Well, hi! I'm sorry for how long this took to upload. Part of me is considering deleting my FanFiction account since I never update on here recently, but I think I'll stay for a while and see how things go. Anyway, this fic is finally done - it's been that way for a while - and I can say that my future fics will hopefully be better.

Applejack stood before the trio of fillies, her jaw nearly touching the ground. She didn't know which situation to tackle first, the treehouse that was half destroyed, or the word that had just left Scootaloo's mouth.

Had she heard correctly? Maybe the heat of the moment had gotten to her head?

Her eyes remained focused on the shambles that lay behind the fillies.

"Uhmm... Now, girls, Ah, uh..." At a loss for words, Applejack simply paused, trying to think of what to say.

"Sis, please don't be mad!" Apple Bloom pleaded.

"Wait just a second, there, AB..." Applejack started.

"Yeah, it was an accident, we never meant to do it!" Sweetie Belle added.

"Hold on, there!" Applejack interrupted. "Can somepony just explain what's goin' on here?"

Apple Bloom glanced worriedly at her friends. "Well, y'see, we had this idea, and we tried to build a plane, but it didn't work too well, and then we accidentally crashed into the treehouse," she explained, pointing a hoof at the mangled half-treehouse, that barely stood above the wreckage of their failed airplane.

"It was my fault," Scootaloo admitted. "I didn't think this would happen! I just thought we'd be able to go on cool adventures and stuff, but then the steering wheel got stuck…"

"Ah can't believe this," said an awestricken Applejack. She slowly trotted toward the fallen branches and studied the damage on her old treehouse. "This'll take a while to rebuild," she thought out loud, with a slight hint of sadness. It was her old treehouse, after all.

She turned toward the girls. "Wait just a second. How in Celestia's name did y'all build yerselves an airplane?" Her voice had changed into a strict, questioning tone, which the fillies had returned with nervous grins.

"It was Scootaloo's idea!" Apple Bloom pointed out, accusingly.

"Way to rat me out, idiot face!" Scootaloo shot back.

"Quiet yerselves, girls! Ah don't care whose fault it was!" Applejack reprimanded. "You could've gotten seriously hurt!" The fillies quieted down, guiltily lowering their heads to avoid eye contact with Applejack.

"We're sorry, sis," said Apple Bloom, who was hesitant to meet her sister's gaze.

Sweetie Bell suddenly jumped in excitement. "Hey, we can help you rebuild it!" She squeaked.

"Yeah," Scootaloo added. "The Cutie Mark Repair Service. It'll be awesome as -!"

CRASH! Another tree branch snapped off and fell onto the airplane.

Applejack stared at the orange filly in astonishment, trying to figure out just how to respond.

"What's wrong, sis?" Apple Bloom inquired, who had noticed the shock on her sister's face.

"Scoot," Applejack started, ignoring Apple Bloom's question. "Where'd ya hear that word?"

"Re..repair service?"

"Er, no. I meant..." Applejack darted her eyes away. "The other one.."

"I think she means -"

"Ah! Yep, that's the one, thank ya Sweetie," the mare interrupted Sweetie Belle mid-word.

Sweetie Belle's ear twitched in confusion. "Wait, that word? What's wrong with it?"

"Ya don't know what it means?" Applejack asked. The fillies anxiously exchanged glances, then shook their heads at the farm mare. "Oh boy," was Applejack's reply, her tone uneasy.

"What is it?" the Crusaders asked simultaneously.

Applejack cringed. "Oh, Ah guess y'all are old enough to hear this," she began. "Sometimes, there are words that aren't okay to use. They could hurt somepony around ya, and.." Applejack stopped to think. "It could influence others around y'all to misbehave."

"Misbehave?" Apple Bloom asked. "Why's that?"

"Well, when ya say rude things, ponies around ya will think it's alright to act rude," Applejack explained.

"That's silly!" said Apple Bloom.

"Yeah!" Sweetie Belle agreed. "Ponies shouldn't misbehave for any reason!"

They looked Scootaloo. She sighed. "I guess misbehaving is bad," she admitted.

"Good," Applejack said, a small grin spreading on her face. "Can y'all promise me that ya won't ever say that word, or anything else that'll hurt anypony's feelings?"

"Not even Diamond Tiara?" Scootaloo questioned.

