For the past few weeks, I've been seeing more and more of the Cutie Mark Crusaders as of lately. Nearly everywhere I go, I would see the three of them doing activities which range from giving haircuts to making candy. One day, Andrew was heading over to Sweet Apple Acres to--once again--try to confess his feelings for Applejack (and I decided to tag along just so I can see him fail again).

As we were walking towards the entrance, Andrew seemed very confident in himself. "This is it, Jeffrie, this'll be the day I finally tell her."

"You really sure about?"

"Of course man, Big Mac's too busy setting up a stage over at the school for some event, which means Applejack will be working by herself, and it'll give me the perfect opportunity to be with her."

By the time we were finally nearing the orchard, we saw Applejack just finishing bucking an apple tree as she turned and greeted us. "Howdy fellas, what brings y'all around?"

Andrew then said, "Well, I'm not really doing anything at the moment, so I was wondering if I could maybe help you around?"

"Why thank ya Andrew, that's mighty kind of ya."

While Andrew was giving himself a victory pat on the back, he turned to me with a prideful grin and said, "OK Jeffrie, why don't you go play with Apple Bloom while I help Applejack?"

"And miss seeing you bomb big time?"

"Jeffrie, I'm very confident that I'll tell her. However, I can't do it with you pressuring me to failure."

"Fine." I then asked Applejack, "Is Apple Bloom around?"

"Oh she and her friends are probably playin' near their new clubhouse."

"OK, and where might that be?"

"Just keep headin' deep inta the orchard," Applejack instructed. "You'll know it when ya see it."

Without wasting anymore time, I walked deeper and deeper into the orchard until I finally came across a simple looking treehouse that had steps leading up to the top. But I was quickly drawned to whatever the Hell the Cutie Mark Crusaders were just doing; Scootaloo was playing a piano, Apple Bloom was giving herself dance lessons, and Sweetie Belle was making costumes and painting cardboard background designs at the same time.

Upon noticing me, Sweetie was the first to say, "Hi Jeffrie! What do you think of the costumes I've made?" she showed me a couple of costumes that looked as if one had too many sleeves or were either too long or too short.

"They look fantastic," I spared her feelings.

"And what about the background sets? I've painted them myself." She then showed off the cardboards that pretty much looked like a bunch of blobs of spattered paint.

"It feels like I'm in a different town."

Scootaloo then came next. "Hey Jeffrie, check out this rocking song I've just written." Well the song she was playing did sound "rocking", what with her pounding random keys on the piano and shouting out incoherent lyrics. "It's only a work in progess, but what do ya think?"

"Well, it definitely sounded catchy."

And then there was only Apple Bloom. "But ya know what would make this song even cooler? These awesome moves!" she then decided to perform some dance moves--which looked more like choreographed kung-fu--until she eventually tripped on her own hooves. "So, was that some awesome dancin' or what?"

"Oh yeah, you were really busting some moves there." I then decided to get straight to the point. "Any reason why you're all doing this?"

"Didn't you hear?" said Scootaloo. "There's going to be a talent show tonight!"

"And we're gonna enter it," added Sweetie Belle.

"Really, and what will you three be performing?" I asked.

Scootaloo then said, "We're gonna perform an awesome rock ballad!"
"And who knows?" said Sweetie. "We might also finally get our Cutie Marks."

"Well I for one can't wait to see you three steal the show tonight," I said in hopes of raising their spirits.

"You are gonna come see us, right?" Apple Bloom.

Knowing that these three look up to me a lot, I figured that it was only best that I'd be there for when they perform. "Of course I will, I wouldn't miss it for anything. In fact, I'm gonna go tell the guys about this right now." With that said, I walked out of there while also dragging Andrew away from his failed attempt.

When it was finally night time, me and the guys had just arrived just as everybody was taking their seats. "Why are we doing this?" Jonathan complained.

I then told him, "Because the girls have been working very hard on this, and they would appreciate us being there to support them."

"I can't believe you dragged me away from Applejack for this," Andrew mumbled his complaint.

"Oh shut it, Andrew," I told him. "You weren't even close to telling her, anyway."

"I was too."

"Really, did one of the things you told her was 'I love you'?"

"No."

"Then you pretty much weren't that close."

By the time we were finally looking for a spot to sit on, we came to the front of the stage and found a chair with a piece of paper that reads: RESERVED FOR JEFFRIE. I couldn't help but find this little gesture to be adorable. "Aww, they even saved a seat for me."

