> CUTIE MARK CRUSADERS FOREVER! YAY!: A TwiMacVerse Story > by ThatBronyWithTheClipOns > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- > Chapter 1: It All Started at a Cute-ceañera > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Every pony has a cutie mark. It's the mark on both sides the flank that represents what a pony is best at; their special talent if you will. But no pony starts out with a cutie mark, first they have to know what they're best at. Soon as a pony knows their special talent, the cutie mark magically appears. No cutie mark is the same, they may represent a similar talent or ability, but no two look the same and it perfectly represents the one who bares it. Those that don't have one yet are often known as "blank flanks." And while every pony gets their cutie mark, they don't get them at the same time. This can often lead to some ponies feeling self conscious; and some other ponies make take advantage of this and pick on them for it. Such was the case of a young filly named Ambrosia Bloom Apple; though she was better known as Apple Bloom. Apple Bloom was born and raised in the small town of Ponyville, in the magical land of Equestria. She lived on the farm Sweet Apple Acres, with his older brother, Macintosh Chelmsford Apple (AKA Big Macintosh), her older sister (and middle child) Janaluska Apple (AKA Applejack; and don't you dare ever call her by her given name if you know what's good for you) and her grandmother, Granny Smith. Like all fillies in Ponyville, Apple Bloom attended Ponyville Elementary, taught by Miss Cheeralee, the best teacher in the whole wide world! (According to her students that is). Apple Bloom was a decent student and had a likable personality. But unfortunately, due to her lack of cutie mark, she was the target of bullying from wealthy brat Diamond Tiara and her best friend/lackey Silver Spoon. The two loved nothing more than reminding Apple Bloom that she was a blank flank. Diamond Tiara even invited Apple Bloom to her Cute Senyera (a party to celebrate getting your cutie mark) in hopes she'd be humiliated. Days before the party, the youngest Apple sibling did all she could to earn her cutie mark. She tried hang gliding, martial arts, dancing, roller derby, baking, and a whole mess of other things, but nothing seemed to work. She even tried to get Twilight Sparkle (top student of Princess Celestia, ruler of Canterlot) to use magic on her. But a cutie mark can't be forced. So out of desperation, the little yellow filly tried pretending that she had earned her cutie mark; wearing a skirt to cover her flank. Of course she got discovered, and Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon thought they'd gotten the upper hoof in humiliating the sweet filly. But then two other fillies, also blank flanks, came to her defense! One a cute white filly unicorn with a purple and pink mane called Sweetie Belle (younger sister of local fashionista, Rarity, owner of the Carousel Boutique). The other was a cute and spunky orange pegasus with a purple mane called Scootaloo (she was also the biggest fan of resident best flier Rainbow Dash). The two said that Apple Bloom was full of potential by not having discovered her special talent; and that she could be anything, maybe even mayor of Ponyville some day. Even Twilight Sparkle gave them encouragement of having their futures ahead of them. Once the commotion had died down, the three fillies sat together and decided to make their own special club to help each other discover their special talents. On that day, the Cutie Mark Crusaders were born! The three were inseparable, hanging out nearly every day and trying everything they could to earn their cutie marks. Some plans were simple enough, dancing, playing sports, and such. But others got a bit out of hoof, such as rock climbing, stunt performing, animal wrangling, or mixing chemicals together that shouldn't be (some of the stains in the science lab still won't come off). But despite all the failures, they stuck by each other and were there to lift the other's spirits if they ever started to doubt themselves. But it's still not always easy when you've tried so many ways to earn a cutie mark. > Chapter 2: Tumbling & Shouting > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Rainbow Dash was back in Ponyville after quitting the Wonderbolts team. She and her husband, Bookworm, were still getting their new house built and Rainbow Dash began to once again teach the young filly how to fly. On this particular day, the cerulean mare was giving her another lesson in the park, while Bookworm slept under a nearby tree. “Come on, squirt!” exclaimed Rainbow Dash. “You can do it!” Scootaloo took a running start towards a small ramp, ran up it and began flapping her wings like crazy. Try as she might, though she only lasted in the air for a few seconds before making a huge thump to the ground. Rainbow Dash immediately ran to make sure she was ok. “Oh buck!” exclaimed the rainbow mare. “Are you ok!?” “FOR THE LOVE OF BUCK!” exclaimed Scootaloo. “Hey! Watch your mouth,” said Rainbow Dash. “Where the hay did you pick up that kinda language?” The orange filly simply arched an eyebrow at her mentor/surrogate big sister, which caused her to blush brightly. “Ok, fair enough,” chuckled Rainbow Dash. “IT'S NOT FAIR!” shouted Scootaloo. “I PRACTICE EVERY SINGLE BUCKING DAY! I DO ALL THE EXCORSIZES YOU TELL ME TO DO! BUT I STILL CAN'T FLY!” “Relax, Scoots,” said Rainbow Dash. “Flying isn't something that happens over night.” “Stop giving me that crud,” exclaimed Scootaloo, who was starting to tear up. “I doubt most ponies my age can't fly! Heck, Derpy Hooves can fly better than me, and she constantly runs into stuff! Then there's that muscle bound freak, Snowflake! His wings are tinier than mine, but...but he can fly too! I know my wings are strong enough! I've had them checked on. Doctor Stable told me so that my wings were perfectly healthy and growing fine.” “I know, Scootaloo,” said Rainbow Dash, wrapping her hooves around her protégé. “Then why can't I fly!?” the young pegasus shouted. “I thought you were the best flier in all of Equestria!? “Hey now, don't get mean,” shouted Rainbow Dash. “It's not my fault you can't fly!” “Maybe the Wonderbolts threw you out because you don't got it anymore!” “You know I quit the Wonderbolts! They were lucky to have me on the team!” Things were very much heating up between the two of them and they began to insult each other back and forth. Finally, the shouting woke Bookworm, who intervened. “HEY!” he shouted, in a rare loud tone. “That's enough! Both of you!” “SHE STARTED IT!” both females shouted. “I don't care who started it!” exclaimed Bookworm. “I'm finishing it!” “She shouldn't talk to me that way!” exclaimed Rainbow Dash. “I'm her mentor! I'm also her elder!” “Dashie, you're not wrong,” said Bookworm. “But she's still just a kid. She's just frustrated.” He then turned his attention to Scootaloo. “But Rainbow Dash is also right, Scootaloo,” said Bookworm, in a calming voice. “She is your elder. I understand that you're frustrated.” “How can you understand?” asked Scootaloo. “You're a unicorn.” “That doesn't mean I haven't had my own set of problems,” explained Bookworm. “Magic didn't come easy to me, you know.” “Really?” asked Scootaloo. “Absolutely,” said Bookworm. “I was a bit of a late bloomer in that department. I more so excelled at books and other scholarly endeavors, as my cutie mark would make clear.” Bookworm then motioned to his cutie mark, which featured a worm popping out of a pile of books. “It varies from pony to pony,” continued Bookworm. “Some ponies excel at magic early on, like Twilight, and others don't.” “It's just so frustrating,” moped Scootaloo. “I know,” said Bookworm, then giving Scootaloo a hug. “But you're not alone in this. You got your friends, Rainbow Dash, and me.” “You?” asked Scootaloo. “Why would you care?” “Because you're important to Rainbow Dash,” he explained. “And Rainbow Dash and I are important to each other.” That remark caused Rainbow Dash to blush like crazy. Her husband gave her a sly smile, indicating it was his intent. “So what's important to her is important to me,” he continued. Scootaloo teared up again and rubbed her face in Bookworm's chest. He just let her cry and patted her back. “Dashie and I are going to do our very best to make sure you learn how to fly,” he assured the orange filly. “You got that right!” exclaimed Rainbow Dash, in a triumphant tone. “Rainbow Dash never gives up!” Rainbow Dash took Scootaloo into her hooves. “What you need to do is shout, 'I'M SCOOTALOO! AND I CAN DO ANYTHING!'” she commanded to her pupil. “I-I'm Scootaloo, and I can do anything,” said the filly rather timidly. “Aw! Come on!” exclaimed Rainbow Dash. “I Know you can do better!” “I'm Scootaloo! And I can do anything!” she shouted again. “EVEN LOUDER!” encouraged Rainbow Dash. “I'M SCOOTALOO!” she finally let out. “I CAN DO ANYTHING!” “AND WHAT ARE YOU GONNA DO!?” asked Rainbow Dash still in a commanding tone. “I AM GOING TO BUCKING FLY!” proclaimed Scootaloo. > Chapter 3: Sick Day > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- "AAAAHHHHHCCCCHHHHOOOO!" sneezed Sweetie Belle. The unicorn filly had developed a bad cold after the CMC's latest escapade (CUTIE MARK CRUSADERS SCUBA DIVERS! YAY); bur she was the only one who didn't wear a wetsuit. So she'd been sick from school for a couple days. She had a runny nose, puffy eyes, and her mane and fur were terribly disheveled (not for Rarity's lack of trying). Her parents were on vacation, so she was staying with her big sister, Rarity, at her business/home, The Carousel Boutique. Like most unicorns, when sneezing, she let out little bursts of magic (nothing serious, but you wouldn't want to be an inch from her face when she sneezed). Upon hearing her little sister's sneeze, Rarity came to check on her. "Sweetie Belle, Darling," exclaimed Rarity, coming to check on her little sister. "Are you alright?" "Yah," snorted Sweetie Belle. "Ihm doin okah. Justh a really sthneeze." "You still sound horribly conjested," said Rarity, in a concerned tone. Rarity got next to Sweetie Belle in her bed. "Arencha worried about...SNOOOORT...gettin my cold?" asked Sweetie Belle. "ACHOO!" "Family doesn't concern itself with such silly things," Rarity comforted her. She then felt Sweetie Belle's forhead. "And still very warm," she sighed. "Don't wurry about it stho much, sis" she snorted. "Ahve been in worth shape than thish. AHCHOO! Like dat one thime when Apple Bloom, Scoota-a-a-ACHOO! Scoothaloo, and I thried making sthnow angels without thnow gear." "I almost forgot about that," Rarity remembered. The two shared a litlte chuckle remembering that, followed by another sneeze. "You poor little thing," sighed rarity, kissing her little sister on the forhead. "I'm sure you wish mother were here to look after you." "Well, sthure, thad be nice," said Sweetie Belle. "Whad kid doethn't want their mom there for them when they're sthick? But ad lease, this way...AHCHOO!...you an I get a chance to sfend sthome time together." "That's a good way of looking at it," agreed Rarity. "Stho how are you an...AHCHOO!...Haystheed doin?" asked Sweetie Belle. "Given that we're engaged, I'd say we're doing splendidly," said Rarity. "How do ya know yer in love?" the sick filly asked her older sister. "My, that seems like a random question to ask," said the older sister in surprsie. "Are you even old enough to think of things like that?" "Ith more more a random...SNORT!...question than anything," replied Sweetie Belle. "I mean, you and...ACHOO!...all yer friends sthetling down. Twilight and Big Mac are starting a family. Do you and Haytheed talk about that sorta stuff?" "Yes we do," said Rarity. "And we both want a family. Is that hard to picture? Me being a mother?" "Nah...ACHOO!" said Sweetie Belle. "Ah'll be honest. If ida been a couple years ago, ah'd neveh believe it." "Neither would I," chucked Rarity. "Sthtill didn't ansther my question," said Sweetie Belle. "SNOOOORT!" "Well, I suppose it's different for everypony," said Rarity. "For me, it's the fact that Hayseed is there for me. He's a hard worker, always willing to lend a helping hoof. And while he certainly appreciates my looks, he's not with me soley for that. Like you and my close friends, he's seen me at my aboslute best, but also my absolute worst and still stands by me." "Hath he altho been there for you when sthick?" asked Sweetie Belle. "He certainly has," said Rarity. "Although I've only been sick once since we've been together. Still, he did all he could to make me comfortable." "SNOOORRRT!" Sthounds really sweet. AHCHOO!" "It is really sweet," sighed Rarity. Just then, there was a knock on the door. "I could've sworn I flipped the closed sign over," said Rarity. "You closthed the sthop because of me?" asked Sweetie Belle, clearly with a guiy tone. "Now don't you are feel guilty," exclaimed Rarity. "I do well enough that I can close up shop for a day to look after my sick sister. I'll be right back to see who that is. Rarity walked downstairs to see who was knocking. "What a pleasant surprise!" exclaimed Rarity. "Sweetie! You have a visitor!" In walked Spike, carrying what appeared to be a bowl of soup. "Sthpike!?" exclaimed Sweetie Belle. "Whut are you thdoing here?" "Well, I heard you were sick, so I prepared some soup," he explained. "Aw, that's very sweet of you, Spikey Wikey," said Rarity. "I better get back to work. I might be closed, but I can still design. But I know Spike will do a splending job looking after you. Rarity left the room to go downstairs. Spike showed Sweetie Belle the bowl of what appeared to be tomato soup. "It looks cold," she said. "ACHOO!" "That's where I come in," he reassured her. Spike then breathed fire around the bowl, and then prepared to hand it to Sweetie Belle. "SNORT!" Won't it be thoo hot for me?" she asked. "No worries," he said. "I have total