This is how Apple Bloom, Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo (also known as Cutie Mark Crusaders) got their respective Cutie Mark.
For so long, they search for their Cutie Mark. They even created a club of their own just to search for them. But now, after some failured attempts, it is time for them to realize their true talents and get their Cutie Mark... with a little help from the pony who knows a lot about Cutie Marks and true talents: Purple Smoke, the General of Talent.
It was a beautiful day in Ponyville and the Cutie Mark Crusaders were in their treehouse for another meeting of their club.
Apple Bloom, who was at the tribune, beat with the hammer to begin the meeting.
“Hear ye, hear ye!” she exclamaid. “This meeting of tha Cutie Mark Crusaders is now in session! Who wants tah do roll-call?”
Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle exchanged a look and then the young pegasus replied:
“I'm pretty sure we're all here.”
“Yeah” Sweetie Belle said. “Apple Bloom, what's this all about?”
“Oh, nothin'...” the younger earth pony said, with a smile. “Except this letter from Babs Seed sayin' she's got her cutie mark!”
And showed a letter to her two friends.
“What?!” Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo asked at same time, excited, going to the edge of the tribune to see the letter better.
“She says it's a pair of scissors!” Apple Bloom said.
“So... she's good at cutting stuff?” Scootaloo asked, frowning.
“Of course!” Sweetie Belle said, arranging her mane in the same way Babs did hers. “She was always fussing with her bangs and tail! I'll bet she grows up to be a celebrity stylist!”
“But if she spends all her time cuttin' hair, who's gonna run tha Manehattan CMCs?” Apple Bloom asked, a little worried.
“Well, not Babs” Scootaloo answered, moving away a little from the tribune. “She can't be a Cutie Mark Crusader if she's already got her cutie mark.”
"Can you imagine how Babs must have felt when she got her Cutie Mark?" asked Sweetie Belle, approaching Scootaloo. "I bet she must have felt radiant!"
The excitement was such that Sweetie Belle’s horn produced small sparks.
"Yes, I can't wait to get mine" Scootaloo said.
"Me too" Sweetie Belle agreed.
"I don't know" Apple Bloom said, approaching her friends. "We've been looking for them for so long and we've experienced just about everything that we had to try to get our Cutie Marks."
"Probably not" Scootaloo said. "I mean, we should be good at something."
"Scootaloo is right" Sweetie Belle said. "We can't give up."
"I know, but..." Apple Bloom said, still with her uncertain tone. "And what will be of our club when we get our Cutie Marks? After all, we can't be the Cutie Mark Crusaders if we already have our Crusaders Cutie Marks."
"Well, I hadn't thought of that..." Scootaloo admitted.
"Don't worry, girls" Sweetie Belle said. "Whatever happens, we will always be friends and Crusaders of heart."
Those words from Sweetie Belle seemed to animate her two friends who smiled.
"That's the way I like to see my favorite fillies" a voice said.
They turned and saw Purple Smoke, who appeared in purple smoke.
"Purple Smoke!" the Crusades exclaimed at the same time, smiling.
"I decided to stop by to see how you're doing with your search for your Cutie Marks."
"Well, we didn’t get them yet" Apple Bloom said. "In other words, it's not good."
"Don't say that" Purple Smoke said. "Just think you’re trying new things."
"Yes, and thus it will only remain just what can lead us to our Cutie Mark" Sweetie Belle said.
"That's what you want to hear" Purple Smoke said. "You'll see, it will be worth it."
"It would be much easier if you could tell us what's our special talent" Sweetie Belle said, trying to use the same persuasive look her sister used to use.
"Nice try, my dear" Purple Smoke said to her. "But I'm not cheating on you about the Cutie Marks."
"At least give us a clue” Scootaloo said.
"You don't need it" Purple Smoke said. "Believe me when I tell you that it won’t take long until you find out in what you are good with."
And, having said that, he disappeared in smoke purple.
"He always says the same thing" Scootaloo grumbled. "If he wants to help, he could say something that makes sense."
"Scootaloo, let him be" Apple Bloom said. "We have tah admit that lookin’ fer our Cutie Marks at tha old way is much better."
That made Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo exchange a look and then they smile and nod with their heads, agreeing with Appe Bloom.
That night, a terrible storm arrived to Ponyville. Fortunately, as was a planned storm by the pegasi, all citizens were able to prepare themselves for it.
The next day, Apple Bloom woke up. As there was no school that day, she was planning on thinking about more ways to get her Cutie Mark with her inseparable friends.
However, when she came to the treehouse that served as their clubhouse, they saw that it was completely ruined. The storm had done immense damage to the treehouse. It was even worse than when Applejack showed it for the first time to her younger sister and her friends. Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo were equally shocked when they saw what had happened.
"I can't believe..." Scootaloo said.
"Our treehouse... is ruined" Sweetie Belle said.
"It's even worse than it was before Ah have restor’d it" Apple Bloom said.
"What do we do now?" Scootaloo asked. "We can't have our meetings of Cutie Mark Crusaders in a ruined treehouse."
"It seems that we have no other choice but to find another place to our meetings" Sweetie Belle said.
"Yeah, it seems not" agreed Apple Bloom.
But, in the end, they couldn't find the perfect place for their meetings. They could do the meetings in one of their bedrooms, but it wouldn’t be the same. That treehouse was special for them. It was more than a place where they used to discuss what to do to get their Cutie Marks. Finally, they returned to the treehouse, without having a new place for their meetings.
"And now, what do we do?" Sweetie Belle asked.
"Yeah, without the treehouse, we can't have our meetings" Scootaloo said.
"We can continue tah have our meetings, but it will not be tha same thin’" Apple Bloom said.
"Yeah" the other two said.
"I think I'm going home" Sweetie Belle said. "Rarity and Shadow Claw should be expecting me for dinner."
"Yeah, my parents also must be waiting for me" said Scootaloo.
And, after they said goodbye, Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo went home. Apple Bloom also stood up and, looking once again to the ruined treehouse, she sighed and prepared to leave.
"It's too bad what happened to your treehouse" a voice said.
Apple Bloom turned and faced Purple Smoke.
"It was very beautiful" he said.
"Purple Smoke, what are ya doin’ here?" Apple Bloom asked.
"I came to see how your search for your Cutie Marks was going" Purple Smoke said. "I think I became your fan after learning how much you three were committed to get your Cutie Mark."
"Yeah, well, we're not very committed right now" Apple Bloom said, diverting her gaze to the ground.
"Why?" Purple Smoke asked. "Because of that amount of wooden boards?"
"You don't understand" Apple Bloom said to Purple Smoke. "We spent a lot of good moments in that treehouse. It was there that we had many of our ideas. It was our special place."
"So, if it's so special, why don’t you rebuild it?" Purple Smoke asked.
"Don’t ya see how it is?" Apple Bloom asked. "It was pretty hard fer me tah renew it when Applejack gave it tah me and mah friends. Ah don't know if Ah can do tha same with tha treehouse in this state."
"Well, then I guess this treehouse is not that important, after all" Purple Smoke said. "Well, if it was important, I don't think you'd give it up."
He started walking away, but stopped and said:
"At least, that's what I think."
And, having said that, he turned into purple smoke and walked away, leaving Apple Bloom meditating on his words.
That night, Apple Bloom couldn't get to sleep because of what had happened that day. Moreover, Purple Smoke’s words kept echoing in his head. Was that treehouse really important to her and her friends? After all, none of them tried to tell the others to try to fix it.
But after Apple Bloom remembered all the times they spent there… All the laughs and all the ideas they had to get Cutie Marks… In addition, there was the fact that it was there that she, Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo made Babs Seeds’ initiation at the Cutie Mark Crusaders after she became their friend.
So Apple Bloom made a decision: she would restore the treehouse no matter what. She got out of bed and her room. She went to get the toolbox that she used to renovate the treehouse and then went to there. Once she got there, she contemplated the ruins before taking a hammer and address to the treehouse, determined to fix it.
The next day, Applejack entered in her sister’s room to wake her up.
"Good mornin’, little sis!" she exclaimed, upon entering. "Rise and shine, breakfast is almost ready!"
But she then noticed that Apple Bloom’s bed was empty.
"Apple Bloom?" Applejack asked. "Where are you?"
Failing to find her sister anywhere, Applejack began to get worried. She then decided to go see at the treehouse. Despite being ruined, Apple Bloom could be there. And, when she arrived, Applejack gasped with what she found.
The treehouse, that was where the Cutie Mark Crusaders used to meet, was completely repaired. It neither looked like it had been ruined by a storm.
"What in tarnation...?" Applejack asked, while approaching.
She headed to the door and opened it and then she saw her sister sleeping next to the tribune with a toolbox on the side. Applejack couldn't believe it. After all, it was her sister who had rebuilt the cabin. She approached her and said:
"Apple Bloom. Wake up, little sis."
Apple Bloom started waking up and, seeing her sister, she asked while she yawned and rubbed her eyes:
"Applejack, what is it?"
She then noticed where she was. Apple Bloom was equally or more surprised with the fact that the treehouse was repaired.
"Ah can't believe..." she said. "Ah did it... Ah did it! Ah repair’d tha treehouse."
"Yes, you did" Applejack said, while her sister jumped up and down with joy. "And Ah have tah admit, Apple Bloom. Ah never thought this treehouse could be restor’d again. Looks like mah little baby sister is quite talent’d in using a hammer."
"Ya think I'm talent’d?" Apple Bloom asked.
"Look what ya've done, Apple Bloom" Applejack said, making a gesture to the treehouse. "Don't you think this is proof enough?"
Apple Bloom looked around for the work she had just done. Applejack was right. Build and rebuild things was his real talent.
Suddenly, a light appeared briefly on her flank and, when Apple Bloom looked, she saw that there was her Cutie Mark: an apple on a hammer.
"Ah got mah Cutie Mark" Apple Bloom said, feeling the excitement growing inside of her. "AH GOT MAH CUTIE MARK! And it's beautiful! Ah can't wait tah show it tah mah friends. They will be so happy!"
"Not as happy as I am now, Apple Bloom" Applejack said, embracing Apple Bloom. "Nor as proud."
Apple Bloom returned the hug, sketching a smile. She was so happy to have finally achieved what she wanted so badly: a Cutie Mark.
Outside, watching the scene through the window of the treehouse, sitting on a branch of a tree, it was Purple Smoke. He smiled and said:
"Very well, Apple Bloom. You made it."
And then he turned into purple smoke and went away.
The news about Apple Bloom’s Cutie Mark quickly spread all over the village. Everypony was quite happy that the little filly finally got her Cutie Mark after several attempts. But who were happier were her family and her two inseparable friends.
When Apple Bloom showed up at school with her Cutie Mark, she soon found herself surrounded by her colleagues who were flabbergasted with the news.
"You're very lucky, Apple Bloom" Scootaloo said. "You were the first of us to get the Cutie Mark."
"Yes, and it's beautiful" Sweetie Belle said.
Everypony seemed share the same opinion. Feeling all that attention, Apple Bloom didn't know if she should be proud or embarrassed.
"Oh... thanks” she thanked.
"Well, well, well" a terribly familiar voice said. "But what do we have here."
