//------------------------------// // Chapter 22: CMC // Story: Thomas & Equestria Girls: Welcome to Canterlot High // by LPFanFic //------------------------------// Thomas & Equestria Girls: Welcome To Canterlot High Chapter 22: CMC While Canterlot High is home to counterparts of the pony world's Mane 6, it is also home to the counterparts of three little filly ponies, who in Equestria all collectively go by the name of their club, the Cutie Mark Crusaders. Founded by Apple Bloom, Scootaloo, and Sweetie Belle, they formed the club for the purpose of working together to find out who they are, and what their special talents are supposed to be. The Crusaders are very often, if not always, engaging in activities in pursuit of their cutie marks, unique picture-like symbols located a pony's flank. However, in the human world the Crusaders are just three high school freshmen who spend everyday having fun with each other. Since people don't get cutie marks, there was no reason for them to seek after ones for themselves. Despite this, that doesn't mean they have other aspirations they're eager to pursue. The three girls had just finish eating lunch and headed up to Scootaloo's locker on the second floor. They were all discussing when to meet later this week and start their own club, a talk they've been having for quite some time. Apple Bloom suggested they hold their meeting today at an old tree house close by her home. Sweetie Belle was on board but Scootaloo was too busy struggling with her own dilemma. In Gym class, she was having trouble climbing up a rope which is one of the required exercise practices in order to pass the class. After failing multiple times, the coach warned Scootaloo that she was at risk of getting a bad mark and needed to improve her climbing physic in order to get a good grade. This made Scootaloo concerned and urged herself to take this test more seriously, which meant more time dedicated to training and less with helping her friends form their club, much to their dismay. "C'mon, Scootaloo" Apple Bloom said. "We all said we'd meet after school to organize our new club. You can't bail on us now." Scootaloo took out her helmet and scooter from the locker and shuts it. "I know. But you heard what coach said; If I don't climb that rope I'm not gonna get a good mark. He's gonna fail me. Which is why I need to start practicing now, so I can get strong enough to climb just about any rope no matter how high!" The girls were disappointed after hearing Scootaloo's situation. They knew her test was important but were still looking forward to forming their own club together at the same time. Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle wanted to help their friend though and thought of ways to work around their predicament. "We can set up a rope by the tree house and help her practice there," Sweetie Belle suggested. "That way we can get started on making our club while Scootaloo can train for the test." "That's a great idea, Sweetie Belle!" Apple Bloom said. "What do you say, Scoot?" "Sounds good to me," she said putting her helmet on. "Hooray!" The two say jumping up and down. "The CMC is still in full affect!" The girls said in unison as the three friends laughed and high five each other. "I still don't know why our club has to have CMC as it's initials," Scootaloo said. "We don't even have a name for it yet." "I just think it sounds fittin'," Apple Bloom grinned and shrugged. Sweetie Belle chimed in. "Plus, we haven't decided what we're gonna be doing. That means our club name has lots of potential!" "Hey yeah, I guess it does," Scootaloo said. "In that case, why don't we go by, the Courageous Mountain Climbers!" "The Crime Making Combaters!" Apple Bloom said. "Oh-oh, how about the Canterlot Movie Club, to celebrate the new Daring Do Movie coming soon!" "Good one, Sweetie Belle. But now that ah think about it, can we find away to fit Crusaders in there somewhere?" "You mean like after our old band?" "Yeah! It's a start in the right direction and easier to build around." Apple Bloom wraps both her arms around Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle's shoulders. "Once we figure out what we're doin' then we can name our club, uh, somethin'-somethin'-Crusaders!" "I do like how it sounds," Sweetie Belle said stroking her chin. "Totally! It makes us sound super adventurous," Scootaloo said. Everyone smiled as Apple Blooms lets go and Scootaloo adjusts her helmet. "Looks like we're already close to having the naming part on lock. We just need to decide what we're gonna do then