Author's Note: Ok before anyone starts reading, I do want to explain a little bit about the relative ages of the ponies in this fiction. What I did was bumped all the characters up a generation, meaning that the Cutie Mark Crusaders are the same age as the Mane 6 were, Appleseed and the Cake Twins are the same age as the CMC were, and the Mane 6 are the same age as the Cakes were during the show. As for the Cakes themselves? Just bump them up somewhere, I don't care where.
Hope this gives you at least a little better picture of the characters. Enjoy!
---O---
It was early afternoon in the small town of Hoofington on a pleasantly warm summer day. Applebloom, now a grown mare, wiped the beads of sweat that had begun to form on her brow away before continuing to pack up her stall at the market. Although she had lived in Hoofington for a few years now, and had been running the stall for just as long, it never ceased to find ways to drain her of her energy. How her sister Applejack managed to both run the farm and be responsible for about half of the orchard's harvest and still have energy left over to chase after Applebloom and her friends was beyond her. Still, some wise pony once said that if you do something you love, you'll never have to work a day in your life. And this held true even to Applebloom's case. No matter how daunting or frustrating or exhausting this one little market stall could be, she would never give up something that may as well been family. In a way the stall itself was, a hand-me-down from the family on the day that Applebloom got her cutie mark. The very same apple cart that they used to take to the Saturday market, the same one from when she tried to earn her apple selling cutie mark, now served as her crafts stall. All of this nostalgia came rushing back to her as she finished packing the cart away, much to everypony's surprise around her. Usually Applebloom's stall would remain open until the sun set, and ponies would always come to visit, if not to purchase any of her hoof-made wares, then at least to chat about nothing in particular.
"Hey Applebloom," a mare called out to the former farmpony.
"Hmm?" Applebloom responded as she locked the last latch on her cart. Turning around, she saw one of her regular visitors standing behind her. She was about the same age as Applebloom, her cream colored coat being complimented with a dark cherry red mane and twin cherry cutie mark. "Oh, hello miss Cobbler, wut brings you 'round here?"
"Well I was coming to say hello and see what you had for the day, but now I'm wondering what has you packing up so early," Cherry Cobbler responded, rubbing a hoof on her chin. "Something wrong dear?"
Applebloom only smiled, pulling the ribbon out of her mane, letting it fall around her face. "No," she replied softly. Clearing her throat a little, she replied again a little louder. "No, miss Cobbler, nothin's wrong. Today's just uh...a special day, is all."
"Special day?" Cherry Cobbler asked, tilting her head to the side. "What's so special about it?"
Applebloom just shook her head and smiled as she placed her saddlebags on her back. "Ahm sorry, ah have to get goin', ah have a long walk ahead of me. T'was nice seeing you again though." Applebloom started to canter away from the stall and the still confused mare.
"Applebloom!" Cherry called after her. Applebloom slowed her pace and turned around, but still continued to walk away. "Please be careful," Cherry said in a motherly tone, her eyes full of concern.
Applebloom laughed a little at the mare's overly-protective nature. "Don't worry miss Cobbler, ya got nothin' ta worry about. Ah'll see ya when ah get back!" With a wave of her hoof, Applebloom galloped away, off towards a place she would always call home.
---O---
It was late afternoon in the City of Canterlot. All the hustle and bustle normally seen in the Equestiran capital was oddly absent in the downtown district. The same situation was present near the Castle of the Royal Sisters, an absence of ponies normally seen running about. Even the more residential areas of Canterlot, while not completely devoid of ponies, was still a lot more deserted than normal. To one who was just visiting, one would thing the entire city just vanished. That is, if they didn't see the posters advertising the concert by Equestira's biggest rising star since Sapphire Shores. It was this same star who was trudging her way back to her dressing room after another successful, but nonetheless exhausting, performance. Sweetie Belle, Equestria's hottest singing sensation, yawned as she pushed her dressing room door open. Inside the small room was what she had come to expect from all her performances; the standard vanity mirror, outfits for her shows, and the dozens of flower bouquets and hooffull of marriage proposals. Business as usual for the star. Although she loved what she did, she was still not used to the amount of fame she had gathered since her tour started. A pony who was afraid to sing in front of even her closest friends now singing for sold out audiences nationwide was not an easy transition to make. Still, she wouldn't give up what gave her the mark on her flank for anything.
