Crusader's Quest in Cloudsdale

by BoredWriter

Rating: everyone
Tags: Starlight Glimmer, Thriller, Mystery, Tragedy, Random, Slice of Life, Main 6, Drama, Original Character, My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic, Cutie Mark Crusaders
Length: 9473

When Rainbow Dash tells the story of her cousin who stopped playing with her after recieving a Stormcloud Cutie-Mark, the CMC go to Cloudsdale to investigate.

To relate to Starlight, Rainbow Dash tells the story of how her cousin stopped playing with her after receiving a Cutie-Mark with the opposite purpose to her own: A Stormcloud. The CMCs decide to go on a mission in Cloudsdale to find Rainbow's cousin and help her with her cutie mark.

However when Starlight offers to transfigure all the CMCs into Pegasi with grown wings to help them with their mission, Scootaloo misuses them.

Published 2016-10-10 16:20:01 UTC
Last updated 2016-10-21 03:55:52 UTC

A Cloudsdale Story

"Hey! Get Back here!" Starlight teleports infront of the CMCs, running around Twilight's Castle.

"Aaaaaah!" The CMCs hide in a closet. Starlight opens the closet "PLEASE DONT TAKE OUR CUTIEMARKS AND REPLACE THEM WITH EQUAL SIGNS!"

"You mean like this?" Starlight starts to pull their cutie marks off.

"EEEEEEEK! Yes like that!" Sweetie Belle sobs uncontrollably. Starlight makes a nervous expression and puts their Cutie-Marks back on.

Rainbow Dash flies up to Starlight angrily "What did I tell you about using spells on your friends?"

Starlight rolls her eyes and sits at the reading table annoyed. The CMC follow Rainbow Dash out of the closet and sit around the table.

"When I said tell us a scary story, I didn't mean one about you"

Applebloom looks sad "What made you do such horrible things to ponies?"

Starlight sighs "Short version. I lost a friend to a Cutie-Mark. Atleast I have him back now"

Rainbow makes an annoyed expression "I lost a friend to a cutie mark too. Atleast I didn't force an entire village to give up theirs"

"You did?" The CMC exclaim together "How?"

"Let me tell you a story: After I got my cutie mark, my Dad Rainbow Blaze invited my cousin Cirrus Storm for the first time. Unfortunately my Aunt Hail Storm and Uncle Rainbow Trail couldn't come because they were about to have another baby pony. Cirrus really wanted a cutie mark like mine, so we competed in racing, clearing clouds, and did aerial tricks together at Flight Camp. Sometimes we hung out together at the Wonderbolts Academy and watched them practice".

Scootaloo exclaims "Cirrus was just like you? That's a cool friend to have!"

Rainbow sighs "Ehhh... not skill wise however. Every time we raced, I always won, and she became more and more frustrated. After winning 58 times in a row, Cirrus almost beat me... then crashed into a cloud. After claiming my 59th win, I helped her out of the cloud and she got her cutie-mark".

Scootaloo claps "Wow! 59 wins in a row?"

Applebloom asks "What kind of Cutie Mark was it?"

"A storm cloud" Rainbow points to her flank. "The opposite of mine"

Sweetie Belle squints "If yours cutie marks are the opposite and you got it from winning, doesn't that mean her cutie mark is from... losing?"

"That's what I always thought it was. After Cirrus got her cutie mark, she started refusing to hang out with me, and would read books all day. It was fun while it lasted".

Applebloom looks sad "Did you ever ask why?"

"She never wanted to talk about it. After I moved to Ponyville I never saw her again" Rainbow gets out of her chair "But I have new friends now, hey Rarity!"

Rarity runs into the castle excited, followed by the rest of the Mane 6. "Trenderhoof agreed to write about my boutique in Manehattan!"

Pinkie jumps up "And then we're going to the club house!"

"Thats awesome! Are we all going now?"

Rarity nods "The train is going in 15 minutes"

Applejack and Fluttershy walk up to Rarity "I'm sorry to disappoint y'all, but me and Fluttershy were planning on visiting Cloudsdale"

Rarity puts her hoof around Fluttershy "No it's okay, you don't have to come with us, we understand. But... what for?"

Applejack points to a crate of baked goods behind her "I was going to sell baked goods at the Cloudsdale Food Fair, Twilight is setting up a Hot Air Balloon to transport the crate up there"

Fluttershy holds up a letter "And my brother sent me a letter. He invited me and my parents to see his new home and job. I'm so proud of him. Also Zephyr is wondering if Rainbow Dash would come too"

Rainbow looks nervous "Eh.. heh heh... achoo! I have a bad case of Disco Fever and really need to go to the club house in Manehattan with everypony else. Maybe next time"

Applejack makes a grateful gesture "Thanks for understanding Rarity. Now uh, Starlight, can you use that spell that lets me walk on clouds? Twilight's busy"

Starlight flips through a spell book, then fires a spell at Applejack "Thanks Starlight! Magic isn't bad as long as you aren't enslaving ponies to do your bidding". Applejack pushes the crate of apples outside "Is the balloon ready?"

Starlight walks back to the table with the CMCs and takes out a book. Belle turns to the other CMCs with a sad expression "That story Rainbow Dash told us... Cirrus must feel really bad about her cutie mark if she refused to hang out with Rainbow Dash ever since"

Apple Bloom turns to Sweetie Belle "We're the Cutie Mark Crusaders, and that's a cutie mark problem if I've ever seen one. I really wish we could help"

Scootaloo exclaims "Maybe we can! We could find Cirrus and talk to her about her cutie mark problem, Rainbow Dash would be really proud of us!"

Sweetie Belle argues "But Cirrus lives in Cloudsdale, where Rainbow Dash grew up. How are we supposed to get up there?"

Starlight lowers her book "If I help you guys, think Twilight would be impressed?"

The CMCs turn to Starlight "You can?"

"I can use the same spell so you can walk on clouds too" Starlight casts the cloud walking spell on them.

"Great! Thanks Starlight! Let's go Crusaders!" The CMCs get off the couch and run to the door "To the Hot Air Balloon with Applejack!"

As they run out the castle, they find abandoned ropes then look up to see the Hot Air Balloon already taking off, tied to the crate of baked goods.

"Awww!" the CMCs return to the castle pouting.

"I used that spell dozens of times, did it not work?"

"Applejack left without us!"

Starlight pouts as well "Geez, Twilight would have been proud of me for helping you with your own problems"

Scootaloo makes a sinister grin "I don't suppose you have any spells would let us fly up there, would you?"

Arrival

Starlight looks worried at the CMCs "The only spells that will do that are transfiguration spells, and those are really powerful"

Scootaloo looks disapointed "Oh, are you not... powerful? Starlight Glimmer?"