control over the temperature of my fire. It's gonna be just right." Spike scooped up a bit of soup in a spoon and fed it to Sweetie Belle. Sweetie Belle let out a clearly satisfied sigh as she drank the soup. "Oh wow!" exclaimed Seetie Belle. "That's amazthing sthsoup!" "Aw, thanks," said Spike. "No. ACHOO!" began Sweetie Belle. "Thank you Sthpike. You didn't haveta do that." "Well, I'd say it's the least I can do," began spike, stopping for a moment to give Sweetie Belle a soft kiss next to her muzzle. "For my marefriend." Sweetie Belle giggled and turned more red than she already was. This was followed by a snort and a sneeze. "Ah musth look so grosth," said Sweetie Belle. "SNORT!" "Everypony gets sick," said Spike. "If I had a gold piece for every time Twilight's been sick, I'd be rich." "But Thwilight is like your big sisthter," said Sweetie Belle. "You're no dating her. ACHOO!" "Still," continued Spike. "You'd have to be pretty awful to not help out the pony you care for." Spike continued to feed Sweetie Belle the soup for a few minutes without any real talking. "When are we gonna come out with the news that we're dating?" asked Spike. "Well, ah defintely wanna feel better first," said Sweetie Belle. "ACHOO! And it justh stheemed like a bad thtime to let Apple Bloom and Scootaloo know. SNORT! We're all stho determined to get our cutie marks, they may not like hearing that I'm dathing somepony." "I suppose that's a fair point," thought Spike. "Just try not to do stuff that'll get you sick again." "Don't worry," Sweetie Belle assured Spike. "SNORT! It'th been decided that anything water related isn't going to lead to a cutie mark." "Thank Celestia for that," sighed Spike. The two shared a laugh and Spike continued to feed her. He stayed there for a good while till she fell asleep. > Chapter 4: Gym Class > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- It was a typical day at the Ponyville elementary school. The school colts and fillies were having gym class, under the supervision of Coach Snowflake. The bulky pegasus stallion had been in charge of gym class for almost a year now, and it didn’t take long for him to have gotten on the good side of nearly every school pony; of course not all took a liking to him. “Do you really think you’ll ever get a cutie mark,” sniped Diamond Tiara at Scootaloo. “You can’t even fly!” “I heard the Cake’s little colt, Pound, was flying by a month old,” continued Silver Spoon. “Bet that makes you feel really pathetic. Scootaloo had been doing her best to get airborne, but nothing seemed to do the trick. Even with Rainbow Dash’s help, she couldn’t fly on her own for more than a few seconds. Naturally, this got the attention of the two biggest bullies in her entire class. On this particular day, Sweetie Belle was home sick, and Apple Bloom had been excused to help out some on Sweet Apple Acres. Despite her best efforts, the orange pegasus filly couldn’t shake her tormentors. “You’re gonna be blank flank for life,” they shouted in unison, and began laughing. Just then, they heard a lout snort behind them. “And just what do you two think you’re doing,” exclaimed Snowflake. The two bullies turned their heads slowly to see their imposing gym teacher standing right behind them; his eyes flaring up in anger. Not the “I’m going to kill you type anger” but the “I’m terribly disappointed in you both” anger.” “N-n-n-nothing,” they both stuttered. “Nothing, what,” he said in a soft, but firm tone. “N-n-n-nothing, Coach Snowflake,” the both responded, again in unison. “That’s what I thought,” he said. “NOW! GIVE ME FIFTY LAPS AROUND THIS GYMNASIUM! AND I BETTER NOT SEE ANY WALKING TILL YOU FINSISH!” “YES SIR, COACH SNOWFLAKE SIR!” the two shouted before darting off to do their laps. This left Snowflake alone with Scootaloo, who was still trying to process what had just happened. She stood there, frozen in awe at the size of her gym teacher. More specifically, she looked at how small his wings were. She always wanted to know just how a pony his size, with wings barely bigger than her own could fly so easily. Snowflake wasn’t blind to these stares, and he figured now as a good enough time to talk with her about it. By herself, he wouldn’t have to worry about her two little friends interrupting with several questions per second. “Wondering how I do it, aren’t you,” Snowflake asked. “How you do what,” asked Scootaloo. “I’m not as dumb as I look,” he said with a sly smile. “I know you wonder how somepony as big as me is able to fly so fast and gracefully through the skies, despite having a wingspan no bigger than a filly’s hoof.” “Well…”she began. “Yeah! Of course I am! I mean, who wouldn’t be!? I do all I can, every single day, to try and stay off the ground for more than just a few measly seconds! I do everything Rainbow Dash tells me to do! I exercise like crazy to build up muscle! And Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon were right about Pound Cake! That little colt was flying within a month of being born! HOW!?” “Muscle isn’t everything, kiddo,” retorted Snowflake. “I mean, look at me. Many ponies have been amazed at my abilities. Several doctors have even said that by all accounts, I shouldn’t be able to lift my body with such tiny wings. But I do.” “Then…how,” Scootaloo asked in confusion. “How do you do it? And what am I doing wrong?” “You lack confidence in yourself,” he said bluntly. “What the hay are you talking about,” she exclaimed. “I got confidence coming out the wazoo!” “Maybe when you’re playing with your little scooter,” he retorted. “But when it comes to actually flying, you don’t believe enough in yourself. You clam up, you worry about what you’re gonna do wrong and it all backfires on you.” “But…but I have Rainbow Dash for a teacher,” she said. “How can I not be confident, when I have the best flyer in Equestria teaching me everything?” “The teacher can only do so much, Scootaloo,” he explained. “A teacher can tell you everything you need to know. A teacher can tell you they have confidence in you, and that’s great and all. But eventually, the student has to believe in themselves or they’ll never truly soar. That’s the true secret to pegasus magic.” “Pegasia have magic too,” questioned Sctootaloo. “Of course they do,” said Snowflake. “All ponies have magic in them. I thought you knew that by now.” “Well, I’ve always been taught that unicorns were the magic users,” she replied. “They have visible magic, true,” he explained. “But remember, only pegasai can fly and walk on the clouds, and only earth ponies can grow plant life. It’s our own sort of internal magic. Rainbow Dash does what she does so well because she believes in it so badly that’s she made it a reality.” “How come she’s never said this to me,” asked Scootaloo. “I’d say it’s because she thinks more about the technical aspects of flight,” he said. “The do’s and don’ts of it all. Sure, she has instincts too, but she still doesn’t take into consideration that her own confidence is what allows her to do the things she does. Another example, my wife Fluttershy.” “Fluttershy,” Scootaloo responded in surprise. “But she’s so timid.” “Very true,” he chuckled. “But, when she’s able to drown out all of her doubts, she’s able to pull forward better than anypony could imagine. I’m sure you heard about that time she helped get the water up to Cloudsdale.” “Oh yeah,” Scootaloo remembered. “Dash said that if it weren’t for Fluttershy, they never would’ve made it.” “She made all the difference in the world,” said Snowflake. “So, keep following Rainbow Dash’s instructions of course. But, also remember that the more you believe in yourself, the more magic you’ll buildup within to send you soaring through the skies.” “Does that mean no more playing on my scooter,” Scootaloo asked with a frown. “Of course not,” said Snowflake, after letting out a hearty laugh. “I’ve seen what you do on that thing, and it’s quite impressive. I’m sure if anything, it’ll help you in your endeavors.” In her mind, this gave Scootaloo a great idea. Of course she couldn’t execute said plan till she got back in touch with Sweetie Belle and Apple Bloom. “Thanks a lot, coach,” exclaimed Scootaloo, giving him a hug. He wasn’t expecting that, but he gladly hugged her back. She then ran off to make some plans. Snowflake then noticed Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon panting heavily off to the side. “I DIDN’T SEE FIFTY LAPS LADIES!” he shouted to them. The two prissy fillies let out a shriek and ran even faster. “Oh Celestia, do I love this job,” Snowflake exclaimed with a proud smile. > Chapter 5: The Little Apple Bucker > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Over the past couple months, Apple Bloom was given permission by her school to help her family out on their farm for Apple Bucking Season. Typically this meant that she would only go to school for the first half of the day, then she made her way to the farm. Given that Big Macintosh was busy going back and forth between the farm and the library, the youngest Apple sibling wanted to do all she could to help out her family and her new sister in law (given her ever growing condition). While she was happy her legs had gotten stronger, making it easier for apple bucking (she mainly bucked the thinner trees), she of course was still frustrated by a lack of a cutie mark. Currently, she and her fellow Crusaders were the only ones in their class to not have cutie marks; it seemed Applejack's quip about Apple family members getting their cutie marks last was true. The frustration had begun to take its tole on the little yellow filly, and she started getting a bit rough with the trees. Hearing the commotion, her older brother, Big Macintosh went to see what the noise was about. He was not pleased with the site; she'd even put a tiny crack in the trunk. "What the hay do ya think yer doin!?" shouted Big Macintosh, a rare thing to hear. "Yer gonna split that poor tree in two!" "Ah didn't mean ta do it!" shouted Apple Bloom, starting to tear up. "Ah'm just so sick an tired of doin all this work and fer nothin!" Macintosh realized what the problem really was. "Ah got a feelin ya aint talkin bout apple buckin," commented Macintosh, now with a calmer tone. "What gave me away?" joked Apple Bloom, rubbing some tears out of her eyes. "Pretty easy ta tell," said Big Mac. "Seein how you and yer friends have been tryin so hard to get yer cutie marks." "Emphasis on hard!" exclaimed Apple Bloom. "We've tried so many different things! All it's gotten us are stuffy noses, scraped knees, sore hooves; poor Scootaloo has sprained her wings a couple times even. It just aint fair! We're the only ones in our class to not have em! What makes all them so special over us!?" Macintosh motioned his youngest sister to take a seat with him underneath the tree. "It aint about being special, sugar cube," said Big Mac, not known to often us that term of endearment, so when he did you know knew he was being extra brotherly. "Then what is it about?" she asked. "It's bout knowin what yer good at," he said. "Everypony knows that. Ya don't get a cutie mark from just doin some crazy stunts, unless that's what yer good at and wanna do that as a profession of course. You get it when ya realize what it is ya love doin the most. Ah love workin the farm, as does yer sister, and several Apples before us. But it aint fer you." "But that's silly," she thought. "I'm an Apple! Apples are all about farmin!" "Not all Apples are farmers," he went on. "Granny Smith is more a baker than a farmer, aint she?" "Ah spose so," she said. "But who am ah without a cutie mark?" "Yer Apple Bloom of course," he exclaimed a little chuckle. "A cutie mark don't make ya who you are. What ya do and how ya treat others is what makes ya you. Nobony in the world can take that away from ya, not even Princess Celestia herself." Big Macintosh then wiped a few years from his sister's face, then messed up her main a little to be playful. "Still stinks," she commented. "Is it true you and Applejack were the last in yer classes to get yer cutie marks?" The eldest Apple sibling then let out a huge laugh, leaving his little sister confused. "What's so funny about that?" she asked. "Did she tell you that?" he said. "Aw hay, that's an Apple family bluff as old as Equestria." "But Applejack's a terrible lier," quipped Apple Bloom. "It aint so much a bluff if she don't know it," he said. "Huh?" said a clearly confused Apple Bloom. "Bout every elder Apple has told a younger Apple they was the last to get their cutie marks as a way ta make em feel bettter," he continued. "Seriously?" exclaimed Apple Bloom. "Eeyup!" said Big Macintosh. "Ah said the same to Applejack when she just a little younger than you, Pa said the same ta me as a youngin, and Granny Smith said the same ta him, and so on and so forth. It's only till a bit later than any of us learn it was a bluff. Well, cept Applejack of course cuz she could never convincingly tell ya otherwise." That last remark gave Apple Bloom a good laugh. "So an Apple is never the lest ta get their cutie marks?" she asked. "Well ah don't rightly know," he replied. "Ah'm sure there are Apples out there who were the last in class ta get theirs. It just varies from pony ta pony. But it aint important whether yer the first or last or somewhere in the middle. Ya understand?" "Ah spose so," she answered. "It's just frustratin is all." "Ah understand," he said. "There are few ponies yer age who aren't frustrated by not gettin their cutie marks when everpony around ya seems ta be gettin them before ya. And ah certainly appreciate the help yer doin fer us here on the farm." "Least ah can do," she said. "Ah mean, ya'll have raised me an fed me an all that. Helpin ya'll at is the least ah can do." "An ya can help us out as long as ya like," he replied. "But don't think ya have ta do this fer a livin just cuz of the family ya belong to. The most important thing fer us is that yer