Cutie Mark Crusader Tea Makers

Rarity had finished her work for the time being and had decided to do something with her time in Canterlot. She had heard of this charming little contest about making tea which had sounded so relaxing to watch. But now watching from behind the partition that kept spectators out from the competitors, she was sure she could pluck the tension in the air like a string. The hall was deathly silent, apart from the scraping of tea leaves and other ingredients being crushed.

Rarity scanned the competitors to see who was there. Cinnamon, the counter mare at a tea shop she had been to, stood out. As did a unicorn mare with a running braid in her mane and a terrible scar on her chest. And there was also an old mare with a faded pink coat and three fillies who looked like- no, were- the crusaders. They wore grim expressions on their faces and appeared to be missing a tea set on their table.

Carefully, Rarity made her way through the spectators and to the gate that opened to the competitors area. The guards looked at her inquiringly.

"Can I go and see my friend?" Rarity asked, hoping for an affirmative reply.

One of the guards shifted to open the gate and Rarity trotted through, making a beeline for the crusaders' table.

"Rarity!" Sweetie Belle exclaimed, "Can you help us? Please?"

"If I am allowed to, and where is the tea set? Like, the tea cup and tea pot?" Rarity looked at the table with little more than a mortar and pestle and a sieve. In the mortar, there was a crushed substance, likely the tea.

"That's just the thing! We forgot to get a tea set," Apple Bloom said, running her hooves together and looking at the table from where she was sitting, "We can ask someone to get us some things, as long as they don't actually make or touch the tea."

"Then of course, I will be right back with a tea set," Rarity hurried out of the hall to the market.

About an hour later, tea set crisis averted, tea presentation time came. Princess Celestia was in the presentation hall trying the first ponies' teas, others' teas had been brewed and was being kept warm, tea cups were at the ready.

Rarity, having been recruited into the crusaders' team in the past hour, stood with the three fillies, sometimes watching and sometimes not. The tea that they had made was very peculiar smelling, almost like it had spices and sweets in it. She suspected it wouldn't taste very nice, but she wasn't going to hijack the attempt. The crusaders were the only fillies in the contest, so it wouldn't be expected of them to be perfect.

The Princess came up to them and Scootaloo poured the tea, the rest of the team remaining in strict tense silence as all the other competitors before them had.

Princess Celestia sipped the tea. There was a slight redness in her cheeks, but she kept her bearing remarkable well. She smiled as she noted something on the clipboard her assistant was holding, and then moved on to the next competitor.

It was a few hours later, time for the announcing of the winner. Princess Celestia was at the front of the room. She gave a deep breath, and began to speak.

"My little ponies, it has been an honor to hold this Tea Day contest and see all the talent for tea making in Equestria. I have enjoyed this day very much, and would like to announce Tea Day as an annual national day and holiday!"

After excited hoof stomping, she continued.

"The winner of this contest is Cinnamon, for her delicious and healthy cinnamon tea. Her tea is being taken on in the castle kitchens and will be served on request to myself, my sister and guests of the castle. But before this contest is over, I have an honorable mention to announce."

"The most exciting tea of the day was made by the Cutie Mark Crusaders!"

There was a whispering in the crowd as ponies turned to the crusaders and wondered what was so exciting about their tea.

"Their tea was bold and unexpected, and while not the finest or most perfect it was the spirit of the attempt that I wanted to encourage in the Tea Day contest. Congratulation to everyone who competed, and be sure to enjoy this day again next year."

The crusaders hopped up and down with happiness. Even though they didn't get their cutie marks, this had been fun.