call it official." "I'm sure it'll come to us once we start doing different activities," Sweetie Belle said. Scootaloo came up with an idea. "Hey, maybe our club can include racing! What do you say, one lap to the center?" "Scootaloo, you know we're not spose to run in the school hallways," Apple Bloom said. "We almost got in trouble with Miss Cheerilee last time." "You'll be the ones running." She places her scooter on the ground, "I'll be riding in style." "No fair. We can't out run you on that." "Sure we can." Sweetie Belle then whispers something in her ear. Apple Bloom beamed. "Just uh, one lap to the entrance?" Scootaloo nods confidently. The two girls smiled at each other. "Yer on!" "Yay, we're gonna have race!" Sweetie Belle said jumping and cheering. The three girls lined up next to each other positioned and ready to start sprinting down the hall. Scootaloo stood on her scooter glaring tensely in the direction they'll be racing. Apple Bloom grins at Sweetie Belle and she does so back to her. Apple Bloom counted down. "On three. One, two, three!" They all took off running and scooting. Scootaloo was already in the lead pushing against the floor with her foot to build up speed. She didn't bother looking back as she knew her friends will no longer be in sight once she's really far from them, which she was starting to, at a point where she didn't need to push on her scooter as much. Sweetie Belle and Apple Bloom look at each other knowing they weren't going to catch up. Once Scootaloo was far enough away Sweetie Belle spoke to Apple Bloom. "C'mon, let's take that short cut." "Okay! Good luck scootin' down the stairs, Scootaloo!" Apple Bloom called out tauntingly. "Remember, last one there is a flightless bird!" The two giggled as they went down another hallway. Scootaloo heard but all she did was smirk as she already had a plan for getting down to the first floor. The main set of stairs students use to get from the first to second floor was located and leads to the school lobby. In order to get down to the lobby a lot quicker, they would need to take those stairwells in order to get them there instantly. Figuring Scootaloo would have to stop and get off her scooter to walk down, Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle went on their way to the main stairs in the center thinking they were very clever. Scootaloo knew she could go down the center stairwell, but decided to take a detour knowing she had all the time in the world to reach the lobby. Speeding through the corridors, she then saw another flight of stairs leading to the first floor. Instead of stopping to get off, Scootaloo grinned and pushed on the floor with her foot harder and harder making her scooter go faster. As she got close, Scootaloo leaned to her left and jumped high in the air still gripping onto the handle bar and posing for style mid air. The deck of Scootaloo's scooter then landed on and grinds along the railings taking her all the way to the middle of the stairwell. Keeping herself steady, she jumps off and drifted on the halfway floor of the stairwell then jumps up high onto the railings again grinding all the way down until she reaches the first floor. Miss Cheerilee, who was casually walking while steadily holding a bunch of test papers in her arms, found herself spinning around profusely as Scootaloo crosses by her causing Miss Cheerilee to drop every piece of paper now flowing all over and onto the ground. After coming to a steady stance, Miss Cheerilee shakes off her dizziness and glares at Scootaloo already speeding down the hall. "Scootaloo! I told you a hundred times, no scooting in the halls!" Contrite, Scootaloo tries to continue on knowing she might have earned herself detention, but couldn't help but smile to herself feeling exhilarated after the stunt she had just pulled off. She continues riding her scooter all the way through the halls, passing by other students trying not to run into any of them. As she rolled into the main lobby, she slid her scooter sideways and skidded to a complete stop. She looked around for Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle but they were no where to be seen, which meant Scootaloo had won the race. "Woo-hoo!" She yelled taking her helmet off triumphantly. "Who's the flightless bird now?" Feeling victorious, Scootaloo leans on her scooter and got out her phone to text her friends, letting them know she was at the center. She instantly got a text back from Apple Bloom. Raising her brow, Scootaloo read her friend's text confused by what's going on. 