"Ah know she can be a real pain in the flank, but ya can't be mean ta her either!" Applejack said.

The fillies sighed, but agreed. "Okay," they responded in unison.

"Does this mean yer not mad?" Apple Bloom asked, jumping in excitement.

"Nice try," Applejack said, half smirking. "Y'all are still in trouble for the damage caused here," she declared, the fillies groaning in displeasure. "Now how 'bout we head out into town," she said, placing Apple Bloom on her back. "We'll find a few friends to help us out with this mess! And on the way, y'all can tell me jus' where ya heard that word in the first place."

Sweetie Belle quivered slightly, but followed next to Applejack, explaining the whole situation to her.

---

Upon entering Sugacube Corner, Applejack and the fillies noticed all of their friends.

Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy were exchanging stories and experiences about their pets. Twilight was attempting to discuss her new book with Pinkie Pie, who was chowing down on some fresh cupcakes. Rarity was awkwardly giggling at Pinkie Pie's antics, and listening to Twilight's explanation.

"Howdy," Applejack addressed her friends, who greeted her at once.

"Hi!" Pinkie Pie shouted. "You want a cupcake?" She shoved a cupcake into Applejack's face.

"Uh, no thanks, Sugarcube…"

"Oh well, suit yourself!" The pink mare exclaimed, devouring the remaining cupcakes.

"Ah actually came here 'cause Ah wanted to talk to y'all about somethin'," Applejack said. "There's been a bit of a mishap back at the farm, and rebuilding needs to be done."

"We'd be happy to help, Applejack," replied Twilight with a warm smile. Fluttershy nodded in agreement.

"What happened at the farm?" Fluttershy inquired.

"Nothin' too unfixable," Applejack responded, eyeing the fillies. The smiled back sheepishly. "That reminds me, Rar, could Ah have a word with you for a moment?"

Rarity joined Applejack and Sweetie Belle at a separate table away from the others. "What seems to be the problem, darling?" she asked.

"Well y'see, the girls here came up with an ingenious little plan to get their Cutie Marks again," Applejack began, glancing at the fillies. Rarity braced herself. "This plan resulted in the destruction of their clubhouse."

"Oh dear, how did this happen?" Rarity asked.

"We wanted to build a plane, but something went wrong, and we…crashed." The unicorn filly squeaked.

"Oh Sweetie Belle!" Scolded Rarity. "What am I going to do with you? Thank goodness you're not harmed in any way," she said, embracing her sister. She turned to Applejack. "I assure you, we'll be assisting in the clean up."

"Thanks, Rar," Applejack replied. "That's not all Ah wanted to talk about though."

Rarity examined the unicorn filly in her arms. "What else happened?" She asked, nervously.

"Sweetie Belle and Ah had a little talk and, well—"

"Hey, what's your problem?!" Scootaloo's voice rang through out the room. When the two mares looked over, they realized that Scootaloo and Apple Bloom were arguing with none other than the notorious Diamond Tiara.

"It's not my fault you didn't move out the way, blank flank!" Diamond Tiara said, viciously, as her trusty sidekick Silver Spoon chuckled.

Apple Bloom stepped in to defend her friend. "Ya didn't have to make her drop her cupcake!"

"Hush up, you blank flank!" Tiara said with a snicker. "Now, out of my way."

Apple Bloom growled. "Just forget her," Scootaloo insisted. "Remember what your sister said? Don't be mean." This actually shocked Apple Bloom coming from Scootaloo. She Probably still feels guilty, Apple Bloom thought.

Tiara cut in. "The flightless Pegasus doesn't want to pick a fight? There's a shock! Maybe you'll get a cutie mark for being a scaredy cat."

Applejack had heard enough. Just as she was about to cut in, Apple Bloom spoke up again. "Ya know what? Ah'm tire of you pickin' on me and mah friends!"

"Is that your best comeback? I guess it's not a shock coming from a girl who works on a farm all day."

Scootaloo finally stepped in. "You leave her alone! You dirty, rotten, spoiled little…little… little -!"

Ding went the oven. Looks like the cookies were done!

Silence filled the room. Diamond Tiara's cheeks burned redder than an apple, while Silver Spoon just gaped at the farm filly. Apple Bloom's jaw dropped to the floor.