Hearing that voice, all students have fallen silent and paved the way. It was Diamond Tiara, the bully in school who everypony was very afraid of (except maybe the Cutie Mark Crusaders), who approached, followed by her best friend and accomplice Silver Spoon.
"It seems that the leader of the blank flanks finally got her Cutie Mark" Diamond Tiara said, displaying her evil smile before the gruff look of Apple Bloom and her two best friends. "But I don't think it changes the fact that you're a loser."
"Yeah, just because you found your talent doesn't mean you're better than us" Silver Spoon said.
"Ah never thought Ah was better than anypony" Apple Bloom said. "Well, at least Ah'm so much better than ya when it comes tah character."
That comment made Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo provide laughs and some of their colleagues seemed to be holding back the laughter. Diamond Tiara, irritated by the reaction of her colleagues because the insult Apple Bloom made to her, she told her:
"Be careful, Apple Bloom. You may have your Cutie Mark, but I will always consider you a lower blank flank."
"And is there somepony ya don't treat it that way?" Apple Bloom replied, causing more laughter from their colleagues.
Diamond Tiara was getting irritated, but before she could say or do anything, the school bell began ringing, indicating students had to get in.
"It seems that luck is on your side" Diamond Tiara said, turning back and starting to move away. "Come on, Silver Spoon."
And the two annoying fillies moved away.
Apart from Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon, everypony were happy for Apple Bloom.
Despite having already won her Cutie Mark and technically no longer be part of the Cutie Mark Crusaders, Apple Bloom helped Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo in getting theirs, although their effort didn't bear fruit.
However, an event would change their luck.
When they were all in the classroom, Cheerilee said to her students:
"Everypony, before we start class, somepony have an announcement that you would like to hear."
"Who, Miss Cheerilee?" Sweetie Belle asked.
Before the teacher could say anything, somepony entered in the classroom, leaving a colorful trail. It was Rainbow Dash.
"Well, it's me, who would it be?" she said, in midair. "An announcement so important could only be announced by somepony even more important."
“Rainbow Dash!" Scootaloo exclaimed, full of excitement.
The other students also started getting excited, though not quite as excited as the young pegasus. If it was something involving Rainbow Dash, so it could only be something truly exciting.
"Okay, take it easy" Cheerilee said to her students. "Let Rainbow Dash saying what she has to say. You can save your excitement for later."
Thus, the students took silence and Cheerilee said to Rainbow Dash:
"Very well, Rainbow Dash, you can tell them."
"Well, as you all know, in a couple of days there will take place the Great Ponyville Fair" Rainbow Dash said to the students. "The las fair last didn't go exactly as expected because of the monster the Lord of Chaos sent, but this year the fair will be so awesome that it will compensate for the last one. And for that, I will put on a spectacular event: a race for young pegasi."
When they hear it, the pegasi in the class became excited, mainly Scootaloo.
"It will be a race where all the young pegasi who know how to use their wings can show what they are worth of" Rainbow Dash explained. "The race will go through the whole village and only has one rule: you can only use your wings as mover. Furthermore, this race may include other young Pegasi from other villages. In this way, not only the race will become more interesting, but you will be able to create new friendships. If you want to subscribe, you can speak with Cheerilee."
Scootaloo couldn't believe it. That was the ideal way to show what she could do to her favorite heroine. At the end of the class, she and others who were Pegasi signed up in the race. When she and her two best friends get out of the schoolhouse, she told them:
"I can't wait for the day of the Great Ponyville Fair. I'll make everypony eat my dust and leave Rainbow Dash proud of me."
"That's right, Scootaloo!" Apple Bloom exclaimed. "An’ we will support ya."
"You bet" Sweetie Belle said. "And when you cross the line in first place, our standing ovations will be heard in Canterlot."
"I don’t thing that’s going to happen" Diamond Tiara’s voice said.
The three friends turned and saw her with Silver Spoon.
"You will never be able to win the race, Scootaloo" Diamond Tiara said. "I don't even know why you bothered to sign up."
"What do you mean?" Scootaloo asked.
"Isn't it obvious?" Silver Spoon asked. "I think it's pretty obvious."
But then she turned to Diamond Tiara and asked her:
"What did you mean exactly?"
Diamond Tiara rolled her eyes before the slowness of thought from her friend and then she turned to Scootaloo, saying with her evil smile:
"What I mean is that you can never win, since you're the only Pegasus in all the village who can't even fly."
That nasty observation from Diamond Tiara seemed to have some effect on Scootaloo that started to get worried. Her friends, however, intervened to help her.
"An’ what does that have tah do with anythin’?" Apple Bloom asked.
"Scootaloo may not know fly very well, but there are many other ways she can do to win the race" Sweetie Belle said.
"Of course there are, if all competitors have cramps on the wings and are unable to lift themselves off the ground" Diamond Tiara said. "But you know, it's sad, because a pegasus of her age should know how to fly."
"Yeah, Pound Cake is just a baby and he already flies a lot better than her" Silver Spoon said.
The two bullies gave mock laughter, which made affect Scootaloo even more. And the two moved away.
"Those rascals..." said Apple Bloom.
"Don't listen to them, Scootaloo" Sweetie Belle said, turning to her friend Pegasus.
She then saw her looking distractedly to others pegasi of their class taking off to go home. She couldn't help but think that Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon could be right.
"Scootaloo” Sweetie Belle called. "Are you okay?"
Scootaloo looked briefly to her small wings and then replied:
"Yeah, I am. You know, I think I'd better go home. You know... to rest to the big day of practice tomorrow."
And, having said this, she quickly got her scooter and, after putting the helmet, she flapped her wings quickly and ripped on the scooter at high speed.
"But what just happened?" Sweetie Belle asked to Apple Bloom.
"Ah don't know, but Ah have a bad feelin’ about this” she replied.
The next day, as they had no lessons, the Cutie Mark Crusaders were planning to do what they do: find their Cutie Marks ... at least for most of them. As Scootaloo would train for the race, Sweetie Belle was the only left to get a Cutie Mark. She and Apple Bloom headed to the tree house.
"So do ya know what ya'll do tah get yer Cutie Mark?" Apple Bloom asked.
"Well, I have some ideas, but nothing concrete" she replied. "I just need to check out our list of everything we've done to not repeat anything. It is a pity that Scootaloo won't join us today."
"Yeah, but ya know how it is when she has an opportunity to impress Rainbow Dash" Apple Bloom said.
"Of course, she gets really obstinate" Sweetie Belle said. "I just hope what Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon said yesterday didn’t affected her."
"Don't worry, our Scootaloo is strong and will not let herself be carri’d away by what those two said" Apple Bloom assured.
They then arrived to the tree house and were surprised when they saw Scootaloo’s scooter by the ramp leading to the entrance of the tree house.
"Is that Scootaloo’s scooter?" Apple Bloom asked.
"What's she doing here?" Sweetie Belle asked. "I thought she was training."
And then they heard the sound of a loud crash and then a groan of pain they recognized.
"Ah think we're going tah find out" Apple Bloom said.
The two followed the sounds and then they saw Scootaloo. She went up to a branch of a tree and then she jumped, while trying to flap her wings. However, instead of moving foward, she simply fell.
"Scootaloo, are you okay?" Sweetie Belle asked, while she and Apple Bloom arrived to her edge.
"Yeah" she replied, while rising up, rubbing her head.
"But what are ya doin’?" Apple Bloom asked.
"What does it look like?" Scootaloo asked. "I'm trying to fly. You know, for the race."
"But we thought you'd use your scooter" Sweetie Belle said.
"I can't use it" Scootaloo said. “Rainbow Dash said I have to use my wings."
"But don’t ya use yer wings to move your scooter?" Apple Bloom asked. "Ah don't think that goes against the rule."
"I don't care" Scootaloo said. "There’s one thing I'm sure of. Flying is the only way to win the race. So, I'm going to practice until I get it. You can help me, if you want."
She gave a great boost to the front, while flapping the wings. Despite having been risen off the ground a few inches, she ended up falling. And she tried again.
Sweetie Belle turned to Apple Bloom and asked:
"Is this a good idea?"
They looked at Scootaloo who returned to fall once again and said:
"I just have to work four times harder."
"Probably not" Apple Bloom answered Sweetie Belle’s question. "But we are her friends, right?"
And so, Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle helped Scootaloo trying to fly, but it seemed like nothing would work, as the young pegasus just fell every time. Hours went by and the sun began to set, after another failed attempt, Scootaloo said to her friends:
"Come on, girls, once again!"
"We would like to help you, Scoots, but we're tired" Sweetie Belle said.
"Yeah, we skipp’d lunch and spent continuous hours tryin’ tah help ya tah fly" Apple Bloom said, while Sweetie Belle yawned. "We're exhaust’d."
Despite her frustration being influencing her to make her two friends to help her, her judgment and her heart said she should save her friends from more efforts. Scootaloo sighed and said to them:
"Okay, you can go. I'll keep training."
"Are you sure?" Sweetie Belle asked.
"Of course" Scootaloo said. "I can't let my pride drive you to exhaustion."
Uncertain, Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle traded looks, but eventually they went back home. Scootaloo, on the other hoof, remained there, still trying to fly, but always failing. Then, when the night had fallen, she let herself be carried away by tiredness and stopped the practice, saying:
"It's no use! I will never be able to fly."
She sat against a tree and began to imagine the look of disappointment that Rainbow Dash would have. She never should have signed up to the race, when she couldn't even fly for more than five seconds.
"Sorry, Rainbow Dash. Looks like you're not going to be proud of me after all."
And tears began to appear in her eyes.
"But what's with the long face?" a voice asked.
Scootaloo lifted her head and came across with Purple Smoke.
"Purple Smoke?" she asked, wiping the tears from her eyes. "What are you doing here?"
"I was just passing through, but then I heard your cry" Purple Smoke said, sitting by her side. "Can you tell me what's going on?"
"The thing is that I signed up for a race between pegasi when I can't even fly" Scootaloo said.
"Well, that's a problem, but I don't think it's a problem that deserves your tears" Purple Smoke said.
"Not when at the end I will disappoint everypony" Scootaloo said. "Mainly Rainbow Dash. I wanted to win this race so that she could feel proud of me. But it seems that I'm not going to do that."
"You know, Scootaloo, I think Rainbow Dash is not the problem" Purple Smoke said. "I think you’re the problem."
"What do you mean?"
"What I mean is that you know that, regardless of the result of the race tomorrow, Rainbow Dash will always feel proud of you, as long as you give your best. However, here you are, taking yourself to your limits just to do something for which you're not ready yet. So I gotta ask you, Scootaloo: why are you doing this?"
It was then that Scootaloo understood what Purple Smoke meant. She wasn't doing that for Rainbow Dash be proud of her. She was doing that to prove that Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon were wrong. She had left their nasty words to make her lose focus.
"You may not be able to fly like other pegasi, Scootaloo, but I'm sure you can overcome this limitation by using the skills you already have."
Then Scootaloo notice her scooter and realized what she should have done from the beginning.
"You're right, Purple Smoke" she said, getting up. "And that's exactly what I'll do."
And she walked away, going to pick up on her scooter and then moving away with it at high speed. Purple Smoke stood up and said, smiling:
"I'm really good at this."