Sweetie Belle smiled as she sat in front of the vanity, carefully levitating the strands of ribbon out of her two toned mane. As odd as it would seem to most ponies, Sweetie Belle's favorite part of her performance (after the singing of course) was removing her costume at the very end. In a way, it was a symbolic way of her returning to normal, or at least letting all the stress brought about by her career slide off her shoulders for a little while. Sweetie was just untangling the last of the ribbon when she heard a light knock on the door.
"Come in," Sweetie said distantly, her voice still slightly reminiscent of her foalhood voice despite her being a grown mare. A few seconds later, Sweetie turned around to see her manager tapping an impatient hoof on the hardwood floor, a clipboard and quill levitating next to her.
"Sweetie Sweetie Sweetie," the mare said in a rushed manner, "What are you doing? You're still halfway in costume. Come on, we got a formal dinner at the Palace in twenty minutes, you need to be ready!" The mare had an almost frantic look about her manner as she started to scribble something onto the clipboard. Sweetie Belle paid her no mind, and instead just gently started to brush her mane.
"I'm not going," Sweetie replied to her manager curtly. She could almost hear the mare's jaw drop to the floor along with her clipboard.
"W-w-w-what do you mean you're not going?!" the mare half shouted. Sweetie Belle allowed herself a little smile before turning to face her manager.
"Like I said, I'm not going. And don't you try to guilt me into it either Sing Song, I've had plans for this day for quite some time now, and you very well knew it too."
"But..." Sing Song began to protest, before a glare from Sweetie Belle silenced her.
"I said no. Now could you be a dear and call me a carriage? I'm afraid I may be running a little late." Sweetie Belle waved her hoof, dismissing her manager before turning back to the vanity mirror.
"I..But...You...We...*sigh* Yes, Miss Belle." her manager finally replied before exiting the room. After hearing the door click shut, Sweetie Belle began to giggle like a school filly. It wasn't often that she put her hoof down on her manager, but when she did it was one of the best feelings she could ask for on her tour. She continued to brush her mane and giggle quietly to herself until she, again, heard a gentle knock on her door.
"Miss Belle, your carriage is ready when you are," her manager mumbled halfheartedly.
"Thank you, you may go now," Sweetie replied in a more serious tone. When she was sure her manager was away from the door she again erupted in another fit of giggles. Levitating her saddlebags onto her back, she cantered out to where her carriage was waiting. She nodded at the pegasai drivers as she climbed into the carriage.
"Where to miss?" one of them asked in a surprisingly dignified tone.
"Ponyville, my good stallions. And if I may trouble you to hurry, I'll be sure to pay you a little extra for your efforts." Sweetie smiled, mentally patting herself on the back for a job well done. She again started to laugh to herself, but how couldn't she? Today was a special day after all.
---O---
It was early evening in the city of Cloudsdale. Scootaloo was lazily flying back to the Wonderbolt's headquarters after another successful performance. Never in a thousand years would the once flightless pegasus have dreamed that she would follow in her role model's footsteps and become a Wonderbolt. But as she swooped down to the entrance of her destination, she paused long enough to flash herself a smile in the door's reflective surface. A true Wonderbolt, just like Rainbow Dash had been. Pushing her flight goggles to the top of her head, she nudged the door open and trotted inside. It didn't take long for the young Wonderbolt to reach the locker rooms just beyond the main lobby area. Being this early after a performance she was probably the only one in the entire facility, all the other Wonderbolts staying behind to sign a few autographs for some lucky fans. Had the floors of the headquarters been made of wood or stone rather than cloud, her hoofsteps would have reverberated almost infinitely throughout the building. It was both oddly peaceful and slightly creepy to have such a large building empty. It felt almost like a school did when a pony visited after hours, the lack of activity just made it feel like a different place.
