//------------------------------// // The First Crusade // Story: A Cold Life // by gracial //------------------------------// “So what do you girls think we should do first?” Snowi asked the other crusaders. Applebloom was the first to answer, “Well, Ah think since we've been at this all day that we've done everything we can think of at the moment. So why don't we go back to some of the old things to see if you can do 'em?” “Yeah, I'd be interested in seeing what you can do. Being a grown mare and all it might actually be a bit easier for you.” Scootaloo said in agreement, “Why don't you try baking?” Snowi thought for a moment, then smiled, “That's a good idea, I've never actually tried cooking any of my own food!” “Alright let's do it!” Sweetie Belle shouted, and the four crusaders ran out the door, Snowi bumping her head on the way out. “We gotta get get that raised” she said as they were running towards Sugarcube Corner. “Ah'll remember to tell mah sister” Applebloom replied. “Sorry girls, but after what happened last time I don't think you will get your cutie marks in baking” Mr. Cake said, recalling the event that transpired last time. “But Mr. Cake,” Sweetie Belle said with the dreaded pouty face, “we don't need to use it, Snowi does.” Mr. Cake raised an eyebrow, “Now who might this Snowi be?” Suddenly, the bell rang and Mr. Cake looked up to see a mare come in, out of breath. “Sorry, I (huff) couldn't k-keep up. You guys (huff) are way too fast!” She took a moment to catch her breath, and Scootaloo pointed at her, “Thats Snowi, she's the newest crusader!” Before he could question it, Snowi turned to show her blank flank to Mr. Cake. “Oh my, well then you can ju-” “(gasp) Oh my gosh, new pony!” Snowi looked up to meet the eyes of a very pink pony. “Um, hello” was all Snowi could say before she was blasted by the pink pony's banter. “Hiya my name's Pinkie Pie, nice to meet ya. Oh my gosh, you don't have a cutie mark! You should go see the Cutie Mark Crusaders! Oh no, you already met them, wait how did they meet you before me?! I usually meet everypony first! Oh wait, there was that time with Twilight. And I guess the Apples were here before me so they had to greet ME! Oh I forget if they threw me a part or not, but I don't think they did. Hey that reminds me, I have to throw a party for you. It'll be a 'Welcome to Ponyville, I'm sorry I didn't greet you first' party! Hey did I already mention my name's Pinkie Pie? I think I did I just-” “Pinkie!” Mr. Cake yelled, “I think the mare has had enough, and you're going to wake the kids if you keep shouting like that.” Pinkie looked at Mr. Cake apologetically, “Sorry Mr. Cake.” She backed away from Snowi to give her her space. “Anyways,” she continued, “I need to get to planning the party, were are you staying?” “At the library with Twilight.” “Twilight greeted you before ME?! Wow, THAT'S backwards! Anyways, seeya later.” Pinkie walked out the door and Snowi looked at Mr. Cake with a confused expression, “What's with her?” Mr. Cake shrugged, “She's just being Pinkie. Now, as we were saying before that happened, you can go ahead and use the kitchen. Just don't mess it up, please. We really don't have the money to repair anything right now. And if you do get your cutie mark in baking, we could always use an extra hand around here.” Snowi smiled and thanked him. The four crusaders walked into the kitchen, put on some aprons and chef hats, and got to work. The three fillies tried to help Snowi by telling her what things they had tried before that ended up cause an explosion of some sort, but she didn't do too well regardless. She tried to bake a cake and ended up with sludge. She tried to make cookies and got a new set of throwing stars. She tried to make ice cream and got a cake that tasted terrible. After her many failures, Snowi and the other crusaders confirmed that she was not cut out for baking. They put away the supplied, apologized to Mr. Cake, and headed back to the clubhouse. By the time they got back the sun was beginning to set. “Well crusaders, it looks like Snowi's havin the same troubles as us...” Applebloom said as she drooped her head onto the table. “Hey, at least she got some throwing stars out of it, we got nothin'!” Scootaloo complained. “Well at