Scootaloo paced outside Rainbow Dash’s office, her impatience making her antsy. Finally, finally, the door opened and Rainbow Dash trotted out. When she saw Scootaloo, she stopped.

“Hey, kid,” she greeted, stretching out her wings. “What do you need?”

The younger mare took a deep breath. “I’m leaving for Ponyville early.”

“What? You can’t do that! You’ll miss our practices!”

“Rainbow Dash, I’ve practiced these moves so much I could do them in my sleep. Say whatever you want. I’ve made up my mind to go. I’ve already packed my bags and have a pony waiting to help me bring them. I didn’t come here to ask for your permission, Rainbow Dash, I came to tell you I’m leaving.”

The cyan Pegasus watched her for a moment before smiling. “Scoots, you’re becoming more and more like me every day. Well, if that’s the case, then have a safe trip. We’ll see you when we get there, okay?”

“Thanks, Dash.” Scootaloo turned to leave, only to be stopped by the captain calling out to her.

“Hey, Scootaloo, if you don’t mind my asking, why are you going there, anyway? Does it have something to do with you staying later a few days ago?”

Scootaloo looked back over her shoulder. “Yes, as a matter of fact, it does. I’m going to see Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle. I told them to meet me at our old clubhouse, so I can see them, even if it’s just for a short while.”

Rainbow Dash looked extremely proud. “Like I said, you’re becoming more and more like me. When the time comes to pass down the Elements of Harmony, I might just pick you for Loyalty.”

Grinning, Scootaloo flew out of the Wonderbolts HQ and into the clear morning air, waving to her bag-carrier that she was ready to go. Ever since Scootaloo was a filly and Rainbow Dash found out she was an orphan, the cyan mare had as good as adopted her. She made sure Scootaloo always had food, water, and a roof over her head. When ponies asked Scootaloo if she had any family, she would always say “Rainbow Dash!” and leave it at that, giving no further information. Even now, Rainbow Dash’s approval meant the world to Scootaloo.

Scootaloo glanced at the slowly rising sun, and then at her bag-carrier, hoping she would make it to the clubhouse on time.

*   *   *

“What do you mean, I can’t go in the clubhouse today?” Bumblebee snarled, outraged.

Apple Bloom ran her hoof through her mane. “Look, Bumblebee, Ah don’t care what ya say, Ah’m yer mother, so what Ah tell ya to do, ya gotta do, y’hear? And Ah’m tellin’ ya that ya can’t go in the clubhouse today.”

“But all my friends go in the clubhouse. They like the clubhouse, and so do I, and we were going to go there today!” Bumblebee stamped her hoof. “So I will not listen to what my idiot mother has to say. Go buck yourself!”

A dangerous silence fell over Apple Bloom, the sort of silence that sent chills up and down her daughter’s spine. After a moment, the yellow mare took a step toward Bumblebee, her form resembling a lion stalking its prey. “What did you just say ta me, missy?”

Bumblebee whimpered, shrinking in size considerably. “I-I didn’t mean it, I was just—!”

“WHAT DID YOU SAY TO ME?!” Apple Bloom repeated, her nostrils flaring and her eyes blazing. “That’s it, Ah’ve had enough of yer nonsense! Soon as Ah get home, Ah’m callin’ up my dear ol’ friend Spike. That’s right, remember him? That big ol’ dragon that came ta Ponyville last spring to help with Winter Wrap Up? Well, Ah’ve heard he’s great with kids, so Ah think Ah’ll have him foalsit you while Ah’m on vacation, all right?”

Bumblebee trembled under her mother’s glare.

“Answer me!”

“Yes, Mom,” she whispered.

“Good. Now if you’ll excuse me, Ah have ta go ta the clubhouse ta meet some friends of mine. Behave yerself or next you’ll find yerself looked after by Diamond Tiara.” With a snort, Apple Bloom exited the farm, slamming the door behind her.

Once in the fresh air, Apple Bloom took a deep breath. “Wow. Ah’ve never felt so alive since Ah tried to be a Cutie Mark Crusader Manticore Hunter.” She winced at the memory. “Now, Ah hope Ah can find our clubhouse. It’s been a while since Ah’ve been there.”

Luckily, though, she didn’t need to find it on her own.

“Apple Bloom?” came an astonished call.

The farm pony whipped around, her eyes widening in surprise as she took in the white unicorn.

Her pink-and-purple mane was perfectly styled, curling and twisting to create an elegant, refined appearance. Her green eyes shone with a wiser, older gleam, and her stomach protruded, confirming the rumors Apple Bloom had heard.

“Sweetie Belle!” Apple Bloom crowed, leaping forward and bowling her over. Her arms wrapped around her old friend in a tight hug. “Ah’ve missed ya, Sweetie Belle!”

“Easy, easy,” Sweetie Belle pleaded. “I don’t want anything to happen to my foal.”

“Right. Of course. Ah know how it is.” She stood and brushed herself off, lending a hoof to Sweetie. “So when are ya due?”

Sweetie Belle blushed. “Three months to the day.”

