Of all the things I do as part of my regular, daily routines, school comes the closest to actually being a “chore”. Even then, I do enjoy it to some extent. I love Miss Cheerilee and I care for many of the foals in her class. It feels so good to be a part of something and, additionally, I know it's important. Everything we learn here prepares us for adulthood later, so I gladly accept it.

However, deep down, this isn't where my heart is being pulled. Over and over again, I keep thinking about my notes in my saddlebag about upcoming CMC cases. Sometimes I even regret discovering my cutie mark because of how distracting I find it during school. I might be concentrating on a math problem or attempting to read a history assignment when, all of a sudden, a new idea pops into my head about an experiment the CMC can perform for a client and I know I have to write it down before I forget.

In fact, I do that enough that Miss Cheerilee noticed. The first time I almost got a scolding, but many of the rest of her class stuck up for me. Even Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon, the very ponies who used to antagonize me and the rest of the CMC all the time.

In the end, Miss Cheerilee sighed and said, “Well, if it's really that important, just jot down a few notes and make it quick. I understand your work is really important, but so are your school assignments. After all, the more you learn here, the more you know which can help you to solve other ponies’ problems.” Then she asks me hopefully, “Do you understand?”

“Of course, Miss Cheerilee,” I had replied. “I'll do my best to make those notes real quick. Two . . . maybe three sentences tops.”

Miss Cheerilee rolled her eyes at me then trot away as she said, “Alright, class. Let's get back on track.

“Now, as I was saying . . .”

I had wondered, back then, why Miss Cheerilee rolled her eyes at me before trotting away, but I think I got my answer now. It's because she knew I did not have the discipline necessary to keep my promise that strictly. Three sentences tops? I'd be lucky if it were less than three sentences minimum!

Typically I can keep it that brief for a single idea, but the problem is multiple ideas spring upon me across the course of the day. Sometimes I even jot down notes that I already wrote before because I forgot that I did it before. I just end up repeating myself.

I really can't help it. Helping ponies is my passion project and it keeps trying to steal my concentration from my schoolwork.

Miss Cheerilee did have a good point, though. Learning more could help us in solving issues for a broader client base. If we only had one client then our work can get very specific, but the problem is solving cutie mark problems for everypony requires us to be as versatile as possible.

And that leads my thoughts back to some of my old concerns. I know we need to expand our business someday if we're ever to have some hope of expanding beyond Ponyville, but the problem with that is hiring the right personnel.

The more I think about it, the rarer the talents of the CMC seem to be. A griffon like Gabby really is an oddball. The odds of finding another creature that versatile could be slim to none. In the end, we might need subcategories of a staff who specialize in helping other ponies with more specific categories. Like some who specialize in farming, others with technology, others with arts and crafts, and so on. This is especially likely if those we hire are ponies. We, as a race, tend to specialize in very specific things. That's not to say that we can't diversify ourselves to some extent. We do, but it's generally not too common.

The problem with that is the needs of the clients can be all over the place. We, of the CMC, happen to have a knack for this, but what about everypony else? What are the odds of encountering other ponies who happen to have the exact same talents?

Certainly I heard of more than one pony who specializes in farming. Apple farming comes to mind in particular. I've also encountered multiple ponies that specialize in flying, or magic, or throwing parties, or fashion.

And yet our race has gone nearly our entire existence without something like the Cutie Mark Crusaders before. Despite the demand always being there, the supply just never measured up before. If our race has survived that long without it, are we really needed? What's more, how will we encounter another with our talents if we're really that rare?

This is just another puzzle I need to solve.

“Sweetie Belle,” Miss Cheerilee calls.

“Huh?” I shake my head to clear it so I can focus on her. “Yes, Miss Cheerilee?”

“Care to join us?” the teacher asks me in a playfully scolding tone. “You can read the next sentence on the board.” She looks at it herself. “Try to find where all the predicates are.”

“Yes, Miss Cheerilee,” I agree.

I hear a low amount of laughter from the rest of the class at my expense, but I know they are not really doing it to be strictly mean. Just like Miss Cheerilee, they also know why I occasionally get distracted and they also agree that it is important.

As I crawl out of my seat and trot to the front of my class, my face burns with a bit of embarrassment as the low amount of laughter continues to linger behind me. Despite how long this has been going on, I'm only just starting to get used to it. Doing it this often is starting to cause me to more quickly and accurately adapt.