She slowly walked past the rows of lockers, most of which were either empty or not in use. She passed by name plate after name plate. Stormcloud...Wind Dancer...Lightning Bolt...Scootaloo. Scootaloo paused in front of the last one, her locker. Fiddling with the combination lock until it clicked open, she gently nudged the door open. Usually the other team mates would only use their locker to store their equipment and that was it. Scootaloo was different though, she kept a few special items in with her uniform as well. A couple autographed pictures of famous Wonderbolts; Spitfire and Rainbow Dash, and a framed photo of her, Sweetie Belle and Applebloom from the day they all got their cutie marks. Scootaloo reached forward and grabbed the framed picture before hugging it tightly to her chest, a smile breaking out on her face as memories from the past surged to the forefront of her mind. Now she was kind of glad she was alone, since nopony has ever seen her so emotional before.
"Hey Scoots."
Scootaloo nearly jumped out of her uniform at the unexpected voice. The picture dropped to the ground, but thankfully the glass did not shatter against the plush cloud flooring. Whipping around, Scootaloo's eyes came to rest on Rainbow Dash, former captain and current coach for the Wonderbolts.
"Oh, hey coach," Scootaloo half sighed as she leaned down to pick up the picture.
"Scoots, we've been over this," the rainbow maned pegasus said flatly. "You don't have to keep calling me 'coach' all the time. We were friends and team mates long before I had any real position over you. If anypony has the right to be on a first name basis with me, it's you."
"Oh...right," Scootaloo responded, her mind wandering elsewhere as placed the picture back in her locker. She didn't turn around to face Rainbow Dash however, and just kept her eyes glued on the picture in front of her.
"Something wrong?" Rainbow Dash asked the oddly silent mare. She took a few steps towards Scootaloo.
"...No, nothing's wrong Rainbow. Today's just a...special day is all."
Rainbow Dash smiled knowingly. Even though Scootaloo would never admit it, she still very much idolized Rainbow, and would always tell her everything that was happening. One of the perks to being a lifetime role model she guessed. "Special day huh?" Rainbow Dash replied, "Shouldn't you be more excited then?"
"I guess," Scootaloo shrugged as she started to unzip her flight suit. "But I can't help but be a little nervous, ya know?"
Rainbow Dash trotted up next to the young Wonderbolt and threw her hoof around Scootaloo's shoulder. "You need to stop worrying so much about them. I'm sure they haven't forgotten, just like you haven't." Rainbow Dash's gaze drifted to the picture of Scootaloo and her friends. "You girls are too good of friends to forget something like this."
Scootaloo hung her flight suit and goggles up in her locker before shrugging off Rainbow's hoof. Had she been a filly still, she would have probably been shaking from excitement from Rainbow Dash's compliment. But now, it only served to worry her a little more. "I guess, but..."
Rainbow Dash put a hoof over Scootaloo's mouth. "No buts. This isn't like you at all Scoots, being all worried and such. Just calm down, they'll be there, trust me." Rainbow Dash removed her hoof from Scootaloo's mouth before affectionately messing with the younger pony's purple mane. "Now get going, you don't want to be late now do you?"
Scootaloo smiled a genuine smile before mock saluting her head coach. "No ma'am!" Grabbing her saddlebags out of the locker and slamming it shut, she threw her hooves around Rainbow Dash's neck and pulled her into a crushing hug. "Thanks Rainbow, I'll see you when I get back."
"Take it easy kiddo."
Scootaloo broke the hug before galloping out of the locker room and through the facility. Once outside, she leaped into the air, wings spreading wide, and twisted her body towards the town she had grown up in.
---O---
It was late evening in the town of Ponyville. Luna's moon hung as full and bright as it could this special night, and the stars themselves seemed to glow brighter than normal. But then again, maybe it was just Scootaloo's imagination. It didn't take long for the Wonderbolt to reach the town, having some of the best flight coaching from Equestria's finest fliers certainly did wonders for her speed. But as she flew over the familiar rooftops of Ponyville's main street her speed slowed down significantly. She had not been home for some time now, as her acceptance into the Wonderbolts a few years back had given her the perfect opportunity to move to Cloudsdale. Surprisingly, not much had changed in the town. A few houses had sprung up here and there, but most of the shops and businesses seemed to have remained the same Swooping down to one building in particular, Scootaloo slowly walked by the walls of Sugarcube Corner. A nostalgic smile came across her lips as she touched her saddlebags, checking to see if their precious contents were still safe. After a few lingering moments she again took to the air, flying towards Sweet Apple Acres.