And, having said that, he turned into a purple smoke and left.
The next day, everypony was immensely excited for the Great Ponyville Fair. Tents with games, food and drink were placed, including Pinkie Pie’s cupcakes tent (whose cupcakes were checked carefully by her in case they had again some poison that turns ponies into dangerous mutants).
But the pivotal moment that year was the race that Rainbow Dash was organizing. The participants were already doing heating and position themselves at the starting line. However, Rainbow Dash couldn't see her protégé, Scootaloo. She knew that the young pegasus had subscribed herself on the race, but she couldn't see her. Finding Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle, she went to them and asked:
"Does any of you know where Scootaloo is? The race is starting."
"No, we don't know" Sweetie Belle replied.
"Tha last time we saw her was durin’ her trainin’" Apple Bloom said.
"Ok, thanks" Rainbow Dash said, flying away.
"You don't think Scootaloo quit, do you?" Sweetie Belle asked to Apple Bloom.
"If she did, then it seems she is getting smarter" Diamond Tiara said, while she and Silver Spoon passed by Sweetie Belle and Apple Bloom. "But it's a shame. I really needed a good laugh during the race."
And she and Silver Spoon began laughing as they moved away. Apple Bloom, feeling her anger growing, tried to go after Diamond Tiara to teach her a lesson, but Sweetie Belle prevented her from doing so.
Rainbow Dash has returned to the starting line. The stands were already filled with ponies trying to watch the start of the race. The mare realized she had to start the race, with or without Scootaloo. She then said:
"Let's start the race!"
"Wait for me!" a voice exclaimed.
And so, much to the amazement of everypony, Scootaloo appeared with her scooter, advancing at high speed and stopping right on the starting line.
"Scootaloo!" Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle exclaimed at the stands, happy to see their friend.
Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon were disappointed to see that Scootaloo had come, but that does not discourage them, as they thought that she would lose.
"I'm sorry I had to come in on such short notice, but I had to make sure my scooter was ready" she said. "I hope I can use it."
"Since the mover is your wings, there's no problem" Rainbow Dash said, happy to see that Scootaloo was there to race. "All right, let's start the race. Competitors, take your places."
The young pegasi placed themselves in position, with Scootaloo putting one of her hooves at the base of her scooter.
"Get set..." Rainbow Dash said, while the young pegasi stretched their wings. "Go!"
And the race started with young pegasi taking off. Due to the fact that she had to raise the other hoof to go, Scootaloo ended up behind the others, but she soon started making up for the lost time. As the competition progressed around the town, Scootaloo started to surpass her adversaries one by one. Those who were watching the race during the course supported the participants, but soon most of these supports were for Scootaloo.
Finally, Scootaloo managed to reach the second position, but the finish line was next and the one who was at first was still a considerable distance away. Briefly, she thought she couldn't win. But then Scootaloo remembered the conversation she had with Purple Smoke and remembered what he said about using her skills to overcome her limitations.
Then, further, a few meters from the finish line where everypony cheered the participants who were coming, she saw a wooden board up against a house forming a ramp. That was her opportunity. Advancing as fast as she could, she went by that board and, giving impetus, she made a huge jump. All those who were watching were speechless, as she had given a jump so high that it looked like she was flying. This jump was so high that Scootaloo managed to pass above the opponent who was in front of her and take the first place in time to cross the finish line.
After she passed the finish line, everypony who were present rose to acclaim Scootaloo, and Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle were who acclaimed the most. Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon were the only ones not cheering, getting just quiet and with a bad face.
Scootaloo got off her scooter and said:
"I made it... I made it!"
"Yes, you made it" Rainbow Dash said, approaching with a little trophy. "I have to say, Scoots, I've never seen anypony do something so awesome... except for me, of course. And that jump was even more than awesome! No one can match you when it comes in using a scooter. Congratulations, you earned the victory with distinction... and also my respect and pride."
And she extended the trophy to Scootaloo who received it, thanking:
"Thank you, Rainbow Dash. That means a lot to me."
She looked at the trophy and she thought about everything she did to the win. Then she looked to her scooter. It was thanks to it that she managed to win. Purple Smoke was right. It was her skills in using that scooter that allowed her to overcome her limitations and win the race and Rainbow Dash respect.
Suddenly, a momentary light appeared on her flank and, when it disappeared, it left... a Cutie Mark: a scooter wheel in motion with a dust cloud and lightning behind.
"My Cutie Mark!" she exclaimed. "I got my Cutie Mark!"
"Yes, you got, kid" Rainbow Dash said, misaligning her mane. "Thanks to your efforts."
Scootaloo couldn't stop smiling and then she went to her friends who were happy to see that their friend had gotten her Cutie Mark.
With Apple Bloom and Scootaloo getting their Cutie Marks, Sweetie Belle became the only one of the Cutie Mark Crusaders with the flank in blank. However, this does not prevent her from keep trying with the help of her friends. But the truth was that they were out of ideas.
In the treehouse that served as their clubhouse, the three were seated behind a desk looking for new ideas, but it was being difficult.
"Ya could..." Apple Bloom started. " No, we've done that."
"I know, you can..." Scootaloo started. "No, we've done that too."
"Or… No, that won't work."
"What if... No."
"Oh, this is pointless!" Sweetie Belle exclaimed, frustrated, rising up. "We will never find my special talent."
"‘course we will, Sweetie Belle" Apple Bloom said, while she and Scootaloo arose.
"Yeah, you just have to believe you're going to discover it" Scootaloo said.
"It's easy for you to say" Sweetie Belle replied. "You already have your Cutie Marks."
Realizing what she had said and how she said it, the young unicorn became contrite and said:
"Sorry, girls, but this not getting my Cutie Mark thing is driving me crazy."
"Don't worry, we forgive you" Scootaloo said.
"An’ ya can believe that we will find what yer talent is so ya can get yer Cutie Mark" Apple Bloom said.
"Thank you, you are the best" Sweetie Belle thanked.
And the three shared a hug.
It was then that moment was interrupted with the door of their clubhouse being opened and Pipsqueak entering exclaiming, looking in trouble:
“Cutie Mark Crusaders! Help!”
“What's wrong, Pipsqueak?” Apple Bloom asked.
“I'm running for student pony president” Pipsqueak explained, while he approached her friends. “I was hoping you three would be my campaign managers.”
Upon hearing that, Apple Bloom turned to Sweetie Belle and told her:
“Sweetie Belle, we've never tri’d gettin' our cutie marks in campaign managin'!” Apple Bloom realized. “Do ya know what this means?”
That made Sweetie Belle smile and said:
“That I can try to get my Cutie Mark in campaign managing!
Excited, the three Crusaders exclaimed:
“Yeah! Hoof!”
The three bumped their hooves. Pipsqueak tried to join them, but he couldn't get there and so Sweetie Belle helped him, levitating him with her magic.
The next day, at school, the Crusaders prepared everything to help Pipsqueak in that day of elections for the class president. When they arrived, Sweetie Belle dragged a crate to be Pipsqueak’s podium and Scootaloo put him on there. So, to call the attention of the other foals, Apple Bloom asked to Pipsqueak, using a loud tone of voice:
“So, Pip, how would ya help tha school if ya were elect’d student pony president?”
“Our playground equipment took quite a beating during the invasion of those witches” Pisqueak answered, while his colleagues approached, interested.
He was right. The playground was greatly mistreated. The accents of the swings almost fell and the merry-go-round no longer ran.
“If I'm voted in as student pony president, I'll go to the school board and right this wrong!” Pipsqueak announced.
That made his colleagues start acclaim him. But it was then that somepony stood out from the crowd, a pony that was not very nice to her schoolmates: Diamond Tiara, followed by Silver Spoon. She said, with her usual arrogant tone, approaching:
“Well, I think that's a ridiculous waste of money. It's just like when Twist proposed to repair the window that the Krylock mutants destroyed.”
She approached Twist and said, while making her feel uncomfortable, since Diamond Tiara was rather intimidating:
“She just wanted to repair it like a plain old schoolhouse window.”
She approached another colleague filly, saying turned to her, who was making a nervous smile:
“But you all know voting for me was the best choice because I convinced the school board to give that window visual appeal.”
And she pointed to the window in question that had the image of herself.
“'Course, it doesn't hurt that her mother Spoiled Rich is president of tha school board” Apple Bloom whispered to Pipsqueak.
“Exactly!” Silver Spoon exclaimed, having heard what she said, approaching. “Which is why when Diamond Tiara is voted student pony president, the school will be putting a statue of her in the center of our schoolyard!”
Diamond Tiara pulled Silver Spoon’s braid to turn her to her and told her between the teeth in a liver complaint form:
“Silver Spoon! That was my big announcement for when I won!”
“I was only trying to help” Silver Spoon defended herself, a little hurted by Diamond Tiara’s words.
“I don't need that kind of help!” Diamond Tiara answered, using the same tone.
Apple Bloom turned to all her colleagues and told them:
“Haven't we all had enough of Diamond Tiara?”
“Do we really need a big statue of her?” Scootaloo asked.
“Especially where our playground equipment should be?” Sweetie Belle asked.
That made everypony think of their words and, much to Diamond Tiara’s irritation, they were agreeing. Scootaloo helped Pipsqueak to put himself on top of the horseshoe-shaped arch that was in there and he announced:
“A vote for Pip is a vote for the playground!”
“A vote for Diamond Tiara is a vote for more Diamond Tiara!” Diamond Tiara exclaimed, putting herself in front of the arch.
And the Crusaders started singing, climbing the arc and also putting himself on the verge of Pipsqueak:
“It's time to make a change/This is our chance/Don't be afraid to do what's right”
They arose Pipsqueak and exclaimed:
“He's it! Vote for Pip!”
They put him down and sang, coming down from the arch and walking behind Pip:
“We got an opportunity/To have fun again/A vote for Pip, and you can join the fight/It's time for a new leader/It's time to make a change/We're here to fight for what we believe/Vote for Pip!/ It's finally time we beat her/And play a better game/'Cause when we vote together/There's nothing that we can't achieve”
Pipsqueak kicked the ball from the tetherball which was caught by Diamond Tiara who, not liking what they were getting, began to sing, telling to all her colleagues:
“I don't believe what I am hearing/I'm the only one you should be cheering”
She then noogied Pipsqueak singing:
“Pipsqueak? Try Pip's weak! Don't you think?”
Then, she returned to walk among her colleagues, singing:
“But a diamond is perfection/It's natural selection/So your vote better be for me, not the weakest link”
“We'll let tha votin' decide!” Apple Bloom answered harshly.
Diamond Tiara started walking and turning to her colleagues with her wicked air, singing:
"Everypony has their little secrets"
She turned to one of her colleagues and told him, making him uncomfortable:
"I know you do."
Then she turned to another colleague, passing the shell for your face full of dread, singing:
"A vote for me will help you keep them safe."
She then approached a colleague filly who was lifting the entire school to pick up the ball that was underneath and told her:
"Like your creepy super strength!"
