The Jedi Prince III: The Spark of Hope

A few weeks later

All four of the CMCs were gathered in their clubhouse where Apple Bloom stood on a crate that was next to the poster on the wall that had drawing of various activities which were marked off with red Xs.

“Okay, Crusaders!” said Apple Bloom to Sweetie Belle, Scootaloo, and Rex, “Back to the business of earnin’ our cutie marks! Any suggestions?”

“No, we’ve tried everything!” said Scootaloo sadly.

“We’ve run out of ideas,” Sweetie Belle added.

“Hey, now that’s just stinkin’ thinking girls,” Rex said in an encouraging tone.

“Are you kiddin’ me, Crusaders?” Apple Bloom replied and leaned forward, “Rex is right. We can do better than that!”

As Apple Bloom sang, she put up a empty sheet on the wall which cheered up Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo.

Apple Bloom (sings):
We’ve been searchin’ for our cutie marks
For a while now
Tryin’ to find out how we fit in

So many ways we’ve tried before
But we keep on tryin’ more

Rex, Sweetie Belle, Scootaloo, and Apple Bloom appeared in succession. Then Sweetie Belle moved from the right side of her friends to the left.

CMCs (sing):
’Cause the Cutie Mark Crusaders don’t give in

We’ll make our mark
One way or another
We’ll make our mark
On the day that we discover
The ultimate reward of our cutie marks!

“Now, that’s more like it!” Apple Bloom said. The group was then interrupted when somepony loudly opened the clubhouse door.

“Cutie Mark Crusaders! Help!” cried out a familiar pinto colt, whose name was Pipsqueak or Pip for short.

“What’s wrong, Pipsqueak?” Apple Bloom asked.

“I’m running for student pony president,” Pipsqueak explained, “I was hoping you four would be my campaign managers!” The Cutie Mark Crusaders exchanged looks of interest with each other.

“We’ve never tried gettin’ our cutie marks in campaign managin’!” said Apple Bloom excitedly, “What do ya say, Crusaders?”

“Yeah! Five!” The four of them shouted as they shared a fist-bump together. Pipsqueak tried to join in, but found himself too short to jump up and reach the girls’ hands. That is until Sweetie Belle used her magic to lifted him up. He just smiled in reply.

Once the five of them had arrived at the school grounds, Sweetie Belle pushed a crate forward so Pipsqueak could use it to stand on. Apple Bloom then stood beside the little colt from the right side.

“So, Pip, how would you help the school if you were elected student pony president?” said Apple Bloom loudly to get everypony’s attention.

“Our playground equipment took quite a beating during Twilight and Cody’s battle with Tirek!” said Pipsqueak as some ponies stared at him. One pony was sitting on a run-down swing when the seat broke in half and sent the colt plopping onto his stomach.

“If I’m voted in as student pony president, I’ll go to the school board and right this wrong!” said Pipsqueak. The other students cheered. Then came Pipsqueak’s opponent, Diamond Tiara and her so called best friend Silver Spoon.

“Well, I think that’s a ridiculous waste of money,” said Diamond Tiara snootily as she rudely shoved a pony aside and then pointed out a familiar filly with a red poofy mane and glasses, “It’s just like when Twist proposed to repair the window that Discord destroyed! She just wanted to repair it like a plain old schoolhouse window. But you all know voting for me was the best choice because I convinced the school board to give that window visual appeal!” Twist felt rather bad as Diamond Tiara bragged and then showed off the window that had been turned into a stained window of herself.

“’Course, it doesn’t hurt that her mother Spoiled Rich is president of the school board,” Apple Bloom remarked to Pipsqueak.

“Exactly!” Silver Spoon remarked since she was standing within hearing range, “Which is why when Diamond Tiara is voted student body president, the school will be putting a statue of her in the center of the schoolyard!” Silver Spoon was then taken by surprise when Diamond Tiara pulled her back by her braid.

“Silver Spoon! That was my big announcement for when I won!” Diamond retorted through gritted teeth.

“I was only trying to help,” said Silver Spoon rather sheepishly.

“I don’t need that kind of help!” Diamond snapped.

Yeah, ‘cause you think you’re a one pony show Silver Spoon thought to herself bitterly. It was then Apple Bloom stood in front of the two rich fillies.

“Haven’t we all had enough of Diamond Tiara?” Apple Bloom asked the rest of the students.

“Do we really need a big statue of her?” Scootaloo asked.

“Especially where our playground equipment should be?” Sweetie Belle added.

“It’s time for a change around here!” Rex finished.

The other students muttered to each other. It was then Scootaloo helped Pipsqueak on top of a giant standing horseshoe.

“A vote for Pip is a vote for the playground!” Pipsqueak announced.

“A vote for Diamond Tiara is a vote for more Diamond Tiara!” the rich filly announced, but instead of any cheers or praises, she got no response. The Cutie Mark Crusaders started to sing.

They head up to the top arc of the standing horseshoe with Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo in the left and Apple Bloom on the right. Apple Bloom leaned forward as all three Crusaders give a shout out to Pipsqueak as they raised him into the air and then quickly set him down.