Starlight makes an evil expression "YES. YES I AM"

Scootaloo stomps and demands "Use it on me, now!"

Applebloom exclaims worried "Scoot! Are you sure about this?"

Sweetie Belle grabs Scootaloo "We should listen to what Starlight has to say"

"Transfiguration spells are only temporary. The longest I could do was six hours"

Scootaloo rolls her eyes "It's not going to take six hours, we'll do it in Rainbow Dash speed"

Starlight continues "And Twilight's been cautious about me using spells on my friends, especially powerful ones"

Sweetie Belle and Apple Bloom look at each other worried. Scootaloo exclaims "JUST DO IT. MAKE OUR DREAMS COME TRUE"

Starlight rolls her eyes "Fine. But you better do what I say, OR ELSE I WILL TAKE YOUR CUTIE MARKS". The CMC's manes stand up, but they nod. Starlight casts a spell around Scootaloo creating a large ribbon, which makes her wings slightly larger.

"Alright, now..."

"WOOOOOOT!" Scootaloo starts flying all over the place.

Starlight looks at Apple Bloom concerned "I have to warn you two though, you won't have unicorn magic or earth pony strength under the effects of this spell"

Apple Bloom explains "I don't think we need them for a cutie mark problem". Sweetie Belle nods.

"To make sure you're safe, wear these". Starlight magically creates three ribbons and places them in front of Sweetie Belle.

Scootaloo hovers above them "Safety ribbons? Pffft who needs those?"

"What are these for?"

Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle look at eachother worried as Starlight magically drags Scootaloo towards them and charges a powerful spell. "Wha... what are you going to do to us Starlight?"

"Twilight could only use this spell on small animals like frogs and Breezies, but me? Ha!". Starlight casts a spell on Scootaloo, then Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle, turning them both into Pegasi as well. While doing so, Starlight loses her concentration on Scootaloo, who immediately takes off and crashes into Starlight. The spell explodes in Starlights face

"Scootaloo. GET BACK HERE". Starlight tries to drag Scootaloo back to her but finds she's unable to use magic. Starlight finds she turned herself into a Pegasi as well. "WHAT? NOW WHAT AM I SUPPOSED TO DO FOR SIX HOURS?". Starlight pouts on the floor

Sweetie Belle hovers in to the air a bit "Weeee!"

Scootaloo yells "WHAT ARE WE WAITING FOR?! We can fly, lets leave this dusty castle"

Starlight explains angrily "Put the ribbons on. They will disappear five minutes before the Pegasi transfiguration spell wears off. When they disappear, it will give you five minutes to find the nearest cloud or ground before you turn back to normal. I should of made a fourth one for myself, no idea Scootaloo was going to interfere with the spell"

Apple Bloom stomps her hoof "Scootaloo. Down. Now. This is important. We need to keep these ribbons with us so we know when Starlight's spell is about to wear off. You don't want to plummet to your doom like Rarity do you?"

Scootaloo ties the ribbon to her hoof, then flies out the castle door. Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle follow after slowly. Starlight sighs "Nothing better to do" and flies after them.

Sweetie Belle smiles at Apple Bloom as they fly upwards "This is a whole new adventure for us! Cloudsdale here we come!"

Apple Bloom looks at the Ribbon tied around her hoof "I know this is fun and exciting, but also really dangerous if we ignore Starlights instructions. Scootaloo might end up like Rarity when she had wings"

"Scootaloo does all sorts of stunts and tricks on her scooter, I'm sure she knows how to be safe"

Starlight catches up, still angry "Well she better! If Scootaloo falls, Twilight would hold me responsible for casting that spell on her"

Apple Bloom nods nervously as Scootaloo flies in random directions continuously. "I don't know if Scootaloo even remembers what we're going to Cloudsdale for. Sweetie Belle, you remember right?"

"Cutie mark problem"

"Scootaloo, do you know what we're going to Cloudsdale for?" Scootaloo keeps flying randomly and wooting "SCOOTALOO"

"Oh yeah... uh... to fly?"

"NO! We have a cutie mark problem to solve, that's the whole reason Starlight gave us the ability to fly"

"Yeah... ha... ha... that. I'll be ahead"

Scootaloo zips upwards and grabs onto the side of Cloudsdale. Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle land slowly after on a giant cloud "Is Scootaloo even going to help us? Usually shes desperate to impress Rainbow Dash".

Sweetie Belle hugs the cloud "This is so cozy!"

A Pegasi laying down in the cloud lowers his sunglasses "It sure is!"

The CMC become surprised, seeing a ton of Pegasi sunbathing on the giant cloud with parasols and sun towels "I guess chillaxing isn't exclusive to Rainbow Dash". Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle walk up to Scootaloo who's going up to random ponies.

"Yo, whats up?" Scootaloo lies next to a random mare "Um... who are you?"

"Rainbow Dash's little sister, you know her?"

"Sounds familiar, isn't she the one who did a Sonic Rainboom at the Young Fliers competition and won?"

"It sure was! Maybe I can do one too!"

Belle and Bloom look at each other nervous. Belle taps Scootaloo's head "That's enough Scootaloo, we have to go find Cirrus".

Bloom looks around "There's Pegasi everywhere here. Where should we look?"

Starlight lies down on the giant cloud and relaxes "This isn't so bad"

A stallion rolls over to Starlight "Hello, are you new here?"

Starlight looks at him annoyed.

Familiar Faces

Sweetie Belle turns to Apple Bloom "The Wonderbolt's Academy? Are you sure?"

"Rainbow Dash said she used to hang out with Cirrus there, they have to know something"

Upon landing in the Academy, Scootaloo flies across the track repetitively.

"Ugh, Scootaloo... are you going to help us or not?"

Scootaloo laughs "This place is empty! You're not going to find Cirrus here. But maybe if she sees me doing tricks she'll show up"

. Applebloom groans "Look over there for evidence, I'll search over here"

Sweetie Belle walks up to the Dizzitron "What is this thing?". Scootaloo flies next to her

"It's the Dizzitron, Rainbow told me she rode in it when she was a cadet, it's for some... recovery exercise" Scootaloo flies onto the "Pull the lever"

Apple Bloom jumps up and pull the lever, it starts to spin. "WOOOOOOT". Then stops it

"Hey!"

"This isn't what we're here for Scoot, we have to solve this cutie mark problem before the spell wears off". Sweetie Belle looks at the wheel then taps on Apple Bloom

"Look! It says Cirrus Storm on the back of the Dizzitron"

Apple Bloom follows "It sure does! But why?"

Soarin without the Wonderbolt's outfit flies across the track and stops next to the CMC "What are you doing here? The Academy is closed"

"Do you know this pony?" Apple Bloom points to the signature on the back of the Dizzitron.

