Sweetie Belle walked into school the next day feeling proud. She came up to Apple Bloom and Scootaloo. “Hey, you guys! Guess who’s just like you now!”

“What do you mean?” asked Scootaloo.

“I have two big surprises for you. Number one is that I found out my magical talent.” Her horn glowing green she played a tune brimming with anticipation. “I was driving Rarity crazy yesterday with it.”

Apple Bloom laughed. “Now that’s funny. So what’s the second thing?”

“I got my cutie mark just like you two!” With that she turned to the side, showing off her mark.

“Alright, Sweetie Belle!" She hugged her friend. "So what did you do?”

“I went to the hospital with Rarity to perk up the children there. It was an amazing experience. To be perfectly honest, I started feeling a bit jealous of you two because you both had your marks, but when I saw how bad some of them had it I realized how petty I was being. So I sang them all a song. Watching Rarity made me want to be as big hearted and charitable as she was. I wanted to inspire all of them, and that’s when my magic awakened again.

“When we left the hospital that’s when Rarity noticed I had my cutie mark.”

The three of them looked between each other uncertainly. “So… I guess this means that the Cutie Mark Crusaders… are over?” said Apple Bloom tentatively.

“I… I guess so,” said Scootaloo.

“Yeah… we all have our cutie marks now,” said Sweetie Belle.

“Well, we’re all still friends right?” asked Apple Bloom. “That hasn’t changed. I just didn’t think the crusade would be over so soon.”

Though none of them could exactly express it properly, they were all feeling a bit of a void inside them. Going on wacky adventures for cutie marks was what they had done for so long. Without that what exactly were they going to do now?

“I think we should ask Twilight for advice after school,” said Sweetie Belle. “Today’s our weekly Twilight Time meeting anyway.”

“Yeah, you’re right. Maybe she can tell us what to do,” responded Scootaloo.

When they arrived at Twilight's she was in the middle of a book, but she closed it when she saw they were all there.

“Hello, girls, “ said Twilight. “How are all of you?” Each of them gave an almost unheard mumble of being alright. “What seems to be the trouble? You’re not mad at me for missing the party, are you? I heard you got your cutie mark, Apple Bloom.”

“Not just me,” Apple Bloom responded. Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle turned to the side to show off their own cutie marks.

“Wow! All three of you got them this week?” Twilight looked impressed. “That’s really remarkable. So why do all of you look so down?”

“Well… we’re not sure what ta do now. Almost all of our days tagether were about finding a cutie mark. Now that all of us have them we’re not sure what ta do from here.”

“Well, I think we’ll put off practice for a little bit. I’d like to hear all of your stories about how you got your marks.”

Twilight listened, enraptured, as each of them told their own story. When they were done Twilight had a big smile on her face. “Oh, girls. Sometimes you can be so silly. I don’t see why things have to be over just because the three of you have your cutie marks. Isn’t the stated mission of the Cutie Mark Crusaders to help ponies get cutie marks? You think you’re the only three in town who don’t have one? And Scootaloo, didn’t you say that tomorrow you’re supposed to be going to visit the filly you helped? Did she have a cutie mark?”

Twilight could see the excitement beginning to build inside of them again. “No, she didn’t,” responded Scootaloo.

“Hey, yeah,” said Apple Bloom. “The crusade doesn’t have ta be over yet.”

“Not as long as there are poor filly’s and colts struggling to find their place in the world.”

Twilight hugged the three of them. “The three of you one will one day be the next in line of the teachings of friendship.”

“You think so?” asked Scootaloo excitedly.

“I know so. Think about what your cutie marks are all about. They all contain an essence of friendship. Apple Bloom, yours is about leadership and protection. Scootaloo, yours is about self-sacrifice for others. And Sweetie Belle, yours is about inspiring hope. Put those three together, and you have a group that will be able to handle anything. I’m very proud of you girls.”

The three of them shined with pride as they went through their lessons.

The next day Peach Mango was walking around the park, waiting for her other big sister. She brightened up when she saw Scootaloo, who was accompanied by two other fillies. “Hey, Scootaloo!” she cried out, running up to the small group.

“Hey there, Peach. So I was wondering if you’d be interested in having some more sisters.”

“Cool!” she responded joyously.

“This is Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle, my best friends.”

“I’m Peach Mango,” she said to the two of them.

“Nice to meet you,” said Sweetie Belle.

“Same here,” said Apple Bloom.

“So, we noticed that you don’t have a cutie mark. Are you ready to work to get one?”

“Sure!”

“Then let’s go have some fun!” said Scootaloo.

Peach hopped onto the scooter behind Scootaloo and the four of them took off, the crusade and the hunt beginning once again.