Ten years later.

Chapter 4 - Sweetie Belle

"Sweetie Belle! Sweetie Belle! It's time to get up!" Octavia knocks at her door. "Even Vinyl Scratch is up already!"

Sweetie Belle opens her eyes, she just woke up from a terrible nightmare. She can't really remember what happened, but she knows she had one. She hasn't slept very well in general, but today is her first concert after a few month and she has to be ready to sing in front of whole Ponyville. She can't decline it now. "Sweetie! Get up now or I make you get up!" Octavia complains outside. The white unicorn rolls her grass-green eyes:"I come in a second!" she answers as loud as possible, her throat is pretty rough though.

Sweetie Belle slowly gets up, she brushes her hair and trots outside. The moaning filly steps outside her cabinet and walks through the train. The train ride was horrible. They had to sleep in this uncomfortable beds two nighs and Sweetie Belle hasn't been outside for these two days.

"Morning Vinyl, morning Octavia" she yawns and sits down in the dining car:"How has your night been gals?" she asks and takes something to eat.

Vinyl grins and answers,"Oh it was cool, you know! Octavia and I had some fun!"

Octavia leers at the unicorn:"Yeah... fun... You know how loud she can be" Octavia rolls her eyes.

Sweetie Belle giggles while the two are kissing each other:"Girls! Children are watching"

Both look at her with a angry look on their face.

Sweetie just shakes her head and continues to eat, however without looking into their eyes.

Suddenly they hear an announcement:"We've just arrived Ponyville. We will stay here for 15 minute. You can go outside if you want a rest. Enjoy your stay for those who remain here"

"FINALLY!" Sweetie Belle shouts out and jumps up:"Get your things and wake the boys up. I've got friends to meet"

Vinyl bites Sweetie's tale and pulls her back. "Not so fast, help us. We also have friends in Ponyville"

Sweetie jumps up and whips Vinyl Scratch with her tail. "Yeah, but I'm the lead singer and songwriter" she gallops outside. She couldn't hear what Octavia was yelling anymore.

The way to Sweet Apple Acres is pretty long and Sweetie Belle tries to avoid everypony, but after a while she finally gets to the acres. The unicorn silently tiptoesover the grass until she gets to the barn where Apple Bloom and the kids are.

"So how did you get your cutie mark auntie Bloom?" Apple Zappy asks while Apple Jam is braggins with hers.

"Well that's an interesting story" Sweetie Belle grins and steps in front of them. "Hey Bloom" she whispers and smiles softly. "SWEETIE!" the yellow earth pony jumps over the foals and tackles Sweetie Belle down to give her a big, tight hug:"I missed you so much!" both start to giggle and Sweetie Belle answers:"I've missed you too. I can't believe we haven't seen each other in a year!" she sighs and both stand up.

Apple Jam looks at Sweetie with her big, confused eyes:"I didn't know you know Sweetie Belle of the Crusaders of Rock"

Sweetie Belle laughs:"Know me? She's my best friend!"

Apple Zappy looks even more confused:"Should I know her?" he frowns.

Apple Bloom smiles and hugs the colt:"You'll find out today at the concert. Sweetie Belle is an amazing singer, like absolutely awesome!"

Sweetie rolls her eyes:"Oh please, it's nothing special. So you guys come to the concert? I think I have to leave. We'll see each other there! And then" she walks over to the foals and nuzzles them:"I'll tell you two how Apple Bloom, Scootaloo and I got our cutie marks" she smiles and gallops away:"See ya, I'm sorry" she frowns while she is running to Carouselle Boutique. It's great to see your friends again, but it's even better to see your sister again and Sweetie Belle has to visit her elder sister at her boutique.

She knocks at the door. The unicorn hears loud noises from above, it sounds like metal is crashing on the floor:"IT'S CLOSE, CAN'T YOU READ?! STAY OUTSIDE!" Rarity yells from the inside and Sweetie hears her muted voice so it doesn't seem too angry anymore:"Okay, I'll see if I can find another sister!" Sweetie shouts back, she giggles and is about to leave. Not even ten second later the door opens and Rarity flings her arms around Sweetie Belle's neck. "oh my sweetie, why didn't you say it was you? Come inside" the white unicorn smiles and leads the way inside. "I knew you were coming to Ponyville, but I thought you were all busy with the preperations for the concert, I'm sorry darling. Do you accept my apologize?"

Sweetie smiles and nods:"What else sis?" she looks around. Everything looks like it did a year ago, when she and her friends graduated and Sweetie Belle formed a band to travel through all of Equestria and even to some other countries. Suddenly she spots three beautiful dresses and two suits, they're in different colors, but still the same type, each one fits the other perfectly. The fabric is a beautiful mix of silk, smooth cloth and a few gemstones, it harmonizes beautifully:"Wow! What are these for?" her eyes spark in amazement.

Rarity looks over to them:"Oh these? I've made them for you. Just in case your band needs new costumes"

Sweetie smirks:"Uhm... ehhh... Rarity... these are... uhm... beautiful, but my band is not the type of band that... you know" she frowns.

Rarity pets her sister:"Don't worry Sweetie! Just tell me if you need them or tell me if you need anything, I make it for free. Wanna eat something?" Sweetie just nods and joins Rarity at breakfast.