Then she went through another colleague filly with a long mane and tail and sang, while passing the hoof by her mane:
"Or your mane extension/A little thing I won't mention"
Finally, she turned to another of her colleagues, this time a colt with big teeth, singing:
"Or those freakish large teeth in your face!"
"Come on now, ponies, don't listen tah her!" Apple Bloom exclaimed to everypony.
And she and the other Crusaders began walking with Pip by their side, singing:
"You've gotta vote for change/It's time for a new leader/End all the tyranny/Vote now and we can beat her
Getting the time to vote, all the foal began to go vote in the voting booth with Cheerilee on the entrance to make sure that the foals don't vote more than once, while Pip and the Crusaders, on the porch of the school, encourage the others to vote correctly, singing:
"It's now another day/And we believe in what's right/Vote for Pip!/Vote for Pip!/Our victory is in sight"
Realizing that everyone was voting for Pipsqueak, Diamond Tiara said:
"Stop! Everypony who hasn’t voted, listen up!"
And she began to sing, while walking:
"Pip makes promises he can't keep/But I can do more"
She turned to a filly who was clumsy with a lot of books and I told her, while extending to her a bookbag:
"You could really use a new bookbag."
But when she went to get it, Diamond Tiara simply walked away from her and continued to sing:
"'Cause I'll make things happen/That none of you here can afford /To do, like, ever!"
She put in the mouth of a plump colt some candy, singing:
"Wouldn't you like a little something sweet?"
She gave a parasol to a filly, saying:
"Here's a parasol to hide you from the heat"
While walking, she went through by Mash Buttom, making the propeller of his propeller beanie hat rotate what made it fly, singing:
"Who says that I can't be nice?/But first there's one thing/An itsy-bitsy little string/And voting for me is the price"
And she pointed to one of the posters with her picture.
It was then that Silver Spoon approached her and sang:
"I've a tiny suggestion/That you should be aware/You could probably win this election/If you show them all you real..."
But before she could finish what she was saying, Diamond Tiara replied:
"I don't recall asking you to speak!"
That made everypony to gasp. Silver Spoon became disturbed by what Diamond Tiara said. With that, Sweetie Belle tell to her, addressing to everypony:
"Well, if that's how you treat your best friend, then I choose Pipsqueak!"
This time, with the help of all, the Crusaders sang, while they and Pipsqueak got down from the school porch and started passing by their colleagues who were saying Vote for Pip:
"Stand strong and don't be afraid, ponies/Let's free ourselves from the past"
They then began helping Cheerilee with the colleagues who were going to vote, singing, while everyone said Vote for Pip:
"We'll let honor win out against the tyranny/And make a change that will last"
They returned to walk through the schoolyard, with the Crusaders singing and walking behind Pipsqueak, who was being looked with admiration by his colleagues, including Silver Spoon who seemed to start to sympathize with him:
"It's time for a new leader/It's time to make a change/We're here to fight for what we believe"
"Vote for Pip!" everypony sang.
Pipsqueak then was raised in the teeter-totter by one of his colleagues to be seen by everypony, while the Crusaders sang:
"It's finally time we beat her/And play a better game/'cause when we vote together/There's nothing that we can't achieve"
"Vote for Pip!" everypony sang, ending the song.
After a while where Cheerilee was counting the votes from the ballot box, she got out of the schoolhouse to announce the results to her students:
“The votes have been counted! The student pony president is... Pipsqueak!
Diamond Tiara, who was immensely confident about her victory, was shocked when she heard the result.
“What?!” she asked.
Pipsqueak, on the other hoof, was immensely happy, as well as his colleagues who had rid of Diamond Tiara. With this, Apple Bloom said to her two best friends:
“Oh, mah gosh, Crusaders! Pip won!”
“I couldn't have won without the hard work of my campaign managers, the Cutie Mark Crusaders!” Pipsqueak congratulated.
“Campaign manager cutie marks!” Sweetie Belle exclaimed.
She looked to her flank, but there was no Cutie Mark.
“Nothing?” Sweetie Belle asked. “I can’t believe this.”
“Don’t worry, Sweetie, ya’ll get eventually yer Cutie Mark” Apple Bloom said to her friend.
“Guess you're not as good as you thought, blank flank” Diamond Tiara said to Sweetie Belle, turning then to Cheerilee. “In fact, I demand a recount!”
“Am I?” Silver Spoon asked back “'Cause I tried to help by mentioning your surprise statue, and suddenly I wasn't even allowed to speak! You could have actually won this election if you just listened to me. You wanna know how? Sorry. I'm not allowed to speak.”
And with that, she boldly closed Diamond Tiara’s open mouth, who was still in shock that Silver Spoon turned her back to her.
With the fact that she has lost the only friend she had and have lost her status as class president, Diamond Tiara let out a scream of rage and went off, heading inside the schoolhouse, closing door with force. Everypony looked at Silver Spoon who said:
"What? I don't have to follow her drum anymore."
And with that, she pulled away. Pipsqueak also moved away and so Sweetie Belle, who was surprisingly feeling sorry for Diamond Tiara, said to her two loyal friends:
"I know Diamond Tiara's been pretty awful, but... shouldn't we probably make sure she's okay? Just because she's never cared about anypony else's feelings, it doesn't mean we shouldn't care about hers."
"Ya're kiddin’, right?" Apple Bloom asked. "Sweetie Belle, have ya forgotten everything she did against us. By tha way, have ya forgotten that she just insult’d ya even now? "
"I know, but..." Sweetie Belle started.
"Don't worry about Diamond Tiara, Sweetie Belle" Scootaloo said. "She will be fine. She's like cockroaches, as much as we try, we can't get rid of her."
But Sweetie Belle couldn't help but feel that she should do something for Diamond Tiara. After all, she lost the only friend she had.
With the election over, the students returned to their classes. When the class was almost over, Cheerilee told to the foals:
"Listen, please. In order to evaluate your work as a team, I'm going to ask you to do groups of two or three to do a little task. I know it's boring, but it must be done. So, I want you to do it."
"We are together, right?" Apple Bloom asked to her two friends.
"Of course" Scootaloo answered.
But before Sweetie Belle answer, she looked to Diamond Tiara. She saw her trying to talk with Silver Spoon, but before she could say anything, her former best friend drove up to a group of two that was close and they accepted her. That left Diamond Tiara disappointed. It was then that Sweetie Belle had an idea.
"Actually, I have another group in mind for me" Sweetie Belle said to her friends.
"You have?" Apple Bloom and Scootaloo asked, confused.
And Sweetie Belle headed to Diamond Tiara and asked her:
"What do you want, blank flank? Did you came to laugh at my misery?"
"Actually, I was wondering if you wanted to be my partner in the task" Sweetie Belle said.
"What?!" Diamond Tiara, Apple Bloom and Scootaloo asked at the same time.
"Why should I work with you?" Diamond Tiara asked, crossing the hooves and turning her face.
"Well, I guess you don't have a choice" Sweetie Belle answered.
Diamond Tiara realized she was right, what was sad, and she sighed and said, returning to her arrogant tone:
"Do however you want. But we do things my way. Oh, and you’ll make the task at your house."
"As you wish" Sweetie Belle said.
And then the school bell rang and students started getting out. Diamond Tiara addressed also to the exit. Apple Bloom and Scootaloo approached Sweetie Belle and the former asked:
"Sweetie Belle, are you crazy?"
"Why did you invite Diamond Tiara to work with you?" Scootaloo asked.
"If I hadn't done it, Miss Cheerilee certainly would stick her to another group" Sweetie Belle said. "And I think, at this point, things would not be easy, nor for her or anypony else."
"Yes, but..." Apple Bloom started.
"Don't worry, I can handle her" Sweetie Belle said, confident.
Diamond Tiara appeared at the entrance and told to Sweetie Belle:
"Hey, blank flank, hurry up, I don't have all day."
And she left. Sweetie Belle sighed and said:
"I think."
After leaving school, Sweetie Belle and Diamond Tiara began heading to Carousel Boutique. While they were walking, Sweetie Belle asked to Diamond Tiara:
"So, Diamond Tiara, may I ask why you want to do the task at my house? Well, technically we're going to my sister's, but you got it."
"I don't want your filthy hooves of a blank flank messing my beautiful home" Diamond Tiara said.
"Yes, but..." Sweetie Belle started.
But she didn’t finish, because suddenly Diamond Tiara grabbed her and took her to the nearest corner, just in time to prevent the mare who was getting out of the store they were passing from seeing her. She was an earth pony with pale, grayish pink coat, a mane with two shades of moderate magenta and dark heliotrope and strong opal eyes. She had a diamond ring as Cutie Mark and a particularly upturned muzzle. She wore an expensive blouse and a gold necklace. She was Spoiled Rich, Diamond Tiara's mother, whose attitude was still more arrogant and futile than her daughter’s.
"Hello, Diamond Tiara" she said.
"Hi, mom" her daughter greeted her.
"I hope all went well with the elections at school" Spoiled Rich said.
Hearing her mention the elections, Diamond Tiara adopted a forlornly air and said:
"Well, you know..."
“Diamond Tiara, why are you making that face?” Spoiled Rich said, in a reproving way. “That is not the face of a winner.”
“Because… I didn’t win” Diamond Tiara confessed.
“What?!” Spoiled Rich asked, shocked. “You mean I hefted all these party supplies to celebrate nothing?!”
And she pointed to her maids who were carrying party products, one of which was trying to carry a large stone statue of Diamond Tiara.
“Sorry, mother” Diamond Tiara apologized, without looking to her mother.
“It's bad enough you lost to that transplant from Trottingham, but imagine if you'd lost to one of those blank flanks” Spoiled Rich said. “As a Rich pony, you must always think of your social standing.”
Fancy Pants and Fleur dis Lee passed nearby and Spoiled Rich waved to them, making a false smile. She then dropped it and then said to her daughter coldly:
“That starts here in Ponyville and reaches all over Equestria. Don't ever forget that, Diamond Tiara. Ever!”
Sweetie Belle, who had been watching how Diamond Tiara's mother treated her, was shocked by such a vision. She finally understood the reason for Diamond Tiara treat the others so badly.
Spoiled Rich pulled away and Sweetie Belle came out of her hiding place.
"Wow, your mom is horrible" she said. "No wonder you treat the others as you treat."
"It's not like I have a choice" Diamond Tiara said. "After all, it is my duty to follow her hoofsteps."
And, taken by the relief of finally share her pain with somepony, Diamond Tiara began singing while Sweetie Belle listened, accompanying her while they walked:
“If I'm a diamond/Then why do I feel so rough?/I'm as strong as a stone/Even that's not enough/There's something jagged in me/And I've made such mistakes/I thought that diamonds were hard/Though I feel I could break/Would you believe/That I've always wished I could be somepony else?/Yet I can't see/What I need to do to be the pony I want to be”
Seeing nearby Mr. and Mrs. Cake with their children, Pound and Pumpkin, and seeing how the two parents treated their children with love and affection, Diamond Tiara continued to sing:
“I've been told my whole life/ What to do, what to say/Nopony showed me that/There might be some better way/And now I feel like I'm lost/I don't know what to do/The ground is sinking away/I'm about to fall through/Would you believe/That I've always wished I could be somepony else?/ Yet I can't see/What I need to do to be the pony I want to be/To be the pony I want to be”
Diamond Tiara ended the song and then Sweetie Belle, who understood her pain now, said:
"Now, I realize that you want to change. You just don't know how. But, you know what, I think I can help you."
