//------------------------------//
// Upon Arrival 
// Story: The Manehattan Crusaders 
// by Soprano Beat 
//------------------------------//

It was a sunny afternoon in Ponyville. Apple Bloom and her two friends, Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo, were waiting at the train station for Apple Bloom's cousin, Babs Seed. Babs had mentioned in her telegram from last week that she'd be bringing a surprise for the three of them, but wouldn't give any hints as to what it was.
"What do think it is?" asked Sweetie Belle.
"Not sure." Apple Bloom answered. She had shown the telegram to the other crusaders as soon as she got it, but they still couldn't  figure out what it was.
"Didn't you write back to her?"
"Yeah, but I forgot to ask about the surprise."
Scootaloo cut in, "Look! The train's here! Maybe now we'll find out what it is."
The train stopped, and Apple Bloom quickly spotted her cousin running over with two other ponies. "Who're they?" Apple Bloom wondered. She didn't have to think about it for very long though, as Babs expained everything soon after she got to them.
"Hey, Apple Bloom, Sweetie Belle, Scootaloo! How's it goin'?" Babs asked.
"Babs! We're doin' great, but what's the surprise, and who are they?" Apple Bloom answered pointing a hoof at the two ponies with her cousin.
"They are the surprise, Apple Bloom! Cutie Mark Crusaders, meet Lily Grace and Sky Dusk!"
Lily Grace was a light pink filly and wore an aqua-colored bow in her wavy, brown mane that had aquamarine streaks in it. The colt, Sky Dusk, was slightly smaller with a midnight blue coat and a tousled, blond mane and tail, which had patches of a lighter blue towards the bottom.
"Hi!" said Lily Grace.
"Nice to meet you, Lily!" Sweetie said in her usual, squeaky voice. As she said this, Apple Bloom noticed Sky Dusk start to hide behind Babs.
"Hey, Sky Dusk!" Scootaloo said.
Sky peeked around Babs' shoulder and gave a shy wave back to her. "Hi," he said quietly.
Babs leaned over to Apple Bloom. "Sky Dusk is kinda shy," she whispered in Apple Bloom's ear.
Apple Bloom nodded and said softly, "Hiya, Sky Dusk. My name's Apple Bloom."
Sky looked over at the yellow filly. "Hi, Apple Bloom," he said shyly, giving a small smile.
"I told them about our club and they said they wanted in!" Babs announced.
Apple Bloom looked over at her friends who were excitedly talking to Lily Grace. She was excited too. Back at the last Apple family reunion, Babs had mentioned two new blank-flanks at her school who wanted to join the crusaders.
"So, Babs told ya'll about our club?" Apple Bloom asked.
Sky Dusk nodded. "She said you guys help ponies get their cutie marks."
"Yep."
Apple Bloom started walking slowly toward Sky, but, when she saw that he was starting to back away, she stopped.
"Do you help colts too?" he asked.
"Actually we've never had one in our group before. You'd be the first. if you're still joining, that is."
"Oh."
Sky had started backing away again, this time into a nearby shadow.
"Hey, is somethin' wrong?" Apple Bloom asked quietly, taking a few steps closer.
"No, I'm fine," he answered.
"Ya sure? Ya know we won't hurt nopony." Apple Bloom gave a reassuring smile.
Sky nodded and smiled a little.
"Hey, why don't we show Lily Grace and Sky Dusk the clubhouse?" Scootaloo shouted over all the talking.
"Ooh! That's a great idea!" Sweetie Belle said.
Apple Bloom looked at Sky. "C'mon! Let's go. I'm sure you'll like it."
Sky looked up from his hoof, showing his deep blue eyes. "Okay," he said quietly, giving a small smile. And with that, they all ran off to the clubhouse.


Once they reached the clubhouse, Apple Bloom started giving a tour of it as Sweetie and Scootaloo demonstrated what they did in each place. Babs was going to help, but forgot what they did in most areas of the little clubhouse. 
During the tour, Apple Bloom noticed that Sky Dusk was backing towards the door, but that he didn't seem to realize he was doing it. She pulled Scootaloo aside and asked if she could take over. Her friend nodded saying, "Sure, but why?"
Apple Bloom looked back at Sky, who was almost at the door. "Just need to check on somethin'," she said. "Or somepony," she muttered as her friend went back to finish the tour.
Apple Bloom walked back towards Sky. "Hey, you're not leavin' are ya?" she said when she got to him.
Sky looked up at this. "I, uh..." he stammered looking back at the door. "I don't think so."
Apple Bloom looked at him, slightly confused. "Okay... Well, do ya want to go up front?"
Sky looked over at where Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo were finishing up the tour. "No thanks. I'll just... stay back here," he answered.
"Okay. I'll stay back here with ya then," Apple Bloom said smiling before turning back to her friends. Sky smiled a little before doing the same.
After Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle finished giving the tour, everypony went their separate ways. Sweetie offered to have Lily and Scootaloo come to her house to hang out some more, while Babs headed off to the orchard to find Applejack and Bic Macintosh to say hello. Apple Bloom and Sky stayed behind in the clubhouse for a few minutes before Apple Bloom asked Sky to come over to her house. She wanted to try to get Sky a little more comfortable around the crusaders, but wanted to take it slow. Seeing as how the others were with Lily, Apple Bloom decided to start by finding out a little more about him and his shyness.