*(~)*
Philippians 2:1-11~
"Therefore if there is any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and mercy, fulfill my joy by being like-minded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind. Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others.
Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross. Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father."
*(~)*

Crusaders of the lost Mark

Meelo cleared his throat before speaking. The young boy stood before the audience, wearing a coat and bow tie, standing with his back turned to a certain clubhouse that was built on a tree.
"A Cutie Mark." the young airbender began, "A pony's calling in life, forever tattooed on their flanks. A destiny, bestowed upon those who are patient enough to wait and witness for themselves. Many have found their marks as well as their destinies, but very few have yet to find theirs. Why is that so? Maybe they have yet to discover their calling? Or is it that they are trying much too hard to discover what it is? Or is it just that some just aren't meant to have a cutie mark? Is not having a cutie mark even possible?…no seriously, is it?" he cleared his throat once more, "None the less, the story I'm about to tell is one as old as time…or, as old as a few years. Three little fillies, their marks they seek, but will they succeed? Or will their future be bleak?…Hey, I just rhymed!"
"Meelo! Who are you talking to?"
"Nobody, Jinora!" the little airbender zipped away as fast as he could before his older sister could ask more questions.
"What was that about?" Kai asked, and the female airbender simply shrugged. He and Jinora were visiting Apple Bloom, Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle at their clubhouse. The trio of fillies were once again trying to think of new ways to get their cutie marks. While the majority of the fillies at their elementary school had received their marks, they have yet to receive theirs. Still, they refused to give up. Ikki attended their little meeting as well, Sweetie Belle's little mouse-bird spirit pet, Valiant, sat on her head.
"Okay, Crusaders! Back to the business of earnin' our cutie marks! Any suggestions?" Apple Bloom said while sitting on a box, pointing her hoof at a chart of items drawn on it. The majority of them were marked with red Xs.
"No, we've tried everything!" said Scootaloo sadly.
"We've run out of ideas." said Sweetie Belle, equally sad as she looked at her still blank flank, "And here I thought I'd get my waterbending cutie mark by now."
"Or my airbending cutie mark." said Scootaloo, also looking at her flank.
"Bending doesn't necessarily need to be your special talents." said Jinora as she stood up from where she sat, nearly hitting her head against the wooden roof. The fillies were always a bit smaller compared to the airbender kids and while they could still enter the clubhouse, it was still rather small for them to stand fully up, but not small enough that it would harm their backs.
"Maybe you should try focusing more on what you're all good at individually." the older airbender suggested, rubbing her bald head which carried her blue arrow tattoo. "Sweetie Belle, you're really great at singing."
"I have tried singing." said Sweetie Belle, "And I do love it, but nothing."
Kai nodded his head at the filly pegasus, "What about you, Scootaloo? You're great at extreme sports with your scooter."
"I know, but that hasn't gotten me a cutie mark either." the poor little filly's ears lowered sadly, "Maybe it's hopeless."
Apple Bloom could not believe what she was hearing. She jumped from her box and spoke up to her friends, "Are you kiddin' me, Crusaders? We can do better than that!"
"Yeah!" Ikki cheered, "You can't give up now. You'll get your cutie marks before you know it!"
Music filled the air as Apple Bloom started to sing:

Apple Bloom:
We've been searchin' for our cutie marks
For a while now
Tryin' to find out how we fit in
So many ways we've tried before
But we keep on tryin' more
Cutie Mark Crusaders:
'Cause the Cutie Mark Crusaders don't give in

Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo quickly realized how foolish they were sounding. How could they possibly give up now? They were the CMC and they never gave up no matter what! They have hearts as strong as horses after all.
Kai, Jinora and Ikki sang along as well.

Ikki:
Because we know, deep inside, you'll find the light that shines within

All Together:
We'll make our mark
One way or another
We'll make our mark
On the day that we discover
The ultimate reward of our cutie marks!

"Cutie Mark Crusaders! Help!" The door of the clubhouse bursted open and an adorable little colt entered. He was a white and brown colored pinto pony with a blank flank and chocolate brown hair and matching eyes, speaking in a British accent.
"What's wrong, Pipsqueak?" Apple Bloom asked, only to latter narrow her eyes when Kai tried to contain his laughter while covering his mouth.
"Pipsqueak." he repeated under his breath, trying once again not to laugh. He stopped only after Jinora slapped him at the back of the head.
Pipsqueak, the little colt entered the clubhouse, looking up at the Crusaders with his big brown eyes. He was much shorter than all of them, which was why he was named Pipsqueak, "I'm running for student pony president, I was hoping you three would be my campaign managers!"
The three female fillies smiled at the news. "We've never tried gettin' our cutie marks in campaign managin'!" said Apple Bloom.
"And since you failed on everything else, this must definitely be how you get your cutie marks!" Ikki suggested with a smile…only to receive a few dirty looks from the others. She always did have a pretty big mouth and would sometimes say things before thinking. She blushed in embarrassment.
"And if you need anymore help, we'd be happy to volunteer." said Jinora.
Kai nodded in agreement, "Yeah. I can be pretty persuasive."
Apple Bloom shook her head and turned back to her friends, "What do ya say, Crusaders?"
"Yeah! Hoof!"
The Crusaders and airbenders high fived/hoof, ready to take on the challenge. Pipsqueak tried to get up and join but was just too short. Sweetie Belle kindly levitated him with her magic and he could join in. He felt so relieved, if there was anypony he could trust to win the campaign it was the Cutie Mark Crusaders!