CMCs (sing):
It’s time to make a change
This is our chance
Don’t be afraid to do what’s right
He’s it! Vote for Pip!

Apple Bloom pushed Pipsqueak ahead of them, who looked back to see Rex and his girlfriends singing as they marched behind him.

CMCs (sing):
We got an opportunity
To have fun again
A vote for Pip, and you can join the fight

The five of them passed two fillies playing on the damaged merry-go-round before they fell off as the merry-go-round tipped over. The five friends then headed to the tether ball court and Pip buck the ball to make it swing outward.

CMCs (sing):
It’s time for a new leader
It’s time to make a change
We’re here to fight for what we believe
(Vote for Pip!)
It’s finally time we beat her
And play a better game
‘Cause when we vote together
There’s nothing that we can’t achieve

Diamond Tiara caught the ball with a sour look on her face before sending the ball away from herself. She then walked up to a nearby colt, frightening him with her overly sweet singing. She then patted Pipsqueak on the head.

Diamond Tiara (sings):
I don’t believe what I am hearing
I’m the only one you should be cheering
Pipsqueak? Try “Pip’s weak!” Don’t you think?

Diamond Tiara did a ballerina twirl as somepony rolled over a giant voting ballot in the background, which Pipsqueaks face was drawn to make him look dumb and smelly. Then a check mark was done by the box next to her own face.

Diamond Tiara (sings):
But a diamond is perfection
It’s natural selection
So your vote better be for me, not the weakest link

“We’ll let the votin’ decide!” Apple Bloom retorted as she peeked out from the bottom left corner of the giant ballot. Diamond Tiara just stomped off to continue her singing solo. She marched deviously about the other students

Diamond Tiara (sings):
Everypony has their little secrets

“I know you do,” said Diamond Tiara to a nearby colt. She snuck a devious smirk at another filly.

Diamond Tiara (sings):
A vote for me will help you keep them safe

“Like your creepy super strength!” Diamond Tiara remarked at a filly who managed to lift up the entire school to retrieve a lost ball. The suddenly felt insecure after being called out and dropped the school.

She then walked over to a filly with a very long mane and tail. She then walked up to a colt and pulled down his lower lip to reveal that he had some abnormally large teeth, which made him cover his mouth fearfully.

Diamond Tiara (sings):
Or your mane extension
A little thing I won’t mention
Or those freakish large teeth in your face!

“Come on now ponies!” Apple Bloom shouted as she, Rex, Sweetie Belle, and Scootaloo stood firm, “Don’t listen to her!”

Another ballot appears showing more proper picture of Pipsqueak and a check mark being placed next to Pipsqueaks picture. And a red X appeared over Diamond Tiara’s face. Diamond Tiara was left stunned as an indignant look appeared on her face.

CMCs (sing):
You’ve gotta vote for change
It’s time for a new leader
End all the tyranny
Vote now and we can beat her

The four of them waved to the students lined up to vote with Pipsqueak standing beside them and Cheerilee was standing nearby to oversee the voting.

CMCs (sing):
It’s now another day
And we believe in what’s right

Inside the voting booth, a colt checked off Pipsqueak and put his vote into the ballot box.

The other foals (sing):
Vote for Pip! Vote for Pip!

CMCs (sing):
Our victory is in sight

“Stop! Everypony who hasn’t voted, listen up!” Diamond Tiara shouted from the foreground as everypony stopped to look at her. She walked over to come fillies and noticed one struggling to carry a bunch of books.

Diamond Tiara (sings):
Pip makes promises he can’t keep
But I can do more

“You could really use a new book bag,” said Diamond Tiara as she started to hand the filly the book bag and then pulled away and walked off. She appeared between two ponies and started sing and bragging to them.

Diamond Tiara (sings):
’Cause I’ll make things happen
That none of you here can afford

“To do, like, ever!” Diamond Tiara bragged, only earning glares from the two ponies. She shoved some candy into one colt’s mouth, then gave another pony a parasol. Then she walked past Buttons, making his propeller hat fly off his head.

Diamond Tiara (sings):
Wouldn’t you like a little something sweet?
Here’s a parasol to hide you from the heat
Who says that I can’t be nice?

Everypony watched Diamond walk about as she sang. She then headed over to Dinky who was holding a picket sing that was promoting ponies to vote for Pip. Diamond then slapped the panel around to make it show a professionally made poster promoting ponies to vote for her instead.

Diamond Tiara (sings):
But first there’s one thing
An itsy-bitsy little string
And voting for me is the price!

Silver Spoon tapped Diamond Tiara’s side and began to sing. Diamond Tiara glared at her as Silver Spoon confidence grew as she sang.

Silver Spoon (sings):
I’ve a tiny suggestion
That you should be aware
You could probably win this election
If you show them all you real-

“I don’t recall asking you to speak!” Diamond snapped loudly at Silver Spoon. Everypony gasped in shock.

“Well, if that’s how you treat your best friend, then I choose Pipsqueak!” Sweetie Belle remarked. She gave the little colt a wink. The Cutie Mark Crusaders marched off the steps with Pipsqueak.