happy." "Thanks, Big Macintosh," exclaimed Apple Bloom, jumping up to give her brother a big hug. "Yer the best big brother anypony could ask for!" "Well, yer a mighty fine little sister," said Macintosh, hugging her back. "Ya wanna get back ta work now?" "Ah sure do!" she exclaimed. "Sorry bout the tree." "Think nothin of it," he assured her. "That small crack won't harm that tree, it'll heal in no time. Sides, every bucker cracks a tree once in a while, no avodin it." Big Macintosh and his youngest sister go themselves back to work, thankfully Apple Bloom was in much higher spirits. > Chapter 6: Learning to Fly > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Rainbow Dash was determined to get Scootaloo flying, no matter what. Thankfully she was gonna get some help from husband, Bookworm, and close friend Twilight Sparkle, (best to her ability, what with the whole being pregnant). At the suggestion of Bookworm, Rainbow Dash and her protege went to the Golden Oaks Library. "Why the hay are we at a library?" asked Scootaloo. "I wanna learn to fly, not read a book!" "Listen Scoots, I don't wanna be here anymore than you do," exclaimed Rainbow Dash. "But Bookie says this is gonna help you learn to fly. And I trust anything my super awesome husband says." "Oh sweet Celestia! Somepony just put me out of my misery now," groaned Scootaloo. She never liked hearing Dash gush over Bookworm. "Quit being a smartass," said Rainbow Dash. Mind you, as much as Rainbow Dash loved her husband, she was still Rainbow Dash. And this rainbow mained pegasus had a short attention span. "Have you found anything yet, Bookie!?" she shouted. "I mean, how long have we been here? Two hours?" "It's been five minutes, Dashie," replied Bookworm. "I'm looking up as many books on flight as the library has." "What are books gonna say?" asked Scootaloo. "Flap your wings?" "You're oversimplifying it, Scootaloo," Twilight chimed in. "Pegasus flight isn't just about flapping your wings. If that were true, you'd be flying." "What do you know?" asked scootaloo. "You're a unicorn." Rainbow Dash then smacked her protege upside the head. "What the buck!?" shouted Scootaloo. "You're talking to Twilight Sparkle!" exclaimed Rainbow Dash. "Number one pupil to Princess Celestia! You think she only reads books on unicorns?! Course not! Twilight knows the inner workings of all pony types!" "Then why isn't she looking up the books?" asked Scootaloo. "Duh! She's pregnant!" exclaimed Rainbow Dash. "But she can guide Bookie on where to look." "Ok ok, fine," said Scootaloo. "I'm still trying to understand how all this is supposed to help though." "We gotta find a way to ignite the magic in you," explained Bookworm. "Inner magic?" questioned Scootaloo. "I'm not a unicorn." "But that doesn't mean you don't have magic," continued Bookworm. "Everypony has magic in them; some are just more obvious. Unicorns naturally show off the most external magic, through our horns. But unicorns can't make things grow or walk on clouds. We can only walk on clouds with special spells, but no spell anywhere gives us the ability to make something grow in the soil. Pegusai can't make things grow either, but they can fly and walk on the clouds." "I'm failing to see the point," remarked Scootaloo, not much more patient than Rainbow Dash. "You can walk on clouds, right?" Bookworm asked the orange pegasus. "Of course," said Scootaloo. "And your coach, Snowflake, is able to fly despite tiny wings and a large frame," he continued. "Sure," replied Scootaloo. "So, you can see that it's not about size," continued Bookworm. "It's about the inner magic that gives a unicorn the ability to fly. Even unicorns don't always harness magic right away, as you can tell from your friend Sweetie Belle. Everypony, like a cutie mark, is different and uinque. Some pegasai, like Rainbow Dash, learn to fly right away, while others are much slower at it." "You can bet Fluttershy wasn't an immediate flyer," said Rainbow Dash. "You think she's timid now...well she is...but she was way worse when we first met in flight school. But she's managed to build up enough confidence to get off the ground." "Snowflake did mention something like that to me in gym class the other day," Scootaloo remembered. "What did he say?" asked Rainbow Dash. "He said I rely too much on my scooter," said Scootaloo. "That I don't have enough confidence in myself to fly and I worry too much about what might go wrong." "Do you think he's right?" asked Rainbow Dash. Scootaloo didn't say anything for a good while then. She started to wonder if that really was the case. "Yeah, he's right," she said, breaking the silence. "I do rely way too much on my scooter. It's the only thing that I've ever really been good at though. My wings help me do all kinds of crazy stunts, plus they allow me to go fast. But anyttime I try to fly and I do tense up. But I know I'm meant to fly! I dream about flying all the time!" "Scoots, I promise you that I'll do all I can to get you flying amongst the clouds," said Rainbow Dash, embracing Scootaloo. "I know you will," replied Scootaloo, hugging her mentor back. "Ok, I've found every book in the library on flying," chimed Bookworm. "And you're going to read them all. He levitated a huge stack of books in front of the young pegasus. "There's gotta be like ten books here," she exclaimed. "There are many different takes on how to fly," Bookworm retorted. "We might as well cover all our bases. Part of my special talent is I can scan a book and know all the contents. So if you try to skip a chapter, page, or even a simple sentence I'll know when you're lying to me." "Aw man!" exclaimed Scootaloo. "Rainbow Dash is here to teach you to fly," he continued. "But I'm here to make sure you understand the inner workings. That's how I learned to do magic. I had to read and read like crazy to finally be able to cast spells. You're in a similiar predicament; you need to learn how flying works before actually flying." Scootaloo eyeballed the stack of books from top to bottom and let out a huge sigh. As much as she hated to admit it, Bookworm was right. She wasn't getting anywhere on trial and error alone. But she hadn't given up yet, so she wasn't gonna let a huge stack of books stop her. > Chapter 7: YOU DID WHAT!? > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- "YOU DID WHAT!?" shouted Sweetie Belle. "We entered ya into the school talent show," said Apple Bloom. "You're gonna sing in front of the entire school," continued Scootaloo. After recovering from her cold, Sweetie Belle was back in school. In a rare day off for Apple Bloom, the Cutie Mark Crusaders were back in their clubhouse, when Sweetie Belle was given the news by her best friends. "HOW COULD YOU DO THAT!?" Sweetie Belle continued to yell. "You know I can't sing in front of a large crowd!" "But yer so good, Sweetie," said Apple Bloom. "You never miss a beat or note." "AHRG!" exclaimed Sweetie Belle. "It's one thing singing in front of you guys! Or my sister! Or my parents!" "Or Spike," chucked Scootaloo. That comment caused Sweetie Belle to turn bright red. "What are you talking about?" said Sweetie Belle nervously. "We're not as dumb as you think, Sweets," said Scootaloo. "We know you and Spike are dating." "H-h-how!?" she asked. "We saw ya two rubbin noses together one day," said Apple Bloom. "Ya thought nobody could see ya." "It's like when Rainbow Dash rubs noses with Tank," snickered Scootaloo. "It's kinda gross, but I gotta admit it's cute too." "Aw man! This is so embarassing!" exclaimed Sweetie Belle, still glowing red. "Nothin to be ashamed of," said Apple Bloom. "We're glad ya'll are gettin along." "And hey, you can have him come to the talent show and watch you sing," said Scootaloo. "NO WAY!" she shouted again. "I haven't even sang in front of Spike!" "WHAT!?" exclaimed Scootaloo and Apple Bloom. "I-I haven't sang for him," she said nervously. "I get too shy." "But who better ta sing for than yer special somepony?" asked Apple Bloom. "But, I don't wanna be on stage alone," pouted Sweetie Belle. "Ya won't be," said Apple Bloom. "We'll be up there with ya." "Really?" asked Sweetie Belle. "Well no duh!" exclaimed Scootaloo. "We're gonna help with sets, and singing with you, and Rarity is gonna make costumes for us." "Of course Rarity knows," said Sweetie Belle. "Spike knows too," grinned Scootaloo. "AW COME ON!" shouted Sweetie Belle. "Was I the last to learn about this!? I'm the one singing in it for Celestia's sake!" Later on, Sweetie Belle headed back to the Carousel Boutique to talk with her older sister. Rarity, immediately noticed the grumpy look on her little sisters face. "I take it from that expression that your friends have given you the marvelous news?" she coily asked. "I'd hardly call it marvelous!" exclaimed Sweetie Belle. "They know, and you know, that I'm nervous singing in front of large crowds." "Yes, of course I do, Sweetie," said Rarity, embracing her sister. "But, you certainly have a gift, and it would be such a shame to not share it with everypony else. And I'm sure you'd love Spikey Wikey to see you sing as well." "You know about that too!?" exclaimed Sweetie Belle. "I can't believe this! So embarassing!" Rarity, while understanding the plight of her sister, couldn't help but giggle. And then Spike came in, giving Sweetie Belle a soilid hug. "I've been waiting for you to get back!" exclaimed Spike. "Are you as excited as I am!?" "That's not exactly the word I'm thinking right now," grumbled Sweetie Belle. "Aw, don't think like that," said Spike. "You're an amazing singer." "You've never even heard me sing," said Sweetie Belle. "But Apple Bloom and Scootaloo have told me about it," said Spike. "So just from that, I know it's gonna be great!" This gave Sweetie Belle a little smile, knowing her special somepony believed in her. "I'm glad you believe in me, Spike," she said. "But I'm still nervous." "Look at it this way," said Spike. "The day you sing in the show, imagine it's just me you're singing for. I'll be in the front row, watching you perform." This caused Sweetie Belle to turn bright red, and then beat red when Spike nuzzled her snout. > CHAPTER 8: Flight Attempts > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Ramp In between preparing for the talent show, Sweetie Belle was of course going to help Scootaloo try to fly. Apple Bloom had constructed a large ramp near their clubhouse for Scootaloo to ride down on her scooter, letting go of the scooter and attempting to fly. "Are you sure this is a good idea?" exclaimed Sweetie Belle up to Scootaloo, at the top of the ramp. "Speed an elevation are key to gaining flight," Scootaloo replied. "Did Rainbow Dash tell you that?" asked Apple Bloom. "Well, more or less," said Scootaloo. "I'm still training with her and Bookworm, but I still wanna have you guys in on it. That's what our group is all about." "This still seems dangerous," said Sweetie Belle. "That's why I put on a helmet and padding," retorted Scootaloo. "I also have a parachute if things go wrong." Scootaloo then put goggles over her eyes, and prepared herself to ride down the ramp. She took in a deep breath, let it out, and then swooped down the ramp. Sweetie Belle and Apple Bloom looked on in fright, but also some excitement at the prospect of their friend finally taking flight. The little orange pegasus swooped into the air, letting go of her scooter and doing her best to get her wings flapping. When it was made clear she wasn't going to fly, she attempted to pull the ripcord on her parachute, but it wasn't going to come out easily. After a few more attempts it finally shot out, only to crash into a tree and spinning around and around till she was tied to a large branch. Naturally, she was quite dizzy from this experience. Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belles ran towards her to make sure she wasn't hurt. "Scoots!" exclaimed Apple Bloom. "Are ya ok!?" "You didn't break anything, did you!?" followed Sweetie Belle. "I uh...I uh think I may have goofed it up some," said Scootaloo, her eyes spinning around like mad. Slingshot For this next flight test, Scootaloo decided to not use her scooter in any way. Apple Bloom constructed a big slingshot that she mounted securely into the ground in the center of the park. All three Cutie Mark Crusaders struggled to secure the sling in the proper position. "Now, this one really feels like a bad idea," said Sweetie Belle, struggling to hold back the slingshot. "Would you relax!" exclaimed Scootaloo. "I got a helmet for Celestia's sake!" "But, why doncha have yer scooter?" asked Apple Bloom, also struggling with the slingshot. "Coach Snowflake is right," began Scootaloo. "I rely too heavily on my scooter to get me airborne. So, I'm gonna go without it." The orange pegasus then got herself into position to be launched into the sky. "Ah'm losin mah grip," panted Apple Bloom. "Me too," said Sweetie Belle. "I don't think I can hold it much..." Before Sweetie Belle could finish her sentence, she lost her footing. It didn't take long for Apple Bloom to lose hers as well. "TOO SOON!" exclaimed Scootaloo. But, it was too late for that. Both of her friends had lose their footing and grip on the sling and it caused all three of them to go airborne. All three went into separate directions: Apple Bloom crashed into a flower stand in the marketplace, Sweetie Belle crashed into their school, and Scootaloo crashed into the Golden Oaks Library. Needless to say, crusading was postponed for a few days. > Chapter 9: At the Hospital > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- "WHAT IN TARNATION IS WRONG WITH Y'ALL!?" exclaimed Applejack. "YA COULDA BEEN KILLED!" The Cutie Mark Crusaders had ended up in the hospital thanks to their latest attempt to help Scootaloo fly. They had various scrapes, bumps, bruises, with bandages applied all over. The little orange pegasus had her wings stuck up in casts; while not broken she had sustained