The following day, the Crusaders prepared to help Pipsqueak get elected as student pony president. Their first stop was at the school's playground. Sweetie Belle pushed a box and Kai placed Pip onto it. Apple Bloom tried to get the other children's attention, but none of them seemed to be paying any attention. Ikki stepped forward and took inhaled a large amount of air before speaking.
"HEY EVERYPONY! PIP'S GOT SOMETHING TO SAY!!"
One of the child's many talents was being able to scream so loudly it could get everybody's attention. Once all eyes were on them, Apple Bloom addressed to them, speaking loudly which was now an easier task without all of the loud laughing and horse play.
"So, Pip, how would you help the school if you were elected student pony president?"
"Our playground equipment took quite a beating during Twilight and Korra's battle with Tirek!" the little colt explained. Indeed, the playground was a mess. The swings could hardly sustain the weight of any pony, the teeter-totters had no teeter in their tots, the merry-go-round didn't go as fast as it once did, and nopony could climb the monkey bars.
"I'm surprised they noticed this now." Kai said in a hushed tone to Jinora.
"If I'm voted in as student pony president, I'll go to the school board and right this wrong!" Pip stomped his hoof onto the box in determination. He may be tiny, but his heart was mighty. All of the foals cheered at the news, maybe getting Pip elected would be easier than the Crusaders and Airbenders thought.
However, one pony in particular was not happy about it. She was a pink colored earth pony with a light purple mane, curled to perfection with white streaks and a beautiful tiara rested on her head, identical to the cutie mark on her flank.
"Well, I think that's a ridiculous waste of money!" she said as she roughly made her way through the crowd with her head held up high like the princess she believed she was. "It's just like when Twist proposed to repair the window that Discord destroyed!" she said while narrowing her eyes at a nerdy-looking foal, who reeled back in fear.
"She just wanted to repair it like a plain old schoolhouse window. But you all know voting for me was the best choice because I convinced the school board to give that window visual appeal!"
Indeed, the window did have appeal…the appeal that this pony was as self absorbed as she was body, cruel and narcissistic. The window was a stained glass one with a depiction of her looking high and mighty. The airbenders noticed the way the other foals backed away from the pony and her associate, a gray colored pony with silver hair styled into a braid and wore slender blue classes and pearls around her neck, along with a silver spoon cutie mark on her flank.
Kai, Jinora and Ikki were already getting a bad vibe from this pony. "Who's she?" Kai asked, rather disgusted with the pony's attitude. He thought most ponies were kind and gentle.
"That's Diamond Tiara." said Apple Bloom, "Her family's the richest family in Ponyville. And her mother is Spoiled Rich, president of the school board."
"Wait, didn't you just say she was spoiled rich?" Kai asked, arching an eyebrow.
"No, her mother's name is Spoiled Rich. Her dad's Filthy Rich."
Kai blinked twice before saying, "You ponies have weird names."
"Weirder than 'Kai'?"
Suddenly, the ground started to quake, but while the other foals stepped back, Diamond Tiara stood proudly and still. The ground stopped shaking once a portion of the earth itself rose up from underneath Diamond Tiara, holding her higher than the others.
"Oh yeah, did we mention she also go bending powers now?"
"Exactly!" the gray earth pony, Silver Spoon, addressed to the country filly, a smug smile on her face as she did, "Which is why when Diamond Tiara is voted student pony president, the school will be putting a statue of her in the center of our schoolyard!"
Diamond Tiara herself manipulated the tall rock to reach her friend before lowering herself down and speaking through gritted teeth, "Silver Spoon! That was my big announcement for when I won!"
"I was only trying to help." Silver Spoon said, her ears lowering sadly.
"I don't need that kind of help!"
Silver Spoon sincerely was trying to help her best friend. Actually, her only best friend, but this kind of behavior was to be expected. However, ever since she got her bending powers Diamond Tiara has been even bossier than ever.
"Haven't we all had enough of Diamond Tiara?" Apple Bloom said to the students.
"Do we really need a big statue of her?" Scootaloo said.
"Especially where our playground equipment should be?" Sweetie Belle added.
Diamond Tiara narrowed her eyes once all of the students started speaking with one another, murmuring in agreement at what Sweetie Belle had just said. A statue of Diamond Tiara would be rather hard for them to play on.
"But I can make an even better playground with my earthbending!" Diamond Tiara stated arrogantly.
"How do we know you won't just build your statue instead?" Ikki asked, placing her hands on her hips.
"Even with your powers, what have you really done to prove to everypony you're a worthy candidate?" Jinora asked her sternly, "And no, placing a stain glass window of yourself doesn't count."
The pink pony growled in anger while Kai used his airbending to lift Pip upwards and place them onto the horseshoe arch of the playground.
"I may not have bending power," Pip said humbly, "but I promise to work hard to get us better equipment for everypony! A vote for Pip is a vote for the playground!"
"A vote for Diamond Tiara is a vote for more Diamond Tiara!" the pony was not about to quit, she would win no matter what. But she was underestimating the competition, as well as his campaign managers. The Crusaders and Airbenders sat on the arch, singing to the foals.

Cutie Mark Crusaders:
It's time to make a change
This is our chance
Don't be afraid to do what's right
(He's it! Vote for Pip!)

Airbenders:
You've got an opportunity
To have fun again
A vote for Pip, and you can join the fight

The friends marched behind Pip, who walked among the foals like the leader he truly was. He cared about the students and their problems more so than himself.

CMC and Airbenders:
It's time for a new leader
It's time to make a change
We're here to fight for what we believe
(Vote for Pip!)
It's finally time we beat her
And play a better game
'Cause when we vote together
There's nothing that we can't achieve

Diamond Tiara snarled angrily as she spoke/sang to her fellow classmates. They all feared her, she knew this. Angrily, she levitated a rock from the ground and smashed it into rubble with her bare hooves.

Diamond Tiara:
I don't believe what I am hearing
I'm the only one you should be cheering
Pipsqueak? Try "Pip's weak!" Don't you think?
But a diamond is perfection
It's natural selection
So your vote better be for me, not the weakest link

The rich pony smiled slyly as her blue eyes darted onto various foals around the yard. They knew that look in her eyes, which always spelled trouble for them.

Diamond Tiara:
Everypony has their little secrets
"I know you do"
A vote for me will help you keep them safe
"Like your creepy super strength!" she said to one filly, who was strong enough to lift half of the school to get her missing ball. She blushed in humiliation and released the building, hiding her special talent she was ashamed of. Diamond Tiara continued tainting and threatening other fillies with their dark secrets.

Or your mane extension
A little thing I won't mention
Or those freakish large teeth in your face!