"How?" Diamond Tiara asked.
"I can show you how to figure out how to change" Sweetie Belle said. "After all, that's what friends are for."
"Friends?" Diamond Tiara asked. "Please, we were never friends."
"But we can be now" Sweetie Belle said, smiling, hoping that Diamond Tiara accepted her friendship.
"I'm sorry, but I don't think that's possible" Diamond Tiara answered, starting to take again her arrogant tone. "Furthermore, even if I accepted your help, what I don't want to, I don't think other ponies would believe in the change. It is best to leave things as they are."
"But..." Sweetie Belle started.
"Let's get this straight, okay?" Diamond Tiara said aggressively. "Remember that I said that I was the one who dictated the rules in our cooperation. So, I say that, after we're done with this task, we'll return to be the worst enemies, understood?"
Sweetie Belle nodded and Diamond Tiara continued the path towards Boutique Carousel. Despite the cruelty in Diamond Tiara’s words, Sweetie Belle wouldn't give up trying to help her.
The next day, after class, the Cutie Mark Crusaders left together the schoolhouse and Apple Bloom asked:
"Do you want to take some shakes at Sugarcube Corner?"
"I'm in" Scootaloo said.
"I’m not" Sweetie Belle said. "I have to take care of the task with Diamond Tiara."
"Seriously?" Scootaloo asked. "You're going to trade us for her again?"
"Diamond Tiara is not that bad, really" Sweetie Belle said. "Besides, the sooner we finish, the faster our forced friendship ends, right? Hey, don't you mind that we go to the treehouse? Don't get me wrong, it's just because my room in my house is being painted and Rarity and Shadow Claw turned Boutique Carousel in their love nest."
"What about her house?" Scootaloo asked.
"As if you have never met Diamond Tiara’s mother" Sweetie Belle answered.
"Do however you want, Sweetie Belle" Apple Bloom said. "You know where to find us."
And she and Scootaloo moved away and, when Sweetie Belle saw Diamond Tiara getting out of school, she told her:
"Diamond Tiara, I was thinking that we could continue with what we were doing yesterday" Sweetie Belle said.
"Well, if I have to" Diamond Tiara said. "It is clear that, thanks to you and your dear friends, I don't have any important class president business to attend to or anything."
"That sounds like a yes…" Sweetie Belle said, smiling awkwardly.
And so, she took Diamond Tiara to the Cutie Mark Crusaders clubhouse. Once they got there, Diamond Tiara looked around and then she approached the list of everything that the Crusaders had done, dropping her saddlebags and putting them in the corner, asking:
“So, do you just sit around here plotting out different ways to try and get your Cutie Mark?”
“Actually, yeah” Sweetie Belle answered, always smiling.
“You are...” Diamond Tiara started, making then a more sad face “really lucky.”
“I am?” Sweetie Belle asked, schocked to hear Diamond Tiara saying something like that.
“Yeah, you get to explore all these options, learning who you really are before you're stuck with something you don't understand” Diamond Tiara answered.
“I can’t believe you don’t know what your Cutie Mark means” Sweetie Belle said.
“I knew that… once” Diamond Tiara said. “But I ended up forgetting.”
Sweetie Belle wanted to say something to cheer Diamond Tiara up, but then she heard the Apple Bloom’s voice calling her from the outside:
"Sweetie Belle!"
The unicorn filly opened the door and saw her and Scootaloo.
"What's wrong?" she asked.
"Pip is in trouble" Scootaloo said.
“Tha school board didn't approve his request fer tha new playground equipment!” Apple Bloom said.
“Why not?” Sweetie Belle asked.
“There's no money in the budget” Scootaloo answered.
“We need tah help him find a solution” Apple Bloom said.
“Don't worry” Sweetie Belle said. “Just let me end the things here. I see you at school.”
“Okay” the other two said, moving away after that.
Diamond Tiara, having heard that, approached with her evil face and said:
“Oh, I already have a solution! Our new student pony president is gonna be kicked out of office, and I'll be reinstated!”
And, having said that, she started running, starting to go to school. Realizing what she meant, Sweetie Belle said:
"Give up, Sweetie Belle, get out of my way/Those ponies need to know the truth/And they'll hear it from me"
In turn, Sweetie Belle sang while chasing her:
"Stop. Diamond Tiara, this is not the way/You know you're better than this hostility"
Facing with a stallion carrying a cart full of apples, Diamond Tiara overthrew the cart to block Sweetie Belle’s path and continued singing:
"You don't even know me at all/Don't understand the meaning of my fall"
She then passed by her parents who were fraternizing with ponies of the upper class, singing, while her parents looked at her with disapproving stares, mainly her mother:
"What my family would think if I ever/Fail at anything"
She continued to run through the village, while trying to outwit Sweetie Belle, singing:
"I'm a diamond – that means you'll never break/No matter what be the cost of the path I take/Whatever I have to do to win in the end"
It was then that Sweetie Belle began to appear in front of her singing, while Diamond Tiara turned on and continued to run in both times:
"Stop! This is not the answer/ Wait! And it's plainly seen/Listen! You can redeem yourself/But by helping others, not by being mean”
Sweetie Belle, placing herself in front of Diamond Tiara again, started running backwards, while singing:
"I know you want friends who admire you/You want to be the star with all the power too/But there's a better way, there's a better wa-a-ay”
She then continued to run, but this time alongside Diamond Tiara, singing, while the earth filly listened and began to meditate in her actions and in her real talent:
"There's so much more still left to/Learn about yourself/See the light that shines in you/We know you can be somepony else"
Coming to a fork, Sweetie Belle put herself there, singing while pointing to the shining path that moved way from the school, instead of the dark path that would take her there:
"You can stop right now/And try another start/You'll finally free yourself from the dark/And see the light/And see the light of your cutie mark"
However, despite all the doubts that she was having, Diamond Tiara chose the path leading to the school where Apple Bloom, Scootaloo, Cheerilee, Pipsqueak, Silver Spoon and all the others were. Once she got there, everypony turn to her and Diamond Tiara announced:
"Everypony, I have an announcement! "
Sweetie Belle, getting there, couldn't believe it. Diamond Tiara was about to continue the same dark path she was.
"Diamond Tiara, think hard about the choice you're making right now!" Sweetie Belle appealed. "You can be a better pony!”
Diamond Tiara was actually hesitating in regaining her title of class president using the petty and cruel methods that her mother taught her. Then she heard the front door of the schoolhouse opening and Spoiled Rich appeared, saying:
"Diamond Tiara! I just happened to be here for the school board meeting, and this is what I see when we adjourn?”
She approached her daughter saying, referring then to Sweatie Belle:
"My daughter associating with confused, insignificant lowlifes? Socializing with her kind is not how you move up in Equestria.”
She started walking away saying:
"Come, Diamond Tiara!"
In that moment of truth, Diamond Tiara chose the path that she wanted to follow and not the one her mother wanted her to follow.
"No, mother!"
That made Spoiled Rich turn to her and ask:
“Excuse me?!”
“You've spent your life acting like a high horse and raised me to follow in your hoofprints” Diamond Tiara said to her mother, approaching her. “At first I thought this was fine, but then I finally realized I wanted something you don't have… friends!”
Those words from Diamond Tiara left everypony speechless, mainly because she was challenging his own mother, who she used to obey without questioning. Spoiled Rich was also quite shocked by that, but she kept her composure and said firmly:
“That's enough, Diamond Tiara! Step away from that blank flank!”
“This blank flank’s name is Sweetie Belle and she is my friend!” Diamond Tiara said, looking with a sincere smile to Sweetie Belle and then turning back to her mother. “You need to stop calling her such mean and hurtful names! She is working harder to get her Cutie Marks than anypony I've ever seen and the other Cutie Mark Crusaders also worked hard to get theirs! And she will get it exactly when she discover her true talent, which I guarantee will be amazing!”
Diamond Tiara approached her mother, who didn't even know what to say before what her daughter said, and asked her:
"Now, will you please deliver this to father?"
And she extended to her with the mouth a piece of paper.
“Yes, of course, dear...” Spoiled Rich answered, still affected by her daughter’s words, taking the paper with her mouth and moving away.
Diamond Tiara then turned to Sweetie Belle and told her:
“I have to thank you, Sweetie Belle. Obviously I've known since I got my cutie mark that my talent is getting other ponies to do what I want. I just asked my father if he could donate the money for the new playground equipment!”
That left Cheerilee and the students very happy and they began to talk to each other. Apple Bloom and Scootaloo, on the other hoof, were very confused.
"What just happened?" Apple Bloom asked.
"Did we get in some parallel world where everyone acts differently?" Scootaloo asked.
Sweetie Belle, approaching her best friends, told them:
"Let's just say that Diamond Tiara finally found herself."
Seeing the confused look of her friends, Sweetie Belle said:
"I’ll explain later."
Diamond Tiara approached Pipsqueak that momentarily feared that she was going to do something, but it didn't happen and Diamond Tiara said:
"I knew you were worried for a second there, weren't you? HA! Well, I think it's all going to work out just fine, Mister President!"
And she winked her eye, something that made Pipsqueak smile. She then began to walk, singing, while passing by her colleagues who started to follow her:
"We'll build a playground/For all of us to enjoy/So full of games/There's enough for each girl and boy/I want to help and do/Everything that I can/I'm here to show you I changed/Listen up, here's the plan"
When the stallion who brought everything to the new play park arrived, Diamond Tiara said, while taking him to the place of the old playground:
"Bring it in! That's right, keep it coming!"
She then approached the filly with immense strength and asked her:
"Hey there, you with the amazing strength. Can you help them move that merry-go-round across the lawn? "
She pointed to two colleagues who were trying to drag the damaged merry-go-round. The filly with super-strength got to there and easily lifted the merry-go-round, starting to take it.
"Thank you so much!" Diamond Tiara thanked.
She then turned to the colt with big teeth and asked him:
"And you with the super teeth, we need you to help with that teeter-totter."
He then went to the teeter-tooter that Twist was trying to take up, grabbing it with his teeth and lifting it easily.
"You got it!" Diamond Tiara said. "That's the spirit!"
Diamond Tiara continued to sing, while all her colleagues cooperated to build the playground:
"There's so much I can do/To help everypony else/I see the light that shines in me/I know I can be my better self/I can free the past/'cause now the future's bright for me"
Silver Spoon was finding difficult to fix the fence of the playground, but Diamond Tiara helped her, while singing and making up with her:
"My cutie mark has set me free/To do what's right and be the pony I want to be/And be the pony I want to be!"
The playground was finished and Diamond Tiara finished the song, while sliding on the new slide:
"And be the pony I want to be!"
Cheerilee and the other students went to Diamond Tiara, praising her for all the work she had done.
While they saw the way how Diamond Tiara was being praised, Apple Bloom told to Sweetie Belle:
"I guess you were right, Sweetie Belle. Diamond Tiara is not that bad."
"Yes, and thanks to you, I don't think she will come back to torment our life anyone" Scootaloo said.
