Cutie Mark Crisscrossby EverydayChaptersChapter OneChapter ThreeChapter FourChapter TwoChapter OneThree little fillies came running out of the mine shaft, each covered in a generous amount of black dust and grime. Panting breathlessly, and with little energy to travel much farther, they plopped down outside the mouth of the cave and did their best to clean themselves off. Apple Bloom was the first to speak. “Well, so much for bein’ Cutie Mark Crusader Coal Miners,” she said with reluctant disappointment. Sweetie Belle turned to her sharply with a puzzled expression. “I thought we were being Cutie Mark Crusader Explosives Experts.” This, in turn, caused Scootaloo to look confused. “…That was a Cutie Mark Crusade?” The three fillies sighed and hung their heads. Clearly cutie marks for good communication skills were not in their future. A deep rumbling beneath the ground quickly shocked them out of their sorrow. To their horror, they watched as the mouth of the mine shaft collapsed into a pile of rubble, burying away any hopes of finding their cutie marks down there. They turned to look at each other, unsure of what to do next. “Y’know,” Apple Bloom said, abruptly, “I’ve been thinkin’.” “That’s never good…” Scootaloo remarked. Apple Bloom shot her a glare, but continued. “I think we’ve been goin’ about this the wrong way.” “Really?” Sweetie Belle asked sarcastically. “I thought all of our rousing success so far meant we were on the right track.” “Will you two just let me finish?” Apple Bloom’s patience could only be stretched so far. Her fellow Crusaders relented and held up their hooves, promising they wouldn’t interrupt again. She pointed to each in turn as she said, “Scootaloo, you’re a pegasus, but you can’t fly. And Sweetie Belle, you’re a unicorn, but you can’t do magic. And I’m an earth pony, but I ain’t really that strong.” Scootaloo raised an eyebrow at her. “Is this supposed to make us feel better?” “What I’m tryin’ to say is, maybe if we got better at the things we’re supposed to be good at, then maybe we could figure out what our special talents are.” Sweetie Belle rubbed her chin thoughtfully. “I think you might be on to something. Rarity got her cutie mark when she discovered her gem-finding spell.” “Oh, yeah!” Scootaloo chimed in. “And Rainbow Dash got her cutie mark flying in her first race!” “Exactly!” Apple Bloom said, smiling. “So I figure if we can become better ponies, maybe we can get our cutie marks, too!” “Yeah!” Sweetie Belle squeaked in excitement. “Well, that’s great and all,” Scootaloo cut in, “but how are we supposed to magically become better ponies?” Each of the Crusaders hung their heads in thought. Suddenly, a flash of light appeared before them, scattering white stars in all directions. Barely sparing a moment to exchange panicked expressions, they made a mad dash to the nearest bush for cover. From the safety of the foliage, they peered out at the cause of the strange light. Before the Cutie Mark Crusaders stood Discord, his back to them as he studied the collapsed cave. He was stroking his chin and appeared to be deep in thought. “Honestly, sending me to take care of a small cave-in?” he pondered out-loud. “What’s next—sorting broom closets?” “Who’s he talking to?” Sweetie Belle asked, popping her head out of the bush to look around. With a sharp “Shh!” Scootaloo brought her back down into the bush. “And mere moments before I’m to start my vacation, too,” Discord continued, still unaware of the little fillies behind him. He let out a resigned sigh and muttered, “Well, let’s get this over with.” Arching himself backwards, he stretched his arms out before him and let out a deep groan. With a roll of his shoulders to loosen the stiffness in his joints and a quick shake of all of his limbs, he found himself ready to tackle the problem before him. He snapped his talons. Instantly, the debris and fallen rocks inside the cave were cleared away, leaving no evidence that the cave collapse had ever occurred. The mouth of the cave even sparkled in the sunlight, as if it had been given a polished glow. The Crusaders’ eyes went wide in awe. “Such a waste,” Discord commented. He almost sounded disappointed. “All of this magical power at my disposal, and this is what I’m called to do.” A glint appeared in Apple Bloom’s eye. She just had an idea so brilliant that absolutely nothing could go wrong. Without giving it another thought, she charged out of the bush, heading straight for Discord. “Apple Bloom!” Scootaloo hissed as she and Sweetie Belle chased after her. Discord was too busy judging his handiwork to notice. He mindlessly stroked his chin until a look of mild satisfaction crossed his face. “At least now I can finally begin my vaca—” “Hey, Discord!” Quickly turning with a start, Discord looked for the source of the disruption. He looked down in time to see Apple Bloom run up to him, followed closely by Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo. Discord’s expression immediately brightened. “Well, if it isn’t my favorite little ponies: the Cutie Mark Crewmates!” “Cutie Mark Crusaders,” Apple Bloom corrected. “Isn’t that what I said?” The Crusaders exchanged awkward glances and raised eyebrows. “Uh—say, Discord,” Apple Bloom said, trying to get them back on track, “you’re really good with magic, right?” “I try not to brag,” he smugly replied, polishing his talons against his chest. “Well, we were kinda hopin’ you could help us out with somethin’,” Apple Bloom said, trying to sound casual. Looks of understanding dawned on her fellow Crusaders. Discord, however, simply raised a skeptical eyebrow. “Hmm,” he said slowly, mulling it over, “I suppose I do owe you three for letting me out of my stone prison that first time around, so... Okay, why not? What is it you want—candy? Some new toys? A dog to eat your homework?” Each of the items appeared over Discord’s head with a flash, hovering and gently bobbing above him. “Actually, we were just thinkin’—” “I can’t exactly fly yet,” Scootaloo cut in. “And I can’t really use my magic,” Sweetie Belle added. “And I ain’t all that strong for an earth pony.” “But maybe if we were better ponies—” “Then maybe we could find out what our special talents are supposed to be.” “I guess what we’re tryin’ to say is—” “Can you make us better ponies?!” they asked together, eyes bright with hopeful smiles. Discord’s eyes had been following the conversation in silence. When they finished, he simply stared at their smiling faces, which were starting to strain from maintaining such enthusiastic expressions. The items he conjured above his head disappeared. “Oh, is that all?” He casually snapped his talons. “There.” Rather than the cheers of thanks he was expecting, his ears were assaulted by the sharp shriek of three little ponies. “What’d you do to us?” Scootaloo cried. Discord looked down at the orange earth pony, white pegasus, and yellow unicorn in front of him. Their eyes wide with panic, they continued to frantically look at themselves and each other. “I made you better ponies,” he replied, as if nothing were amiss, “just like you asked.” “I can’t fly like this,” Scootaloo protested. “Well, you couldn’t fly before, either,” Discord said with a shrug. “Nothing’s changed as far as that’s concerned.” The hurt was clearly evident in her eyes, her mouth limply opening and closing as she struggled to speak. Sweetie Belle managed to find her voice. “I didn’t want wings,” she squeaked, gesturing toward an outstretched wing. “I wanted to be better with magic.” “I am a creature of chaos,” Discord explained, “not a miracle-worker.” Sweetie Belle’s new wings fell as she crumpled low to the ground. Apple Bloom stomped her hoof down as her eyes narrowed to a glare. “How’s this supposed to help us?” she demanded. Her ferocity dropped as she mumbled to the dirt. “I might be even wimpier than I was before.” Discord waved it off dismissively. “Oh, you three are creative. I’m sure you’ll figure something out.” “Change us back,” Apple Bloom pressed. Her fellow Crusaders stood beside her, mirroring her firm expression. “Sorry, little fillies, but you’ve cut into my vacation time enough as it is.” Two briefcases littered with stickers appeared at Discord’s side. He hefted each of them up as he continued. “I’ll be back in a week. Maybe I’ll change you back then, but honestly, I think these new bodies suit you much better than your old ones.” A pair of sunglasses flashed onto his face. “Discord, wait—” Sweetie Belle pleaded. “I’ll see you in a week, Cutie Mark Conundrums.” And with that, he disappeared. A thick silence passed over them in his absence. “…It’s ‘Cutie Mark Crusaders’,” Sweetie Belle said half-heartedly. “Now what do we do?” Scootaloo said in defeat. Each of their faces scrunched up in thought. “We gotta get help,” Apple Bloom said, her eyes crossing as she looked up at her new horn. “Let’s get back to Ponyville,” Sweetie Belle agreed. “Somepony there can help us.” With a plan to guide them forward, the Crusaders dashed for where Scootaloo’s scooter was parked. Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle stepped into their skis as Scootaloo took her place on her scooter, and each of them put on their helmets. Scootaloo looked back over her shoulder to her friends. “I’m not sure if this’ll work without my wings,” she said hesitantly. “You gotta try, Scootaloo,” Apple Bloom responded. Sweetie Belle quickly nodded along to add her own encouragement. “Okay,” Scootaloo said, still unsure, “here goes.” With that, she pushed off the ground. And what a push it was. Wind rushed past her ears as Scootaloo blew through the sparse woods. Driven by her desire to get to Ponyville as quickly as possible, she feverishly kicked off the ground without letting up. Her eyes lit up as she found herself going even faster. “Scootaloo!” Sweetie Belle yelled. “Slow down!” She and Apple Bloom struggled to hold on, but her shouts were lost to the wind, and Scootaloo wanted to see just how fast she could go. As they continued picking up speed, Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle were finding it more and more difficult to avoid the rocks and trees that littered the path. With the wind racing around her, Sweetie Belle struggled to keep her new wings pressed against her body. The wind finally won out, forcing her wings to flare out to her sides. She let out a shriek as her wings caught the wind and propelled her skyward, leaving her skis and helmet behind. “Sweetie Belle!” Apple Bloom cried. Her attention was quickly pulled back to what was in front of her, as she rapidly approached a tree that didn’t seem to be in the mood to get out of the way. She shut her eyes tight to brace for impact, but as she did, she felt a warm sensation in her new forehead decoration. Sweetie Belle, now high above the tree line, had lost her grip on her ski rope and was at the mercy of the breeze. The breeze, thankfully, seemed to be feeling pretty merciful today. She opened her eyes to find herself gently gliding along. Her shocked expression gradually changed to one of wonder as she took in her surroundings. The sunlit treetops slowly passed by far below her, a magnificent view she’d never even imagined before. Everything was so small and so quiet from up here. She turned to look back on her wings. With only the slightest adjustment to her feathers, she was able to leisurely lean and turn in midair. A light giggle escaped her lips. She gave her wings a few experimental flaps and felt the wind bend around them. She was flying. She was really flying. Apple Bloom felt her grip on her ski rope suddenly slip away, but what she did not feel was the trunk of a tree greeting her body. Instead, she felt an odd pressure squeeze her from all directions. She hesitantly opened one eye to find herself high above the treetops. She looked down in confusion until gravity decided it was a good time to kick in again. Her limbs flailed wildly as she rapidly approached the forest floor. She squeezed her eyes shut and prepared herself for the worst. Another odd tingling sensation came from her new horn and spread throughout her body. Suddenly, everything felt still. She dared to sneak another peek, and the sight made her eyes go wide. She was enveloped in a soft orange glow and calmly floating just inches above the ground. She was levitating. She was using magic. Scootaloo screeched to a halt as she broke through the forest’s edge and came in sight of Ponyville. She found herself panting, but noticed that she’d barely broken a sweat. She wasn’t panting from exhaustion. It was from the exhilaration pumping through her veins. “Guys, did you see that?!” she called back behind her. Her excitement quickly fell away when she realized she had been dragging empty ski ropes. “Guys?!” she yelled out in a panic. “Up here!” A voice called from above her. Scootaloo looked up in time to see Sweetie Belle gracefully come down for a landing. Scootaloo’s eyes went wide in shock. “Were you… flying?” she asked. Sweetie Belle blushed and turned away slightly. “Um, I guess I was,” she answered modestly. She looked around and raised an eyebrow to Scootaloo. “Where’s Apple Bloom?” “Over here!” a voice within the trees replied. Apple Bloom rushed into view, her horn shining with a soft orange light. Behind her, her skis and helmet gently floated above her, gripped in the same orange glow as the one surrounding her horn. “Apple Bloom!” Sweetie Belle squeaked in surprise. “How’re you doing that?” Apple Bloom looked behind her, as if she needed a reminder of what was happening. “Oh, that?” She chuckled uneasily. “I just kinda… think about it, and then it happens, I guess.” Her eyes looked around awkwardly. She set the helmet and skis down and let the light fade from her horn. “But Scootaloo, that was amazing!” Scootaloo perked up at the sudden exclamation. “I’ve never seen ya go that fast before!” Scootaloo scratched the back of her head slowly. “Yeah,” she awkwardly tried to play it off, “I guess I was trying to get here as fast as I could.” They each turned their eyes to Ponyville, a bit surprised to see a greater degree of cloud cover than usual. “Well, now that we’re here,” Sweetie Belle said, “let’s split up and try to fix this mess.” “Right!” Apple Bloom and Scootaloo agreed with a nod. The Crusaders rushed off in three different directions, running as fast as their little hooves could take them. Chapter ThreeRarity was wrapped up in the sweet embrace of slumber, and she was more than willing to stay there the entire night. However, there was a small foreign sound poking through into her subconscious until she started to stir in her sleep. The sound persisted and the disruption to her sleep reached the point that Rarity shot upright in her bed. She pushed her sleeping mask up off of her eyes and looked around. She tried to focus on the sound, and although she couldn’t identify it, she quickly realized it was coming from down the hall. Rarity gingerly scooted herself from underneath her covers and made her way down the hall. As she got closer, it became apparent that the sound was coming from the guest room Sweetie Belle was staying in. She raised a hoof to the door but faltered. Caught between how impolite it would be to look inside and a growing concern for her sister’s well being, she struggled to press her hoof against the door and slowly push it. She opened the door just enough to peek an eye through. Sweetie Belle fumed and turned onto her stomach, the springs in the mattress squeaking in protest. She flipped herself over onto her back, only to find her wings making the position awkward and uncomfortable. She