Cutie Mark Crusaders:
You've gotta vote for change
It's time for a new leader
End all the tyranny
Vote now and we can beat her
It's now another day
And we believe in what's right

Even Diamond Tiara's threats weren't enough to frighten the foals this time around. They were still afraid of the spoiled pony, but even more so they were more afraid of having her be their leader. If she didn't win then she would loose all power, besides was keeping secrets enough to keep putting up with her? No, it was not. They would rather have their secrets revealed than deal with her again.
A line of ponies gathered to vote for their new president, so far many of the votes were going to Pip, but Diamond Tiara wasn't having it.

Diamond Tiara:
"Stop! Everypony who hasn't voted, listen up!"
Pip makes promises he can't keep
But I can do more
"You could really use a new bookbag" she said to one classmate with too many books for her to carry. But all Diamond Tiara did was dangle it in front of her like a fish on a hook.
'Cause I'll make things happen
That none of you here can afford
To do, like, ever!

Wouldn't you like a little something sweet?
Here's a parasol to hide you from the heat
Who says that I can't be nice?
But first there's one thing
An itsy-bitsy little string
And voting for me is the price!

Silver Spoon:
I've a tiny suggestion
That you should be aware
You could probably win this election
If you show them all you real—

A wave of gasps surround the playground. Diamond Tiara has actually yelled at her one and only best friend. She had never done that before. Ever.
Silver Spoon herself was shocked as well. Diamond Tiara had never said such a thing to her. Apparently, winning was far more important than her best friend's feelings. She may be spoiled like Diamond Tiara, but even Silver Spoon knew a thing or two about what friends do. And it was plain to see that this pony did not. Not even a little bit.
"Well, if that's how you treat your best friend, then I choose Pipsqueak!" Ikki said while pounding her fist into the air.
"You don't got to this school." Sweetie Belle pointed out.
"Then, you guys should choose Pipsqueak!" Ikki said while holding the little filly upwards.

Cutie Mark Crusaders:
Stand strong and don't be afraid, ponies
Let's free ourselves from the past

CMC and airbenders:
We'll let honor win out against the tyranny
And make a change that will last

And vote they did. There was no doubt about it anymore, Pip was the perfect candidate. It didn't matter what his size was, all that mattered was that he cared about the students and they cared about him. And so, the votes rallied up, one by one ponies voted and voted.

CMC and airbenders:
It's time for a new leader
It's time to make a change
We're here to fight for what we believe

CMC and airbenders:
It's finally time we beat her
And play a better game
'Cause when we vote together
There's nothing that we can't achieve

"And so, as young Pip looked on from the teeter-totter, the crowd of foals cheering his name, it seems as thought Diamond Tiara's reign of terror was coming to an end. But, it's not a victory until the votes have rallied together."
"Meelo? When did you get here?" Scootaloo asked, "And who are you talking to?"
"The votes have been counted!" Miss Cheerilee's voice caught Scootaloo's attention, giving Meelo his chance to make a break for it. "The student pony president is…"
Pip bit on his hoof, sweating nervously as the votes rallied together and the teacher was about to say the winner's name out loud. Meanwhile, Diamond Tiara was looking as proud as ever. She was more than confident she would be the winner. After all, who in their right mind wouldn't vote for her?
"Pipsqueak!"
"Huh?!" the earth pony's eyes widened in horror at the news while the other students cheered for their new president. There must have been some mistake, there could be no possible way that she would have lost to that little low-life! There just had to be a mistake, maybe a miscount, something, anything. She just couldn't loose. She just couldn't.
"Oh, my gosh, Crusaders! Pip won!" Apple Bloom cheered.
"We did it!" Ikki leaped up, her airbending causing her to spiral upwards in a giggling twirl before safely lowering herself down.
"I couldn't have won without the hard work of my campaign managers, the Cutie Mark Crusaders!" Pip said, smiling graciously at his dear and loyal friends. He couldn't have achieved this without their help, it was only fair that they received the credit for the things they did.
"Campaign manager cutie marks!" Sweetie Belle looked at her flank, the same time Scootaloo and Apple Bloom looked at theirs…but alas, there were no such marks. As happy as they were that Pip won, and would have done so again, it was still upsetting that even in this task they have yet to earn their cutie marks. Just what were they doing wrong?
Diamond Tiara laughed in their faces, earning scornful glares from the other students, the airbenders and even the teacher herself. "Guess you're not as good as you thought, blank flanks! In fact, I demand a recount!"
"Trust me, Diamond Tiara. Pip won." Cheerilee said.
"I'll be the judge of that, Miss Cheerilee!" with her head held up high, Diamond Tiara walked into the school and recounted each of the votes one by one. The ground shook once more but not because of her bending, but because of her blood curling scream.
"Whaaaaaaaaaaaaaat?! One vote!" the pony walked out, her eyes wide in horror and her ears lowered in disappointment as she approached her best friend, "Silver Spoon! You didn't vote for me?!"
"No, I didn't." the gray pony responded without hesitation or regret. Diamond Tiara couldn't believe what she was hearing.
"But you're my best friend!"
"Am I? 'Cause I tried to help by mentioning your 'surprise' statue, and suddenly I wasn't even allowed to speak! You could have actually won this election if you just listened to me. You wanna know how?" Silver Spoon used her hoof to close Diamond Tiara's mouth, which had dropped open due to the shock and whispered, "Sorry. I'm not allowed to speak."
Diamond Tiara's anger boiled over as she screamed in rage before galloping away. The CMC, airbenders and Pip looked on in surprise, but Silver Spoon only scoffed.
"What? I don't have to follow her drum any more." she said before casually walking away. She had just dumped her best friend and she didn't even seem upset about it. Diamond Tiara must have never treated her fairly for her to just leave without even a hint of regret. Maybe this breakup had been coming for a long time and only now did Silver Spoon realize how foolish she had been to continue being her friend, believing Diamond Tiara was like her sister. She wasn't even close, so there was no need for her to feel bad. This was her loss, not hers.
Once the whole thing died down, the Cutie Mark Crusaders looked on in the direction from where Diamond Tiara had run off to. They were starting to feel sympathy for the pony after that scene. However, Kai was cheering with glee.
"Woohoo!" That'll show her!"
"Kai!" the girls all exclaimed sternly at him.
"What? She got what she deserved, didn't she?"
"Still, that wasn't very nice." said Sweetie Belle.
"I know Diamond Tiara's been pretty awful," Apple Bloom began, "but… we should probably make sure she's okay."
"What?! After the way she treated her so called best friend? You did say she was always such a stuck up snob, so now it's high time she realized what it was like to be the loser for once."
"Just 'cause she's never cared about anypony else's feelings doesn't mean we shouldn't care about hers."
"She's right." said Scootaloo, "Besides, didn't Jinora and the others give you a second chance?"
"And how was your selfishness any different from Diamond Tiara's?"
Kai opened his mouth to protest but immediately stopped. How could he negotiate with that, they were right. Before he joined the airbenders he was a selfish thief, and it always got him into trouble. He only cared about his needs and his desires, just like Diamond Tiara did. Only difference was that she was rich while he sought out riches, which in a way was no different from her pursuit for power and attention. Maybe he was being too harsh and she did deserve a chance.

