Over the course of a week, Scootaloo and her friends tried a variety of different jobs in an effort to raise enough money to send Scootaloo to the Junior Stuntpony Competition in Manehattan next month.
The Cutie Mark Crusader Courier Service had exactly one client, and after the Crusaders lost the package, it didn't seem fair to charge for it. At least, unlike their attempt at yardwork, they didn't end up having to pay for it in the end since, as their customer readily admitted, shipping fireworks in a hastily taped-together paper bag and entrusting it to a bunch of young fillies had probably been the first mistake made that day.
Ponyville's mayor had briefly employed the girls to fill in for her vacationing secretary. But an argument broke out when competing contractors ended up scheduled to meet with the mayor at the same time, each assured that his was the winning bid for the job of renovating the town hall. The Crusaders made an attempt at selling their services as conflict mediators, but the mayor instead made the wise decision to send everypony home and simply wait until her secretary returned.
Pet sitting was suggested at one point, but after Sweetie Belle pointed out that they had tried that once already and it hadn't turned out very profitable, they skipped the idea and moved on to the next one: Cutie Mark Crusader Building Inspectors. Surprisingly to the young fillies, there was more to that job than simply showing up at ponies' houses, issuing citations, and demanding payment. The mayor was not happy about having to deal with the numerous complaints she had received on her day off, and strongly encouraged the Crusaders to not try their hooves at any more civil service jobs.
The Crusaders tried a few other things after that, but could no longer find anypony willing to pay them by then. It was at this point that they decided to give up on making money for themselves. "I think we've learned the value of hard work by now," Applebloom said with a note of resignation. "I'm mighty sorry, Scootaloo, but I guess we're just not cut out for making money on our own."
"At least we know we gave it our best shot," said Sweetie Belle as she put a comforting hoof on Scootaloo's shoulder. "So there's no shame in asking your parents to pay the registration fee now."
Applebloom nodded in agreement. "And hey, once you're there, we know you'll win for sure. Ain't nopony better on a scooter than you. You'll be watching the Wonderbolts with Rainbow Dash in no time!"
Scootaloo forced a smile for her friends. "Thanks." She heaved a sigh and looked up into the sky which was already starting to turn orange as the sun neared the horizon. "I better get home. I'll see you later," she said as she put on her helmet and hopped onto her scooter. She waved goodbye to her friends as she rolled off. Once her friends were out of sight, though, Scootaloo stepped off her scooter and simply walked it home instead. She didn't really feel like riding anymore; it only reminded her of what she no longer held out hope of going to.
"Scootaloo, is that you?" called a voice as soon as Scootaloo came in the front door of her home.
"Yeah, it's me, Honeydew. Is there anything for dinner?" Scootaloo called back.
"I see I'm still not getting anywhere with asking you to call me 'mom,' am I?" muttered the mare as she rolled over on the couch and reached for a freshly-rolled smoke on the coffee table. "There's sandwich stuff in the kitchen," she said through gritted teeth as she held the smoke in her lips while lighting it. "Make one for me will you?"
The bread was stale, and the daisies and alfalfa sprouts were starting to wilt. Scootaloo took one look at them and decided she wasn't that hungry anyway. She didn't bother making a sandwich for Honeydew, and quietly went upstairs to her room. She locked the door and slumped down on top of her bed. Not tired enough to fall asleep, the young filly just lay there and stared up at the poster of Rainbow Dash on her wall while the sun went down outside her window.