"Uh... I remember she made the Dizzitron for the Academy two years ago. Mama Biceps used to twirl the cadets before it was built" Soarin scratches his head "It hurt a lot".

"Do you like... know anything about her?"

"Well... I talked to her when she was building it..."

"Well go on! What did she say?"

"I... uhhhh don't want to talk about it"

Apple Bloom thinks to herself then tells Sweetie Belle "Keep trying... I know something that'll make him speak"

Apple Bloom flies over to the Food Fair, with various stalls selling food. She spots Applejack with the crate of baked goods then opens up her wings "I can't let her see me like this".

A nearby mare drops her sunglasses and towel, Apple Bloom covers herself with the Towel and puts on the Sunglasses, then walks up to Applejack.

"Applejack, do you have any pies?"

"Apple Bloom?! What ya doing up here?"

"Uh... Starlight offered to take me and the other CMCs up here. She used that cloud walking spell... heh... heh"

"Awww, that was real sweet of her. Why don't you share some Granny Smith goods with 'em". Applejack stuffs various baked goods in a bag then hands them to Apple Bloom.

"Hey! Wheres my towel?"

Apple Bloom drops the towel and sunglasses, then flies off with the bag before Applejack notices shes has wings.

Soarin shakes his head "No! I'm not Cirrus! I just... don't want to talk about it okay?". Sweetie Belle stares him suspicious while Scootaloo spins on the Dizzitron as minimum speed. Soarin sniffs "IS THAT"

"Granny Smith's Apple Pie" Soarin runs up to Apple Bloom.

"Nuh uh! First you gotta tell us everything you talked about with Cirrus"

Soarin swallows nervously, then lowers his head "I asked her if her cousin Rainbow Dash would be my date for the gala."

Scootaloo starts laughing while spinning "Haha! Rainbow's too awesome for you"

"I was too nervous to ask Rainbow myself..." Soarin puts his hooves over his head on the ground "you... you gotta understand..."

"It's okay, no wonder you were nervous to tell us. Did she say anything else?"

"When I asked Cirrus she said she doesn't talk with her cousin anymore so she couldn't answer"

Sweetie Belle gets her hopes up "And... did she say why she doesn't talk with Rainbow Dash anymore?"

Soarin nods "But then she said she had to go help her parents in the Cloud Factory and left"

Apple Bloom hands him the Apple Pie, which he starts eating immediately "That's all we need to know, thanks"

"Please don't tell Rainbow Dash I asked Cirrus that"

Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle take off, but return shortly to turn off the Dizzitron. It launches Scootaloo upwards, but is too dizzy to recover and simply falls down. Soarin catches her

Scootaloo's eyes continue to spin "Oh... uh... thanks"

"Don't mention it, Rainbow saved me many times"

Scootaloo tries to follow Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle as they fly away, still dizzy. "Really? You want to impress Rainbow Dash by helping her cousin, and you're not even going to help us?!"

"Buh but... there are all sorts of other things I can do to impress her. Maybe I can do cool aerial tricks and stunts, beat records, or even race Cirrus for Rainbow Dash and get her the 60th win in a row!"

"We can't take any risks, if any of us get hurt, Twilight would get mad at Starlight, then she'd take our Cutie-Marks away"

Scootaloo snaps out of her dizziness "Oh. Right"

The CMCs drop in front of the Cloud Factory "It looks like it's open. If Cirrus's parents work in the Cloud Factory, they're probably be in there"

A security guard blocks the entrance "Excuse me mister, is Hail Storm and Rainbow Trail in there?"

"No unauthorized entry. We have added security precautions after a pony with a rainbow colored tail sabotaged the factory". The security guard holds up a photo of the snow-making machine malfunctioning, with a Rainbow tail sticking out of it"

"Do you know what pony is responsible for this"

The cutie mark crusaders shake their heads.

Worn Out Places

The CMC walk through Cloudsdale residents "I guess we can't go in the factory. Maybe some pony knows Cirrus's family?"

Sweetie Belle walks up to a small cylindrical building with displays of all types of clouds in the windows "Wow... thats a lot of clouds"

Apple Bloom points to a plague on the door "Look what it says here. The finest clouds produced in the factory since the first day of the job until retirement. Mr Shy"

"This pony worked in the Clouds Factory his entire career! He must know Cirrus's parents"

Scootaloo pouts "GRRRR! We aren't getting anywhere! All we do is ask ponies where Cirrus is and the closest we get is her parents and a stallion who has a crush on Rainbow Dash. Why can't we forget it and just have fun flying"

"Okay fine Scoot, you leave and do whatever, we have a cutie mark problem to solve"

Scootaloo flies off as fast as she could. Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle look disappointed, then walk to the door of the house next to the display building. Apple Bloom approaches the front door.

Sweetie Belle asks worried "Are you sure about this? Mr Shy sounds like..."

The door opens and Mr Shy steps out "Hello, are you Mr Shy?". Then Mrs Shy and Fluttershy step out.

"Girls?"

"FLUTTERSHY!" Sweetie Belle and Apple Bloom run away.

"We need to hide some where"

Sweetie Belle points at a damaged shabby house "In there? It doesn't look like any pony has lived there in ages"

They jump in the window, and land on sun chairs. Zephyr runs up to them

"HEY! CUSTOMERS! Welcome to the presence of... moi... your manes must hold so much stress for you to be here".

Zephyr dumps a bunch of relaxation products on Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle.

"Like this" a stallion heads a beach ball to Starlight, who looks at the beach ball angrily and it lands next to her. She tries to concentrate on it but is still unable to use magic

"THIS IS WHAT PONIES DO FOR FUN?! THROW A CHUNK OF INFLATED PLASTIC?"

"Yup"

The stallion throws it at her again. She gets angry and head butts the beach ball at him with full force, then gives a maniacal laugh, but then calms down "This is sort of fun actually"

Apple Bloom whispers to Sweetie Belle "Check the window, is the coast clear?"

"Fluttershy is coming this way!"

Mr Shy opens a map "It looks like this is it". Fluttershy opens the door.

Zephyr waves "Hey Mom!"

Mrs Shy opens the door "Son, this is... wonderful..."

Zephyr squirts an excessive amount of mane cream on Apple Blooms face "Oh it is. I'm saving up for renovations. Check out my first two customers!"

Fluttershy looks at Sweetie Belle and Apple Bloom suspiciously. Sweetie continuously covers herself with cucumber slices while Apple Bloom covers her entire self with mane cream, making herself completely white. "Do I know you?"

"Nope, I'm uhh... Napple Groom, and this is Tweaky Shell"

"I thought for a moment you were the cutie mark crusaders" Fluttershy scratches her head. "But then if you were, Scootaloo would be here"

"Heh heh yeah! We're really big fans of them!" Apple Bloom rolls over "Ugh... Scootaloo"

Sweetie Belle raises her hoof "Has any pony here worked in the Clouds Factory"

Mr Shy responds "I have"

"Do you know Hail Storm or Rainbow Trail?"