The Crusaders and airbenders followed the distraught pony across town until she reached a large house, so large it just had to belong to her. The door opened and a female pony exited. Her coat was a pale, grayish pink with strong opal colored eyes and a moderate magenta mane and tail. She wore a cyan top shirt and a golden necklace around her neck, and her cutie mark was a diamond ring. This was Spoiled Rich, Diamond Tiara's mother.
Once the mare saw her child walk by, she cried out her name, "Diamond Tiara! Why are you making that face? That is not the face of a winner."
Her daughter did not look proud in the slightest, if anything she looked uncertain. Uncertainty was for low-lives, not for wealthy ponies like them. Diamond Tiara looked up at her mother with hesitation and sad eyes, practically on the verge of tears.
"Because… I didn't win."
"What?! You mean I hefted all these party supplies to celebrate nothing?!" Spoiled Rich angrily yelled while the servants removed the party decorations, food and grand marble statue of her daughter to celebrate her secured victory. There was no way she would allow her daughter to be a loser like any other pony. She was better than that, they both were.
"Sorry mother."
"It's bad enough you lost to that transplant from Trottingham, but imagine if you'd lost to one of those blank flanks." Spoiled Rich gagged in disgust, the very idea. "What is your element again, my dear?"
"Mother, I--"
"Answer me!"
Diamond Tiara flinched at her yell, "Earth. My element is earth."
"Exactly, and the earth is strong, sturdy, doesn't crumble, just like you. As a Rich pony, you must always think of your social standing. That starts here in Ponyville and reaches all over Equestria. Don't ever forget that, Diamond Tiara. Ever!"
Diamond Tiara flinched once more, but she wasn't the only one. The Crusaders and airbenders watched the whole thing, heard every word and for the very first time…their own hearts began to break for the child. She was doing all of this to gain her mother's approval, that's why she was so harsh with everypony. Could it be that there was more to this cold hard stone that met the eye?
Diamond Tiara remained silent once her mother walked back inside. Once again, she failed to make her proud. That was all she ever wanted, to see her mother smile, but she never did. She didn't know what else to do, being rich and mean was all she knew how to do. What more could she do?

Diamond Tiara:
If I'm a diamond
Then why do I feel so rough?
I'm as strong as a stone
Even that's not enough
There's something jagged in me
And I've made such mistakes
I thought that diamonds were hard
Though I feel I could break

Would you believe
That I've always wished I could be somepony else?
Yet I can't see
What I need to do to be the pony I want to be

The pony watched as her tears fell from her eyes and into the lake bellow the bridge from which she stood. She looked at her reflection and she didn't know who she was staring back at. Ever since she received her cutie mark she had tried doing all she could to live up to it, but even when she tried doing what she believed was right she still felt empty inside. She she weeped, she watched and envied all of the other ponies who had somebody beside them to help guide them, to become better. She saw the Cakes with their babies, saw Rainbow Dash flying above the clouds with Fluttershy, even spotted Mako and Flash Sentry laughing like the brothers they were. Why couldn't she make a connection like them? Find a friend who brought out her best and vice versa. She longed to have what they had, but she just never got it, or could never seem to get it….

I've been told my whole life
What to do, what to say
Nopony showed me that
There might be some better way
And now I feel like I'm lost
I don't know what to do
The ground is sinking away
I'm about to fall through

Would you believe
That I've always wished I could be somepony else?
Yet I can't see
What I need to do to be the pony I want to be...

As the pony walked farther away from view, the crusaders and airbenders watched on sadly. Ikki began to cry as she wiped away her tears with her airbender garments. "That's so sad!" she said with more tears streaming down her eyes.
"Is it weird that I feel bad for her?" Sweetie Belle asked.
"If it is, then... I'm weird, too." said Scootaloo, scratching the back of her head.
"She wants to change, but she doesn't know how." Jinora said. Her head turned towards Kai, who was the most silent out of all of them. "Kai?"
The green-eyed boy bit his bottom lip before speaking, "It's just…I can kind of relate. Before I met you guys, I never had anyone to teach me I could be somebody better. I never knew my real parents and any chance I had for a better life I foolishly turned the other way because I was scared of changing. But Diamond Tiara actually has her parents…and she's still lost."
"Seems like she could use a friend or two to help her find the way." said Sweetie Belle. The others couldn't agree more.

The next day after school, the Crusaders caught up with Diamond Tiara. She had tried to talk with Silver Spoon again, but she only turned away and scoffed at her former friend. She didn't want anything to do with her. At all.
The pony was just about to have another lonely walk home until a voice called out to her. "Hey, Diamond Tiara! Wait up!"
She knew that voice. It was Apple Bloom. Her eyes narrowed once she spun around to face the Crusaders. No doubt they would want payback for all the times she had taunted them and made fun of their blank flanks.
"What do you three want? To gloat? Rub in my defeat? Don't forget, I could burry you in mud if I wanted to!"
"Actually, we wanted to invite you to our clubhouse to hang out."
Diamond Tiara took a couple of steps back in surprise. Did they actually ask her to hang out with them? Since when did they like her? Why were they being nice? Was this some kind of joke?
"Really?"
"Yeah, for real!" Scootaloo said with a smiled, "Our friends the airbenders are there waiting for us."
"And they're hoping to see you." Sweetie Belle said.
"Is this some kind of joke?" Diamond Tiara spatted in anger, "Payback for those "blank flank" comments?!"
"No, not at all. We just didn't want you to be alone, is all."
Diamond Tiara arched an eyebrow, "No…tricks?"
"Nope!" Sweetie Belle and the other two shook their heads while smiling.
While still a bit hesitant, Diamond Tiara really didn't want to be alone right now. Maybe, a little bit of time with these girls wouldn't be all that bad. But she couldn't let them think this meant she would be their new friend. What would her mother think if she ever did such a thing, she would no doubt be in more trouble than she ever thought possible.
"Well, thanks to you all, I don't have any important class president business to attend to or anything. So I might as well."
Sweetie Belle arched an eyebrow, "That sounds like a yes..."