The other foals (sing):
Vote!

The other ponies gathered around the Cutie Mark Crusaders and Pipsqueak, except for Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon. However, while Diamond Tiara was indignant and Silver Spoon just had a blank look on her face.

CMCs (and the other foals) (sing):
Stand strong and don’t be afraid, ponies (For Pip! Vote!)
Let’s free ourselves from the past

The background showed crayon drawings of Pipsqueak as four ponies held up banners with the same drawing on them.

The other foals (sing):
He’s it! Vote for Pip! Vote!

Pipsqueak welcomed the other students into the voting booth as the three fillies stood and sang beside him. A Diamond Tiara poster appeared in foreground and was immediately ripped in half. Pipsqueak and the three fillies then marched about proudly.

CMCs (and the other foals) (sing):
We'll let honor win out against the tyranny (For Pip!) (Vote!)
And make a change that will last

The other foals (sing):
Vote for Pip!

Pipsqueak marched proudly before the smiling students as he and the Cutie Mark Crusaders sang. Diamond Tiara was still indignant and now very annoyed. Silver Spoon was actually smiling.

CMCs (sing):
It’s time for a new leader
It’s time to make a change
We’re here to fight for what we believe

Two foals got into the foreground.

Two of the other foals (sing):
Vote for Pip!

Pipsqueak then stood on one end of a worn down teeter totter. Another colt then helped lift the end Pipsqueak was standing on so everypony could see him.

CMCs (sing):
It’s finally time we beat her
And play a better game
‘Cause when we vote together
There’s nothing that we can’t achieve

The other foals each lifted an arm in the air as they shouted and Pipsqueak smiled at them.

The other foals (sing):
Vote for Pip!

It wasn’t long before everypony had voted and Cheerilee was ready to reveal the results.

“The votes have been counted!” Cheerilee announced. The screen split into two. On the right was Pipsqueak, who looked very nervous and was biting his nails. Diamond Tiara looked very confident and had a smug smile on her face.

“The student pony president is...” Cheerilee continued as Diamond cockily took a few steps forward, “Pipsqueak!” Diamond Tiara was stopped in her tracks in complete shock as everypony else cheered excitedly.

“Oh, my gosh, Crusaders! Pip won!” said Apple Bloom excitedly.

“I couldn’t have won without the hard work of my campaign managers, the Cutie Mark Crusaders!” Pipsqueak announced as he walked up to them.

“Campaign manager cutie marks!” Sweetie Belle said excitedly as the four of them looked at their sides. But as usual, they were still blank.

“Guess you’re not as good as you thought, blank flanks,” Diamond Tiara taunted, even with Miss Cheerilee giving her a stern glare in the background, “In fact, I demand a recount!”

“Trust me, Diamond Tiara,” said Cheerilee smugly and also confidently, “Pip won.”

“I’ll be the judge of that, Miss Cheerilee!” said Diamond Tiara as she marched importantly inside the count the votes herself.

In less than a minute...

“WHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAT?!” Diamond Tiara shouted from inside the school house so loudly that she startled everypony outside. Even Cheerilee winced at her shouting.

“One vote!” Diamond Tiara exclaimed in shock and devastation as she reappeared at the doorway and rushed over to her best friend, “Silver Spoon! You didn’t vote for me?!”

“No, I didn’t,” said Silver Spoon firmly and unsympathetically. Diamond Tiara was stunned, as well as hurt.

“But you’re my best friend,” Diamond Tiara protested feebly.

“Am I?” Silver Spoon asked, “’Cause I tried to help by mentioning your ‘surprise’ statue, and suddenly I wasn’t allowed to speak! Whenever I go out of my way to keep you out of trouble or when one of your brilliant plans goes wrong, I’m not allowed to speak! Whenever I try to speak my mind and what I say doesn’t agree with you or it’s not what you wanted to hear, I’m not allowed to speak! You could have actually won this election if you just listened to me. You wanna know how?” Diamond Tiara just stared with her mouth open as Silver Spoon leaned into her face.

“Sorry, I’m not allowed to speak,” Silver Spoon said in a whisper that was stern and straight to the point as she shut Diamond Tiara’s mouth herself.

“GrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrRAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!” Diamond Tiara screamed in pure rage before she ran off. The Cutie Mark Crusaders and Pip were left stunned at what had happened and looked at Silver Spoon.

“What? I don’t have to follow her drama anymore!” Silver Spoon remarked.

She walked away in the direction opposite of Diamond Tiara. Rex and his girlfriends exchanged concerned looks with Pipsqueak. They couldn’t help but feel bad seeing the friendship between the two rich ponies fall apart.

“I know Diamond Tiara’s been pretty awful, but...we should probably make sure she’s okay. Just ‘cause she’s never cared about anypony else’s feelings doesn’t mean we shouldn’t care about hers,” Apple Bloom said to the others as Pipsqueak walked off. Rex, Sweetie Belle, Scootaloo shared sympathetic looks with her.