groaned and tried to turn to her side, flipping back and forth as she struggled to find a position even remotely conducive to falling asleep. A nearby pillow dampened the sound of her next groan as she pressed it against her face. Rarity pulled away from the door and bit her lip. The sight of her little sister in such distress troubled her to no end, but she had no experience with this sort of thing. She had no advice to offer. It’s not as if she had ever taken the time to learn the sleeping practices of pegasi. She stood outside the room, unsure of how she might be able to help, with the sounds of Sweetie Belle’s struggle still leaking through the doorway. Sunlight gently cascaded through Sweetie Belle’s window, its warmth welcoming her to the start of a brand new day. Sweetie Belle threw a pillow at it in response. She slowly sat up and heaved a sigh. That was, without a doubt, the worst night of sleep she ever had. Her wings felt stiff and the feathers were a mess. She tried to flex and stretch them a few times, frustration mounting with each failed attempt, until they finally folded against her. The cheerful sound of birds singing outside inspired a scowl from the irritated little filly. A knock at the front door pulled her glare away from the window. It was far too early for it to be a customer or a friend coming over for a casual visit. Sweetie Belle grumbled as she descended the stairs, the incessant knocking aggravating her more with each passing second. She flung open the door to see her fellow Crusaders leaning against each other for support, their eyes only barely held open from the weight of the bags underneath. Sweetie Belle looked back and forth between the two of them for a moment before speaking. “You guys, too?” she asked flatly. “Mmhmm…” they answered, nodding slowly. “We’ve got to do something.” “Mmhmm…” They seemed about ready to pass out right there on the doorstep. Stepping apart from each other, Scootaloo and Apple Bloom gave their heads a quick shake to help wake themselves up. Sweetie Belle stepped aside to let them in before closing the door behind them. “So,” Scootaloo said, “what’s the plan?” “We need somepony who can help us,” Sweetie Belle thought out-loud. “Yeah,” Apple Bloom agreed, “somepony who’s really good at helpin’ other ponies with their problems.” “Somepony who actually knows Discord.” “And can make him change us back,” Scootaloo finished. The Crusaders pondered in silence for a moment, faces scrunched up in thought. Their eyes brightened as their heads all shot up at the same time. “Twilight!” they said in unison. The door of the Carousel Boutique burst open as they raced into town, determined smiles driving them forward. Their previous drowsiness was almost entirely forgotten now that they had a plan. They dashed and wove their way through town, past the shops and stands that were starting to open, past the ponies grumbling about their reckless behavior, and past a very confused Granny Smith who hadn’t been paying attention. Nothing could possibly slow them down. Except perhaps the sight of Pinkie Pie running straight for them. The Crusaders skidded to a halt to avoid colliding with the panicked pony rapidly approaching. “Hi, Pinkie Pie—!” Sweetie Belle started. “Can’t talk!” Pinkie Pie said quickly, “Babies crying!” She zoomed right past them without slowing down. And then she ran backwards, curiosity replacing the urgency she had a moment ago. Her hooves, however, were moving just as excitedly as before, running in place while she tilted her head at them. “Y’know,” she said casually, “something’s different about you three. Did you do each other’s manes?” She smiled brightly with her guess. Apple Bloom pointed to Sweetie Belle’s wings. Sweetie Belle pointed to Scootaloo’s back. Scootaloo pointed to Apple Bloom’s horn. “Huh,” she said thoughtfully, legs still running impatiently. “I knew it was something.” With that, she once more zoomed off, leaving three confused fillies in her wake. “O-kay…” Scootaloo said slowly. “…Let’s keep going.” And so the Cutie Mark Crusaders shook off their odd encounter and continued on their journey. Three hooves feverishly knocked on the library door. After a moment, Twilight opened the door with a pleasant smile. “Good morning—Gah!” Her eyes shot wide at the sight of the Crusaders. “What happened to you three?” They each drew a long breath in unison. “…Discord.” Twilight’s expression became as hard as stone. That answer didn’t surprise her in the least. Only Discord would turn his magic on three defenseless little fillies. “Come inside, girls,” she instructed. “Tell me everything.” Once they were seated near the center table, the Crusaders began to overlap each other as they told Twilight their story. Twilight’s countenance did not soften a single degree the entire time, with only an occasional nod to prove that she hadn’t spontaneously turned into a statue while they were talking. Their retelling of what happened progressively grew more desperate until they finished, staring at their Princess with pleading eyes. Twilight seemed somewhere else, though. Her expression had subtly shifted to one of deep consideration; thoughtful and calculating. Her mind was already thinking several steps ahead, trying to account for all of the possible outcomes. “So?” Sweetie Belle asked gently, breaking Twilight away from her thoughts. “Can you help us?” Twilight stood up from the table and gave them a reassuring smile. “Don’t worry, girls—just step back and let me handle this.” Twilight walked herself into the middle of the room while the Crusaders rushed to take a seat near a bookshelf. Twilight closed her eyes and focused her mind. Immediately, there was a tangible shift in the air, as if a breeze that wasn’t there before had just changed direction. Twilight’s mane and tail began to billow in this magical breeze as it swirled around her, a brilliant light igniting at the tip of her horn. The light suddenly surged and Discord appeared in the center of the room, doubled over in hysterical laughter. “But they were hidden in her library the entire ti—!” He stopped abruptly as he looked around in confusion, suddenly aware that his setting had changed dramatically. His eyes eventually fell on Twilight, and quickly rolled themselves away. “Again with that summoning spell, Twilight?” he asked in exasperation. “Must I remind you again that you’re supposed to give me a heads-up before you do that? I am putting serious consideration to having a talk with Celestia about your ability to follow simple instructions.” He shook his head slowly. “And while I’m on vacation, no less!” Discord’s appearance had managed to escape her notice until then. He was wearing a red vacation shirt patterned with tropical flowers. In the grip of his paw he held a sliced-open coconut decorated with a little umbrella and a bendy straw. He leaned forward to look down on her. “I’m sure you got the memo.” “Discord!” she shot at him. “Did you have something to do with this?” She waved a hoof to the three fillies sitting against a bookshelf. Discord took a casual sip of his coconut water, smacking his lips before speaking. “I only did it because they asked me to,” he said with a shrug. “We didn’t ask for this!” Scootaloo said with a sweeping motion. “Now listen here, Cutie Mark Kerfuffles—” “That doesn’t even make sense.” “—you asked me to make you better ponies, and that is precisely what I did. I might’ve taken a bit of liberty with it, but I’d definitely call this an improvement.” Twilight’s eyes narrowed with growing frustration. “Change them back, Discord,” she said firmly. Discord turned to face her as he stretched his arm out and let go of his coconut drink. Rather than falling to the ground, however, it simply stayed suspended in the air, as if it had been placed on an invisible shelf. “You have some nerve, Twilight Sparkle,” he said. “Here I am, trying to enjoy my hard-earned vacation, and you come along out of nowhere to interrupt it, throwing around demands like you’re Celestia herself!” He shook his head in disappointment. “Does that sound like something a friend would do?” “That isn’t—” Discord turned away from her and strolled over to the fillies who were exchanging nervous glances. They could see that this wasn’t going the way they had hoped. “And as for you, Cutie Mark Contaminants—” “Now you’re just being mean,” Sweetie Belle cut in. “—I said I’d be back in a week, and that I might change you back then. So far, you’ve given me little reason to do so. Do you realize how much of my vacation time you’ve cost me?” Discord didn’t wait for an answer. He made his way back to the center of the room and indignantly snagged his coconut out of the air. “Now, if you’ll excuse me…” With a flash of stars, he was gone. Twilight and the Crusaders stared at the spot in silence. “Oh no, you don’t!” Twilight said quickly, reigniting the light in her horn. Another brilliant flash filled the room, but where Twilight expected to see Discord instead floated a small piece of paper. She exchanged a confused glance with the Crusaders. “What’s it say?” Apple Bloom asked. Twilight leaned in close and narrowed her eyes at the small print. She read aloud: Discord is not available. Please leave a message after the smoke bomb. “ ‘Smoke bomb’?” she repeated. A dull concussive thud resounded throughout the entire library, filling every nook and cranny will thick white smoke. Twilight and the Crusaders shot out through the door, covered in dust and coughing up the white smoke that had invaded their lungs. “It looks like—” Twilight tried to say before another coughing fit cut her off. “It looks like Discord’s found a way around my summoning spell.” She turned to the little fillies with a heavy heart. “I’m sorry, girls, but I don’t think I can get him to come back unless he wants to.” The Crusaders hung their heads. With how hopeless their situation was becoming, they couldn’t even bring themselves to look at each other. “Now what do we do?” Scootaloo asked, laying across the floor and staring up at the clubhouse ceiling. “C’mon, girls, think!” Sweetie Belle said. She was standing in their designated thinking-spot, trying to force inspiration to come. “There’s gotta be something we can do!” “Oh, what’s the point?” Apple Bloom said, her bow drooping against her head. “We’re gonna be stuck like this ‘til Discord decides to change us back—maybe forever!” Sweetie Belle seethed. “No, there’s gotta be something else! There’s gotta be somepony out there who can help us.” She squeezed her eyes tight, thinking as hard as she could. Her wings started flapping to punctuate her frustration. Scootaloo’s eyes widened at the sight. She quickly rolled over and looked at her friends. “What about Fluttershy?” Apple Bloom raised an eyebrow at her. “What about her?” “I don’t know. Aren’t she and Discord, like, penpals or something?” The idea hung in the air around them. “…Ya really think she can help?” “Do you?” The Crusaders looked at each other in silence. Sweetie Belle was the first to speak. “I think it’s worth a shot.” “I’m up for anything at this point,” Scootaloo agreed. A nod from Apple Bloom set the three running for the door. Sweetie Belle, however, skidded to a stop. Scootaloo and Apple Bloom looked back at her, confusion written all over their faces. She gave her two friends a sheepish smile. “Um, how about we don’t use the scooter this time?” Fluttershy was singing quietly to herself as she tended to her flowers. It was such a lovely day, and the rain yesterday made everything seem so fresh and new. The sparse clouds left over from the storm cast the scenery in a soft shade while the sunlight danced around her. A gentle breeze blew through her mane and she leaned into it, savoring the sensation as well as the scent of nature it carried. It was nice. Her smile grew a little wider when she saw her three sweet little angels running towards her. They must be so excited. “Why, hello, girls—” Her lips snapped shut as she was stunned into silence. Her eyes darted back and forth between them as they ran up to her. “What happened to you three?” The Cutie Mark Crusaders rushed through the story of everything they had been through. Fluttershy’s eyes slowly widened as they progressed through their tale. Between the running and their rapid retelling, the Crusaders found themselves panting by the time they were able to finish. “So, can you help us?” Sweetie Belle asked. “Please?” they all asked together. Fluttershy’s stiff form relaxed a bit as she looked at the precious little fillies before her. It was clear that they needed her help, and she wasn’t going to let them down. Her eyes were so gentle and affectionate that even the Crusaders were able to regain a bit of faith. “Of course I’ll help you,” she told them with a nod. “You just leave this to me.” The Crusaders stepped out of her way as she took a few steps forward. They watched in curious anticipation as she closed her eyes and softly cleared her throat. “Ahem,” she said gently. “Discord?” After a moment of nothing, Discord appeared before her with his arms lazily crossed. This time he was wearing navy blue swim trunks that were somehow able to accommodate his tail and a pair of red sunglasses. He lowered his sunglasses and peered over them at her. “Now, Shutterfly,” he started gently, “you know I’m on vacation, and we agreed that you’d only call on me if it’s an emer—” his gaze shifted from her to the fillies waiting nearby, causing his face to fall in annoyance. “Oh, you three again”—he tossed the sunglasses over his shoulder, where they exploded in midair—“the Cutie Mark Constables.” Apple Bloom sighed in frustration. “It’s Cutie Mark—!” she stopped abruptly, bringing her hoof to her chin. “Cutie Mark Crusader Constables. Not a bad idea, actually.” She turned back to her friends. “Let’s keep that in mind for later.” Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle nodded in agreement. “Discord,” Fluttershy said, trying to get them back on track, “I want you to change them back, please.” Discord rolled his eyes. “Oh, not you, too. Why is everypony trying to make me change them back?” He walked over to the Crusaders and leaned in close to address each of them in turn, starting with Scootaloo. “You now possess a level of speed and athleticism that was able to impress even your idol, earning you praise and recognition, right?” “Um—” He turned to Apple Bloom. “And you now have the ability to contribute to the farm more than you ever could before and even gain some independence, right?” “Well, y’see—” He looked over at Sweetie Belle. “And you were able to help your sister in ways you never could have before, gaining her thanks and approval, right?” “About that—” “So…” he said, leaning so far forward he met them at eye-level. “What’s the problem?” The Crusaders were huddled together, leaning away from Discord’s face that felt a little too close for comfort. “Havin’ all those things is nice,” Apple Bloom began. “—But we’re not really ourselves, anymore,” Scootaloo added. “All we really wanted was to make ourselves better,” Sweetie Belle said. “—Not change who we are,” Apple Bloom finished. Discord once more followed the conversation with his eyes, arching an eyebrow at them. “That finish-each-other’s-sentences-thing you do; it’s starting to freak me out.” He brought himself back to his full height, stroking his chin thoughtfully. “So you’re telling me you’d rather struggle with having your old bodies than keep what these new bodies have to offer?” The Crusaders nodded their heads with apologetic pouts. “Congratulations, little ponies!” Discord beamed. “Huh?” they asked together. “You have just learned a valuable life lesson, courtesy of Discord. No need to thank me—the look on your faces is thanks enough!” He smiled down at three very confused looking fillies. “Huh?” Scootaloo repeated. “Ya mean ya did all this,” Apple Bloom said with a sweep of her forelimb, “just to teach us a lesson?” “Well, I had some fun along the way,” Discord answered. “Why would you do all that?” Sweetie Belle asked. Discord tented his fingers as he thought about his answer. “It’s my understanding that getting a cutie mark is about finding out who you are, not about trying to be something you’re not.” Apple Bloom scratched at the back of her head. “Yeah, we’ve been hearin’ that a lot lately.” “I felt that a more practical illustration would get the point across.” Fluttershy stepped forward. “That was very nice of you, Discord, but they’ve learned their lesson, haven’t you, girls?” The Crusaders nodded to her. “It’s time to change them back.” Discord rolled his eyes, but when he looked back down at Fluttershy, her eyes began chipping away at his resolve. “Oh, very well,” he said with a snap of his talons. “There.” Once more, his eardrums were stabbed by a shriek in three-part harmony. He looked down at the panicked orange unicorn, yellow pegasus, and white earth pony before him. “Discord!” Fluttershy scolded. “What?” he asked, not even trying to sound innocent. “Is that not how they were before?” “Discord…” The Stare was starting to push against the back of her eyes. “Fine-fine-fine,” he said quickly, snapping his talons once more. Scootaloo turned to look at her back and broke into an uncontainable grin at the sight of her wings. Her wings returned her excitement by buzzing faster than they ever had before. “Oh, I missed you guys so much!” she said to her wings. “I’m never complaining about you again!” “My horn!” Sweetie Belle cheered, prompting Scootaloo to look up. Sweetie Belle was curled up tight and holding her horn in her hooves. “My worthless, useless—beautiful horn!” Apple Bloom tackled both of her friends, rolling the trio into a laughing pile of giddiness. “Oh, I’ve never been so happy to be such a wimpy earth pony.” The Crusaders turned their heads up at the sound of Discord’s slow clapping. “Yes, ponies restored. Lessons learned. Friendships reinforced,” he said with mock enthusiasm. His face flattened as he turned to Fluttershy. “Can I go now?” “Yes,” she said with a pleasant smile. “Thank you, Discord. Enjoy the rest of your vacation.” “Finally,” he said, conjuring a new pair of sunglasses in his paw. “After a thousand years of being trapped in stone I am desperately due for a good tanning session.” He donned his new sunglasses and disappeared into a flash of stars. The Cutie Mark Crusaders rushed to Fluttershy and hopped around her quickly. “Oh, thank you! Thank you! Thank you!” they kept saying while Fluttershy struggled to keep track of them. “Girls, girls,” she said with a gentle smile, trying to get them under control. They stopped their bouncing and lined themselves up in front of her. Fluttershy looked down at the bright eyes of her precious little angels, at their smiles filled to the brim with gratitude and admiration, and she found herself blinking more than usual. “You’re welcome.” Chapter FourPrincess Celestia was enjoying a moment of serenity with her younger sister, as she often did at this time of day. The time to lower the sun was nearly upon them, meaning that Princess Luna would have to be nearby to raise the moon. The two royal sisters always enjoyed this opportunity to discuss the events of day—a tradition that they mirrored each morning to discuss what happened the previous night. But it was never merely talks about royal business or some bothersome member of the nobility. More often, they enjoyed their tea as they felt two sisters should: quality time to get to know the other better. No matter how long they have known each other, there was always more to discover. They each possessed a wealth of stories to tell the other, and even if a story had been told before, each retelling only proved more insightful and enjoyable than the one that came before. The sudden appearance of sparkling green fire through the balcony doorframe interrupted tonight’s tea. A scroll materialized itself before Celestia, which she promptly gripped in her golden magical aura. Her eyes brightened and a smile graced her lips at the arrival of this report. “Look, Luna,” she said pleasantly, “it’s marked from Scootaloo and her friends.” “Splendid!” Luna said brightly. “May I read it with you, dear sister?” “I wouldn’t have it any other way.” Celestia smiled as Luna came around the table to sit with her. The magic enveloping the scroll broke the seal and unfurled it before them. Dear Princess Celestia, Today we learned a valuable lesson about being true to yourself. Sometimes, when you really want something, you might try taking the easy way to get it, even if it means becoming something you’re not. But even if you do get what you were hoping for, you can’t really enjoy it since you didn’t earn it in the first place. In the end, it’s better to stay who you are. We also learned a lesson about appreciating the things you have. It’s easy to think about the things you really want. But when you focus on things like that, you lose sight of the things that you do have. Losing those things, even if you didn’t appreciate them before, can be a lot worse than missing out on what you want. You should always be thankful for what you have, and work hard for the things you don’t. Signed, your loyal subjects, The Cutie Mark Crusaders Apple Bloom, Scootaloo, and Sweetie Belle “Such wonderful lessons to have learned!” Luna said. “I agree,” Celestia said with a nod, “but I do often wonder what it was that happened to teach my little ponies these lessons.” “ ’Tis a mystery,” she said casually. Another scroll suddenly appeared before the sisters. This one, however, did not arrive by enchanted dragon fire. This one had simply appeared. Perhaps stranger still was the fact that it seemed to be floating before them of its own accord, as if patiently waiting to be opened. They exchanged an odd look of confusion. “Who is this one from, sister?” Luna asked, eyes fixed on the scroll. “It does not say,” she answered, studying the scroll with careful consideration. “Should we open it?” They looked to each other one more time, unsure of how to proceed. Celestia gripped it in her magic and unfurled the scroll. Dear Celestia, Today I learned a valuable lesson about Blah blah blah. Anyway, I understand that you want to be told whenever I stir up a little mischief, so I thought I’d save somepony else the trouble and come clean with what I did. I recently changed the race of three little ponies, but I’ll have you know I had a good reason. It was funny To teach them a valuable life lesson. Now before you say anything, you should know that I did this after my vacation started, and vacations are about enjoying yourself, am I right? Of course I’m right. My vacation’s going well, thanks for asking. With all of the interruptions at the beginning, though, I might have to request some more vacation time sooner than expected. Remind me to have a chat with you about that student of yours. And don’t you worry about those little ponies—the Cutie Mark Chrysanthemums, or something like that. I changed them back after they learned their lesson. There was smiling and cheering and they all lived happily ever after. Probably. I didn’t really stick around after that. Here’s to hoping I can enjoy the rest of my vacation in peace. I’ll see you at the end of the week. Wish you were here, Discord P.S. Tell Luna I’ll return her sunscreen when I get back. Celestia and Luna stared at the letter before them, eyes notably wider than usual. They turned their gaze to each other for a prolonged moment, waiting for the other to break the silence. Luna was the first to speak. “I told you my sunscreen was missing.” Author's Note Thank you for reading my first story. I hope you enjoyed it. Please leave any thoughts, criticisms, praise, or advise below. I would love to get opinions on my story and my writing. Thank you for your time. Chapter TwoRainbow Dash was relaxing on a small cloud bed she’d fashioned in a field outside of Ponyville. The rain would need to start a little earlier than originally scheduled, so she had to go all the way out here to enjoy the sun. The extra effort had definitely been worth it, though, as she basked in the sun’s light and soaked up its warmth. She let out a sigh of contentment as she threw her forelimbs behind her head. “Now this is the life,” she commented. “Hey, Rainbow Dash!” Rainbow Dash recognized the voice of her number-one fan instantly. As much as she enjoyed relaxing, she would always prefer to spend time with her friends. And this was a friend she’d come to see as a little sister. Her smile grew a little wider as she turned over to look down at her. “Hey, Squirt!” She called down with a wave. “I thought you were—” Her eyes nearly jumped out of her head. She rushed down to Scootaloo in an instant, unable to believe her eyes. But closer inspection only confirmed the impossible. “What happened to your wings?!” Scootaloo turned to the ground. “Discord turned me into an earth pony,” she said quietly. “Discord what?!” Rainbow Dash growled as her teeth clenched. She pulled Scootaloo in close and glared in the direction she had come from. “I remember when he took my wings away. Don’t worry, Squirt, I’ll make him give you your wings back—the hard way if I have to.” Scootaloo looked up at her with eyes filled with admiration. To know that her hero—her big sister—would go to such lengths for her made her little heart swell up in her chest. “Discord’s gone,” Scootaloo admitted. “He went on vacation, and he won’t be back for a whole week.” “Vaca—!” As if Rainbow Dash needed more inspiration to be mad at Discord. Her scowl deepened, but despite the fury boiling inside her, she knew she couldn’t pummel him if she couldn’t find him. Getting worked up now wouldn’t help anything. Right now, her little sister needed her. She took a few breaths to calm herself down. Rainbow Dash wrapped her sister up in her wings to enhance the hug. Scootaloo curled up closer to her in response. “Hey,” Rainbow Dash said gently, causing Scootaloo to look up at her. “It’ll be okay.” She gave Scootaloo the most genuine smile she could manage. Comforting other ponies wasn’t exactly her strong suit, but if the smile Scootaloo was giving her was any indication, her efforts were at least helping. An idea suddenly crossed her mind. “You know what? We should do something fun—just you and me.” “Like what?” “Well, how ‘bout a race?” Rainbow Dash gently took a step back to gauge her reaction. Scootaloo looked more puzzled than unwilling, so Rainbow Dash continued. “We could run to that tree over there.” She gave a vague tilt of her head, prompting Scootaloo to lean over and look past her. At the very edge of the field was a tree that stood slightly taller than the others. It seemed to be the only tree with any distinguishing features. Rainbow Dash had always believed that a little physical activity could help anypony get their mind off of their problems. And she figured if she let Scootaloo keep pace with her, it would boost the little filly’s mood and self-esteem. “So what do you say?” Rainbow asked. “You up for a race?” Scootaloo looked back and forth between the tree and Rainbow Dash until she slowly started to smile. “Sure.” Rainbow Dash positioned herself next to Scootaloo at their imaginary starting line. Scootaloo crouched down low, her determined expression mere inches off the ground. That daredevil glint in her eyes was one that Rainbow Dash knew well. She felt it in her own eyes whenever she was in the zone. “Ready, Squirt?” Scootaloo dug her hoof through the ground in response. “On your mark, get set, go!” An orange blur blew past Rainbow Dash, stunning her for a second. She charged after her, breaking into a sprint to make up for lost time. Her longer strides allowed her to close the distance between them, and as she caught up to Scootaloo’s side, she eased up to keep pace with her. Scootaloo spared a glance as she entered her field of view. “Not bad, kid,” Rainbow Dash said between breaths. “Think you can step it up?” The spark in Scootaloo’s eye shined from the challenge. She propelled herself forward with a powerful leap, and when her hooves struck the ground, she kicked off with enough force to scatter blades of grass and clumps of dirt. The wind roared in her ears as she widened the gap between herself and her sister. Rainbow Dash smirked. It was an impressive move, but years of racing had taught her a few things. Her eyes narrowed as she lowered her head and tucked her wings in tight. She was streamlined, aerodynamic, and as she poured on the speed, she found herself closing the gap Scootaloo had managed to make. The designated tree was quickly approaching. Victory was in sight for Scootaloo, but she could hear Rainbow Dash only a step behind her. Their rapid hoofsteps and her pounding pulse were thundering in her ears. She leapt for the tree, an outstretched hoof reaching for their finish line. Rainbow Dash lunged forward and sliced through the air with her hoof. Their hooves each struck the bark at the same time. The two ponies collapsed in the shade of the tree, trying to catch their breaths and smiling wide grins to each other. Rainbow Dash had pushed her little sister to greatness, and Scootaloo had tied with her idol. “Way to go, Squirt,” Rainbow Dash managed to say. “I don’t think you’ve ever gone that fast before—not even on your scooter!” “Really?” Scootaloo bolted up with bright and shiny eyes. “Totally! You’re almost as fast as—” she sat up and brought a hoof to her chin, trying to think of a good comparison. “…Pinkie Pie,” she finished with a shrug. Scootaloo’s smile faltered a bit as confusion drew across her face. “Really?” “Trust me, kid,” Rainbow Dash said with a reassuring smile, “that’s saying something.” Rainbow Dash extended a wing over her little sister, and Scootaloo scooted in closer. Scootaloo enjoyed the light feeling of her sister’s feathers against her body. The almost weightless tickle as they gently caressed her in the breeze brought a content smile to her face. “Y’know,” Rainbow Dash said suddenly, “for a second there, I thought you might actually beat me.” Scootaloo perked up as the muscles in her back tightened—a reflex that would normally cause her wings to buzz, but now only served as a reminder of what was missing. Her shoulders slumped as she turned down to the ground. Rainbow Dash’s eyes widened in panic. “Uh, hey, Scootaloo,” she said quickly, “have I ever shown you my favorite sights around Ponyville?” Scootaloo shook her head. “Well, hop on, then!” Rainbow Dash lowered herself to the ground and gave Scootaloo a smile she hoped was inviting. Scootaloo simply stared at her for a moment before she reluctantly clambered onto her back. Once she had a hold around her, Rainbow Dash rocketed into the sky, giving them a spectacular view of the surrounding area. Scootaloo tried to enjoy the view, but her mind was somewhere else. She kept thinking about the first time they flew together as sisters, about how she buzzed her wings while Rainbow Dash carried her through the air. The muscles of her back flexed at the memory as she pressed her face into her sister’s neck. Rainbow Dash’s mane smelled really nice today. That must be why Scootaloo was sniffling so much. Applejack stored the apple cart away in the barn and closed