least it was kinda fun, I mean it was just hilarious when Scootaloo tried that ice...cake...whatever it was, and started talking about how she had fingers!” “I don't know what you put in that thing Snowi, but let's NOT do that again!” Scootaloo remarked, still remembering the event. “Yeah,” Snowi said as she plopped down on a nearby beanbag, “but Sweetie's right, that was pretty fun” “Yeah” “Uh-huh” the other two crusaders replied. For the rest of their time there (about ten minutes) Snowi told the crusaders about her past and herself. They said that they felt awful for her, but that they'd stick by her regardless of her past. When they saw that it was getting dark they said goodbye and headed home. On the way back, Snowi looked to see the sun setting. Since she wasn't a filly like her comrades, she didn't have to worry about a curfew. She stopped in the park she had been to earlier to admire the sun disappearing beneath the horizon and the moon rising along with the stars appearing in the sky. She always preferred the night over the day. It was a time of peace, while the day was a time of work. She relaxed for an hour before continuing to the library. When she arrived at the library, she was greeted by a blast of confetti and a loud “Surprise!”. She looked around to see a bunch of ponies with Pinkie directly in front of her. “What the hay is going on?!” Pinkie giggled at the surprised ponies face, “It's a surprise party silly! Don't you remember me telling you I was going to throw you a 'Welcome to Ponyville, I'm sorry I didn't greet you first!' party?!” Snowi blinked twice in confusion, “Yeeeeah,” suddenly remembering the eccentric pony's rant from earlier. “So, I have still have to introduce you to all the other ponies!” Snowi gulped when the pink pony started pointing out ponies and their names, afraid of how long this was going to take. Luckily, Twilight stepped in after only a few ponies. “Pinkie, I don't think she'll be able to remember all those pony's names. Maybe we should introduce her to just a few first?” Pinkie turned to face her, “That's a great idea Twilight! Who did you have in mind? Oh how about Lyra and Bon-Bon and-” “Pinkie!” “Yes?” “I meant our closest friends.” “Okie Dokie Lokie!” Twilight turned to face four ponies that Snowi hadn't noticed earlier. “Oh, hi Applejack, good to see you again!” she said when she noticed the orange mare from earlier. “Howdy sugarcube.” “Super, you already know Applejack!” Pinkie said, “anyways, to the left of her is Fluttershy..." “H-hello.” “...to the right of her is Rainbow Dash....” “Good to meet ya.” “...and to the right of HER is Rarity.” “Hello darling.” “And now you know all my super-duper, fantastic, best friends forever!” Twilight smiled, “Yes now you know ALL of the elements of harmony.” Snowi smiled, “It's nice to meet you all.” Pinkie suddenly pulled her into an embrace, “Oh if you wanna know everyone then I can go ahead and-” “Pinkie!” the ponies shouted simultaneously. “Whoopsies...” Snowi had a good time for the rest of the party. She soon found out, like the rest of the town already knew, that Pinkie was the best partying pony in Equestria. She also got to know the rest of the elements really well. She even dared to challenge Rainbow Dash to a game of Twister, which she lost. By the end of it, she was so tired that she fell asleep on the couch. Twilight put a blanket over her, then went to bed. Spike had fallen asleep halfway through the party, so she just jumped in. Right as she was about to fall into a deep slumber, she heard a knock on the door. “Party's over, go home!” she shouted. Instead of ceasing, it got if louder and faster. “Ugh, what could somepony want at this time of the night?” She trotted to the door, annoyed by the knocking. “What do you- Rainbow Dash?” Before her stood her rainbow maned friend. “Rainbow Dash what is it? And...oh my Celestia what happened to you?!” The cyan pegasus had a black eye and several cuts and bruises. There was even a huge gash on her leg. “Ohhh, Twi...light.” she said before collapsing onto the ground. “Rainbow Dash!” she shouted. Twilight picked up her friend and brought her inside, closing the door behind her. “What happened?” Snowi had woken up due to the noise. “I wish I knew...” Twilight said grimly.