Diamond Tiara was feeling miserable as she headed into town with her head low to the ground. She was unaware of the CMCs peeking from behind a building. As she passed a shop, a mare with a dark pink coat, purple main and tail, crooked nose, gold chain necklace, and a aquamarine top with gold gem trimming along the bottom and a matching skirt, took notice of her. The pony was her mother, Spoiled Rich.

“Diamond Tiara!” the spoiled mare shouted sternly, making Diamond Tiara lift her head to reveal her long face, “Why are you making that face? That’s not the face of a winner!” Diamond Tiara bit her lip.

“Because...I didn’t win,” Diamond Tiara replied sadly.

“What?!” Spoiled Rich retorted dramatically before adding sternly, “You mean I hefted all these party supplies to celebrate nothing?!” Nearby, were two maids and their butler, Randolph, who were carrying various party supplies from the shop. But poor Randolph was forced to carry a large statue of Diamond Tiara only for it to crush him.

“Sorry mother,” Diamond Tiara replied simply, still looking rather glum.

“It’s bad enough that you lost to that transplant from Trottingham, but imagine if you’d lost to one of those blank flanks. As a rich pony, you must always think of your social standing,” Spoiled Rich spat out. It was then Fancy Pants and Fleur de Lis walked by.

“Hm,” Fancy Pants pondered as he walked by as Spoiled Rich put on an over the top smile on her face and waved. As soon as he looked away, she went back to sternly starting down at her daughter.

“That’s starts here in Ponyville and reaches all over Equestria,” Spoiled Rich continued as she lifted Diamond Tiara’s chin and got into her face, “Don’t ever forget that, Diamond Tiara. EVER!”

Diamond Tiara winced at the shouting, same with the Cutie Mark Crusaders, who had been listening in a short distance away. Spoiled Rich just walked away, feeling rather pleased with her herself. Diamond just walked sadly away in another direction, feeling even more dejected. She looked at a display window and then kicked a small stone away.

Diamond Tiara (sings):
If I’m a diamond
Then why do I feel so rough?
I’m as strong as a stone
Even that’s not enough

She walked away from the shop as the screen shattered like a broken glass window.

Diamond Tiara (sings):
There’s something jagged in me
And I’ve made such mistakes
I thought that diamonds were hard
Though I feel I could break

She stood on the middle of a bridge as she sang. Behind her a filly with her father walked across the same bridge happily chatting with each other. She stared at the water below as tears fell from her eyes and into the water. Those water droplets later formed the beads that were on her tiara cutie mark.

Diamond Tiara (sings):
Would you believe
That I’ve always wished I could be somepony else?
Yet I can’t see
What I need to do to be the pony I want to be

To her left was Spoiled Rich telling her what to do before waving her off, leaving Diamond miserable. To her right, the Cakes were having fun with their twins.

Diamond Tiara (sings):
I’ve been told my whole life
What to do, what to say
Nopony showed me that
There might be some better way

She looked at the sky as the ground seemed to swallow her up. But she sadly lowered her head as she appeared to sink deeper underground.

Diamond Tiara (sings):
And now I feel like I’m lost
I don’t know what to do
The ground is sinking away
I’m about to fall through

She was standing on a giant diamond that rotated her clockwise and then floated across the foreground to show her just walking slowly about the town. The Cutie Mark Crusaders just shared curious and worried looks with each other. Diamond shed some tears as she walked about and sang, then lowered her head sadly.

Diamond Tiara (sings):
Would you believe
That I’ve always wished I could be somepony else?
Yet I can’t see
What I need to do to be the pony I want to be

She lifted her head once more before walking about town alone.

Diamond Tiara (sings):
To be the pony I want to be

As Diamond Tiara walked about, the Cutie Mark Crusaders came out of hiding.

“Is it weird that I feel bad for her?” Sweetie Belle asked Apple Bloom and Scootaloo.

“If it is, then...I’m weird, too,” said Scootaloo.

“I agree. Cody told me that holding grudges is unhealthy, especially for a Jedi,” Rex added.

“She wants to change, but she doesn’t know how,” Apple Bloom pointed out.

“Seems like she could use a friend or two to help her figure it out,” said Sweetie Belle. Apple Bloom smiled in agreement.

The next day, the school bell rang to announce the end of another day of learning. The majority of the students, including Silver Spoon, charged happily out of the school house. Diamond Tiara just waited for the group of students to pull ahead of her a few yards before slowly making her exit.

“Hey, Diamond Tiara!” shouted Apple Bloom, “Wait up!” The CMCs approached the rich filly, who simply put on an annoyed face.

“What do you three want?” Diamond Tiara retorted irritably, “To gloat? Rub in my defeat?”

“Actually, we wanted to invite you to our clubhouse to hang out,” Apple Bloom replied as she and the others gave her warm smiles. Diamond Tiara was taken aback by the offer.

“Really?” she asked in surprise.

“Yeah, for real!” said Scootaloo.

“Well, thanks to you all, I don’t have any important class president business to attend to or anything,” Diamond Tiara replied haughtily, “So I might as well.” Diamond just crossed her arms and pouted with a long face.

