Sweetiebelle jumped as the stage hoof pony yelled through her dressing room doorway. "Th...thanks...I'll be right out!" She said as she glanced into the giant mirror that stood in front of her, staring at her now aged complexion. Years of sleepless nights and stress had certainly taken its toll on the mare, bags clearly evident under her eyes with her once beautiful figure now a thin and malnourished shell of her past self. Despite letting her looks go with time, Sweetiebelle had made it big in life. She was rolling in bits and living the high life in Canterlot’s most posh district. Everypony would come from miles around to hear her sing, which was a rare occurrence. Sweetiebelle had never been able to surpass her fear of singing in front of large crowds, yet her employer never seemed to mind, for when she did manage to sing, she would knock them dead.

"Are you almost ready to perform, my sweet?" A unicorn stallion said happily as he trotted towards Sweetiebelle, approaching her from behind. Shadowy Clouds was a large stallion by standard measures, with piercing green eyes and a long, greasy black and blue mane. His coat color reminded Sweetie of blood, although a shade lighter. He was one of Hard Cash’s highest-paid “associates”

"Oh! Shadow…y....yes, I'm just putting on my face!" Sweetiebelle joked nervously, trying her best not to make direct eye contact with the stallion. Shadow was usually very short tempered and Sweetiebelle knew best to keep her mouth shut and her eye contact to a minimum when alone around him. He wasn't a bad pony in Sweetiebelle’s eyes, he just made bad decisions. Shadow had never actually hit her before, but had come close on several occasions.

"That’s my girl. You know Hard Cash has been very lenient on your stage fright over the years, thanks to me that is, so long as you bring in the audience at least once a week."

"Then perhaps you can tell me what day of the week it is, hmmmm?" Shadow sarcastically replied, pacing around Sweetiebelle, gently stroking the quivering mare’s mane with each pass.

"My, you are a smart cookie there Sweetie. That also means, however..." Shadow paused for a second, rubbing the mare’s chin gently before grabbing Sweetiebelle, embracing her in a short and passionate kiss. "That means the weekend is almost up!" he finished lightly.

"Wha...what’s your point, Shadow?" Sweetiebelle questioned, knowing the answer all too well by now.

"My point...my dear Sweetiebelle.....is that you have to bucking work for your keep!" Shadow gestured angrily as he slammed his hoof hard on the dresser.

"SORRY WON'T PUT BITS ON THE TABLE!" Shadow shouted, quickly sweeping his hoof across Sweetiebelle’s dresser in a fit of rage, spilling its contents over the floor. Perfume bottles and makeup shattered from the force, with Sweetiebelle toppling backwards in fright, clumsily landing on her flank. All the mare could do was sit there, crying, watching the upset stallion resume his pacing again for several seconds before finally stopping to regain his composure and adjust his mane.

"Really, my sweet. You see what happens when you upset me or Hard Cash?" Shadow said as he trotted back over to Sweetiebelle, painfully grabbing the mare’s arm and yanking her to her hooves in an attempt to help her up. Sweetiebelle knew her place, and all she could do was stay quiet, knowing it was best she said nothing. "Fine…ignore my apology then. I do everything for you, Sweetiebelle. Without us, you would still be sitting on the corner singing for bits!"

"The show must go on, however. Get out there, Make Hard Cash some money, then I will be waiting for you, like always. Do not let me down, my sweet." Shadow stated as he slammed the dressing room door shut with his magic on the way out.

He loves me, doesn't he? A delusional Sweetiebelle wondered as she quickly used what little time she had left to apply her makeup. Of course he does, he said so himself, well he did say I was all his! Nopony said show life would be glamorous, and Shadow is right...without him, I would still be....there. He changed me for the better, he loves me. Sweetie finished, halfheartedly.
____________

"No...but I do have this for you!" A stallion sarcastically said as he kicked mud into the mare’s face, laughing as he trotted away. Rain poured down as Sweetiebelle tried her best to protect her makeshift home from damage, layers of old newspapers being all she could use. The mare was forced to live in a box. Everywhere was just too expensive for her to live. Her dream was failing, and now she was struggling just to collect bits, trying her best to sing on the corner or her little alleyway. Some days were good, others were bad, it all depended on how many ponies she attracted that would allow her to sing.