“And who’s the lucky stallion?”

“You remember Featherweight, right? He took the pictures for our school newspaper? Well, he and I got married five years ago.”

“Aw, good fer you, Sweetie Belle!”

Sweetie Belle smiled. “Thanks. Hey, do you think we should start walking to the clubhouse?”

“Sure thing.”

Sweetie was silent a moment, looking Apple Bloom up and down. Then she spoke. “AB, you look so different now. You look more…I don’t know, weathered, if that makes since. Like you’ve been working too hard.”

“My husband, Pound Cake, said the same thing. Said Ah should take a vacation or somethin’.” She ran a hoof through her messy mane. “Must be the kids. They drive me crazy. Like just now, Ah threatened my oldest, Bumblebee, that Ah would send her to stay with Diamond Tiara.” She chuckled. “Celestia, Ah love Bumblebee.”

The unicorn tilted her head. “But…you just said she drives you crazy.”

“Yeah. And?”

“Well…how can you love her and still say she drives you crazy?”

Apple Bloom looked at her like she had two heads. Then she laughed. “Sorry, Sweetie, Ah sort of forgot ya don’t have foals for a second. The thing is, sometimes foals drive ya crazy. Sometimes ya just wanna put ‘em in a box and ship ‘em to the moon. But ya still love ‘em, even then. Because they’re yer foals, and ya know you’d be nothin’ without ‘em. Does that make sense?”

“I…I guess.”

They fell silent for a bit, just staring at the apple trees around them. Finally, Apple Bloom said, “Look, Sweetie Belle, Ah’m mighty sorry.”

“For what?”

“For breakin’ my promise. Ah promised Ah’d go to the clubhouse once a year ta meet ya’ll there, and Ah didn’t. Which is strange, considerin’ the clubhouse is on my property. But Ah’m really sorry.”

Sweetie Belle smiled. “That’s sweet, Apple Bloom, but it’s really fine. The first year we said we’d meet up you were in the hospital, pregnant with Bumblebee, remember? And the second year you had an art show to go to. The third year, you must’ve forgotten, and the years after that.”

“But Ah—”

“Apple Bloom, don’t worry about it. Look, we’re here.”

The two ponies stopped in front of the clubhouse, each filled with a mixture of nostalgia and guilt.

Sweetie Belle said, “Looks like you patched it up some more. So your cutie mark doesn’t just include painting?”

“Nah, Ah’m also good at buildin’ stuff.” She stared at her hooves modestly. “Well, decent at buildin’ stuff. Hey, d’ya think Scootaloo’s already here?”

“I do!” came a loud and confident response.

The two of them turned to see Scootaloo landing calmly, her Wonderbolts outfit, sans the goggles, fitting tightly on her. Her purplish mane was actually brushed, save a few tufts sticking out here and there from the flight, and her tail was shorter and neater. Her wings rustled, the feathers splayed out and catching the sunlight, and she gave a fierce grin. “Hey, guys. I’m not too late, am I?” Whatever she was going to say next was interrupted by her two oldest friends bounding forward and wrapping her in a tight hug. Though when she was a filly she probably would’ve pulled away in disgust, she returned the favor, if a little hesitantly.

Sweetie Belle pulled away, amusement glinting in her eyes. “Wow. What have the Wonderbolts done to you? I never thought I’d see the day you actually returned our hugs.”

“Actually,” Scootaloo said, a dreamy look in her eyes, “it’s not really the Wonderbolts that changed me. It was really Rumble and my daughter, Storm. But, yeah, I agree with you, I’m definitely different from when I was a filly. So, how have all of you been?”

Apple Bloom rolled her eyes. “Exhausted. Worked to the limit.”

“I’ve been pretty good. I’m expecting my first foal,” Sweetie said shyly, as if unsure how to act around the new version of Scootaloo.

“I heard. Congratulations!” Scootaloo coughed. “Also, I just wanted to say, I saw your interview, and…well, I’m sorry. I’m sorry I broke my promise, and that I never wrote, or went to your concerts, or anything. I was a bad friend.”

“It’s fine!” Sweetie insisted. “And you’re not a bad friend. Just because you make one mistake doesn’t mean you’re a bad friend!”

“But—!”

“No buts. Now, how about we go into the clubhouse and talk about old times like a bunch of old-timers?”

This made all three of them giggle.

“You’re right,” Scootaloo said, “but I’m still sorry. I—wait a minute, we’re not that old, are we?”

Apple Bloom covered her mouth with her hooves to stifle her giggles. “Well, we’re around the same age, and I have a daughter who’s almost in her junior year in high school, so yeah, we’re kinda old.”

“Yeah,” Scootaloo snorted, “around the same age. I’m younger than both of you. I’m not an old-timer yet, Granny.”

Apple Bloom gave Scootaloo a hard shove, sending Scootaloo flapping frantically to get inside before she hit her again. Sweetie Belle could hardly contain her laughter.

“I was wrong,” she giggled, “you haven’t changed that much.”