“That sounds like yes...” said Sweetie Belle with a worried but sheepish smile on her face. The others just smiled back at her.

Despite not being at the clubhouse since the whole incident with Babs Seed, Diamond Tiara recognized the road and location right away. She couldn’t help but pace about once they were all inside and the door was closed.

“So, do you three just sit around here plotting out different ways to try and get your cutie marks?” Diamond Tiara asked as she noticed the posters on the wall.

“Actually, yeah,” Apple Bloom answered honestly as they all smiled.

“You three are...really lucky,” Diamond Tiara started to launch an insult but then looked away sheepishly by adding in a timid tone.

“We are?!” The CMCs asked in surprise.

“Yeah! You get to explore all these options, learning who you really are before you’re stuck with something you don’t understand,” Diamond Tiara replied. She looked sadly at her own cutie mark.

“But...you’ve done that, right?” Apple Bloom asked.

“Yeah, ’cause I have my cutie mark! And I’m not struggling at all to figure out who I’m supposed to be and what I’m supposed to be doing with this mark that’s already on my sides!” Diamond Tiara answered in a rather cocky tone as she pointed at her cutie mark. She didn’t hesitate to shake her sides to emphasize her point. But the concerned looks seen on the faces of the Cutie Mark Crusaders made it clear none of them believed her.

“Uh...are you sure about that?” Apple Bloom asked. Diamond Tiara then scoffed as she tried to make a face that almost resembled her mother’s.

“That’s a weird question,” Diamond Tiara replied bluntly.

“Not really, since we kind of overheard you yesterday,” Sweetie Belle replied as she rubbed the back of her head. Diamond Tiara blinked in shock.

“Were you trying to get your cutie marks in spying?” Diamond Tiara snapped defensively, “Is that on your little chart?”

“No! We were just worried about you when you lost the election, and then you lost your friend, and then your mom yelled at you...” Sweetie Belle answered. As she spoke, Diamond Tiara’s defense melted within seconds. She was soon look very sad once Sweetie Belle mentioned her mother and her lips started quivering.

“We know you wanna change, and we think we can-” said Apple Bloom.

“HEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEELLLLLLLLLLLP!”

Pipsqueak interrupted, shouting to them from outside the clubhouse and bouncing nervously. The CMCs wasted little time opening the door as Diamond Tiara just stayed hidden inside.

“Cutie Mark Crusaders!” Pipsqueak cried out, “I was at the school board meeting and they didn’t approve my request for the new playground equipment!”

“Why not?” Sweetie Belle asked curiously.

“There’s no money in the budget!” Pipsqueak explained, “So I checked my peggy bank to see if I had enough bits...” Pipsqueak then shook his little piggy bank and out came a dead fly, a piece of candy, and a piece lint, “...but my peggy wasn’t nearly full enough!”

“Don’t worry, Pip!” said Sweetie Belle.

“We’ll meet you back at school,” Scootaloo added.

“And help you find a solution!” Apple Bloom continued.

“You can count on us!” Rex finished.

“Thanks, Cutie Mark Crusaders!” said Pip before he made his way back to the school. It was then Diamond Tiara stepped out of the clubhouse. She had heard everything.

“Oh, I already have a solution!” said Diamond Tiara, now with her usual cocky smirk on her face, “Our new student pony president is gonna be kicked out of office, and I’ll be reinstated!”

“Pip won fair and square, Diamond. Don’t do anything rash!” Rex replied.

Diamond Tiara ignored him, then took off down the ramp and toward the end of the apple orchard.

“Where’s she going?” Scootaloo called out.

“Where do you think?!” Apple Bloom retorted in a worried tone, “C’mon! After her!” Apple Bloom and Scootaloo chased after her.

“Wait! I’m coming too!” Sweetie Belle shouted as she went to follow her two friends.

“Wait up, girls!” Rex called out as he ran up to his girlfriends.

The Cutie Mark Crusaders then chased Diamond Tiara as she headed toward the town area. Diamond looked back as she sang to them and crossed the bridge to enter the town, attracting the attention of some nearby ponies.

Diamond Tiara (sings):
Cutie Mark Crusaders, get out of my way
Those ponies need to know the truth
And they’ll hear it from me

The Cutie Mark Crusaders sang together to get Diamond Tiara’s attention, the tiara-wearing filly looked back at them before increasing her speed. She then ran up to a pony pulling a single wagon loaded with apples and tipped the wagon over so the four of them were tripped up and fell over the spilled apples.

CMCs (sing):
Stop! Diamond Tiara, this is not the way
You know you’re better than this hostility

Diamond Tiara continued to run, heading past a large group of elite and high class ponies, which both Spoiled Rich and Filthy Rich were in the crowd. Both her parents had stern looks on their face as Spoiled Rich snubbed somepony by sticking her nose in the air.

Diamond Tiara (sings):
You don’t even know me at all
Don’t understand the meaning of my fall
What my family would think if I ever
Fail at anything

She weaved between some more ponies and took a turn down an alleyway, but then the Cutie Mark Crusaders intercepted her as she reached the end of the alleyway.