---O---
Inside Sugarcube Corner, the forms of two little foals could be seen watching Scootaloo as she stood outside. Both of them spoke in hushed voices so as not to disturb anypony who would be sleeping.
"What do you think she's doing?" a filly asked her companion.
"I dunno, but I bet we could find out!" her companion, a colt, answered.
"Are you crazy? We can't sneak out. What if mom, dad, or auntie find out?"
"Psh, stop being such a wuss. If anything, auntie would be all for it"
"I'm not a wuss! And - hey, where's she going?"
"Looks like she's going towards... oh no, she can't be! Come on, let's go!"
"But-"
Before the filly could protest though, the colt grabbed her by the tail and started to drag her along with him.
"Ow ow! Okay okay, I'm coming."
"I thought so. Come on, we need to get Appleseed too."
---O---
Applebloom's already quick pace almost doubled as she crested the next hill. She knew this path home almost as well as she knew the town itself. Just over the next ridge was the town of Ponyville. She paused for a fraction of a second, placing a hoof against her saddlebag like she had done ten times before on this journey. She knew she was being a little paranoid about her precious cargo, but just feeling it safe inside her saddlebag gave her all the assurance she needed. As she began to peek over the top of the hill, she could see the town of Ponyville spread out before her. She paused and took in the sight; it had been so very long since she has been able to look at the town. It looked much the same as it did during her foalhood, a few new houses seeming to be the only difference in the entire town. Her eyes scanned the town, looking at each familiar landmark; the town library, Carousel Boutique, and finally Sugarcube Corner. A smile drifted across her lips as her eyes locked onto the building. It only served to remind her why she was here in the first place. Shaking her head slightly, she began to trot towards the town before turning off onto a dirt road that led towards an apple orchard.
---O---
The two young foals crept through the abandoned streets of Ponyville as silently as they could. Although there was nopony around to catch them doing...whatever it was that they were doing, the pair thought it best to be safe instead of sorry. Their destination was outside of Ponyville, and unfortunately for them they had to sneak through the middle of town to get there.
"I'm telling you, this is a really bad idea," the young filly whispered, almost sounding like a hiss.
"And I'm telling you that if somepony found our secret base, we need to do something about it," the colt snapped back.
"Oh what are you gonna do? You can't even fly," the filly countered.
"So? You can't use magic, but that doesn't mean we can't scare off somepony," the colt replied triumphantly.
By now the duo had rounded the last of the buildings in Ponyville proper. They could see their destination way off in the distance, or at least the silhouette of the building. Once they were out of the town they would no longer have to sneak.
"There it is," the colt whispered, pointing a tiny hoof towards the building in the distance before starting to gallop in its direction. "Once we get Appleseed we can figure out what to do."
The filly facehoofed before following.
"You mean you don't even have a plan yet?"
"No, how can we have a plan if we can't all think up of one?"
The filly would have double facehoofed if it weren't for the fact they were running. "You're an imbecile," she said flatly.
"STOP CALLING ME THINGS I DON'T KNOW THE MEANING OF!"
---O---
Sweetie Belle glanced outside the window of her carriage. It was late, much later than she was hoping to get to Ponyville, but somehow she didn't seem to mind. In fact, she thought she could just make out the familiar silhouette of a certain pegasus pony flying off towards Sweet Apple Acres.
"Where would you like us to set you down miss?" one of the drivers asked her.
"Just drop me off at the end of the apple orchard please," Sweetie Belle responded.
She could feel the carriage start to begin its downward descent. She pulled her saddlebags next to her and flipped one of them open. Inside was a special piece of fabric from a very long time ago, and part of the reason she was in Ponyville tonight in the first place. She sighed as she felt the carriage touch down before closing the saddlebags back up. Placing a generous amount of bits on her seat, she exited the carriage and thanked her drivers. They responded with a smile and nod before taking off into the night. Sweetie Belle turned and began to walk quickly down the dirt path into the orchard, following a route she had known since her foalhood.
