//------------------------------//
// The End 
// Story: Cutie Mark Crusaders: Treasure Hunters 
// by Epicdiscord214 
//------------------------------//

  As soon as they got back to the S.S. Gale, Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon were very nervous.
“What about these two,” Daring Do said. “They’re too young for a dungeon.”
“I was considering giving them the standard sentence for all pirates,” Discord said, “Hanging them.”
“WHAT,” the CMC shouted.
“WHAT,” Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon asked.
“Just kidding,” Discord asked. “We’ll figure something out for them. In the meantime, to the brig with them all. And someone, go get the loyal crewmen.”

Later that night, the pirates were complaining. At a separate cell, Tirek sat all by himself with thoughts full of rage. In another cell, Trixie was alone and thinking to herself.
“I can’t believe it,” Trixie thought. “I did it again; I relied on no pony but myself. If I get spared, I’m going to change my way of life. But what can I do?”
Trixie tucked her hooves in her coat and felt something. She pulled out a bunch of keys and gazed at them. She looked at the cell door and grinned.

A few minutes later, the Cutie Mark Crusaders woke up with a loud thud. They creeped to the upper deck and saw two enormous bags.
“What is this stuff,” Scootaloo said. She reached out towards them. Suddenly, a blue hoof came out and smacked Scootaloo’s hoof away. “OW! Wait… Trixie?”
Trixie came out of behind the bags with a nervous face.
“Oh, hey, kids,” Trixie said. “Just uh… looking for some fresh air.”
“What’s with those bags,” Sweetie Belle asked. “What are in those?”
“Oh, this is… my laundry,” Trixie asked. She grinned nervously, but then sighed. “Okay. This is a bit of the treasure. I thought that if I escaped, I could use these to start over. It’s just a few-hundred thousand bits. No one would miss them.”
“But you’re a criminal,” Apple Bloom said. “You lead a pirate raid.”
“I know, and I don’t expect any pony to forgive me,” Trixie said. “It’s just… I’m afraid. When I come to Canterlot, I’m going to see Twilight Sparkle. When we first met, I bullied her friends in front of her. When we met last, I apologized for being a jerk. I’m just afraid of what she might think of me now. Ever been punished just for trying to find out what you are inside?”
After some deep thought, the Cutie Mark Crusaders looked at each other. Apple Bloom sighed.
“You can leave,” she said. “But what wil you do once you go?”
“Hey, I’ve got several jobs left in mind,” Trixie said. “Give me an excuse. Thank you, little munchkins.”
Trixie reached forward and hugged the kids. She then lowered the lifeboat she was on and sailed out into the ocean. The last thing they saw were each other waving their hooves good-bye.
“Well done, kids,” a voice said. Daring Do was seen watching the whole thing. Your sisters are going to be proud.”
Suddenly, the Cutie Mark Crusaders changed their expressions from happy to frightened. “OUR SISTERS!”

“WHAT IN DEAR CELESTIA’S NAME WERE YOU GIRLS THINKING,” Rarity shouted.
“NOT ONLY DID YOU GET ON A SHIP WITHOUT OUR PERMISSION, BUT YOU ALSO FOUGHT PIRATES, TROLLS, AND TIREK,” Rainbow Dash shouted.
“GRANNY SMITH, BIG MACINTOSH, AND I WERE WORRIED SICK ABOUT YOU,” Applejack shouted.
The Mane 6 were waiting at the dock for the crew of the S.S. Gale to arrive. The Cutie Mark Crusaders were bowing their heads. Meanwhile, Tirek, the Diamond Dogs, and the pirates were dragged from the boat and into a police car. Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon were standing at the side. The Mane 6 was lecturing the Cutie Mark Crusaders at the same time over and over again until…
“HOLD OOOOOOON,” Discord shouted.
The Mane 6 grew silent except for Pinkie Pie.
“And then, I said ‘OATMEAL? ARE YOU CRA…’” Pinkie stopped when she realized no one was talking.
“Ladies, ladies,” Discord said, “If I may…”
“This has nothing to do with you, Discord,” Princess Twilight Sparkle said.
“Actually, it does,” Discord said. “I’m not sure if Zecora told you girls this, but it was my idea to find Tirek’s Treasure.”
“You… did… WHAT,” Twilight shouted. “They could have been killed!”
“Well, they haven’t, have they,” Discord said. “Granted, the trip was a little more than we bargained for, but where there were downs, there have been ups. We got Scorpan’s own son as a new friend.”
“Hi,” Bengunn greeted nervously.
“Trixie seems to have changed for good,” Discord said. “Not to mention, the kids got to be on an adventure with Daring Do.”
“Yeah, that does sound awesome,” Rainbow Dash said.
“Not helping,” Applejack growled.
“And if it wasn’t for them, Tirek wouldn’t have been beaten,” Discord said. “They tripped him and made him fall. And we made Canterlot 73% richer. That’s right; I did the math.”
“There’s one more upside,” Apple Bloom stated. “If it wasn’t for this adventure, we wouldn’t have found any more topics for our Cutie Mark hunt.”
“What,” Scootaloo asked.
“Think about it,” Apple Bloom said. “Remember how well we survived that nasty storm. We could be Cutie Mark Crusaders: Storm Fighters.”
“And the way we figured out that Trixie was up to something after Discord disappeared,” Sweetie Belle said. “We can be Cutie Mark Crusaders: Detectives.”
“Oh, yeah,” Scootaloo realized. “We found all sorts of other activities.”
Diamond Tiara said nothing. She just rolled her eyes and sighed.
“And hey, we’re sorry for worrying y’all,” Apple Bloom said. “We sorta started out the treasure hunt because we all could use some more money.”
“How do you figure that,” Fluttershy asked.
“My oven’s broken,” Scootaloo said. “The Apple Family’s holding multiple fundraisers. And we almost burned Rarity’s kitchen.”
“Youngins, the fundraiser wasn’t for us,” Applejack said. “The fundraiser is for charitable companies in the city such as the Manehattan Orphanage and the Fillydelphia schools.”
“Oooooh,” Apple Bloom realized. “That makes more sense.”
“Besides, what good is money if you kids nearly hurt yourselves over it,” Twilight Sparkle said. “Before I was Princess Celestia’s student, I was like every filly in Canterlot. My parents had average wealth, but they did manage to get me in that magic school. That’s what led up to me coming to Ponyville. You don’t need money.”
“But you do need honey,” Pinkie Pie exclaimed.
Everyone was in an akward pause.
“Why would you say that,” Daring Do asked.
“It rhymes, silly,” Pinkie Pie replied.
“Don’t ask any more,” Rainbow Dash said. “I gave up on that a long time ago.”
“Anyway,” Twilight said, “The point is…