Sweetiebelle sighed, crawling into her box, bracing for another night in the cold. Whinneapolis was always raining, but because of that, the area had some of the most beautiful lakes and rivers in all of Equestria. Trying to get comfortable, Sweetiebelle noticed a damp patch on the roof of her box. As she touched it lightly, the cardboard tore.

It was too late, as with that little ounce of pressure, her box had burst, soggy pieces now littering the ground, her home ruined.

"I have had it with this place, I just want to go home!" Sweetiebelle sobbed, quickly coming to the realization she had no bits to even afford the ticket back. She didn't care who was watching, the mare simply sat in the rain, crying, saturated from the rain. Sweetiebelle started singing the best she could while shivering in the cold, trying her best to calm her nerves.

"I hate the rain" Sweetiebelle mumbled, failing to notice the stallion that was now standing in front of her, his face covered by an umbrella.

"A rose must remain with the sun as well as the rain or its lovely promise won't come true."

Sweetiebelle flicked her soaked mane out of her face as the stallion approached her. "...pardon me?"

"And when it rains on your parade, look up rather than down. Without the rain, there would be no rainbow." The stallion said, gesturing a spare umbrella to Sweetiebelle, who stared bluntly at it for several seconds.

"It won't bite" joked the stallion as he forcefully handed it to Sweetiebelle. "Allow me to introduce myself, I am Shadowy Clouds, but most ponies call me Shadow. I couldn't help but hear that wonderful little tune. I work for the Hard Cash Canterlot Talent Agency, and we are looking for somepony to sing for us as we establish our foothold in Canterlot."

"My, my. You are a long way from home. Listen, my dear. Why don't we get into my automobile and talk? You could catch a cold in this weather" The stallion suggested, leading Sweetiebelle’s gaze behind him with a hoof gesture.

"Why are you so nice to me? Nopony is ever this friendly around these parts" Sweetiebelle said with a grimace on her face as she eyed over the hulking machine. She had seen the invention several times before, but never got this close to one. Apparently they were changing the way ponies travel, slowly overtaking and replacing the old push and pull pony systems.

"Sometimes all it takes is a little kindness to make a pony smile." Shadow said kindly while faking a smile, opening the door of the machine to allow Sweetiebelle inside. "By the way, I never caught your name, my dear"

Sweetiebelle was lost in deep thought as she headed towards the stage. She had always been so sure of Shadow’s love and intentions for her, but tonight was the first time she really questioned it. Sure he got a little rough, but his line of work wass very stressful.

Nopony knows him the way I do, he can be a true gentlecolt. He gives me all this great stuff and my house is one of the finest in Canterlot! She thought to herself. Sighing, Sweetiebelle paused for a brief moment before climbing the stage steps. No...It's just nerves! I have a pony who loves me, a great house In Canterlot and I'm following what my cutie mark represents! As usual, just for her, they had erected a wire cage to protect her from the night’s drunken ponies.

Sweetiebelle stopped and stared as she approached the microphone, the crowd’s drunken rambling turned to an awkward silence as the microphone let out a very audible whine. Taking a deep breath, the mare opened her mouth, but nothing came out. Whispers and laughs were now evident from the crowd as Sweetiebelle coughed under her breath, clearing her throat for a second try…Nothing. Oh no, not again! Sweetiebelle thought as the crowd’s taunts and booing quickly grew louder as the first of several bottles smashed against the wire cage.

You CAN sing, Sweetiebelle.

"Huh? Who's there?!" Sweetiebelle shouted as the mysterious voice resonated inside her head.

You just need a familiar face around!

It caught the corner of Sweetiebelle’s eye as it spoke again. A shadowy figure, seated directly in front of her at an empty table, waving to her and whistling for her to begin.

"Is that....It couldn't be!" The mare gasped excitedly, pushing past the microphone to peer through the wire cage, trying to catch a better look. The figure was a Silhouette, the only pony in the crowd she could not make out, its features buried under shadow.

You'll have that prick Shadow out here if you don't sing, kid!

Sweetiebelle nodded, readjusting the microphone, a giant grin now evident on her face. Breathing once more, the mare opened her mouth, the words now flowing freely. She began to sing, and sing wonderfully.

As the last note left Sweetiebelle’s mouth, the crowd erupted into a screaming frenzy of cheers and applause. She had done it. She had managed to sing thanks to Rainbow Dash. Sweetiebelle eyed the crowd, trying eagerly to spot the pegasus amongst the many ponies who were giving a standing ovation, but she was gone. Sighing, Sweetiebelle trotted back towards her dressing room.