minor fractions. "I conquer!" chimed in Rarity. "That was a very irresponsible thing to do!" "HOW COULD YOU BE SO BUCKING STUPID!?" shouted Rainbow Dash. Applejack and Rarity shot their friend a glaring look. "What!?" "Would've gone fine if Sweetie Belle and Apple Bloom hadn't let go of the sling before I was ready," scoffed Scootaloo. "That thing was huge!" exclaimed Sweetie Belle. "Not our fault ya can't get ready quicker!" exclaimed Apple Bloom. "Why I oughta... "ENOUGH!" shouted Applejack. "All ya'll were bein' foolish! An from now on no crusadin' that involves slingshots, ramps, er anythin' that involves bein' launched inta the sky!" "Uhg...fine!" all three crusaders groaned together. "Glad to hear ya agree," grinned Applejack. "Doc says ya'll should be outta here within less than a week. I reckon ya'll need ways ta occupy yer time." "Scoots still has plenty of books she can read," Rainbow Dash said with a slight cackle. "Wonderful," groaned Scootaloo. "We need to head out now," said Rainbow Dash. "I'll catch you later, Scoots." They said their goodbyes then Rainbow Dash, Applejack and Rarity stepped out of the room and into the hallway to have a private conversation. "Why didn't Scootaloo's parents come see her?" asked Rarity. "Ah was wonderin' that too," said Applejack. "Ya ever met them, Dash?" "Well...thing about that is..., "fumbled Rainbow Dash. "She doesn't have parents..." "WHAT!?" shouted both Rarity and Applejack. "Will you two shut up," exclaimed Rainbow Dash in a whisper yell. "We don't need to be putting on a show. I'm not talking about this outside their room, let's go to the visitor's lounge." And so they did. "Why didn't ya tell us Scootaloo was an orphan?" asked Applejack. "I must agree with her darling," said Rarity. "That's quite a big thing to keep secret." "I wasn't keeping it a secret," exclaimed Rainbow Dash. "I just found out myself. And they aren't dead...at least as far as I know..." Rainbow Dash was clearly feeling bad for her young protege; she even began to tear up a little. Her friends could tell it was serious. "Her parents abandoned her," continued Rainbow Dash. "Oh dear," said Rarity in a calm but clearly concerned manner. "Do Sweetie Bell and Apple Bloom know?" "No idea," said Rainbow Dash. "I wouldn't be surprised if they knew; those three are so close to each other. But, even if they did know they probably had no idea what to do about it." "How long she been on her own?" asked Applejack. "I'm not entirely sure," explained Rainbow Dash. "For a while I'd been suspicious to why she would never let me go to her house. At first I just figured she didn't think her parents were cool or something. But as time went on, she just seemed more and more depressed. That one I figured was her frustration of not being able to fly. Then one day I ran into Miss Cheerilee and she was asking if I had seen Scootaloo with her parents recently. Finally, I went to her house and saw her in there all by herself. For a brief second, I just thought they might be at work or something. But, the look on that little pony's face said it all. I knocked, Scootaloo answered and was shocked to see me. She tried to slam the door on me, but I managed to barge in. Scoots tried to deny what was going on, I was as calm as I could be about the situation, waiting till she finally told me what was really going on. She broke down...I've never seen a little filly cry so hard...she told me everything. One day she woke up, and her parents were just not in the house. Nothing was missing really, there was food and other supplies. She didn't think anything of it, just that maybe they'd gone to work early. She went to school, then came home, they still weren't there. Hard to say when she came to the realization that they weren't coming back. She told me for years her parents were together because of her mother getting pregnant with her. Never physically abusive, but there was clear resentment for how their lives had turned out. Maybe it took them this long to leave her because they still felt an obligation to look after her. It's probably my fault they left..." "How can you think that?" asked Rarity. "Think about it," continued Rainbow Dash, now clearly crying more. "They saw me hanging out with her. They saw that she had somepony to look after her so they could just go wherever they wanted. They didn't even leave a bucking note! They gave her no warning! They left a defenseless filly on her own! They're own daughter! If I could find them...Celestia only knows what I would do to them!" "She isn't still living on her own, is she?" asked Applejack. "Of course not!" exclaimed Rainbow Dash. "She's been living with me and Bookie! We haven't quite gotten the proper paperwork sent through to make us her legal guardians, but we're doing our damndest. I can't let anything happen to her now! She's my responsibility! She's not just a protege...I love that little filly! I would do anything to keep her safe! Not that I wouldn't have if I wasn't having her live with me, but now it's even more important!" "Ah don't think she could ask fer a better parent," said Applekjack, wiping away tears. "Indeed," agreed Rarity, blowing her nose. "But if you need anything, don't be afraid to come to us." "Ah know what it's like to have to look after a little one," said Applejack. "I know I shoulda come sooner to you guys," said Rainbow Dash. "It was just a crazy situation. It all happened so fast." "We understand, sugar cube," said Applejack. "We're just glad you finally told us, darling," said Rarity. The three friends embraced each other. Back in the hospital room, Scootaloo began to cry heavily. Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle managed to pull themselves out of their beds to go comfort their friend. "Rainbow Dash...was so mad at me!" cried Scootaloo. "You don't think...SNIFF...she'll...leave me too...do you!?" "No way!" exclaimed Apple Bloom. "She loves ya! She's doin' her very best ta take care of ya!" "She's just getting used to watching after somepony smaller," said Sweetie Belle. "Rarity has to watch me more because our parents travel a lot for work. It wasn't easy for either of us, but things have gotten way better." "I just...I just get so scared!" Scootaloo continued to cry. "She's the only other pony...besides you two...that knows my parents left me...SNIFF..." "Ah still don't like keepin' that secret," commented Apple Bloom. "Ah know it was a promise, but we coulda gotten some real help." "I just worried that I would get taken away from Ponyville," said Scootaloo. "There's no orphanage here, no foster care, I might never see you two again. I could live without Rainbow Dash...barely...but I could never live without either of you two. You're the greatest friends I've ever had." "We're not goin' anywhere, sugar cube," said Apple Bloom. "The Cutie Mark Crusaders don't abandon each other," said Sweetie Belle. Although still crying, Scootaloo managed to smile. the three embraced, not too tight as they were still injured, but the orange pegasus knew she would never be alone. She would always have not only Rainbow Dash, but her very best friends. > Chapter 10: Night at the Hospital > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- It was night time in the hospital, Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle were sound asleep, but Scootaloo was still wide awake. Not so much because of her injuries (though they certainly didn't help), but she just couldn't stop thinking about all her past failures attempting to fly. "What the buck am I gonna do?" she muttered to herself. "How can I call myself a pegasus if I can't fly?" The little orange pegasus filly looked over at the stack of books left to her by Bookworm. Some days she couldn't stand that pony, other days she was grateful for how nice he was to her, and had to admit that Rainbow Dash was more responsible since being with him. Not to mention how much they were both doing for her since her parents left. She'll never forget the morning she woke up to find her parents gone. She felt stupid for thinking it was nothing, that they both were just working. But she didn't want to believe that parents would just ditch their own kid. It was about a week before she finally told Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle about it at the clubhouse. "WHAT!?" her friends shouted together. "When!?" asked Apple Bloom. "Why!?" asked Sweetie Belle "A week ago," replied Scootaloo. "Because they're horrible parents who didn't care about me." "Did they leave a note or anything?" asked Sweetie Belle. "No way," scoffed Scootaloo. "Even if they did, wouldn't take away from the fact that they up and left." "We gotta tell somepony what happened!" said Apple Bloom. "No way!" exclaimed Scootaloo. "You tell anypony and they'll take me away! My parents were the only family I had in Ponyville, and as far as I know my only family. There aren't any orphanages here, so I'll be taken somewhere else. I'd never see you two again...I can't let that happen." "But, what are ya gonna do?" asked Apple Bloom. "Ya can't live on yer own. Yer still just a filly. Why not live with me at Sweet Apple Acres?" "Or with me and my family?" asked Sweetie Belle. "Your families aren't gonna wanna deal with me," said Scootaloo. "I do one thing wrong and they'll just kick me out. They have no obligation for me." "Ya can't think that, Scoots," said Apple Bloom. "We care about you, and they'll care about you." "Look, I don't need a place to stay," said Scootaloo. "I can just stay at my place." "We'll at least bring ya food," insisted Apple Bloom. "We certainly aint gonna let ya starve." "Agreed," said Sweetie Belle. "You're our best friend in the whole world. We won't let anything happen to you. The three friends embraced. Time went on, Scootaloo figured things would be fine. Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle continued to provide food for her, making sure their families didn't find out. But then Scootaloo began learning to fly with Rainbow Dash. It didn't take long for the cerulean mare to start to wonder about Scoot's parents. She kept insisting that her parents were just busy, having to work long hours. Finally, Rainbow Dash couldn't just do nothing and followed Scootaloo home one day. Looking through the window, she was shocked with the state of her house. She angrily beat on the door, Scootaloo tried to act like she wasn't there. "I know you're in there, Scoots!" exclaimed Rainbow Dash. "Open this door now, or I'll bust it down!" The door opened slowly and Scootaloo peeked her little head out slighty. "Oh...hey, Rainbow Dash," she said pitifully. "How's it going?" "What the hay do you think you're doing?" asked Rainbow Dash. "What are you talking about?" Scootaloo lied. "Don't lie to me!" barked Rainbow Dash. "I saw inside there! What happened to your house!? Where are your parents!?" "They...they're..." Scootaloo fumbled to say, before finally breaking down. "I don't know! They left me! They just up and left me! I don't want to be sent away from here!" The orange pegasus burst into tears and grabbed Rainbow Dash hard. Rainbow Dash embraced Scootaloo and began stroking her mane. "It's going to be ok, Scootaloo," said Rainbow Dash. "Bookie and I will take good care of you. I won't let anypony take you away from me..." Rainbow Dash and Bookworm's house was still under contstructian, they were still staying in a hotel. But Bookworm didn't hesitate to let Scootaloo stay with them. Scootaloo knew how lucky she was to have them. She wished she had said something sooner, but was scared. She felt bad for putting Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle through all the lies, but they of course didn't hold anything against her. She was tired of thinking of the whole ordeal. She decided to finally read something in her stack of books. One title stuck out to her, THE OLD WAYS OF PONIES: A HISTORY OF THE THREE CLASSES. Scootaloo figured it would be something different from the usual "HOW TO FLY" books and gave it a look. There was a Table of Contents for each pony class, so it was easy to find the section on pegasus ponies. One passage in particular really caught her attention, causing her to go wide eyed. "That's it," she muttered to herself. "That's how I'm going to do it." > Chapter 11: Last Day at the Hospital > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- It was the last day the Cutie Mark Crusaders had to stay in the hospital. They were all of course very happy to be getting out and back to crusading. But Scootaloo wasn't as excited; her thoughts jumbled with not only trying to fly but also her future in Ponyville. She figured Rainbow Dash had no real obligation to look after her, so it seemed only natural that she'd eventually send her off somewhere else. "Hey, Scoots," said Apple Bloom. "Ya doin ok? Ya look like yer in a daze." "Huh? Oh, no I'm fine," she replied. "I was just thinking." "What about?" asked Sweetie Belle. "Nothing I really wanna discuss right now," said Scootaloo. "Once I have everything figured out I'll let you guys know." "Alright," replied Apple Bloom. "Just don't be afraid ta tell us anything." "Don't worry, Bloom," said Scootaloo. "I know I can talk to you and Sweets about anything." The three had a moment of silence, when Rainbow Dash came to their room with some news. "Yo!" exclaimed the cerulean mare. "Bet you three are excited to bet getting out of this place." "Understatement of the century," replied Scootaloo. "AJ and Rares are out there waiting for you two," she motioned to Sweetie Belle and Apple Bloom. "But before you go, Scoots, my dad said he wanted to talk to you." "Huh? What for?" asked Scootaloo. "He wouldn't tell me," replied Rainbow Dash. "Just that he wanted to talk to you in here alone." "Well, ok," said Scootaloo. Rainbow Dash took the other two crusaders out of the room, and a moment later walked in her dad Bifröst. "How you feeling, Scootaloo?" he asked. "As ok as I can be right