"I just realized that a pony acts the way he or she acts for a reason" Sweetie Belle said. "When I realized why she was so mean, I just had to show her that she could follow another path. But you know what, this day belongs to Diamond Tiara, so let's go congratulate her."
And Sweetie Belle went to congratulate Diamond Tiara and Apple Bloom and Scootaloo followed her.
Watching the scene from a distance, were Purple Smoke and Melody. He asked to Melody:
"So, what did you think of it?"
"She has talent" Melody said. "The way she convinced that filly in following a new path through music was quite interesting. She has a lot of potential. But tell me, Purple Smoke, why are you asking me for help? Is the great General of Talent losing his own talent?"
"You can say what you want, my dear sister, you're so much better than me in music, I'm not afraid to admit that. That's why I think you're perfect to help Sweetie Belle."
"Well, then I accept the challenge" Melody said. "That's up to me, that filly will find her true talent for music."
A few days passed since Diamond Tiara discovered the true meaning of her Cutie Mark and began to change her attitude. Thanks to Sweetie Belle, the weight that was in her heart was gone and Diamond Tiara didn't feel so relieved since long time.
During a class, Cheerilee took her students to the Ponyville Theater, where, upon entering, students began to sit in the front seats.
"Does anyone know why Miss Cheerilee brought us to the theater?" Diamond Tiara, while she sat next to Sweetie Belle, who sat next to Apple Bloom, who sat next to Scootaloo.
"No, no clue" Sweetie Belle answered.
"Will we see some play?" Apple Bloom asked. "Ah hope so."
"I don't know" Scootaloo replied. "Normally, plays are boring."
"I don't think that" Sweetie Belle said. "Actually, I love theater. Mainly musicals and operas. Of course this can be my sister's influence."
"My mother used to take me to operas" Diamond Tiara said. "Honestly, she just did that to hang out with ponies of the upper classes. She really doesn't like opera, but I loved the dresses and the way they sing."
"I just hope there's some famous actor" Silver Spoon said, sitting next to Diamond Tiara. "Maybe he or she will act in person for us."
And so Cheerilee got up to the stage and the students stand in silence, trying to hear what she had to say.
"Well, I bet you all want to know why we're here" Cheerilee said. "The truth is that a very special pony decided to do a little play here in our village. But I think it's best to let our guest do the honors. My dear students, please, welcome...
And then an orange burst of light appeared and Melody appeared, exclaiming:
"Me!"
And everypony started clapping Melody’s entrance.
"I can't believe!" Sweetie Belle exclaimed. "It's Melody, the General of Music."
"What's she doin’ here?" Apple Bloom asked. "Ah thought she was in tha Light Kingdom."
"Thank you" Melody thanked to the foals. "Thank you very much. That is what we call a big entrance. How do I know? Because I’m the General of Music and I’m here to teach you all about entrances, exits and everything in between, because we are putting on a play.”
“What do you mean with ‘we’?” Scootaloo asked.
“I mean that you, students of Ponyville Schoolhouse, will perform to your town a play of mine called Hello, Daisy” disse Melody.
“But you’re the General of Music, why do you want to make a play?” Silver Spoon asked.
“Because it’s not any kind of play: it’s a musical” Melody answered. “It talks about a young parrot searching for a runaway sister.”
Melody made some papers appear and said then:
“Now, who wants to be on this play about a parrot on a mission of love?”
And so almost all students erected the hooves and said they wanted to participate.
"Wow, they usually aren't so hands-on" Cheerilee commented, dropping a laugh.
"Well, I guess there's nothing like a good play to get up the motivation" Melody said to Cheerilee.
"I think you're right, Melody" the teacher agreed.
Melody then turned to the young foals and walking off the stage to get closer to them and starting to give the ones corresponded to the characters roles, saying:
“Try-outs will be on Friday, by morning, right here, on this very stage. To try-out, you must perform a song from the play”
Diamond Tiara and Scootaloo then lifted their hooves and Melody gave them a copy of the musics to be performed.
“And for those who don’t want to be in the play, you can help put on the play” Melody said. “I already have Rarity, the top designer of Ponyville, designing the costumes. But we need somepony to be in charge of make-up.”
“Oh, I love make-ups” Silver Spoon said, raising her hoof.
“Excelent” Melody said, giving her a paper. “Backgrounds painting?”
“Me!” Apple Bloom exclaimed, raising her hoof and receiving a paper.
“Fabulous!” Melody exclaimed. “I will take care of some special effects with my magic, but I need some help with helping those who can’t fly to fly, if they end up with winged characters.”
“Oh, we want that!” Snips exclaimed, while he and Snails raised their hooves, receiving some papers from Melody.
“I don’t know why, but now I hope my character doesn’t need to fly” Scootaloo whispered to Apple Bloom who dropped a laugh.
After having delivered the papers, all the students were dismissed and they all left the theater.
"Look at all the colors Melody wants me to get" Apple Bloom said. "I think it's best to prepare them."
And she walked away.
"And I have to see what kind of makeup I will use for each character" Silver Spoon said. "It’s better start practicing."
And she walked away too.
"I just hope to do well in the try-outs" Diamond Tiara said. "These songs seem to be very complicated."
“If you want, I can help you pick a song and practicing” Sweetie Belle said.
“Really?” Diamond Tiara asked.
“Sure, why not?” Sweetie Belle. “Like I said, I love theatre. Scootaloo, do you want to join us.”
“Nope, I prefer to practice alone” Scootaloo said. “I don’t want to stun you with my talent.”
That made Diamond Tiara and Sweetie Belle drop a laugh and the latter said:
“Okay, as you want.”
Scootaloo then moved away and Diamond Tiara said:
“You can come to my house tomorrow. My room is big and have a great acoustics.”
“Okay” Sweetie Belle answered. “See you tomorrow.”
And they also have moved away, each one going to their respective house.
Melody came out of the theater and saw Sweetie Belle going home.
“I don’t think she’ll go to the try-outs” she said.
“Don’t worry about that” Purple Smoke’s voice said, as he appeared besides Melody. “I have faith you’ll hear her sing so you can accept her as one of your actors.”
“What makes you be so certain of that?” Melody asked.
“Because there is somepony who is in debt with her and that somepony will try to help her in any way” Purple Smoke answered. “And, if that doesn’t work, I can always intervene.”
The next day, Sweetie Belle went to Diamond Tiara’s house. When she got there, she was astonished to find a small mansion. She knocked on the door and waited a few seconds until the door opens and Diamond Tiara appeared.
"Hi, Sweetie Belle" Diamond Tiara greeted.
"Hello, Diamond Tiara" Sweetie Belle greeted, entering. "Well, I have to say, your house is incredible."
"Thank you" Diamond Tiara thanked, closing the door. "Come, my room's upstairs."
The two started heading to the stairs, but it was then that they meet with Spoiled Rich.
"You?!" she asked, seeing the filly who made her daughter turn against her.
"Good morning, Mrs. Rich" Sweetie Belle greeted, a little nervous.
"What are you doing here?" Diamond Tiara’s mother asked with her rude tone.
"Mom, be nice" Diamond Tiara said. "I've invited Sweetie Belle. She will help me to rehearse for the try-outs."
"Oh, I see" Spoiled Rich said, trying to contain her displeasure at seeing Sweetie Belle in her house. "But don’t litter anything.”
And she walked away.
"Wow, your mom's still a sweetheart" Sweetie Belle joked.
"Don't listen to her, she is still getting used the fact that I don't want to be like her” Diamond Tiara said, while she and Sweetie Belle began walking up the stairs. "But I got my father’s support, and she now has no alternative but to accept. So, can I ask what song do you think I should sing?"
She passed to Sweetie Belle the papers with the songs Melody had given her and, while advancing down the hall to Diamond Tiara’s room, Sweetie Belle read and then said:
“If I were you, I’d sing Wings of a Dream or My First Flight for the try-outs, because those two songs would really show up your voice.”
Diamond Tiara received the papers and said:
“I like the words in My First Flight. I can go with that one.”
And they arrived to Diamond Tiara’s room and, when entered, Sweetie Belle was surprised. Her bedroom was big, decorated with pink and with a four-poster bed. Her room also had a balcony with a table with a pitcher of water and a couple of chairs. It also have a beautiful view to the village.
"Wow, your room is beautiful!" exclaimed Sweetie Belle.
"Thank you" Diamond Tiara thanked, closing the door. "You're the first friend to see it, apart from Silver Spoon. I hope you are the first of many."
"I'm sure of that" Sweetie Belle answer. "You have made a lot of progress."
"Thank you" Diamond Tiara thanked. "What if we started with the rehearsals?"
"Sure" Sweetie Belle said. "We can start with some exercises to warm up the throat. I know some that are very good. I can teach you."
"You know, you seem to know a lot about this" Diamond Tiara noted. "Besides, I've heard you sing and you do it very well. Why don’t you try-out to the play?”
“Oh no, I wouldn’t do that” Sweetie Belle said, taking the papers with the lyrics and putting them on a music stand there was there. “Ready for some warm up?”
But before she could begin, Diamond Tiara felt her throat a bit scratched and she said:
“I think I’m a little horsed. I think it’s bet I get some water. I’ll be right back.”
And Diamond Tiara went to the balcony to server herself of some water. After she get away, Sweetie Belle couldn't resist and took the papers with the lyrics, starting to sing the first lines of the song, with a melodious voice. Diamond Tiara, who heard it, went back to the room and saw Sweetie Belle. She then noticed in her presence and stopped, but Diamond Tiara said, while approaching:
“Don’t stop. You have an amazing voice. Keep going.”
“Okay” Sweetie Belle.
And Sweetie Belle started the song, but after the lines she had sung just before, the pace began to accelerate, what made her joy also increase. When she found herself, Sweetie Belle was singing with all her soul, freeing all the joy she had for music. Diamond Tiara joined her and the two sang a duet together, running and jumping around the room, with Sweetie Belle leading. They then arrived at the end of the song when they were on the balcony.
“Sweetie Belle, your voice is more amazing than I thought!” Diamond Tiara exclaimed. “You have to try-out to the play.”
“I really liked to, Diamond Tiara, but I can’t” Sweetie Belle answered.
“Why not?”
“Because there would be many ponies watching the play and I don’t feel comfortable with that” Sweetie Belle answered.
“Wait, you have stage fright?” Diamond Tiara asked.
“It’s not that” Sweetie Belle replied. “I just don’t like having everypony watching me.”
“Why not?” Diamond Tiara asked. “It’s a wonderful feeling.”
“Maybe to you, but not to me” Sweetie Belle said. “I love singing. It’s something that I do to clear my mind and to calm me down. I don’t want that ponies watch me doing something that is so precious to me.”
Diamond Tiara remained silent. She understood Sweetie Belle, but that was a shame as she had the most beautiful voice she had ever heard (not counting with Melody’s, of course).
“Can we please continue with the practicing?” Sweetie Belle asked. “But, this time, I want you to sing, not me.”
Diamond Tiara sighed and answered:
“Okay, as you wish.”