the barn doors behind her. It was a shame that she had to close up her stand so early, but as she looked back at Ponyville, it was clear that the rain was about to start. “Well, at least the weather’s nice here,” she noted with a smile. Indeed, the sun was shining bright and uninhibited over the humble farm, as if blissfully unaware of the rainstorm that was about to plague the neighboring town. Applejack took a moment to admire the sunlight glittering off of the bright apples in her orchard, each one shining like stars against the warm, green leaves. She took in a deep breath and let out a crisp sigh. The bouquet of the farm was sweeter than any perfume. It smelled like trees ready to be bucked, apples ready to be picked, and moist dirt ready to be worked. And she was ready to dive on in. “Applejack!” Well, she thought she was ready, anyway. Applejack turned to the small voice calling for her attention. “Howdy, Apple Bloo—what in tarnation?!” She ran to meet her younger sister, gawking at the horn that definitely hadn’t been there before. “Why d’ya have a horn?! Where’d it come from? Who did this to ya?” The questions tumbled out of her mouth like apples falling out of a bushel. “…Does it hurt?” She gave it an experimental poke. “I’m fine, Sis,” Apple Bloom assured her with a roll of her eyes. Applejack breathed a small sigh of relief. She leaned in toward Apple Bloom to get a closer look at the horn. “So, how’d this happen, then?” She brought herself back to her full height, raising a suspicious eyebrow at her. “Ya ain’t been messin’ with potions again, have ya?” “N-No!” Apple Bloom shook her head quickly. “Discord turned me into a unicorn. He did it while we were out Crusadin’.” “Discord?” Her eyes narrowed as her jaw set. “Why, that no-good, troublemakin’ snake. Where is he? He’s about to get a talkin’-to he’ll never forget.” “I don’ know where he is,” she reported. “He left for some week-long vacation right after he did this.” Applejack ground her teeth and stomped a hoof down. Looking out at the farm, the apples didn’t seem as bright as before. The air smelled a little less sweet. A sigh escaped her lips as she lowered her hat. Tracking Discord wasn’t exactly like tracking a lost sheep, and she’d need all the help she could get. “Look, Apple Bloom—we can’t sort this out now, what with the storm comin’ to Ponyville and all. Everypony must be hunkered down by now. Why don’t ya head on inside while I get to work out here?” “I could help ya, if ya want,” Apple Bloom offered. “That’s mighty sweet o’ ya, sis,” she said with a smile, “but don’t ya worry none, I—” Her eyes widened as her mouth snapped shut. Apple Bloom had her horn pointed to the nearest tree, an orange glow flaring out from it. Applejack watched in stunned silence as that same glow surrounded the each of the apples, pulling them loose from the tree and delicately guiding them to the bushels waiting below. The orange light faded from her horn as Apple Bloom wiped her forehead. “See?” Apple Bloom asked as she turned to her sister. Applejack blinked rapidly, still trying to process what she just witnessed. She managed a small chuckle. “I guess ya can help me,” she said with another chuckle, “if yer up to it.” A wide smile coupled with an enthusiastic nod from her little sister told Applejack that she was definitely up to it. A smile of pride spread across her own lips. Without another word, they got straight to work. Even considering how fast Applejack was able to buck the apples free from the trees, Apple Bloom was nearly able to keep pace with her using magic. They made their way through the orchard, filling up countless bushels along the way. As they continued, that famous Apple family pride sparked a competitive spirit to see how quickly they could get the job done. When they reached a suitable stopping point, they looked to each other, both panting with exertion and covered in more than a little sweat. The sight of each other filled them both with laughter they couldn’t contain. “So,” Apple Bloom began as she gained control of herself, “how’d I do?” “You were great, Sis!” Applejack beamed with pride. “Horn or no horn, yer an Apple, through and through.” “There anythin’ else we can do?” It didn’t matter how tired she was feeling. She didn’t want this to stop. Applejack stopped and thought. With Apple Bloom’s help, she finished the apple-bucking she was planning to do much sooner than expected. She ran through a mental check-list of chores that needed to be done. A glint appeared in her eye as a smile tugged at the side of lip. “Go find a basket,” she instructed. “Let’s get the bruised apples together for the pigs.” Apple Bloom dashed off with a smile, dragging a basket over with her teeth. She positioned herself underneath it to balance it on her head, as always, but found her horn getting in the way. She tried to accommodate it by leaning her head forward, but it required her in chin being tucked in far too much to be comfortable. With a frustrated huff, she tried leaning her head back, but this only resulted in the basket taking up her entire field of view. She set the basket down and looked at her horn in annoyance. “How does Sweetie Belle deal with this thing?” she asked herself quietly. “Ya ‘bout ready over there?” Applejack called out to her. “Uh, just a sec!” Apple Bloom answered. Unable to think of anything else, she lit her horn and levitated the basket above her head. “Ya ready, sis?” Applejack asked as she stepped over to the nearest apple on the ground. “I guess so.” She couldn’t help the uncertainty in her voice. Applejack tossed the apple into the air and bucked it in her sister’s direction. The basket moved instinctively and caught the apple with little difficulty. “Whoo!” Applejack cheered. “Nice catch, Apple Bloom!” “Y-Yeah,” Apple Bloom chuckled awkwardly and scratched at the back of her head. It didn’t really feel like she was doing anything. Applejack swatted another apple with her tail, and once more, the basket quickly caught it before drifting back over her head. This time, however, Applejack noticed how troubled her sister looked. “Somethin’ wrong, sis?” Apple Bloom looked to her with a sigh. “It’s just—it ain’t all that fun this way.” She looked around at the apples strewn about her. With another flare of her magic, a nearby apple levitated off the ground and into the basket still patiently floating above her before continuing. “I mean, the whole point of us doin’ this together is turnin’ hard work into somethin’ fun.” Using magic made what would normally be cumbersome, into little more than a slight inconvenience. Apple Bloom could see it was more efficient for her to do this on her own. She didn’t want Applejack to tire herself out any more than she already had. “I-I can handle it, Sis.” The smile she gave Applejack wasn’t nearly as convincing as she wanted it to be. Applejack opened her mouth to speak, but nothing came out. She watched as Apple Bloom levitated more apples into her basket. “Ya sure ya don’t want any help?” she offered. “I’m fine,” Apple Bloom said quietly. “You can head on inside if ya want.” Applejack watched her sister collect apples in silence, worry pulling her gaze toward the ground. Rarity glared at the sky from underneath a storefront canopy, silently scorning the raindrops that were keeping her stranded. “Ooh, curse that Rainbow Dash,” she muttered to herself. “She assured me that the rain wouldn’t start until this afternoon.” All she needed to do was step into town for a moment and pick up a few supplies before this nasty rainstorm caused everything to close down. She had picked up the last item on her list when she found the storm had started in full force. The world seemed to be particularly determined to taunt her today, because she could just see the Carousel Boutique around the corner of another building. She looked back to her cart, and more precisely, the umbrella resting on the top. Rarity had always possessed the foresight to take precautions, especially in matters that might jeopardize her beautiful mane and coat. What she did not possess, however, was a covered wagon, a fact that she was beginning to regret. Her umbrella was certainly of suitable size to protect her purchases, but it would mean leaving herself exposed to the rain. Her lower lip was not appreciating how hard she was biting down on it. “Oh, what am I to do?” she asked herself, turning back and forth between her cart and the rain. “Hi, Rarity!” a voice sang out. Rarity naturally recognized the voice of her younger sister in an instant. The direction that it came from, however, gave her cause for concern. She hesitantly turned her head back up. Framed in the sunlight pouring through a small hole in the clouds was Sweetie Belle’s carefree smile. “Sweetie Belle!” Rarity said, utterly scandalized. “What are you doing up there?” “Discord turned me into a pegasus,” she called back down. “Well, have him change you back right now.” “I can’t!” she continued. “He’s on vacation!” “Vacation?” The scandal returned to her voice. “He won’t be back for a week.” Rarity shook her head with a quiet sigh before speaking up again. “Well, at least come down from there. I’m getting tired of yelling at you.” “Never stopped you before…” she muttered into the cloud. “What was that?” “Nothing!” she called down sweetly. “Then get down here, already.” “But I can help!” “Honestly, Sweetie Belle, I don’t see how—” Sweetie Belle was off with a dash, kicking and using her body to cut through the clouds as quickly as she could. “—oh, my.” Rarity looked out in amazement at the sight before her. Sunlight was pouring through the rift in the clouds that Sweetie Belle had made, illuminating an arcing path that led all the way to the Carousel Boutique. Rarity watched with eyes wide as her sister gently came in for a landing in front of her. Sweetie Belle tucked her wings in tight and looked up at her, wearing the proudest little smile. “So?” she asked after a moment. “What do you think?” Rarity was struck with the painful realization that she had been letting her mouth hang open in a very unladylike fashion. She quickly clapped her mouth shut and found her voice. “My word, Sweetie Belle!” she beamed. “That was simply marvelous!” Sweetie Belle’s grin grew wider than she would’ve thought possible. “Really?!” “Absolutely!” Rarity looked back at her umbrella, picking it up in her magical aura before smiling back at her sister. “I suppose I won’t be needing this, now will I?” Sweetie Belle giggled as Rarity placed the umbrella back on her cart. They walked down the path Sweetie Belle had made, enjoying the sunlight despite the pouring rain only inches away. “Thank you very much, Sweetie Belle,” Rarity said with a warm smile. “I don’t know what I would’ve done without you.” Sweetie Belle could only barely contain her giddiness. She finally did it. She finally got praise from her big sister. Rarity opened the door to the Carousel Boutique to let Sweetie Belle rush in before pulling the cart inside. “What were you doing outside, anyway?” Sweetie Belle asked with a tilt of her head. “Oh, just picking up a few essentials—rolls of fabric, spools of thread and the like.” Rarity’s horn glowed a soft blue as she levitated the contents of her cart into the air. With light tilts and turns of her head, she directed each item to its proper place. Umbrella for the umbrella stand. Threads on the shelf, by color and amount remaining. Sweetie Belle watched with rapt attention at the ease and precision with which Rarity used her magic. It wasn’t merely levitating and moving objects. She added a breath of elegance to the task. They danced and glided through the air before gently landing exactly where they were meant to be. Rarity spoke casually as her purchases continued floating around the room. “I have a few orders that I need to get done, and this rainstorm should allow me to work uninterrupted.” Sweetie Belle turned to the ground. “Oh. I guess I should wait in the other room so you can work, huh?” “I—” Rarity stopped and looked at her younger sister. Sweetie Belle lightly kicked the ground while she waited for a response. Rarity’s eyes softened with a smile. “I was actually hoping you would keep me company, if you’d like.” Sweetie Belle perked up instantly. “Really?!” Her wings flapped in excitement. “Of course!” Rarity answered. “Now, if I can just find my pincushion, we can get started. I could’ve sworn I left it right here.” She looked back and forth across her work table. “I got it!” Sweetie Belle zoomed past Rarity as she flew to one of the upper shelves. She picked up the pincushion and drifted back down to a wide-eyed Rarity. She held it out to her big sister with a smile spread across her face. “Hmm,” Rarity said quietly, looking back and forth between Sweetie Belle and the shelf. “Opalescence must have moved it while I was out.” She levitated the pincushion out of Sweetie Belle’s hoof and onto the table. “Thank you again, Sweetie Belle. You’ve been quite the little helper today.” Sweetie Belle giggled at Rarity’s praise and stepped off to the side to give her sister room to work. Rarity donned her red reading glasses and smiled to her sister. A smile and a wave from Sweetie Belle told her that she could begin. Rarity levitated a roll of ruby cloth and spread it across her table. With another flare from her horn, a pair of scissors levitated over to the cloth and began snipping away with speed and precision. Occasionally, she would ask Sweetie Belle to fetch her something from the shelves, if only to keep her from getting bored. Sweetie Belle always responded with enthusiasm, flying up to the shelf to get the item before presenting it to her sister with a smile. Rarity thanked her each time and returned her smile. Work was progressing well, and for once having Sweetie Belle around wasn’t so bad. As Sweetie Belle continued to watch her sister work, a thought began to develop until she finally spoke up about it. “Rarity?” she asked. “Hmm?” “How did you get so good at magic?” Rarity stopped suddenly and turned to her sister with a curious expression. “I suppose it came out of necessity.” She levitated a spool of thread and a needle, holding them up for Sweetie Belle to see. A strand of thread unraveled itself from the spool and shot itself through the eye of the needle. It then tied itself securely, ready for use. “It’s nearly impossible to do such things with one’s hooves. I realized early on that if I was serious about becoming a fashionista that I’d need to become skilled with magic.” She set the needle and thread back down on the table. “After enough time and practice, it became second nature, I suppose. Why do you ask?” Sweetie Belle sighed lightly. “I don’t know. I just—” She looked back at Rarity as she struggled to form words. “I always wanted to be like you, Rarity, and you make it look so easy, but whenever I try to use magic, I can’t get it to work.” She crumpled to the ground, her wings lying flat next to her. “All I do is mess things up.” Rarity walked over to Sweetie Belle and sat down with her. “That’s not true, Sweetie Belle,” she said gently. “You’ve been a tremendous help to me today, but it’s not because of these wings.” She softly brushed her hoof along Sweetie Belle’s wing. “It’s because you are so eager to be helpful. You’ve always been that way. I’ve never met another pony who can match your charitable nature.” Sweetie Belle closed her eyes and leaned against her sister. “You really think so?” “I truly do.” Rarity curled into her younger sister as she closed her eyes. She thought about how there was still more work waiting to be done. But being with her sister felt more important.
