//------------------------------//
// Meeting the Crusaders 
// Story: A New Knight Rises 
// by Gleaming 
//------------------------------//


Chapter Three: Meeting the Crusaders


The sun starts to set in the horizon of Ponyville, where Bruce Wayne went off into the Everfree Forest. The Cutie Mark Crusaders just so happen to be wandering around the Everfree Forest as well, but they were in search of a rare gem that would guarantee their cutie marks will appear if they wish hard enough for them to appear. The stars start to form another huge bat signal in the sky, as the sun starts to go down completely with the addition of Luna's moon rising up in the sky.

''It's finally time that we get our cutie marks, Crusaders!'' Apple Bloom said, jumping up in the air with excitement. Walking into the dangerous forest where mysterious creatures reside in the forest, not only that but she is going into the Everfree Forest with her two fellow crusaders. Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo, walking side-by-side with Apple Bloom as they enter the most dangerous part of the forest. The owls causing ruckus in the forest, bats hanging upside down in the caves, with the dark atmosphere of the forest means that the three fillies were in for a big surprise. 

''I am so ready to get my cutie mark, I hope that it's a burning scooter wheel! I'm so ready to take this forest to the extreme!'' Scootaloo said, fluttering her wings, lifting herself off the ground slightly. 

''I can't wait to find that rare gem, to get a cutie mark that resembles a microphone since I do have a good talent of singing!'' Sweetie Belle said, with a high pitched squeaky voice. Her horn starts to spark a little with a light blue aura, gazing over at her horn's aura shining over to the right, where the rare gem for cutie marks is revealed.

Meanwhile, the Mane 6 are still on the hunt to show Bruce the true meaning of friendship to guide him in the right direction to bring him back to where he belongs in Gotham City. Twilight stops at a dead trail, where Bruce's hoof prints stopped near the bat cave where all of the bats hang upside down to sleep at night. ''Well, this is where the trail ends. This can not be, Bruce's trail can not just stop right here at a bat cave and simply vanish without a trace!'' A huge purple aura sparks from Twilight's horn, the long trail of Bruce's hoof prints continue to where the Cutie Mark Crusaders found the rare gem. 

Applejack gulping down her saliva in her throat, worried about where her beloved Apple Bloom went. Sweating very heavily in a very nervous fashion, she starts pacing around in a circle, tapping Twilight on her back. ''Twilight! We need to go find my dear, sweet little sister Apple Bloom. I keep trying to tell her that the Everfree Forest is dangerous, but she never listens to me!'' 

Fluttershy becomes startled at the owls and other animals causing disturbances, hiding in a bush nearby scared to death by all of the noises and events going on around her. ''Oh my, this forest is way too dangerous for any pony to be in or just hang around with the animals. This forest is just not natural, it has creepy animals, creepy trees, and even though it has Zecora living here it is still not safe for anyone to just be safe in this forest!'' She screamed to the top of her lungs, bats start flying out of the caves, owls flew off of the tree branches.

Twilight and her friends bump into the three young fillies, knocking the three fillies on their backs. ''Twilight, we found a gem that can magically get our cutie marks in no time! Apple Bloom said, waving the red magical gem in Twilight's face. 

''Well Twilight, I am back. I've thought about it after hanging upside down in the cave for a while, and I'm willing to accept your friendship if you can find a portal spell in your books.'' Bruce hovers down from the bat cave, landing next to Twilight Sparkle, Applejack, Fluttershy, Pinkie Pie, Rainbow Dash, and the Cutie Mark Crusaders. 

''Let's go home, ya'll!'' The Cutie Mark Crusaders along with the Mane Six trot away from the Everfree Forest, with the addition of bringing Bruce Wayne back to Ponyville. They may be able to bring the portal that he arrived in, but first they may have to regain his strength back in a trial of battle and wits.


End of Chapter Three: Meeting the Crusaders