The next day, the students of Ponyville Schoolhouse were all preparing the theater for the play. Apple Bloom was watching a few buckets of paint to find out what colors she would have to mix. After making the right color of blue for the sky, she gave the bucket to one of her colleagues and told him:
"Ready, use this to paint the sky at the top of the background. I then help you with the bottom, when I create a golden tone representing the sunset."
And her colleague took the bucket and walked away and at that moment, Diamond Tiara approached and greeted:
“Hi, Apple Bloom, how is the backgrounds painting coming along?”
“They will be amazin’ after Ah find tha right shade of gold fer tha sunset” Apple Bloom said, looking to the paint buckets.
“Well, if I were you, I would use those ones” Diamond Tiara pointed to some paint buckets.
Apple Bloom looked and then said:
“Ya’re right. They will make tha perfect shade of gold. Now Ah can’t finish tha background. Thanks, Diamond Tiara.”
“You’re welcome” she thanked. “Apple Bloom, can I say something to you as we’re friends now?”
“Sure, what is it?” she asked.
“It’s just Sweetie Belle wants to try-out to the play…”
“But she won’t do it ‘cause she doesn’t like tah have everypony watch her while she is doin’ somethin’ she loves, right?” Apple Bloom completed.
“Yes, how did you know?” Diamond Tiara asked.
“Ah’m one of her best friends, remember?” Apple Bloom answered. “Ah already heard her singin’ hundreds of times. Remember that musical number we made at tha talent show Miss Cheerilee organiz’d.”
“Of course, me and Silver Spoon couldn’t stop laughing for days because you…” Diamond Tiara said, realizing then what she was saying. “Sorry.”
“Don’t be” Apple Bloom said. “Ah admit, that wuz not one of our best moments. An’ in hindsight, Ah think we could already have our Cutie Marks if we had better distribut’d the roles. But tha thing is Sweetie Belle didn’t want tah sing since there.”
“Well, I’m trying to figure out how to get Sweetie Belle to try-out to the play” Diamond Tiara. “After what she did for me, it’s the least I can do for her. Do you have any ideas?”
Apple Bloom though for a moment and then she said:
“If Melody heard Sweetie Belle sing, maybe she would want Sweetie tah try-out. She is very persuasive.”
“That’s a good idea” Diamond Tiara said.
“If ya can get Sweetie Belle tah sing in front of her.”
“Well, Sweetie likes to help. So, if I ask Sweetie Belle to help me in singing in front of Melody…”
“Ya’d get her tah sing without her even knowing it” Apple Bloo concluded.
“Exactly” Diamond Tiara confirmed.
After some time, Diamond Tiara took Sweetie Belle to the stage, saying:
“I want to practice my song on stage. Do you mind helping me?”
“I’d love to” Sweetie Belle answered.
“Great” Diamond Tiara said, advancing then to the stage.
Then, she saw Melody, going to the seating area. That was her opportunity. She turned to Sweetie Belle to stop her from seeing Melody and told her:
“I forgot the melody. Can you sing the first lines to me?”
“Sure” Sweetie Belle said.
And so, she started singing the first lines of the lyric, while Diamond Tiara, taking advantage of Sweetie’s distraction, went to hide on the backstage to observe. Melody heard her. She recognized that voice. It was Sweetie Belle’s. She smiled, seeing that Purple Smoke’s plan was working. And so, faking that was the first time was hearing Sweetie Belle’s voice, she said to Sweetie Belle, making her stop:
“You have a voice of a pitch perfect parrot.”
“I do?” Sweetie Belle asked.
“You do” Melody confirmed, going to the stage and approaching Sweetie Belle. “And believe in me. After all, I’m the General of Music. And I can’t wait to hear you at the try-outs tomorrow… Sweetie Belle.”
“You know my name?” Sweetie Belle asked.
“Of course” Melody answered. “After all, I know your sister. So, what do you say? Do you come to the try-outs.”
“Well… you know…” Sweetie Belle started. “I won’t try-out.”
“But you must” Melody said. “A voice like yours is a bird in a cage earning to be set free. Open the cage door, Sweetie Belle. Spread your vocal wings and set your voice free.”
Despite Sweetie Belle's fear was trying to overpower her, she took a deep breath and replied:
“Okay, I’m gonna do it.”
“Wonderful!” Melody exclaimed. “We meet tomorrow then after school right on this very stage.”
And, having said that, she get away. Diamond Tiara then approached and put her hoof on Sweetie’s hoof, smiling to her.
Next day, after school, the young foals gathered at the theatre to make the try-outs. Melody was evaluating. At that moment, it was Scootaloo who was singing. Although she tried her best, singing was not her strong suit and she sang sometimes off key. After she finished, Melody said to her:
“Well… thank you, Scootaloo. Later I’ll see which role suits you.”
And she get out of the stage.
“Preferably one where you don’t sing” Melody said in a low tone, taking notes on her clipboard.
Then it was the turn of Diamond Tiara, who sang My First Flight". After that, Melody applauded and said:
“Very nice, Diamond Tiara. Although your tone voice is not quite what I want to Daisy, it’s perfect to Primrose, Daisy’s sister. The role is yours.”
“Thank you” Diamond Tiara said, making a bow and then leaving the stage.
When she got to the backstage, she found Sweetie Belle, whose try-out was next.
“Good luck… I mean, break a leg” Diamond Tiara said.
Sweetie Belle then entered on the stage and Melody said:
“I’m so glad you came, Sweetie Belle. So, tell me, what are you going to sing?”
“I’m going to sing Wings of a Dream” Sweetie Belle answered.
And so, Sweetie Belle started to sing the song. Diamond Tiara, Scootaloo and Apple Bloom observed from the backstage, expectant. But the young unicorn didn’t have sing much than a few lines, Melody raise up and said:
“Enough.”
Sweetie Belle stopped singing, thinking if she had done something wrong, but then Melody said:
“I had just found my lead. Sweetie Belle, you are Daisy.”
“I’m Daisy?” she asked, starting to get enthusiastic. “I got the lead! I got the lead!”
The other three fillies went to her to congratulate her.
That night, Sweetie Belle told the news to her sister and Shadow Claw who were quite happy for her.
"I can't believe it!" Rarity exclaied, enthusiastically. "My little sister will be the lead of Melody’s musical. Oh, this is so exciting!"
"Congratulations, kiddo" Shadow Claw congratulated. "I knew you had a beautiful voice, but being recognized by the General of Music is a huge compliment."
"Thank you, Shadow Claw" Sweetie Belle thanked.
"That's it!" Rarity exclaimed. "I'm going to make some alterations to the Daisy costume. I want you to be astounding on your big debut."
"Rarity, you don't need to" Sweetie Belle said. "I'm sure it will be okay anyway."
"Nonsense, my dear" Rarity said. "I would never let my sister have her debut with a simple costume. Of course, for that, I'm going to have to do the same alterations in the Primrose costume, but it doesn’t matter. I can't wait to tell her mom and dad. We're going to buy the tickets for the first row."
Seeing Rarity’s enthusiasm, Sweetie Belle began to feel her increasing nervousness. Her sister was so excited about the fact to see her younger sister to debut on stage. Now, Sweetie Belle was afraid to do something wrong and disappointed her and their parents, not to mention Melody and her friends.
After a few days of rehearsal, it finally arrived the night of the play. Sweetie Belle had already dressed her costume and headed to the curtain and looked through it. All the seats were occupied. It seemed that all the ponies were there to watch the play. She could see her sister, her parents and Shadow Claw on the front row, with Rarity immensely looking forward to the beginning of the play. She also saw Rainbow Dash, the Apple family, as well as Diamond Tiara’s parents. Fluttershy and Thunder Night were also there with their daughter, Moonlight Sonnet, who sitting on the lap of her mother. Pinky, of course, was there too, eating popcorn one after another. And when Sweetie Belle looked at one of the boxes, she saw Twilight, Blue and their child, Star Knight. She could see the other Generals of Order at another box, including Purple Smoke. It seemed that everypony Sweetie Belle knew had come.
All this made her come to the limit. Not holding anymore, Sweetie Belle managed to drive quickly to the back door of the theatre. She then passed by Scootaloo, who was already with her costume, and by Apple Bloom, but she seemed to have not seen them.
"You saw how Scootaloo passed through us?" Scootaloo asked. "She seemed upset."
It was then that Apple Bloom realized what was going on.
"Oh no, this is bad. C’mon."
The two found Diamond Tiara who was being made up by Silver Spoon.
"Diamond Tiara, we have a problem" Apple Bloom said.
"Calm down" Diamond Tiara said. "Don't you see that Silver Spoon is putting makeup on me. Do you want the second lead of the play looking bad?"
"No, but there can be no show without the lead" Scootaloo said. "Sweetie Belle had cold hooves."
"What?!" Diamond Tiara asked, trying to not move abruptly as she knew Silver Spoon was making her up. "She changed her mind?"
"She must have got nervous with tha public that we have" Apple Bloom said. "What do we do?"
"Silver Spoon, is this going to take much longer?" Diamond Tiara asked.
"Hey, good make-up takes time" she replied.
"Perfect" Diamond Tiara joked, turning then to Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle. "Go talk to Melody. She should know what to do."
"Good idea" Apple Bloom said.
And she and Scootaloo drifted. They sought Melody and found her with Snip and Snails.
"I hope you now know how work with the ropes" Melody said. "Today I don't want any accident like those that took place during the rehearsals."
"Don't worry, ma'am, everything will be fine" Snip said.
"Honestly, that don’t tranquilize me" Melody confessed.
"Melody!" Apple Bloom called, while she and Scootaloo came to her. "We have a problem."
"A problem?"
"Sweetie got cold hooves" Scootaloo said. "We saw her running toward the back door."
"What?!" Melody exclaimed. "But this is horrible! We have to find her. There can be a play without the lead. Come on."
And the three advanced to find Sweetie Belle.
She was sitting against the wall beside the back door.
"You know that this door is open, don't you?" a voice asked.
Sweetie Belle looked and came across with Purple Smoke.
"Purple Smoke?" she asked. "What are you doing here? I thought you were in the box with your siblings."
"The truth is that I was feeling too tight and I decided to stretch my legs before the show started" Purple Smoke said. "But the question here is: what are you doing here? You should be getting ready to the play."
"I don't know if I can" Sweetie Belle said. "I'm afraid to fail."
"Well, everypony fails" Purple Smoke said.
"Is that supposed to make me feel better?" Sweetie Belle asked cynically.
"No, I only highlighted a fact" Purple Smoke said. "Sweetie Belle, everypony makes mistakes and are not those errors that will make ponies look at you differently. You have to have confidence in yourself and believe you can do this."
"But what if nopony likes to listen me?" Sweetie Belle asked. "After all, I am the lead. I have to be perfect."
"You don't have to worry about that" Purple Smoke said. "In my opinion, you have an amazing voice. But you better have an expert opinion on this matter."
And it was at that moment that Melody appeared, followed by Apple Bloom and Scootaloo.
"Sweetie Belle!" her friends exclaimed, happy to see that their unicorn friend had not fled.
"And it seems that she has arrived just in time" Purple Smoke said, turning to Melody. "She's all yours."
And, having said that, he turned into a purple smoke and walked away, probably to return to his box.