Back at the clubhouse, Jinora, Ikki and Kai were having a little airbender race on their air scooters when the Crusaders and Diamond Tiara arrived. The rich pony was rather amazed to see this display of bending, not to mention their laughter and humor.
"What are they doing?" she asked.
"Those are called Air Scooters." said Scootaloo, "Wanna play?"
"Hello! I'm an earthbender, duh!"
"You don't have to be an airbender to play. Watch!" Scootaloo leaped forward in an attempt to tackle Ikki, but the airbender only scooted away.
"Can't catch me!"
"Oh, yeah?" Scootaloo galloped behind her, the two giggling and laughing as they did. While Jinora then tapped Sweetie Belle on the head, asking her to chase after. The unicorn complied and galloped ahead. Scootaloo finally caught up with Ikki and held onto her back while the younger airbender soared all around the area, going through the trees while ridding on her friend. Sweetie Belle caught up with Jinora and she too took the pony for a ride. The two groups giggled and laughed as they did. Diamond Tiara had seen humans and ponies interact with one another, but she never dared to actually socialize with one, especially with her mother always being so picky about who she spends her time with. But, seeing these friends hanging out together was…actually really amazing. For a moment she didn't need to worry about her mother's thought. Here, she was free. And she loved it.
She felt Apple Bloom nudge her gently, "Come on, you'll love it." she said with an encouraging smile. The pony took one step forward, only to be unexpectedly swooped up by Kai. Next thing she knew, her mane was flapping against the winds while clinging onto Kai's back.
The male airbender laughed, "Glad you could make it." he said. "The name's Kai."
"Diamond Tiara."
"I know. You lost to Pip yesterday."
"Thanks for reminding me." she said sarcastically before yelling as the boy went faster. "Can you slow down?!"
"Why? It's part of the fun! You do know what fun is, right?"
"Of course I know!"
"Then you're gonna love this!" without even her consent, Kai zoomed by a tree and quickly snatched a long wooden stick. Diamond Tiara was curious as to what he was about to do. Once she saw the stick suddenly open up to reveal orange wing-like contraptions her eyes widened in horror.
"What are you doing?! AHHHHH!!!" the pony screamed and held on tighter as she was now soaring across the sky with the human boy. She closed her eyes shut, scared to even peek. Finally, she dared to do so and she could not believe what she was seeing.
She could see the clubhouse and Sweet Apple Acres from up there. She looked at Kai, seeing her had perfect control over the contraption eased her nerves a bit. She was even more surprised when she saw the Crusaders flying alongside them on Jinora and Ikki. Sweetie Belle and Apple Bloom rode with Jinora while Scootaloo rode with Ikki. The three grouped soared across the sky, laughing with joy. Slowly, Diamond Tiara was having fun as well. She had never experienced flight before, so this was a dream come true. She felt like nobody could touch her from up there. It was truly amazing.
The grouped finally landed, the airbenders closed their gliders and the ponies jumped off, all still smiling with joy, especially Diamond Tiara.
"That was amazing!" she said, "I can't believe you get to do that every day!"
"All part of the airbender gig." said Kai. "You had fun?"
"The most fun I've had in so long!" she then realized the way she was acting. She was showing more emotion than she could. The ride was over, it was time to come back down to earth. "I mean…it was okay, I guess."
Despite her resistance to admit she had a good time, the friends knew that she was coming out of her shell. One step at a time.