Chapter OneThree little fillies came running out of the mine shaft, each covered in a generous amount of black dust and grime. Panting breathlessly, and with little energy to travel much farther, they plopped down outside the mouth of the cave and did their best to clean themselves off. Apple Bloom was the first to speak. “Well, so much for bein’ Cutie Mark Crusader Coal Miners,” she said with reluctant disappointment. Sweetie Belle turned to her sharply with a puzzled expression. “I thought we were being Cutie Mark Crusader Explosives Experts.” This, in turn, caused Scootaloo to look confused. “…That was a Cutie Mark Crusade?” The three fillies sighed and hung their heads. Clearly cutie marks for good communication skills were not in their future. A deep rumbling beneath the ground quickly shocked them out of their sorrow. To their horror, they watched as the mouth of the mine shaft collapsed into a pile of rubble, burying away any hopes of finding their cutie marks down there. They turned to look at each other, unsure of what to do next. “Y’know,” Apple Bloom said, abruptly, “I’ve been thinkin’.” “That’s never good…” Scootaloo remarked. Apple Bloom shot her a glare, but continued. “I think we’ve been goin’ about this the wrong way.” “Really?” Sweetie Belle asked sarcastically. “I thought all of our rousing success so far meant we were on the right track.” “Will you two just let me finish?” Apple Bloom’s patience could only be stretched so far. Her fellow Crusaders relented and held up their hooves, promising they wouldn’t interrupt again. She pointed to each in turn as she said, “Scootaloo, you’re a pegasus, but you can’t fly. And Sweetie Belle, you’re a unicorn, but you can’t do magic. And I’m an earth pony, but I ain’t really that strong.” Scootaloo raised an eyebrow at her. “Is this supposed to make us feel better?” “What I’m tryin’ to say is, maybe if we got better at the things we’re supposed to be good at, then maybe we could figure out what our special talents are.” Sweetie Belle rubbed her chin thoughtfully. “I think you might be on to something. Rarity got her cutie mark when she discovered her gem-finding spell.” “Oh, yeah!” Scootaloo chimed in. “And Rainbow Dash got her cutie mark flying in her first race!” “Exactly!” Apple Bloom said, smiling. “So I figure if we can become better ponies, maybe we can get our cutie marks, too!” “Yeah!” Sweetie Belle squeaked in excitement. “Well, that’s great and all,” Scootaloo cut in, “but how are we supposed to magically become better ponies?” Each of the Crusaders hung their heads in thought. Suddenly, a flash of light appeared before them, scattering white stars in all directions. Barely sparing a moment to exchange panicked expressions, they made a mad dash to the nearest bush for cover. From the safety of the foliage, they peered out at the cause of the strange light. Before the Cutie Mark Crusaders stood Discord, his back to them as he studied the collapsed cave. He was stroking his chin and appeared to be deep in thought. “Honestly, sending me to take care of a small cave-in?” he pondered out-loud. “What’s next—sorting broom closets?” “Who’s he talking to?” Sweetie Belle asked, popping her head out of the bush to look around. With a sharp “Shh!” Scootaloo brought her back down into the bush. “And mere moments before I’m to start my vacation, too,” Discord continued, still unaware of the little fillies behind him. He let out a resigned sigh and muttered, “Well, let’s get this over with.” Arching himself backwards, he stretched his arms out before him and let out a deep groan. With a roll of his shoulders to loosen the stiffness in his joints and a quick shake of all of his limbs, he found himself ready to tackle the problem before him. He snapped his talons. Instantly, the debris and fallen rocks inside the cave were cleared away, leaving no evidence that the cave collapse had ever occurred. The mouth of the cave even sparkled in the sunlight, as if it had been given a polished glow. The Crusaders’ eyes went wide in awe. “Such a waste,” Discord commented. He almost sounded disappointed. “All of this magical power at my disposal, and this is what I’m called to do.” A glint appeared in Apple Bloom’s eye. She just had an idea so brilliant that absolutely nothing could go wrong. Without giving it another thought, she charged out of the bush, heading straight for Discord. “Apple Bloom!” Scootaloo hissed as she and Sweetie Belle chased after her. Discord was too busy judging his handiwork to notice. He mindlessly stroked his chin until a look of mild satisfaction crossed his face. “At least now I can finally begin my vaca—” “Hey, Discord!” Quickly turning with a start, Discord looked for the source of the disruption. He looked down in time to see Apple Bloom run up to him, followed closely by Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo. Discord’s expression immediately brightened. “Well, if it isn’t my favorite little ponies: the Cutie Mark Crewmates!” “Cutie Mark Crusaders,” Apple Bloom corrected. “Isn’t that what I said?” The Crusaders exchanged awkward glances and raised eyebrows. “Uh—say, Discord,” Apple Bloom said, trying to get them back on track, “you’re really good with magic, right?” “I try not to brag,” he smugly replied, polishing his talons against his chest. “Well, we were kinda hopin’ you could help us out with somethin’,” Apple Bloom said, trying to sound casual. Looks of understanding dawned on her fellow Crusaders. Discord, however, simply raised a skeptical eyebrow. “Hmm,” he said slowly, mulling it over, “I suppose I do owe you three for letting me out of my stone prison that first time around, so... Okay, why not? What is it you want—candy? Some new toys? A dog to eat your homework?” Each of the items appeared over Discord’s head with a flash, hovering and gently bobbing above him. “Actually, we were just thinkin’—” “I can’t exactly fly yet,” Scootaloo cut in. “And I can’t really use my magic,” Sweetie Belle added. “And I ain’t all that strong for an earth pony.” “But maybe if we were better ponies—” “Then maybe we could find out what our special talents are supposed to be.” “I guess what we’re tryin’ to say is—” “Can you make us better ponies?!” they asked together, eyes bright with hopeful smiles. Discord’s eyes had been following the conversation in silence. When they finished, he simply stared at their smiling faces, which were starting to strain from maintaining such enthusiastic expressions. The items he conjured above his head disappeared. “Oh, is that all?” He casually snapped his talons. “There.” Rather than the cheers of thanks he was expecting, his ears were assaulted by the sharp shriek of three little ponies. “What’d you do to us?” Scootaloo cried. Discord looked down at the orange earth pony, white pegasus, and yellow unicorn in front of him. Their eyes wide with panic, they continued to frantically look at themselves and each other. “I made you better ponies,” he replied, as if nothing were amiss, “just like you asked.” “I can’t fly like this,” Scootaloo protested. “Well, you couldn’t fly before, either,” Discord said with a shrug. “Nothing’s changed as far as that’s concerned.” The hurt was clearly evident in her eyes, her mouth limply opening and closing as she struggled to speak. Sweetie Belle managed to find her voice. “I didn’t want wings,” she squeaked, gesturing toward an outstretched wing. “I wanted to be better with magic.” “I am a creature of chaos,” Discord explained, “not a miracle-worker.” Sweetie Belle’s new wings fell as she crumpled low to the ground. Apple Bloom stomped her hoof down as her eyes narrowed to a glare. “How’s this supposed to help us?” she demanded. Her ferocity dropped as she mumbled to the dirt. “I might be even wimpier than I was before.” Discord waved it off dismissively. “Oh, you three are creative. I’m sure you’ll figure something out.” “Change us back,” Apple Bloom pressed. Her fellow Crusaders stood beside her, mirroring her firm expression. “Sorry, little fillies, but you’ve cut into my vacation time enough as it is.” Two briefcases littered with stickers appeared at Discord’s side. He hefted each of them up as he continued. “I’ll be back in a week. Maybe I’ll change you back then, but honestly, I think these new bodies suit you much better than your old ones.” A pair of sunglasses flashed onto his face. “Discord, wait—” Sweetie Belle pleaded. “I’ll see you in a week, Cutie Mark Conundrums.” And with that, he disappeared. A thick silence passed over them in his absence. “…It’s ‘Cutie Mark Crusaders’,” Sweetie Belle said half-heartedly. “Now what do we do?” Scootaloo said in defeat. Each of their faces scrunched up in thought. “We gotta get help,” Apple Bloom said, her eyes crossing as she looked up at her new horn. “Let’s get back to Ponyville,” Sweetie Belle agreed. “Somepony there can help us.” With a plan to guide them forward, the Crusaders dashed for where Scootaloo’s scooter was parked. Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle stepped into their skis as Scootaloo took her place on her scooter, and each of them put on their helmets. Scootaloo looked back over her shoulder to her friends. “I’m not sure if this’ll work without my wings,” she said hesitantly. “You gotta try, Scootaloo,” Apple Bloom responded. Sweetie Belle quickly nodded along to add her own encouragement. “Okay,” Scootaloo said, still unsure, “here goes.” With that, she pushed off the ground. And what a push it was. Wind rushed past her ears as Scootaloo blew through the sparse woods. Driven by her desire to get to Ponyville as quickly as possible, she feverishly kicked off the ground without letting up. Her eyes lit up as she found herself going even faster. “Scootaloo!” Sweetie Belle yelled. “Slow down!” She and Apple Bloom struggled to hold on, but her shouts were lost to the wind, and Scootaloo wanted to see just how fast she could go. As they continued picking up speed, Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle were finding it more and more difficult to avoid the rocks and trees that littered the path. With the wind racing around her, Sweetie Belle struggled to keep her new wings pressed against her body. The wind finally won out, forcing her wings to flare out to her sides. She let out a shriek as her wings caught the wind and propelled her skyward, leaving her skis and helmet behind. “Sweetie Belle!” Apple Bloom cried. Her attention was quickly pulled back to what was in front of her, as she rapidly approached a tree that didn’t seem to be in the mood to get out of the way. She shut her eyes tight to brace for impact, but as she did, she felt a warm sensation in her new forehead decoration. Sweetie Belle, now high above the tree line, had lost her grip on her ski rope and was at the mercy of the breeze. The breeze, thankfully, seemed to be feeling pretty merciful today. She opened her eyes to find herself gently gliding along. Her shocked expression gradually changed to one of wonder as she took in her surroundings. The sunlit treetops slowly passed by far below her, a magnificent view she’d never even imagined before. Everything was so small and so quiet from up here. She turned to look back on her wings. With only the slightest adjustment to her feathers, she was able to leisurely lean and turn in midair. A light giggle escaped her lips. She gave her wings a few experimental flaps and felt the wind bend around them. She was flying. She was really flying. Apple Bloom felt her grip on her ski rope suddenly slip away, but what she did not feel was the trunk of a tree greeting her body. Instead, she felt an odd pressure squeeze her from all directions. She hesitantly opened one eye to find herself high above the treetops. She looked down in confusion until gravity decided it was a good time to kick in again. Her limbs flailed wildly as she rapidly approached the forest floor. She squeezed her eyes shut and prepared herself for the worst. Another odd tingling sensation came from her new horn and spread throughout her body. Suddenly, everything felt still. She dared to sneak another peek, and the sight made her eyes go wide. She was enveloped in a soft orange glow and calmly floating just inches above the ground. She was levitating. She was using magic. Scootaloo screeched to a halt as she broke through the forest’s edge and came in sight of Ponyville. She found herself panting, but noticed that she’d barely broken a sweat. She wasn’t panting from exhaustion. It was from the exhilaration pumping through her veins. “Guys, did you see that?!” she called back behind her. Her excitement quickly fell away when she realized she had been dragging empty ski ropes. “Guys?!” she yelled out in a panic. “Up here!” A voice called from above her. Scootaloo looked up in time to see Sweetie Belle gracefully come down for a landing. Scootaloo’s eyes went wide in shock. “Were you… flying?” she asked. Sweetie Belle blushed and turned away slightly. “Um, I guess I was,” she answered modestly. She looked around and raised an eyebrow to Scootaloo. “Where’s Apple Bloom?” “Over here!” a voice within the trees replied. Apple Bloom rushed into view, her horn shining with a soft orange light. Behind her, her skis and helmet gently floated above her, gripped in the same orange glow as the one surrounding her horn. “Apple Bloom!” Sweetie Belle squeaked in surprise. “How’re you doing that?” Apple Bloom looked behind her, as if she needed a reminder of what was happening. “Oh, that?” She chuckled uneasily. “I just kinda… think about it, and then it happens, I guess.” Her eyes looked around awkwardly. She set the helmet and skis down and let the light fade from her horn. “But Scootaloo, that was amazing!” Scootaloo perked up at the sudden exclamation. “I’ve never seen ya go that fast before!” Scootaloo scratched the back of her head slowly. “Yeah,” she awkwardly tried to play it off, “I guess I was trying to get here as fast as I could.” They each turned their eyes to Ponyville, a bit surprised to see a greater degree of cloud cover than usual. “Well, now that we’re here,” Sweetie Belle said, “let’s split up and try to fix this mess.” “Right!” Apple Bloom and Scootaloo agreed with a nod. The Crusaders rushed off in three different directions, running as fast as their little hooves could take them.