For instance, in this case, I read across the sentences in front of me and I think I spot three predicates. As a result, I use my magic to levitate the chalk on the chalkboard and underline the predicates that I have located thus far.

Thank goodness I am so smart! Sometimes I need that extra leeway to compensate for the challenges in my life.

“Man! I'm so glad we got out of there!” Scootaloo cheers as she happily canters out of the red school building along with the rest of the foals. “Now we can pursue what we really like!”

“But . . . I thought you loved school and Miss Cheerilee,” I mope as I exit the school building along with my friends.

“Oh don't get me wrong,” Scootaloo quickly counters. “I do love school and our teacher, but not as much as Crusading.” She passes me a mischievous grin. “Admit it. You feel the same way.”

“Ah'm sure we all do,” Apple Bloom agrees as she stops between Scootaloo and I, leaning on my right side. “And Ah, for one, am look'n forward to getting on with Crusadering.” She looks at me. “Sweetie Belle, since yer thah most organized of us, mayhap ya give us a reminder of our day’s mission for today.”

“As I recall, it was quite a lot,” I mention as I float a scroll out of my saddlebag and unravel it before me. “That's partly why I've been mulling over ideas for it all day.

“Hmm. Let's see.” I study the scroll, then I sigh in a tone that is half exhaustion and half elation. “We do have a lot today. According to these notes, Pickle Barrel alone has nineteen items left on his Crusaders chart. Gold Rush has fifteen but she's deciding to wait for our next Cutie Mark Crusaders day camp.” I lower the floating scroll a bit so I can look between my two best friends. “You know, since that is less than a moon away.”

“Yeah, Ah've been given that some thought,” Apple Bloom notes as she scratches her head. “Ah know the day camp is excit'n and efficient 'n all, but we are runnin' a little low on supplies for it.” She shrugs. “Ma family can provide a lot of apples certainly, but even with all that, we'd eventually exhaust our potential list of activities.”

“What kinds of supplies are we low on?” Scootaloo asks curiously.

Apple Bloom shrugs again as she looks at Scootaloo while answering, “The usual stuff. Paper, pens, pencils, paint, cooking supplies, party supplies. The list goes on.”

At first Scootaloo has a contemplative look to her face as if formulating a plan on how to get those supplies but, as Apple Bloom continued the list, her looks shifts to flustered as she obviously looks overwhelmed.

“Wow! We never had this much trouble when it was just the three of us,” Scootaloo muses.

“Yeah, but we're working with a much larger client base now,” I remind my friends. “That is going to use considerably more supplies.”

“And Ah don't have much left in ma piggie bank,” Apple Bloom complains with a mopey expression as she absently kicks a stone away.

“It was inevitable that we'd eventually gallop into this problem eventually,” I mention as I magic the scroll back into a roll in front of me. “We're going to need a bigger budget, girls. We're working with a true and legitimate business.”

“Yeah, but foals can hardly pay big bills,” Scootaloo reminds.

“Maybe not money per se,” Apple Bloom says as she looks upward and taps her bottom chin with her right hoof, “but they can provide a service.” She grins cunningly. “And that juz gave me an idea.” She looks between her friends. “We could make fundraising a Crusader camp activity!”

“Yeah!” Scootaloo cheers in strong agreement. “That way we can raise funds and promote cutie mark activities at the same time! That's genius!”

Apple Bloom bows as she says, “Why thank ye.”

“Money isn't the only form of payment other businesses can provide,” I put in. “Instead of paying us bits directly, maybe they can donate paint cans or cooking supplies instead. Likely at a discount as well. We help them sell their supplies and, in exchange, they donate to us the supplies we need. It's a win win!”

“Yeah!” the three of us cheer simultaneously.

I point between the two of them using my still floating scroll as I say, “That's not the only option we have at our disposal. About a fortnight ago, Diamond Tiara approached me while I was at my sister's shop and-”

“Excuse me,” Scootaloo interrupts with an upraised hoof. “A what now?”

For a moment I blink in confusion as I analyze what I said in an attempt to figure out perplexed my friend. In the end, I guess, “Are you asking what a 'fortnight' is?”

Scootaloo nods as she confirms, “Yeah.”

I lower my eyelids halfway towards her as I answer, “It means 'two weeks'.”

Scootaloo shrugs as she complains, “Then why didn't you just say that?” She sighs as she rolls her eyes, then mutters under her breath, “I swear, you really are a dictionary sometimes.”