Jonathan was just like, "Well where's our reserved seats?!"

I just told them, "Hello, you're my plus two's, which means you can take these empty seats next to me."

After getting that settled with, we saw Cheerilee walk up the stage and announced, "Hello everypony, and welcome to tonight's talent show. Our first contestants will be Snips and Snails, performing a magic act!" we then watched as Snips and Snails pretty screwed up their own disappearing act. Why do I get the feeling they were getting magic lessons from Trixie? After that was over, Cheerilee announced the next event. "Now for our next act, we have Sunny Daze and Peachy Pie reciting their favorite poem...on roller skates!" we then watched two foals--that we've never met--ride on roller blades while also reciting poetry. We figured we might as well clap for them since that looked like it took them a lot of practice. Cheerilee then said, "And now put your hooves together for an interpretive dance performed by Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon!" for nearly an hour, we were having to watch the two shits do this weird dance routine that was practically putting everyone to sleep.

"God, this is taking forever." Andrew groaned.

"Jesus Christ, just end already!" Jonathan growled in a whisper.

An idea then popper into my head as I decided to take matters into my own hands. After pulling out my cellphone, I opened up a soundtrack app, and making sure that the volume was super loud, I played a recording of Adam Sandler shouting, "T-T-T-TODAY JUNIOR!"

This disturbance ended up causing the two brats to lose balance and fall flat on their faces. While me and the guys were trying our best to keep our laughter from coming out of our mouths, Cheerilee made her last announcement. "And now for our last performance, we have the Cutie Mark Crusaders singing a song!"

Everything went dark for awhile, and then the lights went back on to reveal the Cutie Mark Crusaders dressed up like Kiss wannabes. As they were singing and dancing, I noticed that Sweetie had to go in between performing and setting up the stage effects at the same time. They were all doing fine until the whole stage practically came down upon them. The whole crowd was starting to laugh at them (because it's not as if a society of peaceful ponies who live by the values of friendship are suppose to go easy on kids during talent shows). Seeing that the three of them looked as if they were about to cry out of humiliation, I quickly cheered and clapped loud enough for them to hear. "Woo, yeah! Rock on!"

The guys started to cheer with me as well, as Jonathan shouted, "Bravo, magnifico!"

And Andrew just shouted the first thing that popped in his head. "AC/DC and Aerosmith are toned deaf pussies compared to you three!"

Eventually the whole crowd started to join in as well, and I was able to see smiles upon the girls' faces.

Cheerilee then started to announce the awards, "Our first award goes to...Snips and Snails for best magic act. The next award goes to...Sunny Daze and Peachy Pie for best dramatic performance. And finally, the last award goes to...the Cutie Mark Crusaders for best comedy act!"

After receiving their medals, me and the guys followed, Applejack, Rarity, and Rainbow Dash to talk with the girls backstage. "Apple Bloom, you and yer friends pulled off quite a performance." Applejack praised them.

Rainbow Dash then added, "Yeah, those costumes and dance moves were so awesome!"

And Rarity said, "Indeed girls, we are all proud of you three."

"Thanks y'all," said Apple Bloom before turning to me. "And thanks fer comin' Jeffrie."

"Yeah, we wouldn't be so thrilled if you hadn't cheered for us." Said Scootaloo.

I then went down to knee level and said, "Hey, I said I wouldn't have missed it for anything, and I'm very glad to have seen you three perform out there." Next thing you know, the three of them each wrapped their hooves around my neck while everyone just watched--and I coulda sworn that I heard Rarity go, "Aww."

After hugging them back, Sweetie then said, "Ooh, let's see if we got our Cutie Marks!" after taking off their costumes, they were disappointed to find their flanks still blank.

I then told them, "Don't worry girls, you'll get them one day."

Rarity then said, "Come along Sweetie, it's time for bed."

When Rarity and Rainbow Dash each took Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo home, Applejack said to Andrew, "That was very sweet the way you were cheerin' fer my little sister back there."

Andrew blushed a little as he said, "Well I couldn't let the poor thing feel discouraged, can I?"

"Well I really appreciate it all the same."

As she and Apple Bloom were about to go home, Andrew blurted, "Applejack...will you...will you like me to...help you whenever Big Mac can't?"

While me and Jonathan were facepalming ourselves, Applejack said, "Of course you can, I always like havin' you help me around."

By the time they were finally gone, me and Jonathan walked up to Andrew and shouted, "FAIL!"