Diamond Tiara (sings):
I’m a diamond, that means you’ll never break
No matter what be the cost of the path I take
Whatever I have to do to win in the end

As the Cutie Mark Crusaders get in front of Diamond Tiara, they made her run off to the side. Then they cut her off a second time, making her do a nearly complete U turn. They cut her off a third time, making Diamond Tiara skid to a stop and turn sharply to get around them.

CMCs (sing):
Stop! This is not the answer
Wait! and it’s plainly seen
Listen! You can redeem yourself
But helping others, not by being mean

The four of them manage to overtake Diamond Tiara again and sing to her while running backwards. Then Scootaloo leaned forward, followed by Rex and Apple Bloom, and then Sweetie Belle. Diamond Tiara’s face was showing that she was starting to have doubts as their words were starting to get to her.

CMCs (sing):
We know you want friends who admire you
You want to be the star with all the power too
But there’s a better way, there’s a better wa-a-ay

The Cutie Mark Crusaders ran alongside Diamond Tiara. Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle were on her left with Scootaloo and Rex on her right. As they sang, Diamond Tiara was looked more and more unsure of her decision, even looking at her cutie mark as she began to feel more and more conflicted.

CMCs (sing):
There’s so much more still left to
Learn about yourself
See the light that shines in you
We know you can be somepony else

The Cutie Mark Crusaders stood between a fork on the road. The left path that lead to the school, was dark and cloudy. The right path lead to a gazebo and the sky was sunny and there was a rainbow in the sky. Diamond Tiara nervously looked at both paths and bit her lower lip.

CMCs (sing):
You can stop right now
And try another start
You’ll finally free yourself from the dark
And see the light
And see the light of your cutie mark

As the Cutie Mark Crusaders finished singing, Diamond Tiara narrowed her eyes and charged down...the dark left path. She reached the front of the school where Cheerilee and several other students were chatting with each other, including Silver Spoon.

“Everypony, I have an announcement,” Diamond Tiara said loudly. The Cutie Mark Crusaders had just arrived at the scene. The four of them winced as they shared worried looks with each other.

“Diamond Tiara! Think hard about the choice your makin’ right now!” Apple Bloom called out.

“You can be a better pony!” Scootaloo added.

“Let go of your hate! Trust us!” Rex finished.

They couldn’t see that Diamond Tiara was still feeling rather conflicted about going through with her idea. Diamond Tiara’s moment was then lost when the door to the schoolhouse opened and there before her was Spoiled Rich.

“Diamond Tiara!” Spoiled Rich barked, making her daughter and the Cutie Mark Crusaders wince. Cheerilee and the rest of the students split to allow the rich mare a path to walk between them, “I just happened to be here for the school board meeting, and this is what I see when we adjourn? My daughter associating with confused, insignificant lowlifes?”

“Socializing with their kind is not how you move up in Equestria!” Spoiled Rich continued, leaving the three fillies stunned, shocked, and indignant, “Come, Diamond Tiara!” That was the breaking point for the tiara wearing filly. The choice she was feeling so conflicted with now had become crystal clear as she narrowed her eyes at the mare.

“No, mother!” Diamond Tiara said firmly. Spoiled Rich went rigid and her ears flattened.

“Excuse me?!” Spoiled Rich remarked with an exaggerated look on her face, clearly offended.

“You’ve spent your life acting like a high horse and raised me to follow in your hoof prints!” Diamond Tiara said boldly, “At first, I thought this was fine, but then I finally realized I wanted something you don’t have, friends!”

The Cutie Mark Crusaders gasped. So did Cheerilee and the rest of the class, even Silver Spoon’s jaw dropped. Spoiled Rich started looking very uncomfortable at all the stares and gasps.

“That’s enough, Diamond Tiara!” Spoiled Rich snapped, “Step away from those blanks!”

“These are the Cutie Mark Crusaders, and they are my friends!” said Diamond Tiara proudly, “You need to stop calling them such mean and hurtful names!” Spoiled Rich just looked stunned and then looked away with an annoyed look on her face.

“They are working harder to get their cutie marks than anypony I’ve ever seen!” Diamond Tiara continued as the quartet smiled, “And they will get them exactly when they discover their true talent, which I guarantee will be amazing! Now, will you please deliver this to father?” She held a sheet of paper.

“Yes, of course, dear...” said Spoiled Rich timidly as she took the paper and nervously walked away.

“I have to thank you, Crusaders,” said Diamond Tiara as she turned to the CMCs, “Obviously I’ve known since I got my cutie mark that my talent is getting other ponies to do what I want. I just asked my father if he could donate money for the new playground equipment!” She then headed toward the other students. Everypony smiled and chattered with excitement and Diamond headed over to Pipsqueak.

“I knew you were worried for a second there, weren’t you?” Diamond Tiara said to the little colt, who looked at her nervously, “Ha! Well, I think it’s all gonna work out just fine, Mister President!” She gave him a wink, which Pipsqueak smiled in reply.

Diamond gathered everypony around as she hopped up to the front porch as she sang to everypony.