"I do"

Mrs Shy interrupts "Remember when we went to their baby shower, then had to leave early because we found out Fluttershy fell off Cloudsdale?"

Apple Bloom gets up "Baby shower? What was the baby pony's name?"

"Snowy Trail"

"That's all we wanted to know. Thanks" Sweetie Belle and Apple Bloom leave the building.

Zephyr exclaims from the window "Hey! Your therapy isn't done yet!"

"Two please" the stallion buys two Apple Dumplings from Applejack.

Applejack looks around him to find Starlight siting with her hooves crossed. "Starlight? Is that you?"

"This is my new friend, Starlight Glimmer, we met at the Rain Beach"

"No I'm not" Starlight points at the stallion angry "He won't leave me alone"

The stallion looks sad and walks away with the bag of dumplings.

"Starlight... what in tarnation is going on..."

"I kinda... turned myself into a Pegasi. When I get my magic back I'm going to leave this cursed place"

"Calm down Starlight, you should find ways to enjoy yourself while you don't have magic. It was really nice of you though to bring my sister and her friends here. Where are they anyways?"

"Oh they're just flying... I mean... running! Around looking for cutie mark problems. I'm sure everything is under control"

"I hope so. You outta apologize to him for what you said" the stallion sits at a table with his head down.

A group of colts and fillies watch Scootaloo flying around wildly "Wow... how long have you been doing this?"

"Just this morning"

The crowd awes. Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle fly over. A mare announces "Welcome to Jr Flight School! I am the teacher..."

"Oh, we're just visiting Cloudsdale from Ponyville"

"Do you know this pony?" the mare points at Scootaloo still flying around.

"Nope. But I would like to know all of you. I'm Sweetie Belle, and this is my friend Apple Bloom"

Each of the fillies and colts introduce themselves, Scootaloo flies up to some colts "Wanna race?"

"Soon" The colts start raising their hooves "I'm Rusty Wing"

"Cloud Zap"

"Nimbus"

The mare points at a filly, who raises her hoof "Snowy Trail"

Apple Bloom grabs Sweetie Belle and points to Snowy Trail "That's her! We should talk to her when they're done saying their names"

The mare ends the introductions "I'm afraid Flight School isn't going on today. A lot of students went to the Food Fair".

Scootaloo talks to the colts again "Race?"

They nod. Apple Bloom watches from a distance disappointed. Sweetie Belle holds her magic ribbon up to Apple Bloom, which is starting to disappear.

Scootaloosing It

"SCOOT! NO!"

Sweetie Belle holds the last of the magic ribbon in front of Scootaloo "The spell is going to wear off!"

Scootaloo turns to Sweetie Belle "Nah, don't worry, Starlight said it would last five minutes after the Ribbon disappears".

"Race?" Scootaloo prepares to sprint, the colts do the same.

"Get Starlight!"

Apple Bloom runs off, Sweetie Belle bites her hooves while Scootaloo races the colts.

"Three bits for a dozen apple tarts" a mare places three bits in front of Applejack.

"Excuse me, uh... where do apples come from?"

Applejack looks surprised "Uh. You never heard of Apple Trees? It's a kind of plant"

"No I haven't... trees don't grow in Cloudsdale"

"You see, Apple Trees are a vital part of my home town. They started Ponyville with..."

"STARLIGHT! WHERE ARE YOU!" Applebloom flies around the food stalls with her wings completely exposed. Applejack looks around the mare upon hearing Apple Bloom screaming.

"Erm... Excuse me for a second ma'am"

Applejack jumps over the stall and chases Apple Bloom. "SIS. WHAT THE HAY IS GOING ON". She grabs Apple Bloom out of the air.

Apple Bloom tries to squirm out of Applejack's hooves "It's a long story, I need to find Starlight this very instant"

"I won! Wait until Rainbow Dash hears about this!" Scootaloo relaxes on the cloud at the end of the track.

Sweetie Belle takes a deep breath "Phew..."

Rusty Wing flies up to Scootaloo "That's just the half-mark, the track goes into an entire loop. He points to clouds rings, then continues flying.

"Oh no you don't!" Scootaloo gets up and keeps flying. Sweetie Belle puts her head in the clouds

"I can't watch!"

"Princess!" The stallion places a checker piece on the end of a checker board and flips it. Starlight still appears grumpy.

"I don't understand, why do you still want to be friends with me after the things I said?"

The stallion takes out a mop "I've had trouble making friends. I'm a Janitor at the Cloud Factory. Ponies only care about me when there's a mess to clean up"

Starlight pats his head "Maybe you should share your talents with them, and they'll realize how important you are to their team"

The stallion nods then looks around Starlight "Didn't you have wings a few minutes ago?"

Starlight hears screaming "Excuse me for a second"

"NO APPLEJACK! IT'S AN EMERGENCY!" Apple Bloom struggles to get out of Applejack's grasp

"Ya tellin me right now, why you a Pegasi. Did Starlight curse you too?"

Apple Bloom turns around to see her wings magically disappear "Oh, they're gone. Guess I'm not a Pegasi". Her pupils shrink "Uh oh..."

"What do you mean... Uh. Oh?"

"Grrrr!" Apple Bloom jumps away from Applejack and runs to Starlight.

"STARLIGHT! Scootaloo is going to fall!"

"Didn't I tell her to get on the nearest cloud when the ribbon disappears?"

"Yes... you did". A loud screaming noise is heard from the distance.

Applejack asks worried "What was that..."

Sweetie Belle takes her head out of the cloud with her horn restored. Scootaloo screams, being barely able to fly as her wings shrink to their regular size. Nimbus flies up to her "Are you okay Scootaloo?"

"Nope, still can't watch" Sweetie Belle puts her head in the cloud, her head pokes below it. While looking below, she watches Scootaloo fall, screaming and flapping rapidly.

Sweetie Belle pulls her head back out and lets out a tear "Scoot..."

Applejack, Fluttershy, Starlight, and Apple Bloom look over the edge of the cloud, seeing Scootaloo fall. Applejack grabs Starlight's head "Starlight. I'm telling Twilight about this"

"Rainbow... please..." Scootaloo closes her tearing eyes while flapping rapidly, which makes her fall very slowly. Fluttershy flies down gently and grabs Scootaloo "RAINBOW DASH! IM SO SORRY" she hugs Fluttershy and cries uncontrollably. "I shouldn't have gotten carried away"

Fluttershy lifts Scootaloo back up to Cloudsdale "You were falling... really slowly...". Scootaloo opens her eyes "I do have to carry you away though"

"Wait... You're not Rainbow Dash"

Applejack yells at Starlight "I THOUGHT YOU SAID YOU HAD THIS UNDER CONTROL! NEXT TIME STAY ON THE SURFACE INSTEAD OF RISKING PONIES LIVES! YOU OUTTA BE ASHAMED"

Scootaloo hyperventilates and catches her breath "No stop Applejack! This is all my fault!"