now," she said solemnly. Bifröst took a seat next to Scootaloo. "Rainbow Dash told me all about your situation," he said. "Really? Why?" she asked. "Well, I am her father," he replied. "She's not exactly experienced in looking after kids. I'm in town building her house, so I was easily available. Plus...I can relate to your situation." "What!?" she said in surprise. "You were abandoned by your parents too!?" "Well, not by both at once," he said. "My mother had passed away when I was a little younger than you. For a couple years my father did his best to look after me, but eventually he just couldn't handle it anymore and he dropped me off my grandfather's house and never came back." "That's not exactly the same thing," said Scootaloo. "I mean, your dad didn't just up and leave without a word. Plus you had somepony looking after you." "Yes, true. But my father had told me he was going to come back for me. I'm not sure if grandpa knew or not. I remember about a month later I'd asked him when he was coming back for me. Grandpa just teared up and hugged me. He didn't have to explain anything, I knew right away what had happened." "But you still had somepony!" "You know you could've gotten help. Besides your friends, I know my Dashie was willing to look after you." "What obligation do they have to me? I'm not related to them." "Family isn't about who's blood you share. It's about the ponies that care about you and would do anything they can to help you. You saw what your friends were willing to do for you. Can't say I approve of them not telling anypony else, but I know they were just doing what they felt was right." "I guess you have a point. I was just scared." "I can understand that. You've been forced to grow up a little too soon. I wish kids didn't have to face the harsh realities of life, but things don't always go as planned. But, you should know that your friends and Rainbow Dash are here for you. I know my Dashie has a good judge of character, so I expect you to let her know how grateful you are to her." "And even Bookworm?" "Yes...even Bookworm." "Your still upset about the wedding incident, aren't you?" "How did you know about that!?" "There are times where Dash forgets I'm a kid..." Bifröst did a face hoof and let out a little sigh. He loved his daughter very much, but also knew she didn't always have the best tact. The next day, the Cutie Mark Crusaders met at their clubhouse. Scootaloo had something important to tell them. "ARE YOU OUT OF YER BUCKIN MIND!?" exclaimed Apple Bloom. "Hey! Language!" exclaimed Sweetie Belle. "Although I can't blame Apple Bloom for the shock!" "Would you two not be so loud!?" sniped Scootaloo. "This isn't something I want the whole town to hear." "We promised AJ and the others no more crazy stunts," said Apple Bloom. "This isn't a stunt," replied Scootaloo. "I read about it in a book. It's said to be super effective." "Since when do you listen to books?" asked Sweetie Belle. "Since I found one with an actually helpful passage," retorted Scootaloo. "And you two are gonna help. It's what we promised each other." "But, Scoots," began Apple Bloom. "What yer wantin ta do is...crazy. This ain't our usual crusadin stunt." "I know..." Scootaloo began. "But I honestly can't see any other option." "So, when are you going to do it?" asked Sweetie Belle. "Not till you two have your cutie marks," said Scootaloo. "It's obvious you two are closer to your goal than me." "What makes ya think that?" asked Apple Bloom. "It's just obvious," said Scootaloo. "So are you gonna help?" Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle looked at each other for a moment. The look in their eyes said that they both knew what Scootaloo had in mind was absolutely insane. But, they also saw the determination in their friend's eyes. They had to make sure she'd pull it off. The two slowly nodded to their friend, causing Scootaloo to embrace them. > Chapter 12: At the Construction Site > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- It didn’t take long for Bifröst to get a construction crew to begin working on the ideal house for his beloved daughter, Rainbow Dash, and her husband Bookworm. As they finished laying the foundation and began to work on the frame of the house, they were given a surprise visit from Ponyville’s tiniest troublemakers, the Cutie Mark Crusaders. “Hey there, Mr. Dash,” greeted Scootaloo. “Hello there, Scootaloo,” Bifröst greeted back. “I’ve told you time and again, that it’s alright to call me Bifröst.” “Well, you know how it is,” began Scootaloo. “You go to school and the teachers tell you refer to grownups by their surnames or whatever.” “I suppose that’s true,” he thought. “What bring you and your friends here?” “Apple Bloom heard about the construction going on and wanted to see it for some reason,” said Scootaloo. “What? Ah like buildin things,” said Apple Bloom. “Sides that, new houses don’t get built in Ponyville that often. Most I ever worked on was a tree house.” “You did add that second floor to the tree house,” said Sweetie Belle. “You really did that?” asked an impressed Bifröst. “Well, it wasn’t too hard,” said a modest Apple Bloom. “Ah mean, the tree provided most of the structure for it.” “Still, pretty impressive for a little filly,” Bifröst pointed out. “Your friend Spike mentioned the other day you were good with tools. Wanna take a look around the site?” “You betcha!” exclaimed Apple Bloom. “Great, let’s have a look then,” said Bifröst, obtaining hard hats for the little fillies. Bifröst took the Crusaders around the construction site, where many of the workers got distracted by the overall adorableness. “Hey, Bifröst,” exclaimed the foreman of the construction team. “Who are the adorable little fillies?” “They’re friends of my daughter,” explained Bifröst. “I’m more than just a friend,” interrupted Scootaloo. “I’m the personal protégé of Equestria’s greatest flyer!” “Well, aint that somethin,” said the foreman. “Hey mister,” interrupted Apple Bloom. “What is it little gal?” he asked. “And you can call me Hard Hat.” “One of yer workers is messing up with those beams, Mr. Hard Hat,” she said, pointing to a young stallion working on a wall frame. “Whaddya mean?” asked Hard Hat. “Those beams are way too far apart from one another,” she went on. “That far apart, the walls of the house will crack up in no time.” The foreman went to inspect the work the young stallion was doing. Upon closer inspection, he saw that Apple Bloom was indeed correct in her assumption. “How’s a little filly no so much about this stuff?” he asked. “Ah read a lot of books on the subject,” explained Apple Bloom. “Mah sister in law, Twilight, works at the Golden Oaks Library. So ah borrow book from er all the time.” “There anything else you can point out to me, kid?” the foreman asked. “Ah spose so,” replied Apple Bloom. Hard Hat showed Apple Bloom around the site, and to everyone’s amazement the youngest Apple sibling pointed out many other inconsistencies with the construction work. “Little lady, I am damn impressed,” exclaimed Hard Hat. “Pardon my language.” “Ah live on a farm,” retorted Apple Bloom. “Nothin ah aint heard before…and occasionally said. This remark caused the foreman to let out a hearty laugh. “You got spunk, kid,” he said. “How’d you like to work with me?” “Really?” she said in amazement. “Really!?” exclaimed Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo at once. “Well, work I suppose wouldn’t be the appropriate word,” explained Hard Hat. “More so, I’d like to make you my apprentice.” Apple Bloom went crazy wide eyed, and grinned ear to hear. “Ya really mean it!?” she jumped around in excitement. “I wouldn’t joke about something like that,” he said. “Though we will need to get some permission from your parents or guardians.” “Ah’m sure my brother and sister will be more than happy to let me work for ya!” she said with excitement. _________________________________________________________________________________________________ “Are ya’ll crazy!?” exclaimed Applejack. “Yer too young ta be workin at some construction site!” “Aw, come on Applejack!” her little sister begged. “Ah help around the farm already!” “That aint the same as workin at some construction site, Apple Bloom!” the elder sister yelled some more. “There’s a lot more dangerous things to worry about!” “If I could say something,” interrupted Hard Hat. “I wouldn’t be letting her work on the actual site.” “Huh!? Whaddya mean!?” exclaimed Apple Bloom in confusion. “You’re too young and inexperienced for that right now,” he explained. “I’d start you off in my workshop, teaching you some of the basics. I’ll also have you lookin at blueprints for any flaws and ways to improve things. Once I feel you’re ready, then I’ll have you workin on site.” “Well…that’s fine too!” exclaimed Apple Bloom. “So long as ah get to work with ya!” “Apple Bloom, ah don’t think…” Applejack began to say, but then was interrupted by her brother. “Apple Bloom is old enough to make her own choices, AJ,” he said. “Big Mac!” exclaimed Applejack. “Ya’ll can’t be serious!” “Course ah am,” said the eldest Apple sibling. “Plenty of ponies start learnin a trade at her age. You and ah weren’t much younger than her when dad started teachin us how to apple buck.” “But apple buckin aint as dangerous,” responded Applejack. “He just said he won’t be havin her on site right away,” retorted Big Mac. “He knows what he’s doin, Applejack; he’ll make sure she’s plenty safe.” “Well…what do you think Granny Smith’ll think!” asked Applejack. “Sounds like a mighty fine opportunity to me,” replied Granny Smith in her rocker. “In mah day, plenty ah young fillies and colts were startin the trades practially outa the womb.” Applejack had nopony else turn to for some excuse as to why Apple Bloom couldn’t become Hard Hat’s apprentice. She finally let out a sigh. “Alright, Apple Bloom,” she said. “Ya can work with Hard Hat.” Apple Bloom began jumping like crazy in excitement. “Ah can’t believe it! Ah can’t believe it!” exclaimed the littlest Apple Sibling. “This is the best day of mah life! Can’t get any better than this!” When she stopped hopping, she was confused to see her friends and family staring at her in awe. “What the heck is wrong with ya’ll?” she asked. “Apple Bloom…” began Scootaloo. “…Look,” finished Sweetie Belle, pointing to Apple Bloom’s flank. Apple Bloom looked at her flank and her jaw practically dropped to the floor. There, on her flank, was an apple with a hammer in the middle. Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo embraced their friend and all of them cheered with all their might. “Ah finally got mah cutie mark! Ah finally got mah cutie mark!” exclaimed Apple Bloom. “You’re the first to get your cutie mark!” exclaimed Scootaloo. “You did it! You did it! You did it!” exclaimed Sweetie Belle. Then Applejack and Big Macintosh embraced their little sister, both tearing up from all the excitement. “I’m so proud of ya, Apple Bloom!” exclaimed Applejack. “Eeyup!” exclaimed Big Macintosh. “But, you’re still gonna help us get our cutie marks, right?” asked Sweetie Belle with a little worry. “Course ah am!” exclaimed Apple Bloom. “CUTIE MARK CRUSDERS FOREVER!” “CUTIE MARK CRUSADERS FORVERE! YAY!” the little fillies all shouted in unison, and high hoofed. > Chapter 13: Double Celebration > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Once word got to Pinkie Pie about Apple Bloom getting her cutie mark, the party pony took no time setting up a cute-ceañera for the little sister of one of her bestest friends in the whole wide world. Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo helped design the banner. APPLE BLOOM’S CUTE-CEAÑERA! YAY! Everyone in Apple Bloom’s class was invited to her special event, including the always antagonistic Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon. Applejack even managed to get Apple Bloom’s favorite cousin, Babs Seed, to pay a visit from Manehattan. “Babs! It’s so great to see ya!” exclaimed Apple Bloom, as she embraced her cousin. “Great ta see ya too, cuz!” exclaimed Babs, returning the embrace. “So excited ta hear ya got yer cutie mark! Here’s hopin the rest of us get ours soon.” “Ah’m sure it’ll happen!” said Apple Bloom. “Anypony in your Cutie Mark Crusaders branch have their cutie marks yet?” “Nah, but not for lack of tryin,” sighed Babs. “She’s an apprentice to a construction pony!” exclaimed Sweetie Belle. “Although, that means she won’t be able to help us out as much with our own crusading,” frowned Scootaloo. “Oh yeah,” thought Sweetie Belle. “Hey now, no thinkin like that girls,” said Apple Bloom. “Ah’ll do mah very best to help ya’ll out in yer crusading. Ah won’t be workin every single day. Ah still got school after all, we can crusade during lunch!” These words brought a lot of comfort to her two closest friends, and they once again shared a friendship embrace. “How come you all haven’t gotten anymore members?” asked Babs. “There are other blank flanks in yer class, aren’t there?” “Well, not as many as you’d think,” said Scootaloo. “We seem to be among the last ones who haven’t gotten a cutie mark.” “Then look for other ponies in grades below ya,” suggested Babs. “Ah spose we could do that,” said Apple Bloom. “Sounds good to me!” exclaimed Sweetie Belle. “Right on!” exclaimed Scootaloo. “CUTIE MARK CRUSADERS NEW RECRUITERS!” they all shouted together. “YAY!” Just then, they were approached by Apple Bloom’s old friend, Twist. The bespectacled earth filly had earned her cutie mark not long before Apple Bloom first made friends with Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo. The two hadn’t had a falling out or anything, it’s just that Apple Bloom became very busy crusading that she and Twist never really got talk as much anymore. “Hey, Apple Bloom,” greeted Twist. “Hey there, Twist,” replied Apple Bloom. “This here’s mah cousin, Babs Seed, from Manehattan. And ya already know Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo, right?” “Oh