“I didn’t need wealth to last for years
And I’m already happy with all I have here
Do you really think it’s best with a luxury pool”
“Come on. It’s pretty cool,” Apple Bloom sang,
“But will it truly give you pleasure,” Twilight sang,
“Listen! Friendship is treasure
Just look, young fillies. Look around you
And remember that you three have gone through
So many obstacles. And the road was so rough
But you already have your best stuff
You stuck with it on this high adventure”
“So, of course, friendship is treasure,” Discord sang.
“If we’re being honest, I’ll be frank,” Apple Bloom sang,
“I could do well some cash in the bank”
“And I don’t need vaults of wealth,” Scootaloo sang,
“To be awesome and stay in good health”
“Despite all the shining grandeur,” Sweetie Belle sang,
“We realized friendship is treasure”
“Friendship is treasure,” Discord sang.
“Friendship is treasure,” Daring Do sang.
“Friendship is treasure,” Bengunn sang.
“FRIENDSHIP IS TREASUUUUUUUURE,” everyone sang,
“We may have been told
That life needs gold
But we don’t need jade
To have our lives made
And no amount of coral
Can be above this moral
A gem’s not our mother
Nothing’s worth more than we are to each otheeeeeeer”

“Speak for yourselves,” Diamond Tiara shouted.
“DIAMOND TIARA,” a stallion’s voice bellowed. It was Diamond Tiara’s father, Filthy Rich. He appeared out of nowhere with an angry face pointed at his daughter. “Care to explain where you were for the past few weeks?”
“Oh, daddy,” Diamond Tiara said nervously. “I, uh… I can explain.”
“Well, don’t bother,” Filthy Rich shouted. “A mare named Trixie came to my door and told me everything you’ve been up to. Piracy, indeed. And I already contacted Silver Spoon’s parents as well. You’re getting the punishment of a lifetime.”
Frowning, Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon followed Filthy Rich out of the area. The heroes chuckled at what they witnessed.
“All right, every pony,” Discord said. “Let’s wrap this up!”

“WE MAY BE SMALL AND SIMPLE,” everyone sang,
“BUT WE’VE GOT MUCH TO MEASURE
‘CAUSE NOTHING’S BETTER THAN OUR TREASUUUUUURE
FRIENDSHIP… IS TREASURE
FRIENDSHIP… IS TREASURE
FRIENDSHIP… IS TREASURE
FRIENDSHIP IS TREASUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUURE”

Down the alley, Trixie was wearing a black hood and looked at the singing group. She smiled and stared at the Cutie Mark Crusaders. She then turned and disappeared in the shadows.
We all have a goal. Some of us want to make our lives better. Others want to raise their expectations. But the Cutie Mark Crusaders, they just want to find their destinies. These little gremlins may not have found them yet, but that still means that their real hunt is still on. To Apple Bloom, Sweetie Belle, and Scootaloo, it’s more than a treasure hunt; it’s a crusade.