Melody approached Sweetie Belle and asked her:
"Why are you running, Sweetie Belle? I don’t understand."
"The truth is, I don't know if they will enjoy my performance" she said.
"This is ridiculous" Melody said. "Of course they will. You have an amazing voice."
"Are you sure?" Sweetie Belle asked.
"Of course I do" Melody said. "Do you think the General of Music would lie about something like that? The truth is, I and Purple Smoke planned all of this for you."
"For me?" Sweetie Belle asked.
"We wanted you to notice your talent" Melody said. "Sweetie Belle, you have a wonderful voice and with a power able to move ponies' hearts. It was thanks to this talent you managed to trigger the change in Diamond Tiara. The problem is that you let your fear of what the other ponies may think about your voice dominate you. What you have to do is to ignore the others’ opinions. Just your opinion about your voice is what matters. What do you feel when you sing?"
"I feel... free... complete" Sweetie Belle replied.
"So take those feelings and project them through your voice and make everypony do not be motivated to hate you."
Melody’s words, along with Purple Smoke’s, gave a new spirit to Sweetie Belle who stood up and said:
"Let's get this show on the road."
And her friends, when they had heard that, showed smiles of happiness and relief.
"That's what I'm talking about" Melody said. "All right, let's go, girls!"
And so, the curtains of the stage opened, while all spectators cheered. Onstage, was Sweetie Belle. Rarity looked at her, eager to hear his sister singing the first song, the one who would initiate her debut. So Sweetie Belle took a deep breath and, when the melody of the song began, she began singing My First Flight". When it was over, she waited for the reaction of the audience. It was then that an explosion of applause was heard. They had all enjoyed, and that made Sweetie Belle be more excited for the rest of the piece.
The play continued until the last scene, where the entire cast (except Diamond Tiara) was on stage with Sweetie Belle in the center position. She began singing Wings of a Dream and, after the firsts lines, Melody, who watched everything at the backstage, carried her Horn and cast a spell on Sweetie Belle who made temporary wings appear on her, which made it possible for her to take off and fly over the audience, who watched aghast. She returned to the stage, remaining in the air, and continued to sing a few more lines, before Melody cast a spell to the back of the room, invoking a gilded cage that was hovering in the air and, at that moment, Diamond Tiara, as Primrose, appeared flying with wings like Sweetie Belle’s, flying around the cage before Sweetie approach and both look at each other with a smile.
"Primrose!" Sweetie Belle exclaimed, playing her character.
"Daisy?!" Diamond Tiara exclaimed, making the same.
The two approached until they were muzzle to muzzle and then they took the hooves.
“I can’t believe you found me” Primrose said.
“Will you come home?” Daisy asked.
“Yes, yes, yes!” Primrose answered, while spinning around the air with her sister.
And the two continued to sing the song together while flying over the audience before returning to the stage and landed with holding hooves, while singing the last lines. When they ended singing, the music ended and everypony stood up, stamping with the hooves on the ground, mainly Rarity, who kept telling everypony:
"She's my sister!"
Sweetie Belle, receiving all those applauses, felt a great joy in her. It was a state of mind that she had never experienced. She felt like she was born to sing to the others and see how her voice brought them joy.
Suddenly, Sweetie Belle felt a tingling in her flank and, for a moment, she thought she saw a light on it through the costume. Was that what she was thinking?
After the curtain closed, Sweetie Belle raised the hem of her costume to see her flank and then saw it: her Cutie Mark. It was a pink heart with a sheet music and a quaver.
"My Cutie Mark…" she said, not wanting to believe. "Finally I got my Cutie Mark!"
When they heard that, everypony approached Sweetie Belle and, seeing the Cutie Mark, they began to congratulate her.
"We are happy fer ya, Sweetie!" Apple Bloom exclaimed.
"Finally we all have our Cutie Marks" Scootaloo said. "It's that great?"
"It seems nopony no longer will have no more reasons to call you blank flank" Diamond Tiara said to Sweetie Belle, joking. "Congratulations, Sweetie Belle."
"Thank you, Diamond Tiara" Sweetie Belle thanked. "And thank you for never giving up of making me go to the try-outs. If it was not for you, I wouldn't get the lead of the play."
The two exchanged a hug and then Sweetie Belle turned to her two best friends and told them:
"And thank you for never having given up of help me find my talent."
"Hey, that's what friends are" Scootaloo said.
The three hugged and, when they ended the hug, Sweetie Belle approached Melody and told her:
"Thank you for helping me when I was most vulnerable. You and Purple Smoke helped me overcome my fears and thanks to that I was able to act."
"It was nothing, my dear" Melody said. "I have to thank you for making this a very special play. But, now, I think it's time for us to thank our audience, don't you think?"
Sweetie Belle waved. And then the curtains opened again and all the foals that helped to make the play and Melody made bows to everypony.
And so that was how Sweetie Belle, the last of the Cutie Mark Crusaders with the flank in blank, obtained her Cutie Mark.
The day after Melody’s musical, Apple Bloom, Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle went to their tree house. Once they were no longer blank flanks, there was no reason for the club of the Cutie Mark Crusaders continue to exist, so they went there to get their things.
Once they got in there and saw the place where they spent much of their time, the three fillies felt a great longing inside of them.
"So this is it" Apple Bloom said. "Looks like it’s the end of the Cutie Mark Crusaders."
"I guess so" Sweetie Belle said. "There is no reason for us to be continued to be called Cutie Mark Crusaders. After all, we've all got our Cutie Marks."
"Yes, but it's a shame" Scootaloo said, looking around. "We've been through a lot here."
"Yeah..." her two friends agreed, sadly.
There was a moment of silence and then Sweetie Belle asked:
"Remember when Applejack gave us this treehouse?"
"Of course, how could I forget?" Apple Bloom asked. "It was falling apart. I think this treehouse was the first thing I repair."
"Yes, I remember that" Scootaloo said. "That's when Miss Cheerilee was organizing that talent show."
"Yeah, we should had realized which our talents were" Apple Bloom said.
"But I'm glad we didn't" Sweetie Belle said. "Otherwise, we would never have lived great adventures. Remember when we went to sleep at Fluttershy’s cottage and we set off on a crusade in the Everfree Forest?"
"Don't remind me that" Scootaloo said, jumpy. "I still have nightmares about that cockatrice."
"But fortunately, Fluttershy saved us with her stare" Apple Bloom said. "And remember when I got Cutie Pox. With that, I've learned that I shouldn't force things when it’s about our Cutie Mark."
"And you also learned to not meddle with Zecora's spells without her permission or supervision" Sweetie Belle added.
"Yeah, that too" Apple Bloom replied, blushing and scratching her head.
"And when we tried to make that Big Mac and Miss Cheerilee fell in love for each other?" Scootaloo asked.
"Don't remind me of that" Apple Bloom said. "It was the cable of the jobs to keep them away from each other for one hour."
"Yes, but we should have read the book Twilight lent us altogether" Sweetie Belle admitted. "Maybe that confusion would not have happened and we wouldn’t have to do Big Mac’s chores as punishment."
"But what gave us a great lesson was the whole thing with Gabby Gums" Apple Bloom said. "We almost lost all our friendships."
"Yes, but Diamond Tiara also complicated for us to not let us give up" Scootaloo said.
"But fortunately she's changed" Sweetie Belle said. "It's not worth it to be reminding us how much she tormented our life."
"You mean like when she and Silver Spoon manipulated Babs Seed and we were ran out of our own treehouse until we made Babs understand what side she should be?" Apple Bloom asked.
"Really, we've been through a lot as Cutie Mark Crusaders" Scootaloo said. "I wish we didn't have to end with the club."
"Me too” the other two said sadly.
"So why end it?" a voice asked.
They looked and saw purple smoke getting in through the window and then Purple Smoke appeared.
"Purple Smoke!" the three fillies exclaimed, rising up.
"What are you doing here?" Apple Bloom asked.
"I came to see how my favorite fillies are after all of you got your Cutie Marks" he replied.
"Well, on one hoof, we're very happy, but on the other..." Sweetie Belle started.
"We just don’t like we have to end the club" Scootaloo completed.
"But you can keep your club" Purple Smoke.
"Wait, don't tell us that we will take our Cutie Marks" Scootaloo said.
"What?" Purple Smoke asked, caught by surprise. "Of course not! I mean, I can do that, but I never use that skill. It doesn’t match well with my ethics as General of Talent. What I mean is that you don't need have flanks in blank to find Cutie Marks. I mean, there's probably more foals without Cutie Marks needing for help, right?"
"You mean we can continue to be the Cutie Mark Crusaders but helping other foals getting their Cutie Marks?" Apple Bloom asked.
"Or show them their true meaning, as Sweetie Belle did with Diamond Tiara" Purple Smoke said.
"Wait, how do you know that?" Sweetie Belle asked.
"Hey, I have my sources" Purple Smoke said. "So, what do you say... Cutie Mark Crusaders? Do you want to be my colleagues and help me help young foals to find their true talent?"
The three fillies shared looks between them and then nods. Apple Bloom turned to Purple Smoke and asked him:
"Do you want to know what our answer is, Purple Smoke? Our answer is..."
And so the three fillies bumped their hooves together and shouted in unison:
"CUTIE MARK CRUSADERS FOREVER!"
Purple Smoke smiled, seeing that now he had new allies.
"And is there room for two more Crusaders?" a voice asked.
They turned to the door and saw Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon.
"You, here?" Apple Bloom asked.
"What are you doing here?" Scootaloo asked.
"The truth is what we came here to ask if we could join your club" Diamond Tiara said.
"What?!" the three Crusaders asked at the same time.
"Well, at first, we wanted to know if we could hang out together" Silver Spoon said. "Now that we're friends, we could try to get to know each other better."
"But we ended hearing you are going to continue with your club, helping other ponies, and we realized that if we join you, we could make up for all the bad things we've done" Diamond Tiara said.
Apple Bloom, Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo were astonishment with the request Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon had done. They turned to Purple Smoke, as if asking him for advice, but he just said:
"Don't look at me, the club is yours."
But then Sweetie Belle replied:
"For me, you can join us."
"Really?" Apple Bloom and Scootaloo asked.
"Why not?" Sweetie Belle asked them. "After all, they are our friends now. In addition, Diamond Tiara helped me get my Cutie Mark, besides being the living proof that even ponies with Cutie Mark can be helped by us."
The other two Crusaders thought in Sweetie Belle’s words, exchanged glances and then waved.
"Okay, that's fine by us" Apple Bloom said, making smiles appear on Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon’s faces.
"But, as initiated, you will have to do what we say" Scootaloo said. "But don't worry, I'm sure you will not be initiated for much longer."
"So, what do you say?" Apple Bloom asked while she extended hull, which was then overlaid by Sweetie Belle’s and Scootaloo’s.
Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon traded looks and nods, then they extended their hoofs, putting them over the other three’s. And the five then exclaimed:
"CUTIE MARK CRUSADERS!"
And they dropped a laugh.
Seeing them laughing as a united team, Purple Smoke also smiled and then turned into purple smoke and walked away, knowing that, with the help of those fillies, his work to spread the magic of Cutie Marks would be easier.