Diamond Tiara (sings):
We’ll build a playground
For all of us to enjoy
So full of games
There’s enough for each girl and boy

I want to help and do
Everything that I can
I’m here to show you I changed
Listen up, here’s the plan

A few days later, the new playground equipment arrived.

“Bring it in! That’s right, keep it coming!” Diamond Tiara told the delivery ponies as they brought in several giant boxes. Then Diamond Tiara walked up to four students, but all but one filly ran away from her, “Hey there, you with the amazing strength. Can you help them move that marry-go-round across the lawn?” The little filly noticed two student dragging the broken merry-go-round by a rope. She quickly got under it and held it in the air before waving back at the tiara wearing filly.

“Thank you so much!” Diamond Tiara told the filly before turning to another colt, “And you with the super teeth, we need you to help with the teeter totter.” The colt grabbed one end, carrying it away, along with Twist, who had been holding the other end.

“You got it!” Diamond Tiara cheered, “That’s the spirit!”

She marched about happily as the others looked through the boxes to grab the parts for the playground equipment. Even Twilight, Cody, and Sunset were there to help as well. As she kept singing, her cutie mark glowed. Then they others got to work. Sweetie Belle used her magic to repair a swing and smiled as did Rex, Apple Bloom, and Scootaloo. Then four ponies worked together to set up a new tether ball pole.

Diamond Tiara (sings):
There’s so much I can do
To help everypony else
I see the light that shines in me
I know I can be my better self

As she sang, the sun rose from behind the school. Silver Spoon was busy repairing a fence when one of the boards fell down. She looked a little dejected until Diamond Tiara appeared to hold the board up so Silver Spoon could hammer it into place. A few more days later, the playground was complete. Cody, Twilight, and Sunset had left Cheerilee and the other students to finish up construction. A Pegasus placed a flag on the center tower and Diamond Tiara stood at the front of the platform before sliding down the slide to the ground below.

Diamond Tiara (sings):
I can free the past
‘Cause now the future’s bright for me
My cutie mark has set me free
To do what’s right and be the pony I want to be

And be the pony I want to be!

As soon as Diamond Tiara landed, Cheerilee and the rest of the students minus the Cutie Mark Crusaders gathered around her. Silver Spoon was the first to reach the tiara-wearing filly and put a hand on her shoulder. Diamond Tiara sighed.

“Great job everypony,” Diamond Tiara told the others, “And...now that you’ve seen that I am trying to be a better pony that...you’ll believe me when I say this.” Diamond Tiara took a deep breath.

“I’m so sorry,” said Diamond Tiara, “I’m sorry for the way I acted...and for how I bullied all of you.” There was a brief silence as Diamond Tiara felt a tear leave her eye. Silver Spoon found it rather foreign to see Diamond Tiara apologize so quickly or her mistakes and admit she was wrong, but the fact the tiara-wearing filly was doing so was just more proof that Diamond Tiara was changing for the better. Diamond Tiara saw Silver Spoon step forward.

“I forgive you,” said Silver Spoon with a gentle smile on her face. The other students smiled as well, giving a general consensus that most of them had at least accepted Diamond Tiara’s apology. The Cutie Mark Crusaders just watched from a short distance away.

“I’ve been thinkin’, Crusaders,” said Apple Bloom, “We spend an awful lot of time fussin’ and frettin’ tryin’ to discover our true talent. But when we take a little time off, we end up helpin’ other ponies find their true talent.”

“Yeah, and I think that’s way more important than worrying about our cutie marks, don’t you?” Sweetie Belle added.

“Absolutely!” said Scootaloo as she pulled the other two fillies into a group hug, “I don’t care if I ever get my cutie mark as long as I get to hang out with my best friends.”

“I agree. Our true calling might be closer than we think,” Rex added.

“So what do you say, Crusaders?” Apple Bloom replied as she walked forward a bit to face her two best friends and boyfriend, “Want to just focus on helpin’ others find their cutie marks?”

“Yeah!” the four of them shouted as they shared a high-five.

Just then, a ring of purple magic sparked from their hands and then created a ring around the quartet. The Cutie Mark Crusaders looked rather surprised as their bodies suddenly started glowing and they rose into the air. Then they were surrounded by a bright light that engulfed them completely. The bright light didn’t go unnoticed as Cheerilee and the rest of the class turned around just as the bright light faded and the four of them were set down on the ground, looking rather drained from the magic surge. Scootaloo was the first to recover and noticed all their fellow students were gasping and oohing at them.

“What happened?” Sweetie Belle asked once she recovered.

“What’s goin’ on?” Apple Bloom asked next.

“It’s your cutie marks!” said Diamond Tiara excitedly, “They’re amazing!” The three fillies checked their shoulders even though they knew Diamond Tiara wouldn’t be teasing them about something like that. To their shock and surprise...they were no longer blank.

They had their own tri-colored shield for a cutie mark, each of them had an emblem unique to that particular filly. Apple Bloom’s had an apple across the shield, Sweetie Belle’s included a musical note, Scootaloo’s included a wing, and Rex’s included the Jedi crest. But that detail, for the moment, was over looked as the quartet smiled excitedly.

