We make our way into the forest, keeping our eyes and ears open to try and find the crusaders. 'I really hope they're okay, or Applejack's gonna have my flank.' I thought. Don't worry, I'm not just trying to look out for myself. I'm not that much of a flankhole.
"Do you see any sign them?" Dash askes me.
"Not yet." I reply. I look up towards the sky. "Man, I wish I brought my notes."
"Would you stop worrying about your stupid notes?! The crusaders could be in the belly of a monster right now because of you!" Dash yells.
"Alright, alright." I say, flinching slightly. I get an idea. "You know the crusaders pretty well, Dash. Do you have any idea where they might've gone?"
Dash puts a hoof to her chin and starts thinking about where they might've gone. Her face lights up. "I've got an idea!"
"What is it?"
"I have a friend who lives here in the forest. Maybe she's seen the crusaders."
"A friend? Out here in the forest?"
"Yeah. She's a zebra named Zecora."
"A zebra? You sure do have some strange friends, Dash."
"I know. Now come on! Let's get going!" she takes off deeper into the forest.
"Right behind you!" I begin to follow her. Hopefully this "Zecora" will know where the crusaders have gone.
We arrive outside of this creepy looking hut with a mask just above the front door and some bottles hanging off of the branches of the tree the hut is made from. Rainbow Dash wakes up to the door and knocks on it. The door opens to reveal a zebra wearing some huge earings and bands around her front left leg and neck.
"Why, Rainbow Dash, I am glad to see you." the zebra says. She looks over and notices me. "Who is your never friend with a coat of blue?"
"Hey, Zecora. This is Blue Breeze." Dash says, pointing to me.
"Hello." I say, waving at the zebra.
"Zecora, Blue was watching the cutie mark crusaders and they snuck off. We think they ran off inside the forest. Have you seen them around?" Dash asks worriedy.
"I cannot say I have seen Scootaloo, Sweetie Belle, or Apple Bloom. But I will keep on the look out so they don't meet their doom." she says. What's with the rhyming.
"Thanks, Zecora. Come on, Blue!" Dash says. She takes for the forest again. Quit rushing me, woman!
"Alright." I say to Dash. "It was nice meeting you, Zecora." I say to her.
"It was also nice metting you, my pegasus friend. I do hope they we may meet again."
I give her a nod and I follow after Dash.
We walk around the forest for a little while longer, getting more and more worried as time goes by.
"This place sure is creepy." Dash says.
"Creepy? Haven't you bee in here before?" I ask, raising an eyebrow.
"Yeah, but that doesn't shake the feeling that a monster could just come out and attack us at any moment."
"Don't worry, Dash. I can handle any monsters that come our way." I say reassuringly.
"Are you sure? What about your injuries?"
"Heh, it'll take more than a few scratches and a bruise to slow me down."
She rolls her eyes at me. "Yeah, yeah. Just keep on the look out for the crusaders."
I nod. I look around to find any sign of the girls. I then see something on the ground: hoof prints! "Hey, Dash. Look! Hoof prints!" I yell at her, pointing towards the prints.
"Sweet!" she says.
We begin following the prints. After about a good five minutes, we hear a shout come from some trees.
"CUTIE MARK CRUSADER MONSTER ESCAPERS!" we hear some fillies shout.
"That must be the girls!" I shout. Did they say "monster escapers"? A loud roar comes from the trees. I facehoof. "What now?"
The girls jump out of the trees and notice us. "RAINBOW DASH! BLUE BREEZE! HELP!"
"With what?!" Dash asks.
"THAT!" they points the trees. A manticore jumps out and lets out a loud roar. Nothing can ever be easy, can it?
I step infront of the four of them. "Everypony, stay behind me!" I ordered.
"But, Blue, your injuries!" Dash shouts.
I turn my head back, giving her a serious look. "Stay behind me." I say again, seriousness in my voice. She nods in compliance.
I take a step forward and glare at the beast. 'No one tries to hurt my friends. You're going down.'
"So, does kitty wanna play?" I question. I spread my wings and start building up energy in them.
"What is that?" all the crusaders whisper in amazement.
"Blue..." Dash says, her mouth agape.
The manticore gets ready to pounce at me, standing on its back legs and holding up its claws. Big mistake.
I flap my wings and shoot two Wing Waves directly at the manticore. They hit their mark, cutting the manticore and causing it to bleed. While it stumbles back in pain, I ram head first into its stomach, sending it backwards.
The manticore tries to get up and looks over at me. "Want some more?" I ask it. I snort angrily at it. Its eyes widen in fear. Wounded and defeated, the manticore runs back into the forest.
I smile to myself, feeling victorious. I turn around and look at the girls, all of them with shocked faces. "Um..." I say nervously. I hope I didn't scare them.
The Cutie Mark Crusaders all start smiling at me. Wasn't expecting that.
"THAT WAS SO COOL!" they all shout.
"What?" I ask, confused.
"The way you took out that manticore was totally awesome!" Scootaloo says.
"Ah've never seen a pony do somethin' like that!" Apple Bloom says.
"Yeah, you're like some kind of super hero!" Sweetie Belle says.
I smile at them. "Nah, I'm just your average weather pony." I say modestly.
"So cool." they all say.
Looks like I've got myself some fans.