After the event, the friends took Diamond Tiara inside the clubhouse, where she got to see where they held all of their meetings and such. She walked up to a chart on the wall, the one with all of the crossed off activities they had failed at receiving their cutie marks at.
"So, do you three just sit around here plotting out different ways to try and get your cutie marks?"
"Actually, yeah." Apple Bloom said.
"And we help in any way we can." said Jinora.
"You three are…" Diamond Tiara was silent for a second before continuing, "…really lucky."
"We are?!"
"They are?!" Ikki asked in shock, before receiving a nudge from her big sister. "I mean--what do you mean?"
"I mean, you get to explore all these options, learning who you really are before you're stuck with something you don't understand."
The others were all rather surprised to see this snobby pony suddenly open up like this. Kai stepped forward before squatting down to the pony's level.
"But… you've done that, right?" he asked. Diamond Tiara quickly regained her composure and reverted back to her so called confident self.
"Yeah, 'cause I have my cutie mark!" she stated, pointing at her mark, "And I'm not struggling at all to figure out who I'm supposed to be and what I'm supposed to be doing with this mark that's already on my flank!"
The others arched an eyebrow, "Uh… are you sure about that?" Kai asked.
Diamond Tiara scoffed and narrowed her eyes, "That's a weird question."
"Not really, since we kind of overheard you yesterday." Sweetie Belle said.
"Were you trying to get your cutie mark in spying? Is that on your little chart?"
"No! We were just worried about you when you lost the election, and then you lost your friend, and then your mom yelled at you…" the more she spoke, the more depressed and hurt Diamond Tiara looked. They had finally figured out the true nature of her attitude, and now she felt she was loosing what she had now that the secret was out.
Apple Bloom approached the pony, placing a hoof on her shoulder, "We know you wanna change, and we think we can help."
"Help? Me? Why would I need help?"
"For the same reason I did." Kai said, his green eyes looking at the pony rather sternly but kindly all at once, "I think I understand you, Diamond Tiara."
This caught the pony by surprise. What could this boy possibly understand about her, anyway?
"You want to be better, but you don't know how. So instead you try to fill your heart with riches and treasures you think will make up for it. Before I became an airbender, I used to take whatever I wanted without any regrets. For the longest time, I enjoyed it, but I didn't realize then that I was really looking for something. Just like you are."
His words didn't sound strange to Diamond Tiara at all. On the contrary, she understood them completely because…they were exactly how she felt. Maybe this human did understand her better than she thought.
The rest of the crusader and airbenders circled around her. "You don't have to be afraid, Diamond Tiara." said Apple Bloom, "We want to help."
"But, why? After all the things I did to you? Why would you want to help me?"
"We gave Kai a second chance, no reason we shouldn't do the same for you."
The pony opened her mouth to say something else, but was interrupted when a scream was heard from outside.
"Help! Cutie Mark Crusaders!" the one calling was none other than Pip himself, calling out in distress. "I was at the school board meeting and they didn't approve my request for the new playground equipment!"
"Why not?" Ikki asked.
"There's no money in the budget!" Pip pulled out his piggy bank, which had nothing inside but link, some candy wrappers and a dead fly, "So I checked my Peggy bank to see if I had enough bits, but my little Peggy wasn't nearly full enough!"
Sweetie Belle said, "Don't worry, Pip!"
"We'll meet you back at school." Scootaloo added.
"And help you find a solution!" Apple Bloom added.
"Thanks, Cutie Mark Crusaders!" Pip said in gratitude before heading off back to school to wait for them. But, not all of them had the best of intentions in mind.
Diamond Tiara smiled wickedly once she heard the news, "Oh, I already have a solution! Our new student pony president is gonna be kicked out of office, and I'll be reinstated!"
"What? You can't do that!" Jinora protested.
"Watch me!" Diamond Tiara ran down the stairs of the clubhouse as fast as her pony legs could carry her, leaving the ponies and airbenders who had tried to be her friends behind.
"Where's she going?" Scootallo asked.
"Where do you think?!" Kai opened up his glider, "Get on!"
Apple Bloom jumped onto his back and he flew off after Diamond Tiara. Jinoar opened her glider as well and Sweetie Belle jumped on and Ikki was the last to lift up with Scootaloo on her.
"Wait for us!"
But even with their flight, Diamond Tiara was not about to let this opportunity slip away. Her time with them was fun but she was not about to let this chance slip away. She was no fool, she was a diamond which meant she had to be strong and resilient.

Diamond Tiara:
Cutie Mark Crusaders, get out of my way
Those ponies need to know the truth
And they'll hear it from me

CMC and airbenders:
Stop! Diamond Tiara, this is not the way
You know you're better than this hostility

They tried to reach ahead and block her path, but the pony only maneuvered them by hurling chunks of rocks at them. She didn't want to harm them but she refused to allow them to get in her way. The airbenders dodged the attacks and continued following her.

Diamond Tiara:
You don't even know me at all
Don't understand the meaning of my fall
What my family would think if I ever
Fail at anything

I'm a diamond – that means you'll never break
No matter what be the cost of the path I take
Whatever I have to do to win in the end

Jinora landed right in her path with Sweetie Belle jumping off her back, both in an attempt to stop the pony from making a mistake.

Diamond Tiara ignored their cries and ran beside them, only to be briefly stopped when Ikki and Scootaloo intervened.

She ran pass them as well, only to encounter Kai and Apple Bloom who landed in front of her

Kai and Apple Bloom:
Listen! You can redeem yourself
But by helping others, not by being mean

The children got back onto the gliders and flew lowers, catching up with Diamond Tiara, only they did no attempts to capture her, rather to reason with her as she continued running away, trying not to listen to their words, but it was no use. She couldn't ignore them, she just couldn't.

CMC and airbenders:
We know you want friends who admire you
You want to be the star with all the power too
But there's a better way, there's a better wa-a-ay
There's so much more still left to
Learn about yourself
See the light that shines in you
We know you can be somepony else

Diamond Tiara was now more torn than ever. Should she give up all of their kindness and hospitality just for the sake of approval? Should she? Did she want to? She was so confused. The airbenders and Crusaders stopped several feet before her, standing between two roads, one was dark that led to her choice of ratting our Pip, while the other was bright with a Rainbow Promise. She didn't know which path to take, which was the right one. She just didn't know, but these humans and ponies had faith in her, and that was something she never had before.

You can stop right now
And try another start
You'll finally free yourself from the dark
And see the light
And see the light of your cutie mark

