//------------------------------// // Prologue - Once a Crusader... // Story: Crusader // by Ephraim Blue //------------------------------// Crusader By: Ephraim Blue Prologue - Once a Crusader... Scootaloo was your average everyday filly. She went to school, played with her friends, all that good stuff. However, there is one thing about her that she isn't all to proud of. She can't fly. Being a pegasus, she was supposed to fly, but her wings weren't fully developed yet. She tried not to think about it. She had crusading to do! The Cutie Mark Crusaders is a small group that three friends formed to try different things to earn their cutie marks. These activities varied from skydiving to making sweets. All of these attempts either fail, or succeed. They fail most of the time, but one day they are going to succeed in earning their cutie marks. There are currently four members of the group at the moment. Apple Bloom, a yellow earth pony with a red mane. Babs Seed, a dark orange earth pony with a purple mane(She's also Apple Blooms cousin). Sweetie Belle, a white unicorn with a bright purple mane, and Scootaloo. She was, well I already told you. Anyway, she's orange with a dark purple mane. I didn't tell you that, did I? Babs lived in Manehattan with her sister. She once took a visit, but had to leave after a week. She did, however, have just enough time to become an official member of their club. But that's besides the point. I'm here to tell you a devastating tale that happened not to long ago with these friends. A tale, that started... ...on a stray night. The Cutie Mark Crusaders were to trying to get their stargazing cutie marks. It turns out, they didn't know a single one. "Is that one Orion?" Apple Bloom asked Twilight. They didn't have their own telescope, so they borrowed hers. "No, Apple Bloom, that's The Big Dipper," she told her. "Orion is over there." She pointed toward another part of the sky. "What's that one?" asked a curious Sweetie Belle as she pointed to a bright star in the sky. "That's the North Star. It helps guide us north." "What's this called?" Scootaloo asked. "Scootaloo, I thought you were here to study about stars. Not flowers." "I know, but this flower is more interesting than a couple of dots in the sky." "Oh, Scootaloo," she said. "Astronomy is very helpful. You may not know it, but one day, you might need astronomy to help you with finding your way when you are lost. Our ancestors used it to find Equestria." "Yeah, but why might I use it?" "I don't know. It may be helpful to you one day. It may not be today, or tomorrow, but one day you might use it." "It just seems boring to me." "Well, you can get your cutie mark in flower sniffing all you want," Apple Bloom said. "We will get our cutie marks in astronomy in no time!" "Actually, girls," Twilight interrupted. "I'm afraid its your bedtime." "Aww," Sweetie Belle wined. "We don't need to sleep." "Yes you do. If you don't get to sleep, you wont be able to go crusading with a good night's rest." "Really?" "Really." "Well what are we wasting for?" Apple Bloom eagerly asked the other girls. "Lets head home right away and meet back at the clubhouse tomorrow at ten!" "Yeah!" said an overly excited Scootaloo. "Tomorrow's Saturday, meaning we can have a full day of crusading!" "That's a great idea!" Sweetie Belle said. "Lets get home right away!" "All right," they said together. "CUTIE MARK CRUSADERS FAST SLEEPERS! YAY!" With that, they all went to their respective homes, leaving Twilight in the lawn of her home. "Girls will be girls," the princess said. "They might all be closer to finding their cutie marks than they think." Scootaloo awoke with a jolt. Waking up at the crack of dawn was definitely not her special talent. Still, she only awoke this early to prepare for the early day of crusading. Getting out of bed was probably the hardest part of getting up in the morning. The bed was so comfortable, and leaving it meant she had to greet the cold air outside of her covers. The bed seemed to call to her, persuading her to stay in and forget about the day. She couldn't let that happen. The Cutie Mark Crusaders couldn't truly be the group if they all weren't there. Getting out of bed, she greeted the air. Shrugging it off, she went over to the showers to heat up her coat. If it was heated, she wouldn't have to deal with the air outside, which was much colder than the air inside. Starting the shower, she thought about what she and her friends would be doing that day. We could go on an adventure through the Everfree Forest, she thought as the warm water dripped down her coat. The water felt nice, considering that it seemed to be below 35 degrees in there. We haven't had an adventure in there recently. Although, the last time we went through there could have been the end of us, Fluttershy and Twilight. Besides, we promised Fluttershy that we wouldn't go in there unless to ask Zecora something. She continued to think about many other things she and her friends could do. She continued to think until she felt no more comfort in the water that fell upon her. Getting out, she quickly dried her coat and carefully dried her delicate wings. They might not grow at all if she didn't do it carefully. Looking at the clock, she saw that it was now 9:30 AM. Quickly grabbing a slice of toast, she ran outside with her scooter. Flapping the wings on her back, she sped down the path to their clubhouse. When she got there, she didn't expect to see what she did see. Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle had their cutie marks.