"Asking Starlight for the ability to fly and taking risks were decisions I made and I should be held responsible for them. Starlight was doing only what I said, then once I had what I wanted, I ignored her instructions to stay safe". Scootaloo turns to Starlight "I'm really sorry I got carried away, I just wanted to fly for such a long time... you can take away my cutie mark"

Starlight makes a nervous smile "You know I was just kidding about taking away your cutie marks right?"

"And... I'm guessing you gave the ability to fly to Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle too"

Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle nod.

Apple Bloom explains "Starlight did everything she could do keep us safe. She even made us ribbons to indicate when the transfiguration spell was about to end. When Scootaloo refused to listen I ran to Starlight for an emergency. Then you kind of... stopped me"

Applejack puts her hat down "You did the right thing. I should have listened.

Fluttershy lightly hugs the CMCs "I'm so glad you're safe"

Applejack sighs "All is forgiven. Now do you mind explaining why y'all came to Cloudsdale in the first place?"

Scootaloo exclaims "Cutie mark problem! And this time no getting carried away. Are we still in this crusaders?"

The CMCs put their hooves "It looks like we're going to walk now. We should find Snowy Trail"

"Let's go Crusaders!" The CMC's march away in the sunset, but then Applejack interrupts

"Sorry girls, it's kinda getting late. We outta all go home now. Don't worry, you can come back here tomorrow... with Starlight"

Applejack turns to Starlight "Mind helping us get this stuff back to Ponyville?"

A Cloudy Past

"Morning!" The CMCs run into the castle of friendship, while Twilight, Starlight, and Spike are still eating breakfast. "Can we all go the Cloudsdale now?"

Twilight shakes her head "What for? Did something happen while we were gone"

Scootaloo exclaims "Cutie mark problem. Starlight helped us get there. We want to go back there so we can finish". She waves at Rainbow Dash who flies in.

"That was really nice of you to help them Starlight! That's a friendship problem solved right there. I'm sure she can help you return so you can finish"

Starlight walks up to Scootaloo angry "I don't know if I should help you."

"I understand Starlight, what I did yesterday was inexcusable"

Rainbow looks worried at Starlight "Erm. What did Scootaloo do"

"I made her wings a bit bigger so she could fly temporarily, but ignored my instructions to get on back on the cloud before the spell wears off. She fell off Cloudsdale"

"WHAT?! SCOOTALOO WAS FLYING? I totally should have stayed and watched"

Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle raise their hooves "So were we. She turned us both into Pegasi"

Spike turns to a worried Twilight "Wow... I'm a bit afraid of Starlight now"

"I think it would be better off if you just did the Balloon this time"

Rainbow tries to talk sincerely with Scootaloo "Just because you messed up once doesn't mean you should ever try again. You've seen what happens when you get carried away, just like Rarity, and now know the consequences. Come on kid, give it another shot"

Scootaloo nods.

Starlight repeats the transfiguration spells, but Scootaloo remains in place and does not interfere. The CMC's fly away while Rainbow follows behind them amazed.

Starlight turns back to the table to see Twilight frozen. "Impressive huh?"

Sweetie Belle turns to Scootaloo who's flying in sync with her and Apple Bloom "It's good to have you back Scootaloo"

"No goofing off this time. We got a cutie mark problem to solve"

Rainbow Dash asks "Cutie mark problem?"

Apple Bloom explains "We thought of helping your cousin Cirrus with her cutie mark. Me and Sweetie Belle could only figure out who her little sister is, and we're hoping she can take us to Cirrus"

"Her name is Snowy Trail. You could have just asked me" Rainbow Dash scratches her head "Do you really think Cirrus wants to see me again? I may have gone too hard on her when we were fillies"

Scootaloo responds "But you're totally different now. Whatever the problem is I'm sure we can work it out"

Upon reaching Cloudsdale Rainbow doesn't follow the CMCs onto the cloud "I have to go to the Wonderbolt's Academy for a while this morning. I'll catch ya guys later"

The CMCs enter a crowd of fillies and colts for flight school, and approach Snowy Frost (Light blue filly with white mane) drawing pictures of snowflakes "Hi Snowy"

"Hi Cutie Mark Crusaders"

"You know us?"

"Yeah, my cousin Rainbow Dash told me all about you guys. I don't remember all three of you being Pegasi though"

"We're under a transfiguration spell temporarily. We're here looking for a cutie mark problem"

"I... don't have any cutie mark problems but thanks for asking" Snowy Trail holds up pictures of snowflakes she drew "I got my snowflake cutie mark by designing snowflakes for the cloud factory. Mom and Dad implements them every winter"

"Oh, we came here for your sister Cirrus"

"Cirrus has a cutie mark problem? She always said she was fine the way she is"

"We... have suspicions she isn't. Any idea where she is?"

"That's all for today?" Rainbow Dash walks around the Wonderbolt compound with a paper in her wing.

"Yup. This is our next aerial performance sequence, we'll start practicing it tomorrow afternoon" Spitfire explains, signing papers "Any plans for today?"

"Well, my friends were going to find my cousin Cirrus"

"Cirrus... that pony is one hard find. If you ever see her, give her this" Spitfire hands Rainbow Dash a package "We were meant to give this to her a year ago, but no pony was able to find her"

"What is it"

"It's a surprise"

Snowy Trail flies behind the Wind Generators and goes up to a cloud one of the generators is mounted on. She pulls away some of the cloud, revealing a hidden door. The CMCs inspect the door.

"Seriously?"

"Cirrus doesn't see ponies other much. I'm the only other pony who knows she lives here"

The CMC look concerned, then turn to the door "Are you ready to go in guys?"

Snowy Trail backs away "Sorry, but I have to go to the Cloud Factory to submit these snowflake designs. Wish you luck with Cirrus"

"I hope this works"

The CMC knock on the door. A Pegasi that looks much like Minuette in goggles opens the door "Snowy Trail? Sis? Are you there?"

"Cirrus?"

P.P.O.V

"Oh hey there" Cirrus looks curiously at the CMCs "Cutie mark crusaders?"

The CMCs nod "That's us!"