Sadly, Diamond Tiara did not choose the Promise, rather she choose the other way. Her way. The only way she knew, the way she felt confutable with. The only one she knew, the one she had come to know. She was not giving it up so easily.
Once she reached the school she spoke to the gathered party. "Everypony, I have an announcement!"
"Diamond Tiara! Think hard about the choice you're makin' right now!" Apple Bloom pleaded.
"You can be a better pony!" Scootaloo said.
Kai stepped forward and spoke up, "Diamond Tiara, I know as well as anyone how tempting these kind of things are, the desire to have everything you want because you think it will set you free. I'm sorry for thinking you were just another pony snob, because I'm no better than you. And you're no better than me. My friends taught me I could choose a better path and so can you. You can be a better pony."
"Diamond Tiara!"
All eyes fell upon Spoiled Rich, who just walked out of the school building, looking down upon her daughter like she always did. "I just happened to be here for the school board meeting, and this is what I see when we adjourn? My daughter associating with confused, insignificant lowlifes and pitiful humans?" the airbenders angrily scorned at the pony. Ikki attempted to kick her, but was held back by Jinora.
"Socializing with their kind is not how you move up in Equestria! Come, Diamond Tiara!"
The pony couldn't move her legs. It was at that moment, something inside of her snapped. For the first time ever she was seeing things clearly. No longer would she see things through the eyes of her mother, no longer would she carry this veil over her eyes. No longer would she be a slave to these selfish, lustful desires for power, attention and acceptance for things she knew, deep down, were wrong but her mother claimed were right. She would no longer speak with the voice of another pony, she had her own voice, and it was high time she used it. The right way.
"No, mother!"
Spoiled Rich spun around in shock, "Excuse me?!"
"You've spent your life acting like a high horse and raised me to follow in your hoofprints! At first I thought this was fine, but then I finally realized I wanted something you don't have – friends!"
The Crusaders and airbenders gasped in shock, as did Miss Cheerilee and the foals. Spoiled Rich was already looking hot under the collar. She may have been popular with the richest ponies around, but none of them truly cared about her, only her tittle, which was really all she had and all she carried about herself. Without this label of hers she couldn't think of herself as anything else. She adopted this label of "rich pony" in order to feel accepted and praised, but in reality she was only looking for something to fill her heart, which she was far too stuck in the sand of her own doing to see that.
"That's enough, Diamond Tiara! Step away from those blank flanks!"
But the filly ignored her, "These are the Cutie Mark Crusaders, and they are my friends! You need to stop calling them such mean and hurtful names! They are working harder to get their cutie marks than anypony I've ever seen! And they will get them exactly when they discover their true talent, which I guarantee will be amazing! I love you mother, and I always will, but I can't be like you anymore. You did teach me one thing right, I am an earthbender, and earthbenders are strong, firm and immobile, and that's exactly what I am going to do from now on!"
Spoiled Rich…really didn't know what else to say. She had never had her own child speak up to her like this, and if she said anything now what would folks think of her? She would get a terrible name if she did something horrible to her own child. That…and because she didn't want to hurt her child, she wouldn't dream of it. But, even if she never harmed her physically, maybe she had harmed her in a much different way.
"Now, will you please deliver this to father?" Diamond Tiara pulled out a letter and handed it to her mother with her mouth.
"Yes, of course, dear…" Spoiled Rich respectfully took the letter and walked away. This even gave her a lot to think about. Maybe today was the start of her own metamorphosis journey. Only time would tell.
Diamond Tiara smiled at the airbenders and the Crusaders like she had never smiled at them before: with kindness.
"I have to thank you all. Obviously I've known since I got my cutie mark that my talent is getting other ponies to do what I want. I just asked my father if he could donate the money for the new playground equipment!"
Miss Cheerilee and the children all cheered happily at the news. Their playground was saved, and it seemed they no longer had to be afraid of Diamond Tiara anymore. The newly reformed school bully approached Pip, smiling and giving him a wink.
"I knew you were worried for a second there, weren't you? Ha! Well, I think it's all gonna work out just fine, Mister President!"

Diamond Tiara:
We'll build a playground
For all of us to enjoy
So full of games
There's enough for each girl and boy
I want to help and do
Everything that I can
I'm here to show you I changed
Listen up, here's the plan

Diamond Tiara helped the delivery pony with the large boxes of the playground equipment. "Bring it in! That's right, keep it coming!"
She approached one of the ponies she had teased before, smiling kindly, "Hey there, you with the amazing strength. Can you help them move that merry-go-round across the lawn?" the pony, no longer feeling ashamed of her gift, did as she was asked and helped the duo of ponies in moving the old merry-go-round.
"Thank you so much!" Diamond Tiara turned to another pony, "And you with the super teeth, we need you to help with that teeter-totter." the pony happily complied and lifted the thing with his powerful jaws, "You got it! That's the spirit!"
"Hey, Diamond Tiara!" Apple Bloom called out, "Mind usin' your bending to help me with these here holes?"
"Of course!" working together, they managed to not only fix some of the holes, but also create several in order to make the installment of the new playground equipment to be done easier.
Diamond Tiara had never felt happier in her life. She finally discovered what her cutie mark represented. It wasn't being a bossy know-it-all, it was being a leader. A good leader with a good heart. Her heart was once closed up, hard and cold and desired selfish pursuits, only now it was finally opened, thawed and filled with only selfless desires. She felt like a brand new pony, and she couldn't be happier.

There's so much I can do
To help everypony else
I see the light that shines in me
I know I can be my better self

I can free the past
'Cause now the future's bright for me
My cutie mark has set me free
To do what's right and be the pony I want to be
And be the pony I want to be!

The playground never looked better, and neither has Diamond Tiara. Not only did she even manage to make up with Silver Spoon, who forgave her, but now she had even more friends who loved her not for her riches, but for her new found heart. She didn't think it was possible, but now she knew, that even a cold heart can became free from any sin, once they have opened their hearts to what they truly need.
She even made a new friend in Kai, who ruffled her mane playfully, to which she really didn't mind. "Thanks, Kai."
"For what?"
"For not giving up on me. I never imagined I could meet somebody who really understood what it was like to be lost in the dark and not even know it."
"I guess we've got a lot to learn from each other, hu?"
"Yeah, we do. So, friends?"
"Friends!" Kai squatted down and embraced the pony in a warm hug. A new friendship has been born. Jinora and even Ikki joined in a well.
"I'm really proud of you, Kai." said Jinora…right before kissing him on the cheek, making him blush and Diamond Tiara giggle at the adorableness of the two.
Apple Bloom, Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle watched from afar as the group embraced. Kai approached the three, "I want to thank you, Crusaders. If it weren't for you I probably wouldn't have given Diamond Tiara a chance. Ever since I got airbending I knew it was a sign I was meant for something, but I didn't know what. Maybe, it means that I can help others find their way just like you, Jinora and the airbenders did for me. I think…that's my destiny. So, thanks."
Kai hugged the three in gratitude before heading off to play some more with the others. Apple Bloom began speaking, "I've been thinkin', Crusaders. We spend an awful lot of time fussin' and frettin' tryin' to discover our true talent. But when we take a little time off, we end up helpin' others figure out their true talent!"
Sweetie Belle nodded in agreement, "Yeah, and I think that's way more important than worrying about our cutie marks, don't you?"
"Absolutely!" said Scootaloo, flapping her wings happily before wrapping the two into a hug, "I don't care if I ever get my cutie mark as long as I get to hang out with my best friends."
"So what do you say, Crusaders?" Apple Bloom said, "Want to just focus on helpin' others find their cutie marks?"
"Yeah!"
The three ponies high hoofed one another, making a promise to no longer worry about their cutie marks ever again, and would only focus on others instead of their own ambitions to feel special. Making others feel special was reward enough. They knew this truth, they believed it because…it was the truth.
Suddenly, something strange happened. Once their hooves touched, a strange glowing static-like energy wave coursed through their bodies, enwrapping the three in a powerful and beautiful sparkling aura. Their bodies rose up from the ground as they felt something awaken within them. It was a sensation they had never felt or experienced before, but they were not scared. They felt at peace, like this was something they had been seeking all along and once it was here, they didn't know exactly how to react but to allow it to overflow them like warm embrace.
The airbenders gasped alongside the other ponies as they watched what happened to their three friends. Their eyes widened once the three landed softly on the ground, the lower part of their bodies glowing before disappearing. Once it did, the three fillies stood up and were surprised to see everybody gasping in awe, smiling and some even tearing up.
"What happened?" Sweetie Belle asked.
"What's goin' on?" Apple Bloom asked, equally confused as to what occurred.
"It's your cutie marks!" Diamond Tiara said, "They're amazing!"
Did they hear her right? Could it be? No, it couldn't. Was it. Would they dare to even look? Was it all a dream and would they wake up? Was it even real? Was this it?
They finally dared themselves to look upon their flanks, and as surely as Diamond Tiara had stated on their flanks rested Three Cutie Marks!!
Each one was in the form of a shield, divided into colors of three: red, pink and purple. Apple Bloom's shield had the image of an Apple with a heart on the center. Sweetie Belle's had a star with a music note while Scootaloo had a wing with a lightning bolt.
"Girls, you did it!" Jinora cheered, tears of joy streaming down from her eyes, "You finally did it!"
The Crusaders couldn't contain their excitement any longer. Their hearts bursted with such joy and happiness as they leaped and jumped with glee.
"We all got the same cutie mark! Cutie Mark Crusaders forever!"
After so long, the day they had dreamed of had finally arrived. They could not have been happier. To think, the one moment where they would decide to no longer worry about their marks or even try desperately to search for them would be on the very same day they would appear. They were not what they expected, but that was what made it all the more better. It was a fate that was chosen for them, and until they accepted it with their whole hearts, it had finally revealed itself. The shields were a symbol of their bond, their friendship. One that could never be broken no matter what.