Chapter ThreeRarity was wrapped up in the sweet embrace of slumber, and she was more than willing to stay there the entire night. However, there was a small foreign sound poking through into her subconscious until she started to stir in her sleep. The sound persisted and the disruption to her sleep reached the point that Rarity shot upright in her bed. She pushed her sleeping mask up off of her eyes and looked around. She tried to focus on the sound, and although she couldn’t identify it, she quickly realized it was coming from down the hall. Rarity gingerly scooted herself from underneath her covers and made her way down the hall. As she got closer, it became apparent that the sound was coming from the guest room Sweetie Belle was staying in. She raised a hoof to the door but faltered. Caught between how impolite it would be to look inside and a growing concern for her sister’s well being, she struggled to press her hoof against the door and slowly push it. She opened the door just enough to peek an eye through. Sweetie Belle fumed and turned onto her stomach, the springs in the mattress squeaking in protest. She flipped herself over onto her back, only to find her wings making the position awkward and uncomfortable. She groaned and tried to turn to her side, flipping back and forth as she struggled to find a position even remotely conducive to falling asleep. A nearby pillow dampened the sound of her next groan as she pressed it against her face. Rarity pulled away from the door and bit her lip. The sight of her little sister in such distress troubled her to no end, but she had no experience with this sort of thing. She had no advice to offer. It’s not as if she had ever taken the time to learn the sleeping practices of pegasi. She stood outside the room, unsure of how she might be able to help, with the sounds of Sweetie Belle’s struggle still leaking through the doorway. Sunlight gently cascaded through Sweetie Belle’s window, its warmth welcoming her to the start of a brand new day. Sweetie Belle threw a pillow at it in response. She slowly sat up and heaved a sigh. That was, without a doubt, the worst night of sleep she ever had. Her wings felt stiff and the feathers were a mess. She tried to flex and stretch them a few times, frustration mounting with each failed attempt, until they finally folded against her. The cheerful sound of birds singing outside inspired a scowl from the irritated little filly. A knock at the front door pulled her glare away from the window. It was far too early for it to be a customer or a friend coming over for a casual visit. Sweetie Belle grumbled as she descended the stairs, the incessant knocking aggravating her more with each passing second. She flung open the door to see her fellow Crusaders leaning against each other for support, their eyes only barely held open from the weight of the bags underneath. Sweetie Belle looked back and forth between the two of them for a moment before speaking. “You guys, too?” she asked flatly. “Mmhmm…” they answered, nodding slowly. “We’ve got to do something.” “Mmhmm…” They seemed about ready to pass out right there on the doorstep. Stepping apart from each other, Scootaloo and Apple Bloom gave their heads a quick shake to help wake themselves up. Sweetie Belle stepped aside to let them in before closing the door behind them. “So,” Scootaloo said, “what’s the plan?” “We need somepony who can help us,” Sweetie Belle thought out-loud. “Yeah,” Apple Bloom agreed, “somepony who’s really good at helpin’ other ponies with their problems.” “Somepony who actually knows Discord.” “And can make him change us back,” Scootaloo finished. The Crusaders pondered in silence for a moment, faces scrunched up in thought. Their eyes brightened as their heads all shot up at the same time. “Twilight!” they said in unison. The door of the Carousel Boutique burst open as they raced into town, determined smiles driving them forward. Their previous drowsiness was almost entirely forgotten now that they had a plan. They dashed and wove their way through town, past the shops and stands that were starting to open, past the ponies grumbling about their reckless behavior, and past a very confused Granny Smith who hadn’t been paying attention. Nothing could possibly slow them down. Except perhaps the sight of Pinkie Pie running straight for them. The Crusaders skidded to a halt to avoid colliding with the panicked pony rapidly approaching. “Hi, Pinkie Pie—!” Sweetie Belle started. “Can’t talk!” Pinkie Pie said quickly, “Babies crying!” She zoomed right past them without slowing down. And then she ran backwards, curiosity replacing the urgency she had a moment ago. Her hooves, however, were moving just as excitedly as before, running in place while she tilted her head at them. “Y’know,” she said casually, “something’s different about you three. Did you do each other’s manes?” She smiled brightly with her guess. Apple Bloom pointed to Sweetie Belle’s wings. Sweetie Belle pointed to Scootaloo’s back. Scootaloo pointed to Apple Bloom’s horn. “Huh,” she said thoughtfully, legs still running impatiently. “I knew it was something.” With that, she once more zoomed off, leaving three confused fillies in her wake. “O-kay…” Scootaloo said slowly. “…Let’s keep going.” And so the Cutie Mark Crusaders shook off their odd encounter and continued on their journey. Three hooves feverishly knocked on the library door. After a moment, Twilight opened the door with a pleasant smile. “Good morning—Gah!” Her eyes shot wide at the sight of the Crusaders. “What happened to you three?” They each drew a long breath in unison. “…Discord.” Twilight’s expression became as hard as stone. That answer didn’t surprise her in the least. Only Discord would turn his magic on three defenseless little fillies. “Come inside, girls,” she instructed. “Tell me everything.” Once they were seated near the center table, the Crusaders began to overlap each other as they told Twilight their story. Twilight’s countenance did not soften a single degree the entire time, with only an occasional nod to prove that she hadn’t spontaneously turned into a statue while they were talking. Their retelling of what happened progressively grew more desperate until they finished, staring at their Princess with pleading eyes. Twilight seemed somewhere else, though. Her expression had subtly shifted to one of deep consideration; thoughtful and calculating. Her mind was already thinking several steps ahead, trying to account for all of the possible outcomes. “So?” Sweetie Belle asked gently, breaking Twilight away from her thoughts. “Can you help us?” Twilight stood up from the table and gave them a reassuring smile. “Don’t worry, girls—just step back and let me handle this.” Twilight walked herself into the middle of the room while the Crusaders rushed to take a seat near a bookshelf. Twilight closed her eyes and focused her mind. Immediately, there was a tangible shift in the air, as if a breeze that wasn’t there before had just changed direction. Twilight’s mane and tail began to billow in this magical breeze as it swirled around her, a brilliant light igniting at the tip of her horn. The light suddenly surged and Discord appeared in the center of the room, doubled over in hysterical laughter. “But they were hidden in her library the entire ti—!” He stopped abruptly as he looked around in confusion, suddenly aware that his setting had changed dramatically. His eyes eventually fell on Twilight, and quickly rolled themselves away. “Again with that summoning spell, Twilight?” he asked in exasperation. “Must I remind you again that you’re supposed to give me a heads-up before you do that? I am putting serious consideration to having a talk with Celestia about your ability to follow simple instructions.” He shook his head slowly. “And while I’m on vacation, no less!” Discord’s appearance had managed to escape her notice until then. He was wearing a red vacation shirt patterned with tropical flowers. In the grip of his paw he held a sliced-open coconut decorated with a little umbrella and a bendy straw. He leaned forward to look down on her. “I’m sure you got the memo.” “Discord!” she shot at him. “Did you have something to do with this?” She waved a hoof to the three fillies sitting against a bookshelf. Discord took a casual sip of his coconut water, smacking his lips before speaking. “I only did it because they asked me to,” he said with a shrug. “We didn’t ask for this!” Scootaloo said with a sweeping motion. “Now listen here, Cutie Mark Kerfuffles—” “That doesn’t even make sense.” “—you asked me to make you better ponies, and that is precisely what I did. I might’ve taken a bit of liberty with it, but I’d definitely call this an improvement.” Twilight’s eyes narrowed with growing frustration. “Change them back, Discord,” she said firmly. Discord turned to face her as he stretched his arm out and let go of his coconut drink. Rather than falling to the ground, however, it simply stayed suspended in the air, as if it had been placed on an invisible shelf. “You have some nerve, Twilight Sparkle,” he said. “Here I am, trying to enjoy my hard-earned vacation, and you come along out of nowhere to interrupt it, throwing around demands like you’re Celestia herself!” He shook his head in disappointment. “Does that sound like something a friend would do?” “That isn’t—” Discord turned away from her and strolled over to the fillies who were exchanging nervous glances. They could see that this wasn’t going the way they had hoped. “And as for you, Cutie Mark Contaminants—” “Now you’re just being mean,” Sweetie Belle cut in. “—I said I’d be back in a week, and that I might change you back then. So far, you’ve given me little reason to do so. Do you realize how much of my vacation time you’ve cost me?” Discord didn’t wait for an answer. He made his way back to the center of the room and indignantly snagged his coconut out of the air. “Now, if you’ll excuse me…” With a flash of stars, he was gone. Twilight and the Crusaders stared at the spot in silence. “Oh no, you don’t!” Twilight said quickly, reigniting the light in her horn. Another brilliant flash filled the room, but where Twilight expected to see Discord instead floated a small piece of paper. She exchanged a confused glance with the Crusaders. “What’s it say?” Apple Bloom asked. Twilight leaned in close and narrowed her eyes at the small print. She read aloud: Discord is not available. Please leave a message after the smoke bomb. “ ‘Smoke bomb’?” she repeated. A dull concussive thud resounded throughout the entire library, filling every nook and cranny will thick white smoke. Twilight and the Crusaders shot out through the door, covered in dust and coughing up the white smoke that had invaded their lungs. “It looks like—” Twilight tried to say before another coughing fit cut her off. “It looks like Discord’s found a way around my summoning spell.” She turned to the little fillies with a heavy heart. “I’m sorry, girls, but I don’t think I can get him to come back unless he wants to.” The Crusaders hung their heads. With how hopeless their situation was becoming, they couldn’t even bring themselves to look at each other. “Now what do we do?” Scootaloo asked, laying across the floor and staring up at the clubhouse ceiling. “C’mon, girls, think!” Sweetie Belle said. She was standing in their designated thinking-spot, trying to force inspiration to come. “There’s gotta be something we can do!” “Oh, what’s the point?” Apple Bloom said, her bow drooping against her head. “We’re gonna be stuck like this ‘til Discord decides to change us back—maybe forever!” Sweetie Belle seethed. “No, there’s gotta be something else! There’s gotta be somepony out there who can help us.” She squeezed her eyes tight, thinking as hard as she could. Her wings started flapping to punctuate her frustration. Scootaloo’s eyes widened at the sight. She quickly rolled over and looked at her friends. “What about Fluttershy?” Apple Bloom raised an eyebrow at her. “What about her?” “I don’t know. Aren’t she and Discord, like, penpals or something?” The idea hung in the air around them. “…Ya really think she can help?” “Do you?” The Crusaders looked at each other in silence. Sweetie Belle was the first to speak. “I think it’s worth a shot.” “I’m up for anything at this point,” Scootaloo agreed. A nod from Apple Bloom set the three running for the door. Sweetie Belle, however, skidded to a stop. Scootaloo and Apple Bloom looked back at her, confusion written all over their faces. She gave her two friends a sheepish smile. “Um, how about we don’t use the scooter this time?” Fluttershy was singing quietly to herself as she tended to her flowers. It was such a lovely day, and the rain yesterday made everything seem so fresh and new. The sparse clouds left over from the storm cast the scenery in a soft shade while the sunlight danced around her. A gentle breeze blew through her mane and she leaned into it, savoring the sensation as well as the scent of nature it carried. It was nice. Her smile grew a little wider when she saw her three sweet little angels running towards her. They must be so excited. “Why, hello, girls—” Her lips snapped shut as she was stunned into silence. Her eyes darted back and forth between them as they ran up to her. “What happened to you three?” The Cutie Mark Crusaders rushed through the story of everything they had been through. Fluttershy’s eyes slowly widened as they progressed through their tale. Between the running and their rapid retelling, the Crusaders found themselves panting by the time they were able to finish. “So, can you help us?” Sweetie Belle asked. “Please?” they all asked together. Fluttershy’s stiff form relaxed a bit as she looked at the precious little fillies before her. It was clear that they needed her help, and she wasn’t going to let them down. Her eyes were so gentle and affectionate that even the Crusaders were able to regain a bit of faith. “Of course I’ll help you,” she told them with a nod. “You just leave this to me.” The Crusaders stepped out of her way as she took a few steps forward. They watched in curious anticipation as she closed her eyes and softly cleared her throat. “Ahem,” she said gently. “Discord?” After a moment of nothing, Discord appeared before her with his arms lazily crossed. This time he was wearing navy blue swim trunks that were somehow able to accommodate his tail and a pair of red sunglasses. He lowered his sunglasses and peered over them at her. “Now, Shutterfly,” he started gently, “you know I’m on vacation, and we agreed that you’d only call on me if it’s an emer—” his gaze shifted from her to the fillies waiting nearby, causing his face to fall in annoyance. “Oh, you three again”—he tossed the sunglasses over his shoulder, where they exploded in midair—“the Cutie Mark Constables.” Apple Bloom sighed in frustration. “It’s Cutie Mark—!” she stopped abruptly, bringing her hoof to her chin. “Cutie Mark Crusader Constables. Not a bad idea, actually.” She turned back to her friends. “Let’s keep that in mind for later.” Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle nodded in agreement. “Discord,” Fluttershy said, trying to get them back on track, “I want you to change them back, please.” Discord rolled his eyes. “Oh, not you, too. Why is everypony trying to make me change them back?” He walked over to the Crusaders and leaned in close to address each of them in turn, starting with Scootaloo. “You now possess a level of speed and athleticism that was able to impress even your idol, earning you praise and recognition, right?” “Um—” He turned to Apple Bloom. “And you now have the ability to contribute to the farm more than you ever could before and even gain some independence, right?” “Well, y’see—” He looked over at Sweetie Belle. “And you were able to help your sister in ways you never could have before, gaining her thanks and approval, right?” “About that—” “So…” he said, leaning so far forward he met them at eye-level. “What’s the problem?” The Crusaders were huddled together, leaning away from Discord’s face that felt a little too close for comfort. “Havin’ all those things is nice,” Apple Bloom began. “—But we’re not really ourselves, anymore,” Scootaloo added. “All we really wanted was to make ourselves better,” Sweetie Belle said. “—Not change who we are,” Apple Bloom finished. Discord once more followed the conversation with his eyes, arching an eyebrow at them. “That finish-each-other’s-sentences-thing you do; it’s starting to freak me out.” He brought himself back to his full height, stroking his chin thoughtfully. “So you’re telling me you’d rather struggle with having your old bodies than keep what these new bodies have to offer?” The Crusaders nodded their heads with apologetic pouts. “Congratulations, little ponies!” Discord beamed. “Huh?” they asked together. “You have just learned a valuable life lesson, courtesy of Discord. No need to thank me—the look on your faces is thanks enough!” He smiled down at three very confused looking fillies. “Huh?” Scootaloo repeated. “Ya mean ya did all this,” Apple Bloom said with a sweep of her forelimb, “just to teach us a lesson?” “Well, I had some fun along the way,” Discord answered. “Why would you do all that?” Sweetie Belle asked. Discord tented his fingers as he thought about his answer. “It’s my understanding that getting a cutie mark is about finding out who you are, not about trying to be something you’re not.” Apple Bloom scratched at the back of her head. “Yeah, we’ve been hearin’ that a lot lately.” “I felt that a more practical illustration would get the point across.” Fluttershy stepped forward. “That was very nice of you, Discord, but they’ve learned their lesson, haven’t you, girls?” The Crusaders nodded to her. “It’s time to change them back.” Discord rolled his eyes, but when he looked back down at Fluttershy, her eyes began chipping away at his resolve. “Oh, very well,” he said with a snap of his talons. “There.” Once more, his eardrums were stabbed by a shriek in three-part harmony. He looked down at the panicked orange unicorn, yellow pegasus, and white earth pony before him. “Discord!” Fluttershy scolded. “What?” he asked, not even trying to sound innocent. “Is that not how they were before?” “Discord…” The Stare was starting to push against the back of her eyes. “Fine-fine-fine,” he said quickly, snapping his talons once more. Scootaloo turned to look at her back and broke into an uncontainable grin at the sight of her wings. Her wings returned her excitement by buzzing faster than they ever had before. “Oh, I missed you guys so much!” she said to her wings. “I’m never complaining about you again!” “My horn!” Sweetie Belle cheered, prompting Scootaloo to look up. Sweetie Belle was curled up tight and holding her horn in her hooves. “My worthless, useless—beautiful horn!” Apple Bloom tackled both of her friends, rolling the trio into a laughing pile of giddiness. “Oh, I’ve never been so happy to be such a wimpy earth pony.” The Crusaders turned their heads up at the sound of Discord’s slow clapping. “Yes, ponies restored. Lessons learned. Friendships reinforced,” he said with mock enthusiasm. His face flattened as he turned to Fluttershy. “Can I go now?” “Yes,” she said with a pleasant smile. “Thank you, Discord. Enjoy the rest of your vacation.” “Finally,” he said, conjuring a new pair of sunglasses in his paw. “After a thousand years of being trapped in stone I am desperately due for a good tanning session.” He donned his new sunglasses and disappeared into a flash of stars. The Cutie Mark Crusaders rushed to Fluttershy and hopped around her quickly. “Oh, thank you! Thank you! Thank you!” they kept saying while Fluttershy struggled to keep track of them. “Girls, girls,” she said with a gentle smile, trying to get them under control. They stopped their bouncing and lined themselves up in front of her. Fluttershy looked down at the bright eyes of her precious little angels, at their smiles filled to the brim with gratitude and admiration, and she found herself blinking more than usual. “You’re welcome.”
Chapter FourPrincess Celestia was enjoying a moment of serenity with her younger sister, as she often did at this time of day. The time to lower the sun was nearly upon them, meaning that Princess Luna would have to be nearby to raise the moon. The two royal sisters always enjoyed this opportunity to discuss the events of day—a tradition that they mirrored each morning to discuss what happened the previous night. But it was never merely talks about royal business or some bothersome member of the nobility. More often, they enjoyed their tea as they felt two sisters should: quality time to get to know the other better. No matter how long they have known each other, there was always more to discover. They each possessed a wealth of stories to tell the other, and even if a story had been told before, each retelling only proved more insightful and enjoyable than the one that came before. The sudden appearance of sparkling green fire through the balcony doorframe interrupted tonight’s tea. A scroll materialized itself before Celestia, which she promptly gripped in her golden magical aura. Her eyes brightened and a smile graced her lips at the arrival of this report. “Look, Luna,” she said pleasantly, “it’s marked from Scootaloo and her friends.” “Splendid!” Luna said brightly. “May I read it with you, dear sister?” “I wouldn’t have it any other way.” Celestia smiled as Luna came around the table to sit with her. The magic enveloping the scroll broke the seal and unfurled it before them. Dear Princess Celestia, Today we learned a valuable lesson about being true to yourself. Sometimes, when you really want something, you might try taking the easy way to get it, even if it means becoming something you’re not. But even if you do get what you were hoping for, you can’t really enjoy it since you didn’t earn it in the first place. In the end, it’s better to stay who you are. We also learned a lesson about appreciating the things you have. It’s easy to think about the things you really want. But when you focus on things like that, you lose sight of the things that you do have. Losing those things, even if you didn’t appreciate them before, can be a lot worse than missing out on what you want. You should always be thankful for what you have, and work hard for the things you don’t. Signed, your loyal subjects, The Cutie Mark Crusaders Apple Bloom, Scootaloo, and Sweetie Belle “Such wonderful lessons to have learned!” Luna said. “I agree,” Celestia said with a nod, “but I do often wonder what it was that happened to teach my little ponies these lessons.” “ ’Tis a mystery,” she said casually. Another scroll suddenly appeared before the sisters. This one, however, did not arrive by enchanted dragon fire. This one had simply appeared. Perhaps stranger still was the fact that it seemed to be floating before them of its own accord, as if patiently waiting to be opened. They exchanged an odd look of confusion. “Who is this one from, sister?” Luna asked, eyes fixed on the scroll. “It does not say,” she answered, studying the scroll with careful consideration. “Should we open it?” They looked to each other one more time, unsure of how to proceed. Celestia gripped it in her magic and unfurled the scroll. Dear Celestia, Today I learned a valuable lesson about Blah blah blah. Anyway, I understand that you want to be told whenever I stir up a little mischief, so I thought I’d save somepony else the trouble and come clean with what I did. I recently changed the race of three little ponies, but I’ll have you know I had a good reason. It was funny To teach them a valuable life lesson. Now before you say anything, you should know that I did this after my vacation started, and vacations are about enjoying yourself, am I right? Of course I’m right. My vacation’s going well, thanks for asking. With all of the interruptions at the beginning, though, I might have to request some more vacation time sooner than expected. Remind me to have a chat with you about that student of yours. And don’t you worry about those little ponies—the Cutie Mark Chrysanthemums, or something like that. I changed them back after they learned their lesson. There was smiling and cheering and they all lived happily ever after. Probably. I didn’t really stick around after that. Here’s to hoping I can enjoy the rest of my vacation in peace. I’ll see you at the end of the week. Wish you were here, Discord P.S. Tell Luna I’ll return her sunscreen when I get back. Celestia and Luna stared at the letter before them, eyes notably wider than usual. They turned their gaze to each other for a prolonged moment, waiting for the other to break the silence. Luna was the first to speak. “I told you my sunscreen was missing.” Author's Note Thank you for reading my first story. I hope you enjoyed it. Please leave any thoughts, criticisms, praise, or advise below. I would love to get opinions on my story and my writing. Thank you for your time.
Chapter TwoRainbow Dash was relaxing on a small cloud bed she’d fashioned in a field outside of Ponyville. The rain would need to start a little earlier than originally scheduled, so she had to go all the way out here to enjoy the sun. The extra effort had definitely been worth it, though, as she basked in the sun’s light and soaked up its warmth. She let out a sigh of contentment as she threw her forelimbs behind her head. “Now this is the life,” she commented. “Hey, Rainbow Dash!” Rainbow Dash recognized the voice of her number-one fan instantly. As much as she enjoyed relaxing, she would always prefer to spend time with her friends. And this was a friend she’d come to see as a little sister. Her smile grew a little wider as she turned over to look down at her. “Hey, Squirt!” She called down with a wave. “I thought you were—” Her eyes nearly jumped out of her head. She rushed down to Scootaloo in an instant, unable to believe her eyes. But closer inspection only confirmed the impossible. “What happened to your wings?!” Scootaloo turned to the ground. “Discord turned me into an earth pony,” she said quietly. “Discord what?!” Rainbow Dash growled as her teeth clenched. She pulled Scootaloo in close and glared in the direction she had come from. “I remember when he took my wings away. Don’t worry, Squirt, I’ll make him give you your wings back—the hard way if I have to.” Scootaloo looked up at her with eyes filled with admiration. To know that her hero—her big sister—would go to such lengths for her made her little heart swell up in her chest. “Discord’s gone,” Scootaloo admitted. “He went on vacation, and he won’t be back for a whole week.” “Vaca—!” As if Rainbow Dash needed more inspiration to be mad at Discord. Her scowl deepened, but despite the fury boiling inside her, she knew she couldn’t pummel him if she couldn’t find him. Getting worked up now wouldn’t help anything. Right now, her little sister needed her. She took a few breaths to calm herself down. Rainbow Dash wrapped her sister up in her wings to enhance the hug. Scootaloo curled up closer to her in response. “Hey,” Rainbow Dash said gently, causing Scootaloo to look up at her. “It’ll be okay.” She gave Scootaloo the most genuine smile she could manage. Comforting other ponies wasn’t exactly her strong suit, but if the smile Scootaloo was giving her was any indication, her efforts were at least helping. An idea suddenly crossed her mind. “You know what? We should do something fun—just you and me.” “Like what?” “Well, how ‘bout a race?” Rainbow Dash gently took a step back to gauge her reaction. Scootaloo looked more puzzled than unwilling, so Rainbow Dash continued. “We could run to that tree over there.” She gave a vague tilt of her head, prompting Scootaloo to lean over and look past her. At the very edge of the field was a tree that stood slightly taller than the others. It seemed to be the only tree with any distinguishing features. Rainbow Dash had always believed that a little physical activity could help anypony get their mind off of their problems. And she figured if she let Scootaloo keep pace with her, it would boost the little filly’s mood and self-esteem. “So what do you say?” Rainbow asked. “You up for a race?” Scootaloo looked back and forth between the tree and Rainbow Dash until she slowly started to smile. “Sure.” Rainbow Dash positioned herself next to Scootaloo at their imaginary starting line. Scootaloo crouched down low, her determined expression mere inches off the ground. That daredevil glint in her eyes was one that Rainbow Dash knew well. She felt it in her own eyes whenever she was in the zone. “Ready, Squirt?” Scootaloo dug her hoof through the ground in response. “On your mark, get set, go!” An orange blur blew past Rainbow Dash, stunning her for a second. She charged after her, breaking into a sprint to make up for lost time. Her longer strides allowed her to close the distance between them, and as she caught up to Scootaloo’s side, she eased up to keep pace with her. Scootaloo spared a glance as she entered her field of view. “Not bad, kid,” Rainbow Dash said between breaths. “Think you can step it up?” The spark in Scootaloo’s eye shined from the challenge. She propelled herself forward with a powerful leap, and when her hooves struck the ground, she kicked off with enough force to scatter blades of grass and clumps of dirt. The wind roared in her ears as she widened the gap between herself and her sister. Rainbow Dash smirked. It was an impressive move, but years of racing had taught her a few things. Her eyes narrowed as she lowered her head and tucked her wings in tight. She was streamlined, aerodynamic, and as she poured on the speed, she found herself closing the gap Scootaloo had managed to make. The designated tree was quickly approaching. Victory was in sight for Scootaloo, but she could hear Rainbow Dash only a step behind her. Their rapid hoofsteps and her pounding pulse were thundering in her ears. She leapt for the tree, an outstretched hoof reaching for their finish line. Rainbow Dash lunged forward and sliced through the air with her hoof. Their hooves each struck the bark at the same time. The two ponies collapsed in the shade of the tree, trying to catch their breaths and smiling wide grins to each other. Rainbow Dash had pushed her little sister to greatness, and Scootaloo had tied with her idol. “Way to go, Squirt,” Rainbow Dash managed to say. “I don’t think you’ve ever gone that fast before—not even on your scooter!” “Really?” Scootaloo bolted up with bright and shiny eyes. “Totally! You’re almost as fast as—” she sat up and brought a hoof to her chin, trying to think of a good comparison. “…Pinkie Pie,” she finished with a shrug. Scootaloo’s smile faltered a bit as confusion drew across her face. “Really?” “Trust me, kid,” Rainbow Dash said with a reassuring smile, “that’s saying something.” Rainbow Dash extended a wing over her little sister, and Scootaloo scooted in closer. Scootaloo enjoyed the light feeling of her sister’s feathers against her body. The almost weightless tickle as they gently caressed her in the breeze brought a content smile to her face. “Y’know,” Rainbow Dash said suddenly, “for a second there, I thought you might actually beat me.” Scootaloo perked up as the muscles in her back tightened—a reflex that would normally cause her wings to buzz, but now only served as a reminder of what was missing. Her shoulders slumped as she turned down to the ground. Rainbow Dash’s eyes widened in panic. “Uh, hey, Scootaloo,” she said quickly, “have I ever shown you my favorite sights around Ponyville?” Scootaloo shook her head. “Well, hop on, then!” Rainbow Dash lowered herself to the ground and gave Scootaloo a smile she hoped was inviting. Scootaloo simply stared at her for a moment before she reluctantly clambered onto her back. Once she had a hold around her, Rainbow Dash rocketed into the sky, giving them a spectacular view of the surrounding area. Scootaloo tried to enjoy the view, but her mind was somewhere else. She kept thinking about the first time they flew together as sisters, about how she buzzed her wings while Rainbow Dash carried her through the air. The muscles of her back flexed at the memory as she pressed her face into her sister’s neck. Rainbow Dash’s mane smelled really nice today. That must be why Scootaloo was sniffling so much. Applejack stored the apple cart away in the barn and closed the barn doors behind her. It was a shame