---O---
The two foals' pace began to slow down as they approached their destination. Fluttershy's cottage was abuzz with nocturnal animals going about their usual business, paying no heed to the two unexpected visitors. The animals were not their concern however, as they came here not only to find a pony, but to bring that pony with them, forcibly if necessary.
"Are you sure this is a good idea?" the filly asked her companion quietly when they reached the cottage.
"No, but who cares?" was the colt's reply. By this point the filly had given up on all forms of reasoning with her stubborn companion and decided to go along with whatever crazy plan he cooked up, if for no other reason than to make sure he stayed safe.
They crept along the walls quietly, searching for one window in particular on the cottage. The colt paused underneath one in particular, recognizing it as their target.
"There it is," he whispered to his companion, "give me a boost up."
The filly groaned at this request, but begrudgingly did it anyway. Leaning down so her companion could get on her shoulders, she grunted as she lifted him towards the windowsill.
"You -grunt- need to stop -pant- eating so much," the filly struggled to say.
The colt paid her no mind and began to gently tap his hoof to the glass. "Appleseeeeeeed!" he whispered loudly. "Appleseed wake up!"
A few more taps on the window and the colt's efforts were rewarded when a very sleepy earth filly appeared at the window.
"Pound Cake?" she answered sleepily, yawning and brushing her light red mane out of her face. "What're you doing here?" She opened the window slightly for him, but Pound Cake remained still.
"Appleseed! We need to get moving, we think somepony found our secret base!" Pound Cake whispered excitedly.
"WE think?" came a voice from below the colt. "No, YOU think somepony has. I'M just here to make sure you don't get hurt."
"Pumpkin Cake too?" the sleepy little filly said in surprise, leaning out the window to get a better look at the other pony.
"Yeah yeah, her too," Pound Cake said impatiently. "Now come on, we're wasting time!"
"But-" was all Appleseed could say before Pound Cake pulled her out of the window unexpectedly. The trio of foals tumbled back from the cottage and landed in a tangle of limbs and bodies. Pumpkin Cake was the first of the trio to pull herself out of the wreckage, for lack of a better word.
"Owwww," she said, rubbing her head. She shot a glare at Pound Cake. "You could have WARNED me you know."
"Whatever," was the colt's reply as he picked himself up. "Now let's get going. We need to come up with a plan to scare them away from the clubhouse!"
Appleseed shakily picked herself off the ground, her muscles still half asleep from her unexpected, not to mention rude, awakening. "You mean you woke me up, dragged me out of my own room, and you don't have any idea what we're going to do about whatever it is you said?"
Pound Cake just nodded as he took off towards the town.
"Just like normal," Appleseed sighed as she and Pumpkin Cake started following the eager colt.
---O---
Scootaloo began to descend from the sky slowly as she got nearer and nearer to her destination. The familiar trees of Sweet Apple Acres rustled ever so slightly in the evening breeze, almost as if they were greeting her. She did a lazy loop in the air before touching down in a clearing. She looked around, a soft smile growing on her lips as she turned towards one tree in particular. In it resided an old clubhouse, one that looked like it had seen its share of wear and tear over the years.
"Wow..." she said under her breath as she stepped closer to the deteriorating structure. "It's been so long since I've been here, since I've even thought of this place. Oh, how did that old song go?"
The clubhouse creaked as another breeze ran through the trees.
Scootaloo took in a deep breath as she closed her eyes, her mind wandering to her past. After a few seconds, she began to sing; "We are the Cutie Mark Crusaders-"
"-On a quest to find out who we are," a beautiful voice continued the verse. Scootaloo stopped singing and smiled. She knew that voice, it could only belong to one mare. Turning around, she saw Sweetie Belle trotting up to her with a huge smile on her face.
"Scootaloo!" Sweetie Belle chirped as she pulled the orange pegasus into a hug. "It's great to see you again."
"Likewise," Scootaloo responded in earnest. "Although I was worried you girls would forget."
"You kiddin'? If anything, Ah'd think you would be tha one t' forget," a voice said from behind the duo.