“Anyhoo,” I say with a half roll of my eyes, “Diamond Tiara approached me about two weeks ago and offered a business proposal.”

“About what?” Apple Bloom asks me curiously.

I lightly shrug as I say, “In a nutshell, Miss Tiara predicted we'd be having this problem a long time ago. She agrees that we are providing an invaluable service but she also realized the demand would eventually outweigh our ability to supply it, especially on a financial front. Accordingly, she was offering some financial backing but she has several conditions.”

“What sort of 'conditions'?” Scootaloo asks cautiously while narrowing one eye slowly with obvious suspicion.

“Basically, she wants to be our club’s treasurer,” I answer. “Also she wants to run our club activities like a business in a more official capacity. That means charging money.”

“Foals can't pay that much. I just said that a minute ago,” Scootaloo reminds.

“And as Ah just said, there are a few ways around that,” Apple Bloom also reminds.

“It is likely Miss Tiara is aware of that,” I put in, “but service is certainly a legitimate form of currency.”

“Why is she interested in our club’s financial activities all of the sudden?” Scootaloo asks with continued suspicion.

“According to her, it is a way to repay us for helping her. She also sees our services as something that no pony else is providing. On top of that, she claims she's trying to prove something to herself and her parents. She wants to show that she does, indeed, have the skills to promote, maintain and expand a business like ours. If she does this, she gains invaluable experience which she can use to one day take over her own families business, and you have to admit . . . it is a lot to manage.

“On top of all this, she seems confident she can gain Silver Spoon's support in this too. After all, her oldest and best friend tends to follow her in whatever endeavor Diamond pursues.”

“Which is an initiative that could be valuable for Silver Spoon as well,” Scootaloo realizes. “Not to mention that far be it for me to argue against the value of joining in on a project with best friends. I mean . . . we do it all the time.”

“That was a clunky sentence,” I lightly complain.

“Yeah.” Scootaloo shrugs. “But you know what I mean.”

Apple Bloom sighs a little before saying, “Ah'm a little uncomfortable with this prospect. Ah always preferred to picture us as a community charity service. The moment big money starts getting thrown into the mix, it ma'ight also invite some corrupting things.”

“But if we had more money, or at least more supplies, we could help even more ponies,” Scootaloo puts in. “Is that worth it?”

“I think we're mature enough to know the difference between helping other ponies and pure greed,” I reassure. “I think our cause remains pure as long as we maintain our Crusader's spirit.

“And let's face it, girls; as our operation expands, we're going to gallop into more and more logistical problems. Learning how to solve them now will help us as we grow into full adult mares. This strategy also provides us with important contacts. We might even expand our circle of friendship.”

I look between the two fillies in front of me as I go on to say, “The three of us will always be the core founders of the C-M-C, but are either of you really averse to expanding our personnel and social circle?”

“'The More, the Merrier' isn't juz an empty slogan among ma family,” Apple Bloom mentions. “Often others can feel so close to us, we call them honorary family members too.

“Ah remember what ma big sister said when the Flim/Flam brothers first threatened to take over our farm. When we needed help and Mayor Mare asked us if we'd welcome extra help from our closest friends, ma big sister said, and I quote, 'I think I'd love to have the rest of my family helping out.' That was exactly what she say'id. Ah remember it word for word.”

I see Scootaloo grimace in anger at the reminder of what the Flim/Flam brothers almost did to our best friend's family that day. I honestly can't blame her for her feelings because I also share the sentiment.

“Well, anyway,” Scootaloo begins as if trying to clear her head of the last topic, “what Diamond is proposing sounds interesting, but can we tackle this later? We still got a few clients to take care of today.”

“Including a new client,” I add as I unravel the scroll and look upon it again. “A donkey named Slow Poke wants an interview with us today and help him establish . . . well . . . he wasn't specific about that yet but I'm sure we'll find out when we meet him later on today.”

“A new client,” Apple Bloom muses with a half-grin. “A new journey and challenge awaits us. Ah can't wait to get started.”

“Yeah!” the three of us cheer together again. This time we also slap our hooves together high above us which, to us, is either a pact to accept a new challenge or congratulations for completing the last one.

Then, because we feel energized by our new and renewed enthusiasm, the three of us break out into a new unrehearsed song together.

“We are the Cutie Mark Crusaders

breaking into a new scene.

We got the moves.

We got the mojo.