“We all got the same cutie mark!” the four of them shouted happily before bumping themselves together, “Cutie Mark Crusaders forever!”

They hugged each other and then marched around Cheerilee and their fellow students. Then they took off as the rest of the ponies followed after them.

CMCs (sing):
We were searching for our cutie marks
For a while there
Trying to find out how we fit in

So many ways we’ve tried before
But we kept on trying more
‘Cause the Cutie Mark Crusaders don’t give in

It was then that the quartet led a march with the rest of their class behind them.

Scootaloo (sings):
Now we know what it took all along

Sweetie Belle (sings):
And our journey here is never really done

Apple Bloom (sings):
For it is more than just a mark

Rex (sings):
It’s a place for us to start

As Rex and the three fillies lead their little parade and sang, the other ponies turned to see them and smiled when they saw the kids’ new cutie marks. Then the CMCs super jumped into the air as the foreground showed their cutie marks.

CMCs (sing):
An adventure that has only just begun

We’ll make our mark
Show the world what we can do
We’ll make our mark
Helping fillies to break through
To the ultimate reward of a cutie mark

“All right, everypony!” said Pinkie as everypony minus Apple Bloom was standing outside of Sugarcube Corner, “Get ready for the biggest cute-ceanera celebration ever!” Pinkie then tossed some confetti into the air as the other ponies cheered. Apple Bloom was with Applejack, Bright Mac, Pear Butter, Granny Smith, and Big Mac. All the adults had tears in their eyes. Big Mac was struggling not to break down in tears.

“Oh, sugarcube, we’re so proud of ya,” said Applejack.

“Oh...Thanks, Applejack,” Apple Bloom replied.

“Now go on and party with your pals,” said Applejack.

“Mom will be so proud of you, Rex. Same with Father, Aunt Luna, and Uncle Dagger,” Cody said to his little brother.

“Thanks, big bro. I can’t wait to show them!” Rex replied.

Before Rex could run off, Cody placed a hand under his chin. Rex smiled as Cody sang to him and then they shared a hug.

Cody (sings):
You searched long and hard, finding your purpose
Now you know just what you’re meant to do

Rainbow Dash rubbed Scootaloo’s mane and they shared a high-five with each other.

Rainbow Dash (sings):
I’m so proud of you, little buddy
You’ve taught me a thing or two

Rarity held both of Sweetie Belle hands in her own. Her touching words made Sweetie Belle smile and blush a bit.

Rarity (sings):
You’ve inspired everypony around you
And you’ve inspired me too

The four of them sang together for the Cutie Mark Crusaders while the rest of Harmony Squad, Spike, and several other ponies watched from the background. Then they marched up to the four foals, which Rainbow hovered in the air. Then they looked up to the sky as the screen filled up showing the Mane Six’s cutie marks on the outside and the Cutie Mark Crusader’s new cutie marks in the center.

Cody, Applejack, Rarity, and Rainbow Dash (sing):
You’ve made your mark
Done Equestria so proud
You’ve made your mark
And we’re here to sing it loud
For the ultimate reward of your cutie mark

The next day, Rex and the three fillies were now back inside their clubhouse.

“Well, what do you think, Crusaders?” Apple Bloom said to her two friends and boyfriend as she stood by her podium and showed her now marked sides, “Were these cutie marks totally worth waiting for or what?”

“Yeah!” said Sweetie Belle, “I can’t wait to see who we’re gonna help next!”

A flashback was seen showing various memories such as their first meeting at Diamond Tiara’s cute-ceanera, doing the talent show, trying zip lining, working on the farm, their Gabby Gums incident, a triple view of them donning their Crusader capes, their finishing pose at the Equestria Games, Twilight Time, and defending Trouble Shoes.

CMCs (sing):
We started out just three
Crusaders driven to see
What we find in our hearts
Discover our destiny

They were floating in the air before a sparkly purple background. Then their shield cutie marks appeared behind them. Then the shields turned into platforms that let the quartet fly side by side at high speed.

CMCs (sing):
And here we are, best friends
About to start it again
An adventure that never will end

Rex and the three fillies smiled at each other as they rode their shields before zooming away. The view then descended to the outside of the clubhouse as Rex and the three fillies made their way out. Harmony Squad and their class gathered around them as they all posed for a picture, which was taken by Photo Finish. Then Spike sent it to Celestia, Luna, Blaze, and Dagger, who smiled at they enjoyed the picture together.

CMCs (sing):
We’ll make our mark
Helping fillies most in need
We’ll make our mark
So each one of them succeeds
‘Cause the ultimate reward is a cutie mark!

Once it was evening, Rex returned home to the Canterlot Castle. There he showed Celestia, Blaze, Luna, and Dagger his new cutie mark.

“Everyone, look what I just got today,” Rex said, showing them his shoulders.

“You got your cutie mark,” Blaze replied.

“Congrats, Rex,” Dagger added.

“Way to go, sweetheart,” Celestia said as she hugged Rex.

“We’re proud of you, Rex,” Luna added.

“Thanks, Mom and Aunt Luna,” Rex replied.