"Well come on in! No pony has visited me in ages, except my sis"

As the CMCs follow Cirrus into her house, Sweetie Belle looks around Cirrus then whispers to Apple Bloom "Yup, that's a stormcloud on her flank"

Cirrus turns around and looks at her flank "What about it? I understand you go around helping with cutie mark problems, but I don't think mine is solvable". She flies over to a workshop table with a storm cloud in a cylinder and hooks jumper wires to it. "I wish I had a different one"

As Cirrus writes down the meter readings, the CMCs turn around and start whispering to each other. Apple Bloom tells the other CMCs "Her cutie mark definitely isn't losing and everything to do with what's on that table. But how did she get it in a race against Rainbow Dash?"

They all scratch their heads confused.

Rainbow Dash approaches Derpy, who is holding a saddlebag filled with letters, and hands her the package for Cirrus "Mind delivering this to my cousin Cirrus?"

Derpy nods "Sure thing Rainbow Dash! " and flies away.

Rainbow Dash chuckles to herself "Lead me there" and starts following Derpy.

Apple Bloom whispers "Well we gotta start gathering information, ask something"

Sweetie Belle approaches Cirrus "Is there any reason you don't like your cutie mark?"

Cirrus looks up from her work and sighs "I used to be friends with Rainbow Dash, I'm sure you know her. She was the best flier I ever met and did everything she could to help me get a cutie mark like hers. We competed in flying races and learned what we could from watching Wonderbolts. But no matter how hard I tried, I could never fly as fast as she could"

The CMCs whisper to each other "Her story seems to match"

Cirrus continues "One day my parents showed me their workplace at the Weather Factory. There I discovered storm clouds" Cirrus takes out a cylinder containing a storm cloud. "They can store vast quantities of energy and water and I thought I could use them to beat Rainbow for once"

The CMCs expressions change to concerned.

"Urgh!" Derpy starts trying to stuff the package into a mail box.

"Derpy. That's my uncle and aunts house"

Derpy turns around "Oh hey Rainbow Dash! I just delivered your package!"

Rainbow hoof palms her face, then two Pegasi approach the house "Uncle Rainbow Trail! Aunt Hailstorm!"

"Hey, who's our fastest niece" Rainbow Trail rubs his hoof on Rainbow Dash's head. "We're on lunch break from the Cloud Factory"

Hailstorm pulls the package out of the mail box "Is this for Cirrus?"

"Yeah"

Rainbow Dash looks shocked as Rainbow Trail tosses the package into a closet filled with letters and other packages. "Uhhh whats all this"

"All of Cirrus's mail since she moved out. No pony knows where she lives now so her mail comes here". Rainbow Dash's pupils shrink

"WHAT?! Rainbow Dash lost a friend to a cutie mark too?" Twilight responds to Starlight around the book table.

"Yup. Word for word what she said yesterday" Starlight rolls her eyes.

Twilight shakes her head worried "No... no I didn't! I need to talk to her right now".

As Twilight panics and gets up, Starlight waves her hoof and puts it down "No need. There's a group of fillies that have it all under control"

Cirrus continues her story as a flashback "After researching the recoil caused by storm expulsion, I harnessed it into two cans, and strapped them under my wings. On the next race I used them to rocket boost myself faster than Rainbow Dash. It felt great until I realized I got my cutie mark for cheating, not winning".

Apple Bloom looks worried "So... you don't like your cutie mark because your special purpose is different? Cheating though isn't good".

Scootaloo exclaims "A stormcloud is pretty cool though"

Cirrus sighs "Rainbow Dash did all she could to help me become great like her and I ended up the opposite... an lowlife egghead. I couldn't let her know her efforts were in vain so I stopped seeing her entirely. She'd hate me for what I've become". Cirrus goes back to analyzing the storm cloud.

Sweetie Belle asks "Well... how do you know she won't like you?"

"Rainbow has achieved far more as of today than I ever will. She's a hero of Equestria, a Wonderbolt" Cirrus pulls out a Daring Do book "She's even assisted Daring Do. I'm nothing compared to her". Cirrus puts her head down "I would be a waste of her time"

Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle look at each other then frown and are unable to say anything.

Scootaloo stands up "Well, no way to tell unless Rainbow is here"

"

The Cutie Re-mark

"If you do see Cirrus, give her the mail, thanks!" Hailstorm waves as Rainbow Dash drags a sack of letters and packages out of their home.

"I gotta find her now if it's the last thing I daring do!"

"No need" Scootaloo flies up to Rainbow Dash.

"You found her?"

"Yup. She kinda... lives in a secret workshop inside the clouds, under a wind generator. Come on! I'll race ya"

Scootaloo flies off quickly, Rainbow Dash tries to go but can't carry the sack, it's too heavy.

"Did you try making new friends?"

Cirrus slides the cylinder with the storm cloud in a motor "Every pony I've ever talked to just tell me how awesome my cousin is and nothing else" Cirrus scratches her chin "Except... one guy who asked if Rainbow Dash would be his date". Sweetie Belle and Apple Bloom chuckle. "That was when I gave up on friendship"

Twilight drops her book "I... I... felt a disturbance... somewhere"

Scootaloo keeps flying back to Rainbow Dash who is having trouble dragging the sack. "Need a hoof?"

Fluttershy approaches "I can help"

"What are you doing here Fluttershy?"

"Applejack told me the CMCs were returning to Cloudsdale. I wanted to make sure they're safe"

"Oh we're safe alright, mind helping us carry this sack?" Fluttershy nods.

Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle sit depressed. Cirrus flies up carrying the motor "Well, I'm off to install this Wind Generator motor, I'll be right back"

As Cirrus approaches the door, Scootaloo flies in "There's somepony here to see you". Rainbow Dash walks in, while Fluttershy tries to get the sack through the door.

Cirrus quickly hides the motor behind her work table. She lifts up her goggles and mutters "Rainbow Dash? Um... are you sure you don't have more important ponies to be with?"

"Nope, I've wanted to see you like my whole life! How have you been since you got your cutie mark? You were always kinda... quiet about it"

Cirrus sighs "It's awful"

"AWFUL?!"

"I've always wanted to become just like you. Confident, brave, amazing flyer. But no matter how hard I tried I never could. I cheated in the last race against you out of desperation, and that didn't work either. It just got me a stupid storm cloud on my flank, probably for cheating"

Rainbow Dash scratches her head "Well... there is a pony I know who can remove your cutie mark. Then maybe I can practice with ya, and you'll achieve awesomeness in no time"

"Deal!"

"I'll tell her not to put an equal sign"

As Rainbow Dash and Cirrus leave the workshop, Cirrus spots Fluttershy inspecting the items in the sack "You and your friends can keep those if you want, you deserve them"

Rainbow Dash shrugs "Thanks, I guess"

CMC's look at each other worried. Apple Bloom yells "NO! There has to be another way!"

Sweetie Belle looks back "Is there?"

Scootaloo sighs "I... don't know. You have to admit though, Rainbow Dash is awesome, what pony wouldn't want to be like her?"