thure,” said Twist, still talking with a lisp. “I’ve theen them around thcool lots of times.” “How’ve ya been?” asked Apple Bloom. “Doing great,” said Twist. “I wanted to come and congratulate you on earning your cutie mark. I remember you were really eager to get one.” “Yeah,” chuckled Apple Bloom, now blushing. “Ah spose ah was. Sorry ah haven’t really hung out with ya since formin the Cutie Mark Crusaders.” “Oh, don’t be thorry about that,” said Twist. “I’ve made more friends thince then.” “That’s great ta hear,” said Apple Bloom. They were then approached by their worst enemies, Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon. “Well well well, I had to see it for myself!” exclaimed the spoiled filly. “The little blank flank finally got her cutie mark!” “What’s it to ya, Diamond Tiara?” asked Apple Bloom defensively. “Just wondering what you’re still doing hanging around these still blank flanks,” she scoffed. “And what the hay do ya care who she hangs out with!?” barked Babs. “Aint none of yer all’s business!” “Whatever,” Diamond Tiara said rolling her eyes. “It’s not like she has an attractive cutie mark anyway.” “And what exactly does yours even mean?” Babs retorted. “That you can wear some silly piece of head jewelry? At least Apple Bloom’s means she can build things from nothin.” “And Twist is able ta make candies and other confections,” Apple Bloom pointed out. “So, what exactly can you and Silver Spoon do?” asked Scootaloo defensively. The two snobby ponies were at a loss for words, and rather than answering the Cutie Mark Crusaders just walked away with their heads up in the air. “Ha, showed them,” said Babs. “Thome things never change,” said Twist. “Ya sure said it,” Apple Bloom agreed. “That was amazing!” exclaimed a filly. “Huh? Who said that?” asked Apple Bloom. The all turned around and saw two unicorn fillies. One had a light, grayish violet coat and light goldish gray mane. The other had a pale rose coat and moderate rose mane. “Hi there,” greeted the violet filly. “I’m Dinky Hooves, and this is Berry Pinch.” “We’re a grade below,” said Berry Pinch. “And we were wondering…if um…we could…” “Become Cutie Mark Crusaders?” Dinky finished. “But, we’ve seen ya’ll around town with cutie marks,” said Apple Bloom. “I recall one of you having a pillow cutie mark,” thought Sweetie Belle. “Or was it a couple dolphins?” “I thought one of them had jewels?” thought Scootaloo. “Or was it a horse shoe?” “We were…actually faking,” blushed Dinky. “We painted those cutie marks ourselves,” finished Berry Pinch, also blushing. “Mostly using stencils.” “How come we never thought to do that?” asked Scootaloo. “Not sure,” said Apple Bloom. “Ah didn’t know there were kids below us gettin cutie marks in the first place.” “It’s not too uncommon,” said Dinky. “There are more blank flanks for sure in our class.” “But, we see you guys around town all the time, doing some really cool things!” exclaimed Berry Pinch. “And wondered if we could be part of that?” The Cutie Mark Crusaders huddled with each other to have a private discussion. “We did just say we were needin new members,” thought Apple Bloom. “And they seem ta have real spunk,” Babs pointed out. “Maybe they can even use some unicorn magic to help us out,” said Scootaloo. “I really like their manes,” said Sweetie Belle. The rest of the Crusaders gave the white unicorn a confused look. “What?” she asked defensively. They brought their attention back to the potential new Crusaders. “Welcome aboard!” exclaimed Apple Bloom. “You mean it?!” Dinky and Berry said in unison. “Course we do,” said Apple Bloom. “The Cutie Mark Crusaders are always willin to have new members.” “We just don’t get asked too often,” said Scootaloo. “Probably because most of the kids in our class have their cutie marks now,” said Sweetie Belle. “Soon as we’re able, we’ll get ya both fitted with an official Cutie Mark Crusaders cape!” exclaimed Apple Bloom. “And we’ll have a ceremony for you too!” said Sweetie Belle. “WOW!” Dinky and Berry joyfully exclaimed. ________________________________________________________________________ Later at the Cutie Mark Crusaders Clubhouse, the current Crusaders held a ceremony for their new inductees. Apple Bloom, being the first to gain her cutie mark, read the induction speech. “We, the Cutie Mark Crusaders,” she began. “Elect Dinky Hooves and Berry Pinch as a sister, friend, confidaynte, alley, boss-om buddy, gal pal, compadre, chum of chums, home girl, amgia…Ah thought we were gonna revise this thing?” “Scootaloo originally wrote it,” Sweetie Belle pointed out. “I haven’t exactly had the time, what with all of the crusading,” retorted Scootaloo. “How bout we just forget about the speech,” suggested Babs. “Good idea,” agreed Apple Bloom. “Long story short, ya’ll are now official members of the Cutie Mark Crusaders! As such, ya’ll do yer best to help other fellow Crusaders earn their cutie marks, along with yer own. And senior members, such as mahself, will continue to help out the members that are still tryin to get their cutie marks. That all make sense to ya?” Dinky and Berry looked at each other with their eyebrows arched, then back at the fellow Crusaders. “Sure!” exclaimed Dinky. “We get it!” finished Berry Pinch. “Then me and mah fellow sisters, compadres, and all that other stuff,” continued Apple Bloom. “Hereby welcome you into the Cutie Mark Crusaders with these official Cutie Mark Crusader capes!” Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo then draped their new members with newly made Cutie Mark Crusaders capes. Dinky and Berry were grinning ear to ear, while the others were brimming with pride as their club had expanded. They all then gave each other a group high hoof. “NEW CUTIE MARK CRUSADERS!” they all shouted. “YAY!” > Chapter 14: Practicing for the Big Show > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- The school talent show was less than a week away, and Sweetie Belle wasn't feeling anymore confident. Apple Bloom and Scootaloo were determined to help their friend do her very best. Apple Bloom was in charge of sets, Scootaloo thought up choreography, and they even got assistance from Rarity. Apple Bloom built a makeshift stage by the clubhouse to help them practice, Hard Hat let her have some time off to help her friends out; he wasn't about to let a kid not have fun. New Cutie Mark Crusader recruits, Dinkie Hooves and Berry Pinch had joined in helping build sets and prepare the necessary effects. The two had a particularly high regard for Apple Bloom, having just gained her cutie mark. "Good job, ya'll!" exclaimed Apple Bloom. "Them sets are lookin great." "Thank you very much, ma'am!" exclaimed Dinky Hooves. "It's an honor to be under the guidance of a senior crusader, ma'am!"exclaimed Berry Pinch. "Ah done told ya before ya don't haveta treat me any different than Sweetie or Scoots," said Apple Bloom. Though in her head she had to admit it was fun having some adoration. "Alright, Sweetie Belle, from the top!" "Can't we take a break?" exclaimed Sweetie Bell. "We've been practicing two days straight now!" "No way!" replied Apple Bloom. "We lost a lot of good time being held up at the hospital! Ah know if we make this routine perfect, you'll shine so bright and finally get yer cutie mark." "Good thing Rarity agreed to make costumes," said Scootaloo. "Last time we tried it didn't go so great." The three friends briefly thought back to when they'd last entered a talent show. Scootaloo headed the performance, Apple Bloom made costumes, and Sweetie Belle made sets. Scootaloo was correct when she said things didn't go so great during that performance. Thank goodness nopony was hurt when all the sets came crashing around them. "Havin these new recruits certainly helps," said Babs Seed. "Anything you can do for you, ma'aam? asked Dinky. She and Berry had adoration for Babs as well, since she too had her cutie mark. "Just make sure everything is in workin order," Babs commanded. The two recruits saluted and went to double check. "Ya love doin that, don't ya?" Apple Bloom asked rhetorically. "Hey, I'm just havin some fun with 'em," chuckled Babs. "Not everyday ya get to be in charge of somepony." "Just don't be mean to 'em," warned Apple Bloom. "Hey, I know better than ta do that," retorted Babs. After hours of practice, Sweetie Belle's friends finally parted ways and she headed back to the Carousel Boutique. When she got there, Spike was standing at the front door. He was forbidden from watching rehearsals. "Spike, what are you doing here?" asked Sweetie Belle. "I figured you'd be sore from all the practicing," began Spike. "So I thought I'd give you a massage." "Oh," she responded, blushing. "That's really sweet of you." Spike motioned his marefriend to sit on a step so he could rub her shoulders. "So, how are rehearsals going?" he asked. "Ok, I guess," she replied. "I'm still not confident it's going to turn out so well." "Come on now. You and I both know you're a capable singer. I know it's easy enough for me to say that, but I have all the faith in you. And of course Bloom and Scoots do too." "I know...it's just really scary. It's not like last time on stage, when it was Scootaloo doing the main singing. But this time I'll be front and center. I just don't think I can do it." Before Sweetie Belle could really think, Spike had turned her around quickly, stared at her intensely in the eyes, and planted a kiss straight on her lips. It was their very first real kiss, other times had just been pecks on the muzzle or cheek. Once done Sweetie Belle stood there stiff as a statue. "I believe in you completely, Sweetie Belle. Just remember that I'll be front and center in the audience." Sweetie Belle began to tear up a little, though clearly happy tears. She gave Spike a big hug. "Thank you so much, Spike! I'm lucky to have a coltfriend like you!" "And I'm lucky to have a marefriend like you." Sweetie Belle went inside, with her big sister trying to pretend she wasn't spying on them. "You're a terrible sneak, Rare," said Sweetie Belle. "I don't have the slightest idea what you're talking about," replied Rarity. "I've been working on your costumes this entire time." "Of course you have," Sweetie Belle rolled her eyes. "Do you think you'll be ready for the big day?" asked Rarity. "I honestly don't know," said Sweetie Belle. "But, with my friends, my special somepony, and favorite sister there, it won't really matter. And thanks again for making costumes." "Of course, Sweetie, "said Rarity, giving her sister a hug. "After all, you're my favorite sister too." > Chapter 15: The Big Show > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- The day of the talent show finally arrived. Needless to say, Sweetie Belle was freaking out. "Oh sweet Celestia! I can't do this!" exclaimed the little white unicorn. "I'm going to completely humiliate myself! Everypony is going to laugh at me! Spike will break up with me! I'll never get my cutie mark!" "Snap out of it, Sweets!" exclaimed Scootaloo, smacking her friend across the face. "OW! WHAT THE HAY DID YOU DO THAT FOR!?" "That's what ponies do all the time in stories when someponie's freaking out." "Yeah, well this isn't some bucking story, Scoot!" "Ya'll knock it off!" shouted Apple Bloom, setting up the lighting fixtures. "And watch yer mouths! Ya wanna get disqualified fer your fowl mouth? Ah thought only Scootaloo was influenced by Rainbow Dash's mouth." "Well, I hear Scootaloo curse enough that it kind of rubs off," explained Sweetie Belle. "You're gonna blame me!? "Rarity sure as hay doesn't talk that way!" "Enough already!" exclaimed Apple Bloom. "We gotta get ourselves ready. If this don't get you yer cutie mark, ah reckon nothin will." "Thanks for making me feel more relaxed," Sweetie Belle sarcastically replied. "Ah ain't serious, Sweets. Ah know fer sure this'll get you yer cutie mark. Nopony in class can sing like you can." Meanwhile, out on the stage, the other students were performing their acts while Miss Cheerilee announced. "Let's give a hoof for Snips and Snails!" she exclaimed. Snips and Snails, the resident class bumblers, attempting an escape trick, but things didn't exactly go as planned. Snips strapped Snails into a straight jacket and chained him into a water tank. Unfortunately, neither were able to get the glass to break on the first attempt and everypony just figured it was part of the show. That is until Snips started moving all together, ponies in the audience began to panic when finally Snails managed to crack the glass and Snips came pouring out with the water. He spat out what looked to be a gallon of water, but despite the complete failure the two shouted "TA DA!" and took a bow. Everypony took pity on them and applauded, just glad that they were both ok. Miss Cheerilee came back to the stage, a bit dumbfounded by what she just saw. "Well..." she began with some pause. "That was certainly...unique...and daring. Up next, give a round of applause for Twist!" Next came Twist, who within a mere couple minutes coated various chocolate balls with various frosting, juggled them about, and flung them into the mouths of the audience. The crowd went crazy with this act. "That was certainly a treat for all!" exclaimed Miss Cheerilee. "We've got some great acts this year!" Backstage, Sweetie Belle was still nervous. "This was a mistake! I can't do this!" "Would you please just relax," grumbled Scootaloo. "It's too late to get out of this." "I could break a leg," exclaimed Sweetie Belle. "That'll get me out of this!" "You are not breaking your leg, Sweets." Sweetie Belle levitated a nearby hammer and aimed it at her leg. "Try and stop me!" Scootaloo darted right at her and the two began to scuffle. "Are ya'll nuts!?" exclaimed Apple Bloom, breaking her two friends apart. "Yer gonna ruin her costume!" "That's what you're worried about!?" exclaimed Scootaloo. "She's trying to break her own leg!" "Trying nothing!" shouted