What seemed like forever ago, the three parted with a sigh.
"Maybe if we go our own way," Scootaloo started to say. "Maybe we'll find our marks."
The trio looked down at the ground, before smiling at each other.
"We'll never forget our adventures," Apple Bloom started
"Never forget our attempts," Scootaloo cheered
"Always stay the same." Sweetie Belle whispered.
And they parted. Seeing each other as few times as possible, and when they did see each other, they smiles and talked as two or three would with one another. As if they were just passing by and saw old friends.
Months passed, soon, years did too. Sweetie Belle had become a beautiful vocalist, making Rarity proud. Apple Bloom had become quite the builder, being able to build anything quickly, making her sister Apple Jack prouder than anything. Scootaloo became a Trickster, doing tricks on her scooter easily. Her wings had been found, and they helped with her tricks. Rainbow Dash reminisced in the times she was just a little filly, trying to fly.
They had each changed. Each and every one of them. The trio had become duos, and then singles. Sweetie Belle was never able to catch a break and see her old friends, and became a star, enveloped in her own talent. She hadn't become selfish, just put her fans over friends sometimes. Scootaloo became engraved into her work, forgetting what she had done in earlier years. Forgotten the trials to find her mark. Apple Bloom was deep in work, unable to take the time to remember small adventures filled with sorrow and sadness, not to mention disappointment. In their own way, each had gone back on their word. Words long forgotten.
Soon, they were found by each other, their own talents being put to rest, just for a bit. Sweetie Belle was moving to Canterlot, taking her sister with her. Everypony had heard, and each wanted to say goodbye. Twilight Sparkle and the rest would sadly say goodbye to their friends, Rarity would tear up. Everypony knew what would happen. Apple Jack had stopped Apple Blooms' work to say goodbye to the long lost friend. Rainbow Dash had remembered Scootaloo and the Cutie Mark Crusaders, and had nudged Scootaloo awake and taken her to the Boutique Rarity owned. The second the trio saw one another, and a break had been issued for all of them, they remembered everything. Sweetie Belle had reared and shouted giddily,
"Apple Bloom! Scootaloo!" Before remembering her elegance and trotting over them, resisting the urge to run. Apple Bloom had ran, Scootaloo had ran beside her. Sweetie Belle had only a few hours, two at most. That was 120 minutes to catch up, not nearly enough.
"How have you gems been?" Sweetie asked, tossing her curls behind her ear, flicking it back to keep it in place.
"Great! And y'all?" Apple Bloom asked.
"Awesomer then ever!" Scootaloo replied,
"Grand." Sweetie Belle murmured happily. Soon, they began talking about their own adventures. Rarity was packing up boxes when a dusty red rag emerged. She looked over at the trio, before using her magic to place the rag over Sweetie Belles' shoulder. Apple Jack nosed around in her Saddle Bag, and covered the shoulders of Apple Bloom. Rainbow Dash raced back to her home in the skies, coming back and tying the rag around Scootaloo. Rarity used her magic to tie the knot on Sweeties, Apple Jack using her 'magic' and tied the rag with her hooves.
The three looked dazed, before looking at the dusty old sashes. Sweetie teared up and smiled, stroking hers softly. "Remember this girls?" She asked, and the two nodded.
"Of course." Scootaloo said.
"Who wouldn't?" Apple Bloom chuckled softly. Sweetie Belle looked at her watch, her smile fading. "I have to go, the train comes in half an hour." The two looked sadly at their old friend before Apple Bloom suggested, "One last group huddle?" Scootaloo shook her head and piped in, "No, one last group hug."
Together, the mares hugged each other, crying softly, smiles on their faces that wiggled softly as they fought the tears. Finally, Sweetie broke away and trotted over to her carriage, Rarity waiting inside. She looked at the two,
"Look here, are three little ponies, ready to sing for this crowd. Listen up cause here's are story, I'm going to sing it very loud!"
Apple Bloom looked at her in surprise, before shouting back,
"When you're a younger pony and you flank is very bare, feels like the sun will never come when your Cutie Marks not there,"
Scootaloo chimed in
"So the three of us will fight the fight, there is nothing that we fear, we'll have to figure out what we'll do next 'till our Cutie Marks are here!"
Sweetie Belle smiled and nodded, before climbing onto the carriage, her silhouette visible to the ponies out there. She wiped a tear, and the carriage began to ride away. Fluttershy whispered goodbye, before running off, crying both sad tears for her friend, and happy tears for her friends' opportunities. The others, except for Apple Jack and Rainbow Dash, did the same. The two stayed and walked their little Crusaders home. All grown up now.
"I wont be seeing her again, will I Rainbow?" Scootaloo asked on the flight home, using her scooter to jump into the air. Rainbow Dash shook her head and smiles, an invisible tear streaked down her cheek. "Someday, I promise."
Apple Bloom sobbed next to her sister,
"I'll miss her. I'm happy for her, but still. I wish we could have stayed connected."
Apple Bloom smiled, happy her sister wished that. It showed she really would miss her friend.
"Yeah. Now come on, it's starting to rain." Apple Jack spoke up as a droplet plopped onto her head from the sky above. "Strange," Apple Jack thought, "that's where Rainbow is." Chuckling softly, she looked at Apple Bloom.
"Guess Rainbow forgot to move the clouds. Come now, I only felt a drop but that's enough a warning."
The two galloped home, two flew and scooted home, and two went to their new home.