"But what would make a pony want give up their cutie mark just to be like their cousin? That's a bit extreme"

Fluttershy walks in "Can you girls help me take this sack to Twilight's castle. I could wrap these for next Hearth Warming"

Fluttershy and the CMCs slowly fall, while carrying the sack "What do you think is in there?"

"You'll find out next Hearth Warming, it's only a month away"

"I am honored to be within a 5 meter radius of you Princess Twilight"

Rainbow taps on Cirrus bowing "Uh, Cirrus you don't have to do that"

"You must be Rainbow Dash's old friend Cirrus, I heard you had a problem with your cutie mark so you ended your friendship with your cousin, is that correct?"

"Yeah... I kinda got my cutie mark for cheating against Rainbow Dash, it didn't work anyways. Rainbow says there's a pony here who can remove my cutie mark"

Twilight gasps "YOU WANT YOUR CUTIE MARK REMOVED?"

"If your cutie mark was something derogatory I'm sure you would too"

Twilight hesitates "I guess you're right... I don't know much about cutie mark magic, but I'll bring Starlight here"

Fluttershy and the CMC land in front of the castle with the sack, "I hope we're not too late". The CMC run to the castle without Fluttershy.

"Uh... help?"

Starlight removes the storm cloud cutie mark from Cirrus's flank "I can remove it easily, but it will try to return to you if set free". Starlight takes out a jar.

Twilight watches scared and tearing.

Cirrus looks at the cutie mark angry "Can you destroy it"

"No refunds". Cirrus nods. Starlight concentrates on the cutie mark held by her magic, then shatters it.

The CMCs watch the shattered pieces of the cutie mark fly away.

Rainbow Wannabe

Rainbow Wannabe

"Thanks Starlight!" Cirrus waves to Starlight

"Oh it was nothing, have fun finding a different purpose"

"Never felt better to be a blank flank". Rainbow Dash lands next to Cirrus

"You said it! Can we go for a fly now, we could go cloud busting, or aerial stunts, just like the good ol days" Rainbow whispers into Cirrus's ear "My new friends rarely wanna do those things"

Cirrus stops at the CMC looking at her and Rainbow Dash sad "Is something wrong?"

Sweetie Belle sighs "We really wanted to help with Cirrus's cutie mark problem, but it turned out our effort was pointless"

Apple Bloom nods "All she needed as her unwanted cutie mark removed"

Rainbow Dash hugs all three crusaders "ARE YOU KIDDING? If it wasn't for you three, Cirrus would still be in her workshop doing... whatever" The CMCs perk up "Sometimes we each have a different role to play, and you've done yours. Just like when me and your sisters save Equestria"

"I didn't think of it that way"

"You guys wanna help with Cirrus get a new cutie mark?"

Apple Bloom points to a clock in the castle hallway "Well that transfiguration spell has about an hour left, sure"

As Rainbow, Cirrus, and the CMC leave, Twilight looks at Starlight confused. "I'm curious, if you can destroy cutie marks, why didn't you destroy the cutie marks of the ponies you made... equal?"

Starlight explains "Oh it's quite simple. When a pony's cutie mark is destroyed, it allows them to get a new one. I preserved the village's cutie marks instead of destroying them so they couldn't get a new cutie mark to replace the equal signs. Please don't ask how I know"

Twilight nods nervously.

Starlight walks away and asks herself "I wonder if I can start a business removing unwanted cutie marks"

Cirrus, Rainbow Dash, and Scootaloo start flying around a cloudy area above ponyville while Sweetie Belle and Apple Bloom sit on a cloud and watch. Scootaloo stops by them

"Wanna fly with us?"

"It's okay, we're not as obsessed in flying as you Scootaloo"

Apple Bloom pulls out a stop watch "The spells about to wear off, I think we should return to the surface". She gets interrupted by sudden yelling.

"WHAT ON EARTH ARE YOU DOING UP THERE SWEETIE BELLE" Rarity yells from below "Don't worry I'll get you down". Sweetie Belle's parents rush over to Rarity.

"Oh hey Rarity". Sweetie Belle flies down "Starlight turned me into a Pegasi"

Sweetie Belle's parents have no reaction. Rarity looks devastated "WHAT!? TWILIGHT!!!!! UNDO THIS MADNESS" she runs for Twilight's castle. Sweetie Belle drops to the ground in front of her parents.

"Sorry Mom... Dad..."

Cookie Crumbles pats Sweetie Belle's head "Oh it's okay honey, we don't care what you are"

Hondo Flanks turns to Cookie Crumbles "Have you been seeing some pony else". The transfiguration spell wears off and Sweetie Belle turns back to normal. "Nevermind dear"

Apple Bloom and Scootaloo sit on the ground as the spell wears off. Rainbow Dash and Cirrus fly down to them.

"Any luck getting a different new cutie mark Cirrus?"

"Not yet, maybe I should try other things Rainbow Dash does"

Apple Bloom tells Scootaloo "I'm going to help Applejack with the farm, it was a good day solving cutie mark problems don't you think?"

"Sure, have fun!" As Apple Bloom walks away, Scootaloo looks suspicious as Cirrus, who asks

"How many times did you read the last Daring Do book?"

Rainbow Dash responds "Like 8 times and a half, I'm at the part where Daring Do evades the spear trap"

Cirrus responds "I only read it I think twice. Maybe I can become like you by reading it another half-dozen times". Rainbow nods

"Come to me house later this evening and we can catch up"

Scootaloo exclaims "Can I talk to you for a second Rainbow Dash". Cirrus sits curious. As Rainbow Dash flies over.

"Isn't Cirrus awesome, we even share the same taste in books"

Scootaloo looks at Rainbow Dash worried "Have you noticed how Cirrus never wants to be herself, only you"

Rainbow Dash thinks to herself then gets flashback to "Flight to the Finish". She remembers what she told Scootaloo.

"But that was me! You're you! And it just doesn't matter if you can fly or not"

Rainbow responds concerned "Yeah, nice observation squirt. Whenever I'm with her we always do what I wanna do. I'm going to ask a few things".

Rainbow Dash leads Cirrus and Scootaloo to a restaurant and sit around a table, then asks Cirrus "I've always wondered, after I met you what did you do without me?"

Cirrus looks nervous "I was worried if I told you we wouldn't be friends anymore. It's not something you're too keen on"

"I'm not keen on a lot of things my friends do, go on I wanna hear it"

"Before the 2nd last race we had as fillies, Hailstorm and Rainbow Trail took me to the weather factory to show me the cloud production line. After they showed me each kind of cloud, I thought of using storm clouds to cheat in the last race". Cirrus puts head on her hooves.

Rainbow laughs "Don't feel bad, I've cheated against a friend in a race too, and she did the same to me. We learned from our mistakes... but how in Equestria did you go so fast using a storm cloud?"