Sweetie Belle. "I'm gonna do it!" "Need any help?" asked Spike, appearing back stage. "Yeah, get them two to stop fighting" exclaimed Apple Bloom. "Ok, you guys, what's the problem?" asked Spike. "Sweetie Belle's lost her bucking mind! She's trying to break her own leg with a hammer!" "Aw come on now, Scoot, Sweetie Belle wouldn't do that. Would you, Sweets?" Spike's special somepony dropped her head and twirled a hoof. "Jeez, I'm never gonna escape crazy," sighed Spike also face palming. If he had a bit for every time Twilight or her friends went nuts, he'd be richer than Princess Celestia. Still, he kept his composure and let out a relaxed sigh. "Scootaloo, give me a moment alone with Sweetie Belle." "Ok, but I'm taking the hammer with me!" Spike and Sweetie Belle took a seat, the purple dragon began stroking his special someponie's mane. "Come on now," said Spike. "What's the problem?" "You know what the problem is," said Sweetie Belle. "I've never sung in front of a large crowd! I'll barely sing in front of little crowds! What if I Mess up!? What if I choke!? What if I fall on my own hooves and smash face first into the stage or the audience!? What if..." Before Sweetie Belle could finish her rant, Spike planted a kiss on her, this managed to calm her down some. "Listen, Sweetie," said Spike. "You're an amazing singer. Nopony in town can sing like you. I bet nopony period can sing like you! But, if you don't want to do this, that's your choice." "You won't be disappointed in me?" Sweetie Belle asked timidly. "I could never be disappointed in you!" exclaimed Spike, giving her a big hug. You're my special somepony, and that will never change!" "I guess I'll go out there then," chuckled Sweetie Belle. "I'll be in the front row watching," Spike replied with a proud smile. "So are we ready to get this show going!?" exclaimed Scootaloo, interrupting the touching moment. "You bet!" exclaimed Sweetie Belle. "Let's do this!" Out on the stage, Miss Cheerilee announced the next act. "Alright everypony," she began. "Our final act for the evening will be Sweetie Belle performing a song! With backing vocals from her classmates Apple Bloom and Scootaloo. You may know them all collectively as the Cutie Mark Crusaders!" The ponies in the audience were not quite so enthusiastic about the announcement. Past shows had proven to be...interesting when those three decided to perform. The only audience members really showing any enthusiasm were the Apple Family, Rarity and her parents, Rainbow Dash and Bookworm, and of course Spike. The lights on the stage went out, then a single spotlight shown on stage with Sweetie Belle standing there. Two more lights shown, Apple Bloom and Scootaloo appearing in each one. All were wearing sparkling red dresses, made by Rarity naturally. The music began to play. Think (think) think (think) think (think) Think (think) think (think) think (think) You better think (think) think about what you're trying to do to me Yeah, think (think, think), let your mind go, let yourself be free Let's go back, let's go back, let's go way on way back when I didn't even know you, you couldn't have been too much more than ten. (just a child) I ain't no psychiatrist, I ain't no doctor with degrees It don't take too much high IQ's to see what you're doing to me You better think (think) think about what you're trying to do to me Yeah, think (think, think), let your mind go, let yourself be free Oh freedom (freedom), freedom (freedom), freedom, yeah freedom Freedom (freedom), freedom (freedom), freedom, ooh freedom There ain't nothing you could ask I could answer you but I won't (I won't) I was gonna change, but I'm not, if you keep doing things I don't You better think (think) think about what you're trying to do to me Yeah, think (think, think), let your mind go, let yourself be free People walking around everyday, playing games, taking scores Trying to make other people lose their minds. Well be careful, you're gonna lose yours. Yeah, think (think) think about what you're trying to do to me Yeah, think (think, think), let your mind go, let yourself be free You need me (need me) and I need you (don't you know) Without each other there ain't nothing we can do Oh freedom (freedom), freedom (freedom), freedom, yeah freedom Freedom (freedom), freedom (freedom), freedom, ooh freedom There ain't nothing you could ask I could answer you but I won't (I won't) I was gonna change, but I'm not, if you're doing things I don't You better think (think) think about what you're trying to do to me Yeah, think (think, think), let your mind go, let yourself be free You need me (need me) and I need you (don't you know) Without each other there ain't nothing we can do (Think about - ah me, think about - ah me, Think about - ah me, think about it) (Think about - ah me, think about - ah me, Think about - ah me, think about it) (Think about - ah me, think about - ah me, Think about - ah me, think about it) (Think about - ah me, think about - ah me, Think about - ah me, think about it) You had better stop and think before you think, think! The three friends stood there for a moment, panting from the number they'd just performed. Everypony was completely silent for what felt like forever; you could hear a pin drop. "Shit," Scootaloo said under her breath, scared they'd messed up yet again. The audience finally started to cheer loudly, whooping and hollering at the performance they'd just seen. The Cutie Mark Crusaders stood there in shock, not expecting such a positive reaction. Spike ran onto the stage and embraced Sweetie Belle affectionately. "YOU WERE AMAZING!" exclaimed Spike. "I HAD NO IDEA YOU COULD SING LIKE THAT!" "Well...I have been practicing," replied Sweetie belle, blushing brightly. "LOOK!" shouted Apple Bloom and Scootaloo, pointing to Sweetie Belle's flank. The little white unicorn looked, to her surprise was a pink heart with a musical note in the center. She began jumping around the stage in great excitement, her friends joining behind her. "MY CUTIE MARK!" Sweetie Belle shouted in joy. "I FINALLY GOT MY CUTIE MARK!" "YOU FINALLY GOT YOUR CUTIE MARK!" her friends joined in on the shouts of joy. Once the cries of joy were done, the three headed backstage. "Now it's my turn," said Scootaloo. "And you two aren't gonna back out of helping me, right?" "We've helped each other out on everything else," said Apple Bloom. "Ah certainly ain't backing out. Even if ah think it's completely insane." "No thinking to it," said Sweetie Belle. "It is completely insane. But, we made a promise that we'd help each other out no matter what." The three put a front hoof in proclaiming their mission. "FINAL CUTIE MARK CRUSADER ADVENTURE! YAY!" > Chapter 16: Dear, Rainbow Dash > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- A week had passed since the talent show and things seemed to be relatively calm in Ponyville. Apple Bloom continued her apprenticeship with Hard Hat, Sweetie Belle was more open to singing in public (which occasionally got on the nerves of citizens) and Scootaloo did some more flight training. But the little orange pegasus had something else going on, something that only she and her friends knew about; a last ditch effort for her to finally earn her cutie mark. She knew Rainbow Dash wouldn't be happy about it, but she didn't think there were any more options. She left a note inside a book for Rainbow Dash on the hotel coffee table (the house was still under construction). Rainbow Dash took off work early, to help Scootaloo with more flying lessons. "Hey, Scoots! I'm back!" The cerulean mare was a bit puzzled by the lack of response, but figured her little orange apprentice was just out with her friends. Luckily, it didn't take her long to notice the book on the table. THE OLD WAYS OF PONIES: A HISTORY OF THE THREE CLASSES "Bookie's not gonna like her leaving that behind," thought Rainbow Dash. She then noticed some paper sticking out of the pages marked DASH. She didn't think much of it when opening it up to read the note. Dear Rainbow Dash, I know you and Bookworm have been working very hard to help me get my cutie mark. But, it's finally occurred to me that there are some things you just gotta do on your own. Well, mostly on my own, Sweetie Belle and Apple Bloom will be helping me out some naturally. Bookworm may not appreciate me highlighting on this book, but I felt it was important. Read carefully. Love, Scootaloo "What the hay is she going on about?" she asked to nopony. She then looked at the highlighted passage in the book, reading out loud. "In ancient times, and long before the Industrial Age of Equestria, it was very common for young pegasus ponies to learn how to fly much in the way birds teach their young. They would take them to the highest cloud, let them jump off and let nature take its course." Rainbow Dash's eyes went wider than ever thought possible. "WHAT!?" > Chapter 17: Leap and Let Nature Take Its Course > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- It was safe to assume Rainbow Dash was in a panic. "Holy shit holy shit holy shit holy shit holy shit holy shit!" she yelled to herself as she flew around town looking for high clouds. She went flying to Sweet Apple Acres to see if Applejack had seen her. "APPLEJACK!" she screamed as loud as possible. "Oh, hey Dash," Applejack replied calmly but confused. "What brings ya to the farm?" "WHERE'S APPLE BLOOM!? PLEASE TELL ME SHE'S HERE!" "Whoa now! Calm yerself, sugar cube! Sorry to tell ya but no Apple Bloom ain't here at the moment. What the hay has got ya so wound up?" The rainbow maned mare took some time to properly calm herself down. "Ok...ok...I think I'm ok now..." before she could finish, she threw up and passed out. The orange farm poney facehoofed and rolled her eyes. She thought to herself that she should be used to all these emotional freak outs by now...but no. "Big Mac!" she hollered for her big brother. "Need yer help gettin' Rainbow Dash into the house! Rainbow Dash slowly opened her eyes, confused to find herself in the Apple residence. Applejack, Big Macintosh, Granny Smith, and Mal were all around her. "Ok now, Rainbow Dash," began Applejack. "Ah understand that yer in some kind of emotional distress. But we'd all appreciate it if ya'd stay calm and please explain yerself." The cerulean mare took a deep breath. "Ok, ok," sighed Rainbow Dash. "Scootaloo left me a letter, and a passage from one of her books to read. She and her friends are helping her earn her cutie mark..." "That's it?" interrupted Applejack. "That's an everyday occurrence fer those three." "Let me finish!" exclaimed Rainbow Dash. "Scootaloo plans to learn the old fashioned way!" There was a bit of a pause, Rainbow Dash was expecting a more dramatic reaction. "What exactly is the old fashion way?" asked Applejack. "Well, if ah'm thinkin the right thing," Granny Smith chimed in. "That would be pushin' the little filly out of a high cloud and lettin' nature take its course." "WHAT!?" the Apple Siblings and Mal shouted in unison. "That's exactly what I said!" shouted Rainbow Dash. "Ya can't teach a filly that way!" exclaimed Applejack. "Well, no shit you can't!" exclaimed Rainbow Dash. "I didn't even know pegasai did shit like that!" "But, yer a pegasus," Mal pointed out. "Flight school doesn't teach ya'll that sorta thing?" "I never paid attention in any class other than flight class!" exclaimed Rainbow Dash. "Wait, why the buck am I arguing this!? We gotta find those three now!" "Why didn't ya look up in the skies?" asked Applejack. "First place ah'd look." "Holy shit, you're right!" exclaimed Rainbow Dash. "I've been freaking out so hard that didn't even occur to me!" The cerulean mare went flying out of the Apple house...through the roof. "Door was right there!" shouted Applejack. "She can't hear ya at this point, ya know?" Big Macintosh pointed out. "Ah know!" she said. "It's just super annoyin!" Rainbow Dash flew up as high she knew a cloud could go and began scanning the area. "Of all days, why did the weather team not clear out the clouds!?" Suddenly, she saw a hot air balloon floating through a cloud, in it were definitely the Cutie Mark Crusaders. "What do you three think you're doing!?" shouted Rainbow Dash, making her way to their location. "You're in so much trouble I don't even know what it's gonna be!" Rainbow Dash landed in the basket of the balloon, getting ready to confront Scootaloo and her friends. "Do you have anything to say for yourselves!?" she yelled, though clearly distressed. "Yeah..." began Scootaloo, with reluctance in her voice. "Now!" The three friends closed their eyes. Sweetie Belle let out a bright flash of light, blinding Rainbow Dash long enough for the three fillies to gang up on the rainbow maned mare and tie her up. "Hey! No! Stop!" exclaimed Rainbow Dash as they finished strapping her down securely. Her vision finally returned to normal, she saw Scootaloo standing at the edge of the cloud. "Scootaloo!" shouted Rainbow Dash. "What do you think you're doing!?" "This is my only chance, Rainbow Dash," began Scootaloo. "I've tried everything else in those books Bookworm had me look at. I've tried all the techniques you taught me. None of them did anything. I've wanted this for as long as I can possibly remember." "You're not the only pegasus to have trouble flying!" shouted Rainbow Dash. "But this is crazy! This will kill you! Why do you think they stopped teaching this way!? And how can you two just let her go through with this!?" "Don't ya dare thing this was easy for us" said Apple Bloom, trying to hold back tears. "We think it's a crazy thing to do too." "But we made a promise," said Sweetie Belle, beginning to tear up. "And Scoots has done all she can to help us earn our cutie marks." "We're also really sorry fer tyin' ya up," said Apple Bloom. "But Scootaloo knew you'd try to stop her. There ain't nopony who knows we're up here. She's got no safety nets." "Scootaloo! Please!" shouted