The rest of the day passed by pretty fast. Sweetie met Scootaloo and also a few other ponies, but in the afternoon she has to prepare herself and the stage for the concert. Everypony in the band had a nice day, but now they have to build everything up. Since three of them are unicorns it doesn't take very long and after a few others and the sun went down almost the whole village is there to listen to the music of the Crusaders of Rock.

Sweetie Belle steps onstage and smiles at everypony:"Good evening everyone! Thanks to all of you for coming, it means a lot to me to see all the ponies from my home again. May introduce to you my band, the Crusaders of Rock!" she remembers her first time on stage, it was a disaster, Sweetie Belle could barely speak until she was finally able to sing something. She left that behind her, but Ponyville is still something special and her heart beats extremely hard each time before a concert. "My name is Sweetie Belle and I'm the lead singer of this band. Next to me is Vinyl Scratch, she gives our music the best additional beat you could imagine! On the other side is Octavia, she plays the Cello fantastically. Behind me is our drummer Whirly Twist, you should pay attention to his beat, it's awesome. And the last one is our pianist Wish Key, he's probably one of the best pianist in the world! And a big thanks to my best friends Scootaloo and Apple Bloom who do the scenery today! Enjoy the concert!"

Suddenly the spotlights go off and the music slowly starts.

moke is slowly crawling on the floor, the only spotlight is on her and Sweetie Belle starts to sing, she sings absolutely on key without any problems.

Suddenly the lights are getting brighter, a thing that looks like a disco ball projects thousands of points which look like stars. She smiles while the light rays and other lights are flooding the room. All the lights go off except one spotlight and the 'stars' after Sweetie has finished the first chorus. Stained glass is hanging from the ceiling, they make a beautiful atmosphere and lighten up the beautiful coulisse. The lights are flooding the room again while Sweetie Belle is singing the second chorus, the stars are moving and you feel like you were in a real scene, the apple orchard Apple Bloom drew as coulisse disappears and after a few moments the first song is over.

Sweetie Belle smiles at the loud, screaming croud who stomp their hooves on the ground, her voiced filled all of them with joy. "Thank you Ponyville!" she looks at her band members and suddenly they begin to play a much faster song and so does the scenery and that for the rest of the concert.

"Wonderful job!"

"Amazing concert!"

"I've never seen such an amazing concert in my whole live"

Many ponies try to talk to Sweetie Belle and their band after the show is over. Pinkie Pie planed the whole concert and she wanted to have a party afterwards. Sweet Apple Acres and Sugar Cube Corner do the catering and Vinyl Scratch is so kind and works as a DJ for the music. "It was so amazing, terrific and absolutely AWESOME. I can't believe you even improved your voice" Scootaloo compliments her friend. Apple Bloom nods in agreement:"Totally agreed! Your band is so great!"

Cheery Pie, Apple Zappy and Apple Jam are running over to them. Apple Jam clears her throat:"You promised we would hear your cutie mark story now!" she grins brightly.

Pinkie Pie looks at them behind the bar:"Please hurry! Cheery Pie has to go to sleep soon, but HAVE FUN!" she smiles and serves ponies.

The six ponies trot over to a place which is more quiet and sit down.

Scootaloo smiles at them and starts to explain:"Over ten years ago we didn't know each other. We were the only three ponies in our school who didn't have their cutie marks yet. At a party of our classmate Diamond Tiara we met each other the first time and realized we are seeking for the same thing. So we formed our own club 'The Cutie Mark Crusaders' we wanted to crusade for our cutie marks. Together!"

Apple Bloom continues:"We were five and in first grade back then, two years passed and we haven't got our cutie marks yet. We were very sad and thought we would never get our cutie marks. We didn't listen to everypony, these things need time and they will appear when the time is right. I know this sounds lame and boring to you, but you will understand when you're older. I'm sure you can't wait for your cutie mark either!

Now Sweetie Belle continues:"One faithful day we went into the everfree forest. There were so called trolls, they captured us and and wanted to eat us! Well not when we are around! Scootaloo does awesome tricks on her scooters! She flipped and looped around and distracted the trolls so that we could escape" Scootaloo stands up and shows her cutie mark: a scooter and a wing on each side.

"Apple Bloom built traps with the twines of zap apple trees, she also did very creative distractions with all sorts of things" Apple Bloom stands up an shows her cutie mark, a zap apple with a paintbrush.

Sweetie Belle smiles and Apple Bloom continues:"We almost escaped them, but then suddenly, when we were almost outside they attacked us again. We were freaking out, but Sweetie kept calm and thought about what Rarity told her! 'Just sing to keep calm'. The song came out of nowhere, it just popped into her head and she began to sing. We calmed down and even the trolls stopped for a few seconds and that was our chance! We were able to escape. Back in our clubhouse we realized that these here appeared"

Now Sweetie Belle stands up too and shows her cutie mark, a heart with two eigth notes.

Scootaloo continues:"It was like the happiest and most adventerous day of our lives! It was just awesome! My cutie marks means I can do the best flying tricks and dance moves with my scooter. Apple Bloom's special talent is arts and crafts especially with apples and Sweetie Belle's special talent is fill every creature with certain feelings with the aid of her wonderful music"

The foals stare at them, totally amazed by this story. Apple Jam:"That's so awesome!"

Cheery Pie nods:"I want mah cudie ma'k now!"

Apple Zappy giggles:"Yeah, me too!"

Apple Bloom smiles:"Well, probably you're the new generation of Cutie Mark Crusaders!"