We're never running out of steam.

Together we fight, and together we win.

We will last throughout this jour-ney

And we'll do it with a proud grin.”

Apple Bloom and I hop into Scootaloo's wagon. Scootaloo, in turn, hops on her scooter, seems to rev up her wings for a moment, then we blast off on a course towards our clubhouse as we continue to sing in unison.

“As we gallop to glor-ry

there's no cause we will fail

We cruise on in a new adven-ture

on a friendship that will always saaaaaaaaaaaaiiiiiiiil.”

As we pass Miss Cheerilee, she ad-libs a few verses in our spontaneous song as ponies often do.

“I remember like it was yes-terday when their flanks were still bare.

By guiding them in their jour-ney, the glory we did all share.

I still gaze at them proudly as they grow to be mares.

Encourage us, they do, as they follow our prayers.”

As we pass her, Diamond Tiara sings the next few verses of our song.

“Empty I was until they showed me a better way.

Together we win, and together we stay.

The liiiiiiiiiiiiiiight of friendship keeps shining ever bright in me.

Wherever they go next, I am eager to see.”

Diamond's adjacent friend, Silver Spoon, breaks the mojo of the song just a bit by simply saying and not singing, “Yeah. Totally.”

Nearby them, Pipsqueak suddenly sings next.

“The Cutie Mark Crusaders brought out the confidence in me.

I'm not the same pony because of what I learned from those three.

From the roads, to the playground, I continue to stand tall.

Because of what I learned from them, I will neh-ver feel small.”

Now everypony in the area sang together in unison.

“The Cutie Mark Crusaders,

Hurrah . . . Hurrah!

They'll never stop inspiring,

Hooray . . . Hooray.

They venture on, and venture away.

They'd always give us the time of day.

To Cutie Mark Crusaderrrrrrrrrrrrrrrs,

our pride is here to stay.”

Now I sing:

“It's been such a long journey since we started so long ago.”

Scootaloo sings:

“And ever since that time, there's one thing we always know.”

Apple Bloom sing:

“And that is our friendship will always grow, grow, grrrrrrrrroooooooow.”

As we continue our way down the road, other ponies pick up the song, including lyics sung before them, unbeknownst to them.

“The Cutie Mark Crusaders,

Hurrah . . . Hurrah!

They'll never stop inspiring,

Hooray . . . Hooray.

They venture on, and venture away.

They'd always give us the time of day.

To Cutie Mark Crusaderrrrrrrrrrrrrrrs,

our pride is here to stay.”

The orange hide earth pony stallion with purple mane, Tender Taps, sings:

“When I couldn't face a stage, the Crusaders spurned me try.

It took so much courage, but in the spotlight, I'm no longer shy.”

The gray pegasus stallion Chip Cutter sings:

“They see inner potential, like I do with stone.

By learning from their lessons, I feel as if I've grown.”

The dull yellow earth pony filly with two shades of pink mane and tail, Kettle Corn, sings:

“I learned something new,

They taught me to sing Haiku.

So I like them too.”

Out of a bush, a huge and bulky white pegasus stallion, Bulk Biceps, springs onto the road and shouts out, “THE CUTIE MARK CRUSADERS ARE TOTALLY YEEEEEEEAAAAH!!! THEY ARE TOTALLY AWESOME!”

For breaking the groove and springing out unexpectedly, everypony momentarily stops, including Scootaloo. Everypony stares at Bulk Biceps which makes him cringe with embarrassment.

“Uh, I mean . . . THE CUTIE MARK CRUSADERS! HURRAH!!” he attempts to spur with painful shyness.

Everypony looks at each other, shrugs, then sings on.

“The Cutie Mark Crusaders,

Hurrah . . . Hurrah!

They'll never stop inspiring,

Hooray . . . Hooray.

They venture on, and venture away.

They'd always give us the time of day.

To Cutie Mark Crusaderrrrrrrrrrrrrrrs,

our pride is heeeeeeereee

toooooooooooooo . . . . . staaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay.

. . . .

HOORAY!”

Author's Note

In case you are curious, that is a mostly original song I made up. The tempo, style, and theme seem in line to me with a typical episode for the show.

While I am not making it too clear when the story happens yet, this chapter does help to reveal that the CMC are maturing and, as a result, need to consider more issues if they are going to stay in business and hopefully also expand someday. This chapter also puts an emphasis on Sweetie's school life and what it means to her.