Rainbow Dash, tearing up like crazy. "Don't do this! For the love of Celestia, don't do this! We'll find some other way! I can't lose you!" "I'm sorry, Rainbow Dash," said Scootaloo, also tearing up. "But I've gotta do this." The little orange pegasus walked backwards a couple steps, ran forward and leaped into the air. "SCOOTALOO!!! NNNNOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!! > Chapter 18: Take Flight, Young Pegasus > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- "SCOOTALOO!!! NNNNOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!! As Rainbow Dash cried out, the little orange pegasus pony Scootaloo had taken her jump off the cloud, eyes shut tight, and began falling towards the ground below. Many things passed through her mind as she fell: Her various adventures with her friends "CUTIE MARK CRUSADERS! YAY!" The many attempts at flying “IT'S NOT FAIR!” shouted Scootaloo. “I PRACTICE EVERY SINGLE BUCKING DAY! I DO ALL THE EXCORSIZES YOU TELL ME TO DO! BUT I STILL CAN'T FLY!” That day in gym class with Snowflake “Wondering how I do it, aren’t you,” Snowflake asked. “How you do what,” asked Scootaloo. “I’m not as dumb as I look,” he said with a sly smile. “I know you wonder how somepony as big as me is able to fly so fast and gracefully through the skies, despite having a wingspan no bigger than a filly’s hoof.” Checking out the various books at the library "Why the hay are we at a library?" asked Scootaloo. "I wanna learn to fly, not read a book!" "Listen Scoots, I don't wanna be here anymore than you do," exclaimed Rainbow Dash. "But Bookie says this is gonna help you learn to fly. And I trust anything my super awesome husband says." The day Rainbow Dash discovered Scootaloo's parents abandoned her "What the hay do you think you're doing?" asked Rainbow Dash. "What are you talking about?" Scootaloo lied. "Don't lie to me!" barked Rainbow Dash. "I saw inside there! What happened to your house!? Where are your parents!?" "They...they're..." Scootaloo fumbled to say, before finally breaking down. "I don't know! They left me! They just up and left me! I don't want to be sent away from here!" "It's going to be ok, Scootaloo," said Rainbow Dash. "Bookie and I will take good care of you. I won't let anypony take you away from me..." But what she remembered most was what Rainbow Dash told her to declare “What you need to do is shout, 'I'M SCOOTALOO! AND I CAN DO ANYTHING!'” Rainbow Dash commanded to her pupil. “I-I'm Scootaloo, and I can do anything,” said the filly rather timidly. “Aw! Come on!” exclaimed Rainbow Dash. “I Know you can do better!” “I'm Scootaloo! And I can do anything!” she shouted again. “EVEN LOUDER!” encouraged Rainbow Dash. “I'M SCOOTALOO!” she finally let out. “I CAN DO ANYTHING!” “AND WHAT ARE YOU GONNA DO!?” asked Rainbow Dash still in a commanding tone. “I AM GOING TO BUCKING FLY!” proclaimed Scootaloo. The little orange pegasus reopened her eyes, and grinned with a determination she'd never felt before. "I'M SCOOTALOO AND I CAN DO ANYTHING!" she declared out loud. "AND I AM GOING TO BUCKING FLY!" Scootaloo positioned herself in a more proper flying position, angled her body at an angle she'd seen in many books, and stuck her wings out preparing to catch the wind. For a split second it appeared as if her idea was a very very very very bad idea! Back up in the hot air balloon, Rainbow Dash was trashing about trying to get free. "SCOOTALOO! I GOTTA SAVE HER! LET ME GO! LET ME GOT RIGHT NOOOOOOOOOOW!" "LOOK!" Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle exclaimed in excitement, directing Rainbow Dash to the skies. Nature had taken it's course, Scootaloo went from facing downwards to soaring through the skies as if she'd been doing it her whole life. "SHE DID IT!" her friends exclaimed. "SHE'S FLYING!" Rainbow Dash exclaimed, still tearing up, but this time tears of joy. "SHE'S REALLY FLYING! THAT OLD WORLD SHIT ACTUALLY WORKED!" As the three watched Scootaloo in awe, the little orange pegasus did barrel rolls and loop de loops. She just laughed her heart out, crying out in great joy. "WAHOOOOOOO!" She screamed as loud as she could. It wasn't clear how much time had really passed, but Scootaloo finally landed on the ground, with Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle descending in the hot air balloon to celebrate with her. Before the balloon properly landed, the two jumped out of the basked to embrace their triumphant friend. "YOU DID IT!" exclaimed Apple Bloom. "YOU FLEW!" exclaimed Sweetie Belle. "YOU GOT YOUR CUTIE MARK!" the two shouted in unison. They pointed to their orange buddy's flank revealing a purple lighting bolt. "AW YEAH!" exclaimed Scootaloo. "WE ALL DID IT!" "CUTIE MARK CRUSADERS CRUSADE COMPLETED! YAY!" "WILL YOU GET ME THE BUCK OUT OF HERE ALREADY!?" shouted Rainbow Dash from inside the basket of the hot air balloon. "Oh, right," winced Apple Bloom. "Ah knew we forgot something." Sweetie Belle let out a bit of magic, unraveling Rainbow Dash's ropes. The cerulean mare slowly walked towards her orange protege, given a look that Scootaloo wasn't sure what to really make of. As she stood there for a moment, she eventually began crying and wrapped her front legs around Scootaloo tightly; this really put the orange filly off guard. "Are you ok, Dash?" asked Scootaloo in confusion. "Don't you ever do anything like that again!" shouted Rainbow Dash, but still embracing Scootaloo. "You had me scared out of my mind!" "Aren't you at least proud of me?" Scootaloo asked. "Don't you get it!?" exclaimed Rainbow Dash, pulling away, still in tears. "I was never not proud of you! I will always be proud of you! You are one of the most important ponies in my life." "I am?" Scootaloo wasn't used to this kind of talk from Rainbow Dash. "Oh sweet Celestia, of course you are!" Rainbow Dash exclaimed, but she quieted down for the next lines. "I've been taking care of you this long haven't I? I wouldn't do that for just anypony. You're not just my student..." "I mean, I figured I was like a friend to you or something," interrupted Scootaloo. "No," Rainbow Dash continued. "This isn't just friendship, Scoots." "Oh, yeah, that makes sense," Scootaloo interrupted again. "A little sister then, like Apple Bloom and Applejack or Sweetie Belle and Rarity." "NO!" Exclaimed Rainbow Dash. "Stop interrupting, kid! You're not a student, you're not a friend, and you're not a sister...you are my family! You are my daughter!" "D-daughter?" Scootaloo said with confusion. "I wasn't sure when to tell you this," began Rainbow Dash. "But, Bookie and I don't just want you living with us. We want to make you part of our family. We want to adopt you. We want you to be our daughter." "Whoa," Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle said in a hushed tone. "I hope that's ok with you," said Rainbow Dash with some nervousness in her voice, as if she was channeling Fluttershy for a moment. "Is that ok with me?" began Scootaloo. "Is that ok with me? I thought getting my cutie mark would be the best part of the whole day. But...I never expected that I'd be getting a new mom and dad!" Scootaloo and Rainbow Dash embraced each other once more, both crying with joy they'd never felt before. The two then noticed Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle looking at them with giant smiles and teary eyes. "Alright," sighed Scootaloo, rolling her eyes. "You can join in." The two friend immediately jumped in on the hug, and all four began to laugh. > Epilogue: A Couple Loose Ends > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Now we're at the point in the story where Twilight gave birth to her twin foals Lil Macintosh and Shimmer So you better have read that story and the other three stories to get all that's going on here. Five of the Mane Six, the Cutie Mark Crusaders, Spike, Bookworm, Braeburn, and Mal were all sitting in the waiting room of the hospital; all exciting after seeing the bundles of joy they'd just seen. “Things have definitely gotten 20% cooler!” declared Rainbow Dash. “Here’s hoping you and I can have our own some day,” said Bookworm warmly. “Well…you won’t have to wait too long.” Bookworm’s face went into utter confusion. “I beg your pardon?” Then Rainbow Dash jabbed her husband in the shoulder. “HA! You shoulda seen the look on your face!” Bookworm, despite being confused, joined Rainbow Dash in the laugh, and the others soon followed. After the laughter subsided, Rainbow Dash let out a sigh. “Yeah…but seriously I’m pregnant.” "When the hay did that happen!?" exclaimed Applejack. "Probably after that roll in the hay Bookie and I had in your barn," chuckled Rainbow Dash. "Are you sure, dear!?" asked Rarity. "Completely," said Rainbow Dash. "I thought I threw up that one day at Applejack's because of panicking about Scootaloo. Turns out it was pregnancy sickness." "How long have you known!?" asked Pinkie Pie. "Found out a couple days ago," replied Rainbow Dash. "Didn't wanna take away Twilight's thunder, so I waited after we saw the babies." "So I'm gonna be a big sister!?" exclaimed Scootaloo in excitement. "You betcha!" replied Rainbow Dash. "ALRIGHT!" exclaimed Scootaloo. "I'll be the only Cutie Mark Crusader who's a big sister!" "That's all yer excited about?" asked Apple Bloom. "Of course not," scoffed Scootaloo. "It's just something I can't help but notice." Rainbow Dash turned her attention back to her husband. "Bookie?" she began. "You ok? You haven't been saying anything..." Bookworm turned his head slowly towards Rainbow Dash, a blank expression. "I couldn't love you anymore than I do right now," he said in a low town, with a smile slowly growing on his face. Bookworm then embraced his wife and gave her a passionate kiss. "Oh, gross!" exclaimed Scootaloo. "Kissing isn't so bad," Sweetie Belle chimed in. "I don't wanna hear about you and Spike," said Scootaloo. "Ah am curious to know if his sudden growth spurt has affected things," asked Apple Bloom. "WHAT KIND OF THINGS!?" asked a panicked Rarity. "Not that!" exclaimed Sweetie Belle. Some more time passes... A meeting was held at the Cutie Mark Crusaders clubhouse. Besides the three founding members, new recruits Dinky Hooves and Berry Pinch were present, plus recently added member Pipsqueak. “We, the Cutie Mark Crusaders,” began Apple Bloom. “Elect Pipsqueak as a sister, friend, confidaynte, alley, boss-om buddy, gal pal, compadre, chum of chums, home girl, amgia…Really!? We didn't think to update this for potential boy members!?” "You don't always have to read off the paper," exclaimed Scootaloo. "I thought we weren't doing the speech anymore," said Sweetie Belle. "Am I a member now?" asked Pipsqueak. "Yeah sure," said Apple Bloom, just giving up on the speech. "You, Pipsqueak, are the newest member of the Cutie Mark Crusaders!" The yellow mare proceeded to give the brown patched colt his official Cutie Mark Crusaders cape. "Jolly nice cape!" he exclaimed, sporting a proud smile. "Our first boy member!" chimed in Sweetie Belle. "That seemed pretty obvious, Sweets," said Scootaloo. "I still think it's pretty cool," said Sweetie Belle. "I didn't think any boys would be interested in our club." "Oh it seemed like a jolly good time!" exclaimed Pipsqueak. "I'm not the only colt in class to not have my cutie mark. If you like I can find some more members." "Might be best to stick with three at a time," said Apple Bloom. "But, there are six of us," said Dinky. "That's part of why we called this here meeting," continued Apple Bloom. "Seein as, Scootaloo, Sweetie Belle, and mahself have our cutie marks, we don't think we should be official members anymore." "WHAT!?" the three little new members exclaimed. "But, you three are the founding members!" exclaimed Berry Pinch. "But we have our cutie marks," said Scootaloo. "So there's no need for us to crusade anymore," continued Sweetie Belle. "But you three now have the opportunity to carry on the Cutie Mark Crusaders legacy," finished Apple Bloom. "Ya'll are gonna have some grand adventures attemptin to figure out what yer best at!" "Remember, that as Cutie Mark Crusaders it's your mission to help each other out," said Scootaloo. "This is a team effort." "And there's no I in Cutie Mark Crusaders!" exclaimed Sweetie Belle proudly. "Uh...Sweets," Scootaloo chimed in. "There actually is an I in Cutie Mark Crusaders. I think you meant there's no I in team..." "Oh...right..." Sweetie Belle said softly, blushing brightly. "Well, I'm still very excited!" exclaimed Pipsqueak. "And I will do my very best to help out my fellow Crusaders in their efforts to discover their special talent!" "How do you feel about slingshots?" asked Dinky. "I suppose they're alright," said Pipsqueak with some confusion. "Why do you ask?" Dinky and Berry Pinch merely smiled, grabbed the young colt, and ran out of the clubhouse laughing. The three former members were left there alone with each other. "We're still gonna do stuff together right?" asked Scootaloo, breaking the silence. "Of course we are," said Apple Bloom. "Why wouldn't we?" "Well, you got your apprenticeship with Hard Hat," continued Scootaloo. "Sweetie Belle has Spike..." "I'm not gonna spend every single day with Spike," Sweetie Belle interrupted. "And ah don't work every single day," said Apple Bloom. "Sides, we figured you'd be busy bein Rainbow Dash's daughter and becomin a big sister." "Being a daughter isn't exactly a job," said Scootaloo. "Plus the baby isn't due for a good while...I just don't wanna stop being friends..." Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle instantly embraced Scootaloo. "That could never happen," said Apple Bloom. "We've been through way too much together fer somethin like that to happen." "We may not be official Cutie Mark Crusaders anymore," began Sweetie Belle. "But we'll always be the best of friends." "So," began Scootaloo. "Best friends forever then?" The three then smiled at each other. "BEST FRIENDS FOREVER! YAY!"