"Applebloom!" both mares said in unison as they simultaneously jumped on the newcomer.
The three of them laughed together for the first time in what seemed like a lifetime. It was almost as if time itself had reversed and they were the same three blank flanked fillies again. Tonight was their special night after all, nothing in Equestria could ruin it.
---O---
"...Pound Cake, this has to be the stupidest idea you have ever come up with," Pumpkin Cake said flatly as the trio of foals sat outside Sweet Apple Acres.
"Not to mention Pinkie Pie might get mad that we uh, borrowed, her sheets," Appleseed chimed in.
"Oh quit your worrying, it's not like you two came up with anything better," Pound Cake snapped back.
Pumpkin Cake rolled her eyes. "Not like you'd listen to us in the first place."
"Whatever, pass me the scissors, I still need to make the eye holes," Pound Cake said as he held out his hoof expectantly.
"Are you sure we should be doing this?" Appleseed asked as she picked up the scissors. Handing them to Pound Cake, she watched as his idea took shape. "I mean, what if the pony isn't very nice, or this doesn't work. What then? We could get hurt!"
"Not likely," Pound Cake responded. "Cuz this is the most awesome idea ever! Aaaaaand... Done! Now let's get going."
---O---
The three mares looked solemnly at the clubhouse. They had spent the last half hour catching up with each other on where their lives had taken them, and couldn't have been more proud of one another with how their friends were doing. But as the night grew on, they looked towards their saddlebags, which they placed between them and the clubhouse, knowing there was still one thing left to do before they parted ways.
"Are you sure we have to do this?" Sweetie Belle asked. "I mean, it's not like we HAVE to give this up."
"Sweetie, as much as I'd love to be a Cutie Mark Crusader for the rest of my life," Scootaloo responded after a deep sigh, "but we've done this long enough. I mean technically we should have retired it right after we got our cutie marks. But I know how you feel, it does seem like I'm about to give up a big part of me."
"Aww don't feel so glum y'all. It's not all bad," Applebloom said through a forced smile. She wasn't happy either about what they were doing.
Seven years ago was the day the trio met at Sugarcube Corner, during Diamond Tiara's Cutecenera party. That same fateful day was also the day that they created the Cutie Mark Crusaders, with the sole objective of doing everything in their power to find their special talent. In the years that followed, they had tried nearly everything they could think of to discover their special talents. It wasn't until about three years ago that they realized that they had their talent all along, but never recognized it for what it was, and although their objective as Cutie Mark Crusaders was complete, they never could bring themselves to disband their group. Time went on and life led each of them away from Ponyville, but they stayed in touch however possible. But it was recently that they decided that it was time to close that particular chapter of their life, if for no other reason than to truly complete their mission. Blank flanks no longer, their crusade was at an end, and it was time to return home.
They each walked over to their saddlebags, opening them slowly and carefully removing their contents. As a part of their disbanding, each of them agreed that they had to give up their capes, the ones that Sweetie Belle had made (at the expense of her sister's patience) for them all those years ago. Each one emblazoned with the emblem of the CMC and lined with a special gold silk that "took so very long to make, but it adds just the right touch." Each piece of fabric was a treasure to each mare, a relic from a simpler time where the only thing they had to worry about was earning their cutie marks, and maybe not destroying the town in the process. Time and wear had faded the colors a few shades lighter on the outside of the cape, and the golden silk had lost the sparkle of when it was new, but the value only increased as time went on.
Scootaloo, Applebloom, and Sweetie Belle just looked at the object each of them cradled in their hooves. They could feel tears forming at the edges of their eyes as they reflected on the group that not only brought them together, but gave them an inseparable bond with one another. It was almost as if they were about to give up a very piece of their being by doing this, but they had to. Their crusade was over long ago, and it was time that they returned home.
---O---
"There they are," Pound Cake whispered as he pointed his hoof towards the trio of mares. "Come on, we gotta do this fast. Pumpkin Cake, hold still, I'm gonna get on your shoulders and drape this around us."
"You sure about this?" Appleseed asked for what seemed like the millionth time.
"Yes, now come on, we've got ponies to scare," Pound Cake responded as he draped the sheet over them.
