bloom said. “So Sweetie, do you have any ideas?”
Sweetie Belle sat down and thought. And then she thought some more, and eventually she decided. “Nope.”
Apple Bloom sighed and picked up a crayon that was lying on the table. “Cutie Mark Crusaders artists?”
“Nah,” Scootaloo said. “I don’t feel like drawing…”
Sweetie lifted a drawing of Twilight in her magic grasp and sighed.
The three of them sat around the table and thought. Sweetie Belle began absentmindedly humming a tune.
“Hey,” Apple Bloom asked inquisitively. “What’s that song, Sweetie?”
Sweetie abruptly stopped. “O-Oh, it’s just something I came up with yesterday…”
“Well, it’s awesome!” Scootaloo declared. “You have to write some words for it!” She paused for a moment, then declared, “Cutie Mark Crusaders Songwriters!”
Apple Bloom perked up. “Yeah! Let’s do it!”
Sweetie Belle lightened up a bit and stuck her hoof up into the air. “Cutie Mark Crusaders Songwriters!”
The other two brought their hooves up in their salute. “Yeah!”
“Okay,” Apple Bloom said. “The first thing we need is a name.”
“...This Side of Eternity,” Sweetie Belle decided.
“What?” Scootaloo asked. “How’d you come up with that?”
“I dunno.” Sweetie had a puzzled expression. “It just… Fits.”
“Well, it’s awesome!” Scootaloo declared. Then she paused again, and stated “And it really does seem right, somehow."
“And it's so... Mystical." Apple Bloom whispered. "Anyway, we’ve got a title and now we gotta write!”
“On this side of eternity,” Scootaloo started. “Our fears run cold.”
“On this side of eternity,” Apple Bloom continued. “Our souls grow bold.”
“On this side of eternity,” Sweetie Belle also continued. “No story goes untold.”
“On this side of eternity,” The three of them finished. “We shall not withhold. Heading straight on 'till morning and onwards unfold.”
“The lyrics sound like they’re from some rock song,” Scootaloo said. “I like it!”
"And that's because you whined and complained until the words 'met up with the potential of the title?" Sweetie asked, while Scootaloo made a nervous grin and slid down in her chair.
“Well, we’ve got the chorus done,” Apple Bloom said in between writing down the words. “Now, what should we do for the verses?”
“It’s finished!” Sweetie Belle declared, holding the paper in her telekinetic grasp.
“Well?” Scootaloo asked. “Sing it!”
“What?” Sweetie Belle blushed. “I-I couldn’t…”
“Well, we shouldn't,” Apple Bloom said. “You made the tune and most of the words, and you’re the best singer out of us.”
Sweetie Belle moved her hoof in a circular motion. “Well, alright. But only because you’re my friends.”
She stood up and trotted up to the podium, This Side of Eternity in tow.
And then she sang.
Sweetie Belle's voice came to a stop and she opened her eyes. Apple Bloom and Scootaloo were staring up at her in awe.
“Uh, hello?” Sweetie Belle asked, seeing their expressions frozen. “Are you two there?”
Sweetie jumped off of the podium and trotted towards her two friends. She leaned in and studied their expressions, before waving a hoof in front of their faces.
“Huh? What?” Scootaloo asked, snapping to attention.
“Sweetie Belle, that was amazing!” Apple Bloom declared once she recovered, a spark appearing in her eye.
“Yeah!” Scootaloo agreed. Sweetie noticed the same flash appear in her eye. “In fact, I’d say it’s even your special talent!”
“Really?” Sweetie gasped. “Do you think so?”
“Of course!” Apple Bloom exclaimed. “Why, it’s so obvious I can’t believe we hadn’t noticed it until now!”
Sweetie’s face brightened and she looked at her flank. Emblazoned upon it was a simple green heart with an eighth note sitting upon it.
“Wait, what?” Sweetie squeaked. It wasn't exactly what she expected. “I see it's music-related, but-"
But when she turned back to face her friends, she was alone in a starry blue field that radiated magic, everywhere.