//------------------------------// // Chapter 1 - Clubhouse Meeting // Story: The Cutie Mark Adventure // by Mylittleponyfan //------------------------------// Chapter 1 - Clubhouse Meeting It is a bright, morning day in Ponyville. The sun is out and shining, the birds are up and chirping, and the day basically could not have been any brighter. Especially not for the Cutie Mark Crusaders, who seemed to have recently finally earned their very own cutie marks, the ones they have been craving for all of these long years. Nopony had any idea how badly the Cutie Mark Crusaders felt they needed to have cutie marks to be considered one of the "special children", no matter how talented, unique, or special they already were. And it was all thanks to Pipsqueak, the very young colt who had originally helped the Cutie Mark Crusaders to discover their true talent (which was helping others in need) and subsequently earn their way to be "blank flanks" no longer. This morning, the Cutie Mark Crusaders are hanging out in their clubhouse as usual and they are currently holding a meeting. Apple Bloom had decided to be the one to host the roll-calling meeting. "Hear ye! Hear ye! This meeting of the Cutie Mark Crusaders is now in session!", said Apple Bloom in her cheerful voice, "Let's take roll-call!" Her friends Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo look at each other, confused. "Uh, Apple Bloom, I think we're all here," said Scootaloo. She remembered the last time Apple Bloom wanted to take roll-call, but it was just always the three of them there. But Apple Bloom has always been one to be intrigued in the roll-call session. Roll-call has always been her favorite part as one of the members of the Cutie Mark Crusaders. Even if they were the only ones there in the clubhouse, Apple Bloom did not care as she was really feeling in a "roll-call" kind of mood right now. "Come on!", Apple Bloom insisted. She was really into taking roll-call. She knew they never really did this, but she liked it as part of a member of the Cutie Mark Crusaders. Apple Bloom felt she was born to take roll-call, even though Sweetie Belle is technically the leader of the Cutie Mark Crusaders as she is often the one to come up with many zany ideas and solutions. "Well, okay," Scootaloo relented. She always found it completely pointless to take roll-call when only themselves are totally always the only ones there every single time, but she and Sweetie Belle went with it anyway for Apple Bloom's sake. Apple Bloom clears her throat. "Sweetie Belle?" "Here," said Sweetie Belle unenthusiastically, slightly rolling her eyes. "Scootaloo?", said Apple Bloom. "Here," said Scootaloo with a deadpan tone. "Apple Bloom?", said Apple Bloom. The Cutie Mark Crusaders pause for a moment. Then Apple Bloom calls again. "Apple Bloom?", she asked again. Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo give Apple Bloom confused expressions. Suddenly, Apple Bloom realizes that she is calling her very own name. "Oh! Here!", Apple Bloom grinned embarrassingly. Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo look at each other and roll their eyes, slightly annoyed by this. "Sorry," said Apple Bloom, "Anyway, since we've recently obtained our cutie marks, how 'bout we go out and celebrate?" Apple Bloom was thrilled about her and her best friends gaining cutie marks, especially after all those hard times of trying everything in their power to earn them for years. "How? We already had our cute-ceañera," Sweetie Belle pointed out, "So what can we do now?", she asked. Scootaloo had an idea. "How about we go and see Pipsqueak?", she suggested, "After all, he helped us get these!" Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo show off their cutie marks, quite proud of their achievements. Apple Bloom definitely approved of Scootaloo's suggestion and was all for it. "Great idea, Scootaloo!", said Apple Bloom. She slightly blushes. She secretly had romantic feelings for Pipsqueak and was quite infatuated with him. She has always had the desire to ask him out, but was simply too nervous to since she was concerned of what Pipsqueak would probably think of her. She knew that he knew she liked him, but never in that fashion. Apple Bloom was just overall concerned about what Pipsqueak's reaction would, whether it would be positive or negative. She was so much in thought about this that she did not know that Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo had noticed her blushing. Scootaloo says, "Hey. Are you blushing?" Apple Bloom becomes surprised and says, "What? Oh! Uh... no." Apple Bloom was now embarrassed that her friends had caught her red-handed blushing at the thought of Pipsqueak. "Are you sure?", asked Scootaloo. "I'm positive!", said Apple Bloom. "Are you absolutely sure?", asked Sweetie Belle. "Yeah!", insisted Apple Bloom, trying to convince her best friends. Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo pause. They were quite sure they saw Apple Bloom blushing, but they instead shake it off and say, "Okay." "I mean, it's not like I have a crush on him or anything!", said Apple Bloom, still insisting. "Apple Bloom? I think we get it," said Sweetie Belle. "Okay," said Apple Bloom. Then she immediately changes the subject, "Well, come on, Crusaders! Let's go find and thank Pipsqueak!" She then rushes out the door, zooming past Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo. Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo stay left behind as they watch Apple Bloom run off. As soon as she is out of sight, Scootaloo turns to Sweetie Belle. "Was it just me or did Apple Bloom blush when I suggested that? I still can't tell," Scootaloo asked Sweetie Belle, still a bit unsure. She thought she saw Apple Bloom, but then again, maybe her eyes could have been trying to play a trick or two on her. "Oh, gosh! It'll be so sweet to get them together! Don't you think, Scootaloo?", said Sweetie Belle. She was loving the idea of pairing Apple Bloom with Pipsqueak. "Yeah!", said Scootaloo wholeheartedly. Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo become jubilant and smirk to themselves. "Cutie Mark Crusaders matchmakers!", they both shout in unison. Then they clap hooves with huge grins on their faces.