that she had to close up her stand so early, but as she looked back at Ponyville, it was clear that the rain was about to start. “Well, at least the weather’s nice here,” she noted with a smile. Indeed, the sun was shining bright and uninhibited over the humble farm, as if blissfully unaware of the rainstorm that was about to plague the neighboring town. Applejack took a moment to admire the sunlight glittering off of the bright apples in her orchard, each one shining like stars against the warm, green leaves. She took in a deep breath and let out a crisp sigh. The bouquet of the farm was sweeter than any perfume. It smelled like trees ready to be bucked, apples ready to be picked, and moist dirt ready to be worked. And she was ready to dive on in. “Applejack!” Well, she thought she was ready, anyway. Applejack turned to the small voice calling for her attention. “Howdy, Apple Bloo—what in tarnation?!” She ran to meet her younger sister, gawking at the horn that definitely hadn’t been there before. “Why d’ya have a horn?! Where’d it come from? Who did this to ya?” The questions tumbled out of her mouth like apples falling out of a bushel. “…Does it hurt?” She gave it an experimental poke. “I’m fine, Sis,” Apple Bloom assured her with a roll of her eyes. Applejack breathed a small sigh of relief. She leaned in toward Apple Bloom to get a closer look at the horn. “So, how’d this happen, then?” She brought herself back to her full height, raising a suspicious eyebrow at her. “Ya ain’t been messin’ with potions again, have ya?” “N-No!” Apple Bloom shook her head quickly. “Discord turned me into a unicorn. He did it while we were out Crusadin’.” “Discord?” Her eyes narrowed as her jaw set. “Why, that no-good, troublemakin’ snake. Where is he? He’s about to get a talkin’-to he’ll never forget.” “I don’ know where he is,” she reported. “He left for some week-long vacation right after he did this.” Applejack ground her teeth and stomped a hoof down. Looking out at the farm, the apples didn’t seem as bright as before. The air smelled a little less sweet. A sigh escaped her lips as she lowered her hat. Tracking Discord wasn’t exactly like tracking a lost sheep, and she’d need all the help she could get. “Look, Apple Bloom—we can’t sort this out now, what with the storm comin’ to Ponyville and all. Everypony must be hunkered down by now. Why don’t ya head on inside while I get to work out here?” “I could help ya, if ya want,” Apple Bloom offered. “That’s mighty sweet o’ ya, sis,” she said with a smile, “but don’t ya worry none, I—” Her eyes widened as her mouth snapped shut. Apple Bloom had her horn pointed to the nearest tree, an orange glow flaring out from it. Applejack watched in stunned silence as that same glow surrounded the each of the apples, pulling them loose from the tree and delicately guiding them to the bushels waiting below. The orange light faded from her horn as Apple Bloom wiped her forehead. “See?” Apple Bloom asked as she turned to her sister. Applejack blinked rapidly, still trying to process what she just witnessed. She managed a small chuckle. “I guess ya can help me,” she said with another chuckle, “if yer up to it.” A wide smile coupled with an enthusiastic nod from her little sister told Applejack that she was definitely up to it. A smile of pride spread across her own lips. Without another word, they got straight to work. Even considering how fast Applejack was able to buck the apples free from the trees, Apple Bloom was nearly able to keep pace with her using magic. They made their way through the orchard, filling up countless bushels along the way. As they continued, that famous Apple family pride sparked a competitive spirit to see how quickly they could get the job done. When they reached a suitable stopping point, they looked to each other, both panting with exertion and covered in more than a little sweat. The sight of each other filled them both with laughter they couldn’t contain. “So,” Apple Bloom began as she gained control of herself, “how’d I do?” “You were great, Sis!” Applejack beamed with pride. “Horn or no horn, yer an Apple, through and through.” “There anythin’ else we can do?” It didn’t matter how tired she was feeling. She didn’t want this to stop. Applejack stopped and thought. With Apple Bloom’s help, she finished the apple-bucking she was planning to do much sooner than expected. She ran through a mental check-list of chores that needed to be done. A glint appeared in her eye as a smile tugged at the side of lip. “Go find a basket,” she instructed. “Let’s get the bruised apples together for the pigs.” Apple Bloom dashed off with a smile, dragging a basket over with her teeth. She positioned herself underneath it to balance it on her head, as always, but found her horn getting in the way. She tried to accommodate it by leaning her head forward, but it required her in chin being tucked in far too much to be comfortable. With a frustrated huff, she tried leaning her head back, but this only resulted in the basket taking up her entire field of view. She set the basket down and looked at her horn in annoyance. “How does Sweetie Belle deal with this thing?” she asked herself quietly. “Ya ‘bout ready over there?” Applejack called out to her. “Uh, just a sec!” Apple Bloom answered. Unable to think of anything else, she lit her horn and levitated the basket above her head. “Ya ready, sis?” Applejack asked as she stepped over to the nearest apple on the ground. “I guess so.” She couldn’t help the uncertainty in her voice. Applejack tossed the apple into the air and bucked it in her sister’s direction. The basket moved instinctively and caught the apple with little difficulty. “Whoo!” Applejack cheered. “Nice catch, Apple Bloom!” “Y-Yeah,” Apple Bloom chuckled awkwardly and scratched at the back of her head. It didn’t really feel like she was doing anything. Applejack swatted another apple with her tail, and once more, the basket quickly caught it before drifting back over her head. This time, however, Applejack noticed how troubled her sister looked. “Somethin’ wrong, sis?” Apple Bloom looked to her with a sigh. “It’s just—it ain’t all that fun this way.” She looked around at the apples strewn about her. With another flare of her magic, a nearby apple levitated off the ground and into the basket still patiently floating above her before continuing. “I mean, the whole point of us doin’ this together is turnin’ hard work into somethin’ fun.” Using magic made what would normally be cumbersome, into little more than a slight inconvenience. Apple Bloom could see it was more efficient for her to do this on her own. She didn’t want Applejack to tire herself out any more than she already had. “I-I can handle it, Sis.” The smile she gave Applejack wasn’t nearly as convincing as she wanted it to be. Applejack opened her mouth to speak, but nothing came out. She watched as Apple Bloom levitated more apples into her basket. “Ya sure ya don’t want any help?” she offered. “I’m fine,” Apple Bloom said quietly. “You can head on inside if ya want.” Applejack watched her sister collect apples in silence, worry pulling her gaze toward the ground. Rarity glared at the sky from underneath a storefront canopy, silently scorning the raindrops that were keeping her stranded. “Ooh, curse that Rainbow Dash,” she muttered to herself. “She assured me that the rain wouldn’t start until this afternoon.” All she needed to do was step into town for a moment and pick up a few supplies before this nasty rainstorm caused everything to close down. She had picked up the last item on her list when she found the storm had started in full force. The world seemed to be particularly determined to taunt her today, because she could just see the Carousel Boutique around the corner of another building. She looked back to her cart, and more precisely, the umbrella resting on the top. Rarity had always possessed the foresight to take precautions, especially in matters that might jeopardize her beautiful mane and coat. What she did not possess, however, was a covered wagon, a fact that she was beginning to regret. Her umbrella was certainly of suitable size to protect her purchases, but it would mean leaving herself exposed to the rain. Her lower lip was not appreciating how hard she was biting down on it. “Oh, what am I to do?” she asked herself, turning back and forth between her cart and the rain. “Hi, Rarity!” a voice sang out. Rarity naturally recognized the voice of her younger sister in an instant. The direction that it came from, however, gave her cause for concern. She hesitantly turned her head back up. Framed in the sunlight pouring through a small hole in the clouds was Sweetie Belle’s carefree smile. “Sweetie Belle!” Rarity said, utterly scandalized. “What are you doing up there?” “Discord turned me into a pegasus,” she called back down. “Well, have him change you back right now.” “I can’t!” she continued. “He’s on vacation!” “Vacation?” The scandal returned to her voice. “He won’t be back for a week.” Rarity shook her head with a quiet sigh before speaking up again. “Well, at least come down from there. I’m getting tired of yelling at you.” “Never stopped you before…” she muttered into the cloud. “What was that?” “Nothing!” she called down sweetly. “Then get down here, already.” “But I can help!” “Honestly, Sweetie Belle, I don’t see how—” Sweetie Belle was off with a dash, kicking and using her body to cut through the clouds as quickly as she could. “—oh, my.” Rarity looked out in amazement at the sight before her. Sunlight was pouring through the rift in the clouds that Sweetie Belle had made, illuminating an arcing path that led all the way to the Carousel Boutique. Rarity watched with eyes wide as her sister gently came in for a landing in front of her. Sweetie Belle tucked her wings in tight and looked up at her, wearing the proudest little smile. “So?” she asked after a moment. “What do you think?” Rarity was struck with the painful realization that she had been letting her mouth hang open in a very unladylike fashion. She quickly clapped her mouth shut and found her voice. “My word, Sweetie Belle!” she beamed. “That was simply marvelous!” Sweetie Belle’s grin grew wider than she would’ve thought possible. “Really?!” “Absolutely!” Rarity looked back at her umbrella, picking it up in her magical aura before smiling back at her sister. “I suppose I won’t be needing this, now will I?” Sweetie Belle giggled as Rarity placed the umbrella back on her cart. They walked down the path Sweetie Belle had made, enjoying the sunlight despite the pouring rain only inches away. “Thank you very much, Sweetie Belle,” Rarity said with a warm smile. “I don’t know what I would’ve done without you.” Sweetie Belle could only barely contain her giddiness. She finally did it. She finally got praise from her big sister. Rarity opened the door to the Carousel Boutique to let Sweetie Belle rush in before pulling the cart inside. “What were you doing outside, anyway?” Sweetie Belle asked with a tilt of her head. “Oh, just picking up a few essentials—rolls of fabric, spools of thread and the like.” Rarity’s horn glowed a soft blue as she levitated the contents of her cart into the air. With light tilts and turns of her head, she directed each item to its proper place. Umbrella for the umbrella stand. Threads on the shelf, by color and amount remaining. Sweetie Belle watched with rapt attention at the ease and precision with which Rarity used her magic. It wasn’t merely levitating and moving objects. She added a breath of elegance to the task. They danced and glided through the air before gently landing exactly where they were meant to be. Rarity spoke casually as her purchases continued floating around the room. “I have a few orders that I need to get done, and this rainstorm should allow me to work uninterrupted.” Sweetie Belle turned to the ground. “Oh. I guess I should wait in the other room so you can work, huh?” “I—” Rarity stopped and looked at her younger sister. Sweetie Belle lightly kicked the ground while she waited for a response. Rarity’s eyes softened with a smile. “I was actually hoping you would keep me company, if you’d like.” Sweetie Belle perked up instantly. “Really?!” Her wings flapped in excitement. “Of course!” Rarity answered. “Now, if I can just find my pincushion, we can get started. I could’ve sworn I left it right here.” She looked back and forth across her work table. “I got it!” Sweetie Belle zoomed past Rarity as she flew to one of the upper shelves. She picked up the pincushion and drifted back down to a wide-eyed Rarity. She held it out to her big sister with a smile spread across her face. “Hmm,” Rarity said quietly, looking back and forth between Sweetie Belle and the shelf. “Opalescence must have moved it while I was out.” She levitated the pincushion out of Sweetie Belle’s hoof and onto the table. “Thank you again, Sweetie Belle. You’ve been quite the little helper today.” Sweetie Belle giggled at Rarity’s praise and stepped off to the side to give her sister room to work. Rarity donned her red reading glasses and smiled to her sister. A smile and a wave from Sweetie Belle told her that she could begin. Rarity levitated a roll of ruby cloth and spread it across her table. With another flare from her horn, a pair of scissors levitated over to the cloth and began snipping away with speed and precision. Occasionally, she would ask Sweetie Belle to fetch her something from the shelves, if only to keep her from getting bored. Sweetie Belle always responded with enthusiasm, flying up to the shelf to get the item before presenting it to her sister with a smile. Rarity thanked her each time and returned her smile. Work was progressing well, and for once having Sweetie Belle around wasn’t so bad. As Sweetie Belle continued to watch her sister work, a thought began to develop until she finally spoke up about it. “Rarity?” she asked. “Hmm?” “How did you get so good at magic?” Rarity stopped suddenly and turned to her sister with a curious expression. “I suppose it came out of necessity.” She levitated a spool of thread and a needle, holding them up for Sweetie Belle to see. A strand of thread unraveled itself from the spool and shot itself through the eye of the needle. It then tied itself securely, ready for use. “It’s nearly impossible to do such things with one’s hooves. I realized early on that if I was serious about becoming a fashionista that I’d need to become skilled with magic.” She set the needle and thread back down on the table. “After enough time and practice, it became second nature, I suppose. Why do you ask?” Sweetie Belle sighed lightly. “I don’t know. I just—” She looked back at Rarity as she struggled to form words. “I always wanted to be like you, Rarity, and you make it look so easy, but whenever I try to use magic, I can’t get it to work.” She crumpled to the ground, her wings lying flat next to her. “All I do is mess things up.” Rarity walked over to Sweetie Belle and sat down with her. “That’s not true, Sweetie Belle,” she said gently. “You’ve been a tremendous help to me today, but it’s not because of these wings.” She softly brushed her hoof along Sweetie Belle’s wing. “It’s because you are so eager to be helpful. You’ve always been that way. I’ve never met another pony who can match your charitable nature.” Sweetie Belle closed her eyes and leaned against her sister. “You really think so?” “I truly do.” Rarity curled into her younger sister as she closed her eyes. She thought about how there was still more work waiting to be done. But being with her sister felt more important.