Cirrus takes out a compressed stormcloud in a capsule with various wires coming out. Rainbow Dash looks at it confused. As Cirrus hooks two wires together, the stormcloud creates a storm inside. Cirrus twists one end of the capsule, and the capsule launches itself and flies around the restaurant.

A random pony holds up an empty mug "More water please". The capsule explodes above the pony and releases the small storm cloud inside, which rains and fills their mug. "Thanks!"

Rainbow gasps "Whoa... how did you make it do that?"

Cirrus explains "I researched the properties of storm clouds, they can produce various types of energy such as electric, kinetic, and hydraulic. By harnessing kinectic energy generated through storm expulsion I strapped two of those storm rockets under my wings in the last race to go really fast"

Rainbow stares with her jaw wide open, pupils shrunk.

"It was hard to control and I went face first into a cloud"

Rainbow Dash gets up from the table "THAT'S TOTALLY AWESOME! LETS LIKE STRAP FIFTY OF THEM TO A CART". Her loudness alerts a waiter who approaches.

"May I take you order"

Scootaloo exclaims "Three hayburgers please, and CUTIEMARK"

"We don't serve cutie marks"

Rainbow Dash interrupts "Forget that, just get us three Zap-Apple Smoothies with the Hayburgers"

As the waiter leaves, Scootaloo points at Cirrus's flank. "She got a cutie mark again!" Rainbow Dash and Cirrus turn to look at it.

It's another storm cloud.

Self Acceptance

Cirrus looks at her flank disappointed "Guess I'm stuck with this one". She proceeds to eat a hayburger.

Scootaloo swallows "But this time you didn't get it from cheating or losing"

Rainbow nods "Yeah there's a consistency between the two times you got that cutie mark. Both times you researched storm clouds and made something cool out of them. I'd say that's a pretty cool purpose to have"

Cirrus puts her head down "I shouldn't have researched storm clouds in the first place"

Rainbow Dash puts her head down too in front Cirrus "What gave you the idea that the only way to live is to be me?"

Cirrus looks up

"Hey Gusty Breeze, Tornado Twirl" Cirrus waves at two ponies playing checkers in Cloudsdale while Rainbow Dash follows "Hi Cirrus, how's your cousin Rainbow Dash " She's been great, I've been..."

"Oh we don't wanna hear about you, Rainbow Dash is far more awesome. Did she save Equestria again?"

The other pony asks "Whens the next Wonderbolt performance? Oh wait you don't know, you're not a Wonderbolt!"

Rainbow face hooves and flies up to them angry "WHAT?! Cirrus is totally awesome, she makes uh... things from storm clouds. It's all totally cool"

"We've seen enough storm clouds, can you do another Sonic Rainboom?"

"Can I have your autograph?"

Rainbow Dash pouts and walks away with Cirrus, who explains "A lot of ponies know me as your cousin. After you became an hero of Equestria everypony here just compares me to you, and only want to talk to me about you. I thought that living in isolation in a hidden workshop would make them forget our family connection. It didn't"

"No wonder you thought being me was the only way to make friends, maybe we can find friends for you somewhere else?"

Fluttershy approaches from behind "Well look no further!"

Cirrus, Rainbow Dash, and Fluttershy return to Twilight's castle, the CMCs follow them in with Twilight flipping through the letters. "I'm starting to see why you didn't like being yourself so much. At least ninety percent of these letters are just asking about Rainbow Dash"

"That's why I don't bother reading them" Cirrus adds, uninterested.

"But I want you to see the other ten percent" Twilight hands Cirrus a select few of the letters. She opens one which contains a card, with a photo of Pegasis, flying kites.

"Thank you for helping us build the wind generators! Signed by Breeze Freeze, Cloud Twirl, Snowstorm..." Cirrus looks at the letter confused "I only installed the wind generator motors to pay the bills"

Twilight asks "And how exactly did you build those motors?"

"They're powered by storm clouds, charging an metal coil"

Cirrus reads various letters to Twilight, who points to each of them with a smile.

"I didn't know there were ponies who appreciated my work. Do you know what were in those packages?"

"Well... Spike opened them first, they were all gift baskets for Rainbow Dash, except for one"

Rainbow Dash places a package in Cirrus's hooves "It's the one from Spitfire"

Cirrus opens it and pulls out a Wonderbolts Jacket.

"Spitfire gave you an official Wonderbolts Jacket? How?" Rainbow Dash looks around the jacket confused "Are you secretly a Wonderbolt?". She turns to the badge, which has a storm cloud on it.

Cirrus takes a note that was at the bottom of the package "An extra special thanks for inventing the Dizzitron, you're the only pony I know who could ever think of powering a wheel with a storm cloud. What ever you did, the Wonderbolts are eternally grateful, and you're welcome at the academy anytime, you could even help out with our performances. Are you in? Spitfire"

"You built the Dizzitron?!"

"Yeah I did... it looked painful seeing Mama Biceps twirl and throw ponies, so I thought of offering them an alternative. Spitfire bought it from me after proper testing". Cirrus puts the Wonderbolts Jacket on.

The CMCs add "It does explain Cirrus's signature on the back of the Dizzitron"

Twilight tells Cirrus "You should never have been ashamed of your special talents"

Rainbow Dash adds "I agree with you that I'm awesome and all, but you've forgotten how awesome you are" she hugs Cirrus.

Twilight laughs "You mean like when you met Daring Do right?"

"Now I just need to look for friends"

Fluttershy explains "Well you got nine of them here" Spike approaches "Or... um... ten."

Cirrus makes a confused grin and shakes hooves with Fluttershy.

The Mane 6 and Cirrus have a small party around the cutie map

Rainbow Dash looks around the vegetable sandwiches "Did any pony bring drinks?"

"I did!" Cirrus exclaims.

Rarity looks concerned "It's not rain water from a storm cloud is it..."

"Nope" Cirrus opens a white crate containing jars of Cider. She takes a jar and pours it into her glass. Applejack grabs the jar

"Hold on there, Applebuck season was two weeks ago, that outta be rotten by now". Applejack sniffs the jar "What!? It's not rotten?"

Cirrus nervously shakes her head "Me and Snowy Trail made this box that preserves drinks"

"You just keep getting more awesome by the minute!" Rainbow Dash pours herself Cidar and asks "Is it powered by storm clouds?"

Cirrus reaches into the crate and pulls out a snowcloud "Nah, snowclouds."

The mane 6 laugh, Applejack responds "That's real mighty fine, just please don't make a Super Speedy Cider Squeezy 6000."

Twilight leaves the table and enters the book room, where Starlight, the Cloudsdale Janitor, and the CMC are playing a card game. "Is everything okay in here."

The Janitor smiles "Never been better."

Author's Note

My first story. So, what did you think?