Cutie Mark Crusaders;
We were searching for our cutie marks
For a while there
Trying to find out how we fit in
So many ways we've tried before
But we kept on trying more
'Cause the Cutie Mark Crusaders don't give in

Apple Bloom:
For it is more than just a mark
It's a place for us to start

With their classmates, teacher and friends by their side, The Crusaders marched into town, amazing everybody with their new marks. They could not be prouder.

Cutie Mark Crusaders:
An adventure that has only just begun
We'll make our mark
Show the world what we can do
We'll make our mark
Helping fillies to break through
To the ultimate reward of a cutie mark

In order to celebrate, Pinkie Pie arranged a cute-ceañera party at air temple island, where the anthro Crusaders had their marks on their cheeks just like the older ponies. The airbenders all wore plastic pegasus wings in honor of Scootaloo for finding her destiny. They were all so proud of their fellow airbender.
"All right, everypony! Get ready for the biggest cute-ceañera celebration ever!" Pinkie Pie cheered while throwing confetti.
Applejack couldn't stop herself from crying, and neither could Granny Smith or Big Mac. They're little Apple Bloom had finally blossomed.
"Oh, sugarcube, if Mom and Dad were here, they'd be so proud of ya." the older sister said while ruffling her younger sibling's hair.
"Oh… Thanks, Applejack."
"Now go on and party with your pals."
Bumi led the airbenders in a cheer for Scootaloo, "Three cheers for Scootaloo!"
"Hip, hip, hurray! Hip, hip, hurray! Hip, hip, hurray!"
Scootaloo blushed at their cheering and received hugs from Jinora and Ikki as well as a flower from Kai. Bolin and Asami also hugged the little pegasus with great pride and Rainbow Dash ruffled her honorary sister's hair. She was probably the most proud out of all of them.

Rainbow Dash:
I'm so proud of you, little buddy
You've taught me a thing or two

Rarity held her little sister's hands close to her heart as she wiped away tears of joy from her eyes.

Rainbow Dash, Rarity, and Applejack:
You've made your mark
Done Equestria so proud
You've made your mark
And we're here to sing it loud
For the ultimate reward of your cutie mark

The Crusaders received a warm brotherly hug from their Uncle Mako, who ruffled Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle's hair. "Well, what do you think, Crusaders?" he asked with a smile, "Were these cutie marks worth waiting for or what?"
"They sure were!" Apple Bloom said with glee
"Yeah! I can't wait to see who we're gonna help next!" said Sweetie Belle.
Princess Korra approached them, smiling with great pride and tears of joy falling from her eyes. "You three have come so far." she said before squatting down to their level, even in anthro they were still shorter than her, "Never forget one thing, though; This is only just the beginning. Your Cutie Marks may represent your destiny, but you will never stop learning. And don't even stop fighting for what's right, even if others say it's impossible. Okay?"
"We'll never forget that, Korra. Apple Bloom said with tears of joy, "Thanks for believing in us."
Korra, Mako, Bolin and Asami then gave the Crusaders three more gifts: Capes with images of their new cutie marks on the back. Just like the four of them, they had grown and evolved from their adventures, but their story was only now starting to be written. And they knew the next chapters would be as unforgettable as the first.

Team Avatar:
You started out just three
Crusaders driven to see
What you find in our hearts
Discover your destiny
And here you are, best friends
About to start it again
An adventure that never will end

Cutie Mark Crusaders:
We'll make our mark
Helping fillies most in need
We'll make our mark
So each one of them succeeds
'Cause the ultimate reward is a cutie mark!

Everybody gathered together for a photo, taken by Varrick, and once they did Spike magically sent the letter to Canterlot, where Celestia opened it. Luna smiled once she saw the picture of the three little fillies with their new cutie marks. She couldn't be prouder at her little subjects.
"And so, from blanks flanks to Cutie Mark heroines. From a mean spirited bully to a kindred spirit. From doubts to faith, from cries to joy, one chapter has closed, but another opens. New adventures, new horizons, but one thing is certain; Friendship will always play a role in any story, especially if we a willing to open up our hearts to it's wonderful Magic."
"Meelo, who are you talking too?"
"Just the audience, mom!"
"Well come inside, we're about to cut the cake!"
"Oh, cake!"

The Little Pony Legend: A Kingdom of Friendship

by MaggiesHeartLove

Crusaders of the lost mark