Once inside, the three sat in a circle—well, more of a triangle. For a few minutes they were content to just watch each other, taking in every single detail. Finally, though, Scootaloo spoke.

“Do you remember the talent show? How I insisted on singing, Apple Bloom, you did the dancing, and Sweetie Belle, you made the costumes and scenery?” She laughed, bowing her head. “Sweet Celestia, that was fun. If we’d only switched the jobs around, maybe we’d have gotten our cutie marks earlier.”

Sweetie Belle nodded. “At the time, I couldn’t understand why everypony was laughing at us. I thought we’d been great.”

“Aw, that was embarrassin’,” Apple Bloom grunted, blushing.

“And then there was that time we wrote in the school newspaper,” Sweetie Belle added. “That was how I met Featherweight. Still, that was horrible.”

“And what about when Ah stole the Heart’s Desire from Zecora and got the Cutie Pox?” Apple Bloom said. “That was fun. Well, not fun, but really fun, y’know?” The other ponies just stared at her. “Never mind.”

Scootaloo gave a sad smile. “Those were some good times. Sometimes I wish we could just go back to when we first met and relive our lives.”

“Ah know what ya mean,” Apple Bloom murmured.

Sweetie Belle nodded. “That’s part of what I wrote about in one of my songs, Three Little Dreamers. That’s the song I wrote about us, and our time as Cutie Mark Crusaders.”

Apple Bloom gave an excited yelp and leapt to her hooves. “Sing it for us! Sing it for us!” she begged.

“I don’t know,” Sweetie said nervously. “It’s not all that good…”

Scootaloo snorted. “Seriously, Sweetie Belle? I’ve heard it before, and it’s not just good, it’s amazing. I’d love it if you’d sing it for us.”

Sweetie Belle looked between the two of them before sighing and giving in. “Fine. But first…do you think we should do this again sometime?”

“Of course! Ah for one think we should do this once a year, like we were gonna.” The earth pony grinned.

“Sounds like a plan to me,” Scootaloo said. “And I’ll try to get tickets to your art shows, Apple Bloom, and your concerts, Sweetie Belle.”

“Oh yeah, Sweetie Belle, would ya mind if Ah tagged along with ya to your next concert? Pound Cake promised me Ah could take a vacation anywhere Ah wanted to, and right now, Ah think seein’ one of my best friends in a concert sounds mighty good.”

“Sure,” Sweetie Belle said. “Scootaloo, I’ll ask Twilight if she can teach me a cloud-walking spell so I can see you and the rest of the Wonderbolts perform. And I’ll get both of you free tickets to some of my concerts.”

“As far as I’m concerned, the two of you are on the VIP list for Wonderbolts shows, and each of you have four tickets to our next show. Bring your husband, your kids, your friends, or whoever the hay you want.”

“Y’all can come in my art shows for free. Just tell whoever’s standin’ at the door who ya are, and Ah’ll make sure ya can get in.”

Sweetie Belle looked at her two oldest friends and felt tears welling up in her eyes. “Even after all this time,” she said, “we’re still the same. Yes, some of us have changed more than others, but inside, we’re the same.” She cleared her throat. “So. My song.”

Her two friends settled back on their haunches, waiting expectantly with tears in their eyes. And then Sweetie Belle began to sing.

“We aimed for the stars

And we discovered who we are

We shared priceless moments that will last forever more

We lived each day together nights sometimes dusk until dawn

We watched each other grow

In the heat of the sun, in the chill of the snow

We laughed, played, and yearned to reach our goals

We swore that we would ever since we were foals

But now that it’s done

And seeing how far we’ve come

My eyes fill with tears

Remembering the past few years

I’m not saying I regret it I’d never say that

But nostalgia can feel like a knife in your back

Part of me wants time to reverse

For the days to count down back to the first

Nothing lasts forever this I know

Everything changes as time flows

But that shouldn’t matter

I’ll always be a Cutie Mark Crusader.

Time goes by

Yesterday’s gone

Prepare for tomorrow

A future song

I’ll never forget

I’ll always remember

Who we used to be and who we still are

Look here are three little dreamers

Ready to impress everyone

Listen up ‘cause it’s not over

Our time has just begun.”

(from The Cutie Mark Crusader Conclusion by ElectroKaplosion)

*   *   *

The three of them had decided to stay in the clubhouse for the night. Apple Bloom returned to the farm to get sleeping bags, and then they just sat, talking, laughing, singing, and remembering.

Only when the moon was high in the sky did they finally decide to get some sleep. Scootaloo was the last awake, watching the others.

It’s amazing, she thought, how much friends mean. After all these years, these fifteen years we didn’t see each other, the moment we’re together again, it’s like no time passed at all. Apple Bloom is still impatient, brave, and the confident leader of our little group. Sweetie Belle is still trusting, cheerful, and an amazing singer. I’m still cocky and adventurous. It’s like nothing changed about us. And yet here I am, being all sentimental and sappy. But Sweetie Belle was right. Everything she said in that song was so right. We’re still the Cutie Mark Crusaders, even if we have our cutie marks. It’s not over yet. Our time has just begun.