"Yes, boss. I understand. Those two foals let her slip into Ponyville? Send her, are you sure boss? Great plan, boss, I'll do it then."

"Did I interrupt something?" Sweetiebelle asked as the stallion finished the telemagical call.

"That was Hard Cash. The boss is allowing you to head back to Ponyville for a few days."

"But you can help us with something!" Shadow said as he handed her a letter. Sweetiebelle opened it, examining its contents.

Dear Miss Sweetiebelle
This Saturday marks the 25th anniversary of the Ponyville Elementary class of one Cheerilee, and according to records, you attended this class. In honor of Cheerilee's teaching accomplishments, a reunion is to be held on the forthcoming Saturday. Food and Drink will be free of charge and we look forward to seeing you there.

Mr. Whitegrin, Mayor of Ponyville.

Looking at the letter for several seconds, Sweetiebelle sighed before tossing it aside. "I have no Interest to go there anymore. Maybe when I was still on the streets I did, but you and Hard Cash have made my life so much better now."

"I...I..." Sweetiebelle stuttered, unsure how to answer the question. Shadow approached, lovingly stroking her face as he stared into her eyes, locking his deep gaze onto hers.

"How much....do you love me, my sweet?" Shadow repeated, this time in a much more serious tone.

"I....I love you more than anything in the world...." Sweetiebelle replied, unsure of what he would do to her, sighing when the stallion finally released her, an odd feeling of constraint being lifted from the mare’s chest as he did.

"Good girl. Hard Cash has tasked you with something very important. We have had to be very careful In Celestia’s region as of late, and her royal guards have been on our flanks for weeks. Two of your friends, Applebloom and Scootaloo, are reportedly going to be in Ponyville for the reunion. They owe Hard Cash a lot of bits and even ditched on an unfinished contract. We need you to go to the Ponyville Town Hall and file this"

Sweetiebelle glanced over the sheet as it was passed to her, gasping when she read what it contained. "This...this is a permit that allows excessive force In Ponyville! Ponyville is a peaceful place...I can't do this! I refuse to!"

"I thought you loved me?" Shadow said, grabbing Sweetiebelle as he once again looked deep into the mare’s eyes. "Besides, you have to earn your keep..."

"Yes, your keep, my dear.” Shadow said menacingly. “We gave you this life. What did Ponyville ever give you apart from heartache? You do love me, do you not?"

"I...do…I love you, you are everything to me Shadow" Sweetie said, voice shaking slightly.

"Good, then its settled. You leave in a few hours." Shadow said matter-of-factly.

"You...won't hurt anypony once it’s filed, will you?" Sweetie asked nervously.

"No...we simply want to be compensated for what they did to us! They are a dangerous bunch of ponies compared to when they were fillies! Go get packed my sweet, I will write a letter to the town to let them know of your arrival. Remember, this is a secret trust. Do not buck up and Hard Cash could promote you! Not a word to anypony! Now go get packed!" Shadow said gruffly.

Shadow trotted towards the dresser room exit, sighing sadly as he exited, greeted by the two business ponies that had failed to capture Applebloom.

"You two foals get one more chance! Hard Cash wants you to tail every move of Sweetiebelle’s to make sure everything goes to plan."

"There is also something very important In Ponyville Hard Cash wants destroyed, so listen closely!"

(Huge) Authors Note: So there we have it, Thanks to SouthpawFighter614 for the quick edits as well as providing a look and name to Shadowy Clouds. I did warn that this chapter would be very short also, but like Scootaloos chapter, It takes place in the span of around a hour. The other chapters will flow a lot quicker now, since there is very little character development left to plan. We have:

*Scootaloo who is a heavy drinker, blamed by a lot of ponies for Rainbows tragic death, even blaming herself, running away from her problems and gaining a giant gambling debt and a very short time to live.

*Applebloom, Rumble and her daughter, Appleshine heading to Ponyville to secretly hide from the two business ponies who want to take everything away from Applebloom to keep her employed with Hard Cash Co. even going so far as to try and kill ponies, since they seem to own most of the law enforcement around Equestria.

*Sweetiebelle, who is torn between her love for Ponyville and losing all what she has made for herself.

What awaits the three in Ponyville? How much has it changed over the years? What does Hard Cash want destroyed there?

The Final Crusade

by ungodly

Sweetiebelle