Applejack froze in her seat, shocked, confused, and embarrassed. A dumbstruck Rarity covered her mouth with her hoof in shock, and Sweetie Belle facehoofed.

Stunned, Fluttershy silently gasped. Pinkie Pie did the same thing, just ten times louder, and with rapid arm movements.

The magic that Twilight was using to hold her book went out, dropping her book to the floor, her mouth agape and her eyes gaped in shock.

At first Rainbow Dash's eyes went wide. Suddenly, she burst out into laughter. She wrapped her front hooves around her self and fell to the floor. A few tears escaped her eyes before she sat up and noticed Twilight and Fluttershy glaring at her. "Err, that was funny," she said, fixing her mane.

"You…urg, ugh! I won't waste my time with you blank flanks anymore!" Diamond Tiara stormed off, her silver coated friend following her immediately. As the trotted away, Silver Spoon leaned close to whisper something Tiara, as if to ask what had just happened.

"Uh…oops," Scootaloo said, gaping around the room.

"…That happened..." Applejack finally replied to Rarity, with a sheepish grin on her face.

"Alright, glad we could all make it here," said Applejack, standing in front of the tattered remains of the CMC clubhouse.

"I'm hoping you girls learned your lesson today?" Rarity asked the fillies.

"We did," Apple Bloom answered.

"Yeah, I'm sorry for…pretty much everything," Scootaloo said.

"I'm sorry for all the trouble I've caused," Sweetie Belle said, her eyes slightly welling up.

Rarity pulled her sister in for another embrace. "It's okay, Sweetie," she said. "You didn't know. Just promise me that you'll come to me when you don't understand something. I'll answer any question you have, no matter how busy I may be!"

"Really?" Sweetie Belle asked, in disbelief.

Rarity chuckled nervously. "Well, I'll try. If it can't be helped, ask another mare or stallion you trust, like Applejack." Applejack responded by pulling her sister in for a hug as well.

"Pfft," Scootaloo blew a raspberry. "That's cute and all, but the Cutie Mark Crusaders Architects are to tough for that mushy stuff!"

"Hah, come her squirt!" Rainbow Dash laughed, pulling Scootaloo under her wing. The flightless filly blushed in embarrassment, but smiled as she snuggled into the cyan mare's wing.

"This'll be fun!" Apple Bloomshouted in glee, her front hooves kicking rapidly.

"Enjoy it while it lasts, 'cause after this, yer all grounded for this dangerous stunt ya pulled here." Applejack smirked.

"Oh, alright, Ah guess we deserve it," Apple Bloom admitted, her friends nodding in agreement.

"Let's get building, everypony!" declared Applejack, and the mares and fillies tackled the obstacles before them.

---

Dear Princess Celestia,

Today we learned that it's not always okay to take risks. Taking things to far can cost a lot, including losing something you love, like friendship. We also learned that it's okay to ask for help when you don't understand something, or don't know how else to do it. Family and friends are important, and will always understand you, no matter what your situation may be! We can't wait to spread this message to all of our friends. Keep your eye on the paper for the Cutie Mark Crusaders Motivational Speakers!

Your youngestof loyal subjects,

Apple Bloom, Scootaloo, and Sweetie Belle

a.k.a. The future Cutie Mark Crusaders Presidents of Equestria!

Princess Celestia chuckled as she sipped her tea.

"What are you reading, sister?" Princess Luna asked, intrigued. "A letter from thy subject, Twilight Sparkle and friends?"

"Indeed, it is." Celestia said rolling up the letter with a spark of magic from her horn. "Care to join me for some tea before raising the moon?"

"No, thank you, sister. I'd best be off to take care of some other matters. Good night." Luna said, nuzzling her sister's head, and then trotting off.

As Celestia turned to organize the papers on her desk, she accidently knocked over her tea, knocking it off the desk. "Oh - !"

CRASH! The small cup fell to the floor, managing to smash into a few small pieces.

Luna poked her head back into the room. "'Tia, do you just…"

Celestia blushed. "Well, what would a royal princess be without her flaws?" She laughed, her sister joining in. "Perhaps I'll assist you in raising the moon tonight?"

"That would be nice, sister," Luna said, warmly smiling toward her sister, and the two went off to bring an end to such and eventful day.