'On the second floor. Meet us near Ms. Harshwhinny's class hurry!' While making their way to the main stairwell of the school, Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle were nearly close to winning the race until Sweetie Belle came to a stop once they approached the stairs. She looked down the hall to her left inquisitively. Apple Bloom looked back at her just as confused. "What are yer doing? We're about to win!" Sweetie Belle turned back to her. "Did you hear that?" "Hear what?" She said walking up to her. "There it is again." Apple Bloom didn't know what Sweetie Belle was talking about until she heard quiet sniffling and weeping noises coming from down the halls. It wasn't far from where they were. The two girls looked at each other, now recognizing what the sounds were. Someone was crying. Sweetie Belle and Apple Bloom follow the weeping sounds, until they reach an area of the school that was dimly lit as a blown out light bulb further down flickered every so often. Apple Bloom got her phone out and saw the text from Scootaloo saying she made it to the lobby. She texted her back asking her to meet them upstairs. The two could see somebody sitting on the floor against a locker near the outskirts of the dim area. At first glance they notices it was a girl. Their knees were locked together and their head buried in her arms as the person wept silently to themselves. It was Mystic Sprinkles. The two saw the crying Mystic and approached her tentatively, standing right in front of and looking down at her. "Hello?" Sweetie Belle said. Still sniffling a bit, Mystic looks up at Sweetie Belle and Apple Bloom looking at her worrisome. "Um, hi?" "What's the matter?" Apple Bloom asked. "Oh. N-nothing." Mystic wiped away some of her tears. "Really? Then why were you crying?" Sweetie Belle asked. She hesitated to answer. People at CHS haven't been very friendly or inviting towards Mystic ever since she started attending. What if they laugh at her over the reason she was crying? She wouldn't be surprised at this point, even though her memory wasn't the best. So, then how would she know that they'll laugh? Mystic was beginning to assume everything she did was amusing to the people here somehow. That was the only thing that seemed to stick with her in terms of memories for some reason. Sweetie Belle went up and sat down next to Mystic. "It's okay. You can tell us," She smiled warmly. "But, I don't know who you are. Why should I tell you?" "Because we want to see if we can help somehow. I'm Sweetie Belle!" "Apple Bloom, howdy there!" She tilted her head pretending to be her sister. Mystic was confused. Why were they introducing themselves to her? "You'll just make fun of me. Everyone here does." "Everyone? How can that many people tease just one person?" Sweetie Belle said. "Because, I'm different." "You look pretty normal to us," Apple Bloom said. "You know, aside from the weird but fancy lookin' dress you got on." Mystic looked at her then Sweetie Belle still smiling. Just then, Scootaloo arrived standing next to Apple Bloom. "I got your text. Is everything alright?" "We don't know," Apple Bloom told her. "We found this girl sittin' by herself cryin' and we're tryin' to figure out why. This is our friend Scootaloo by the way." "Hi there." Scootaloo happily reaches out to shake Mystic's hand, but she was hesitant to return the favor. "O-kay. What's your name?" "M-Mystic Sprinkles," she mutters, locking her arms together and closing her eyes. "Mystic Sprinkles? Cool!" She looks up at them smiling and nodding with approval. "Really?" "Totally! It's such a lovely name," Sweetie Belle said. "Um, thanks?" "So, why were you crying, Mystic?" Apple Bloom asked. She didn't why, but Mystic found herself explaining to the three girls what she'd been going through the past few days. It was hard for Mystic to express it all to the three complete strangers she'd just met. She was afraid they'd laugh and wondered if they were secretly conjuring a plan to trick her in some way. Instead of laughing or exchanging conniving glances, the three girls listened contently to everything Mystic told them. Everything from not fitting in, people teasing her, and her struggles remembering things about herself. Though she wasn't strong when it came to interacting, reading people's expressions was something Mystic could still pick up on, and these three girls so far appeared very sincere. "So, you don't remember anything?" Apple Bloom asked. "Not where you came from or who you are?" Mystic shook her head. "I don't know if I originally lived in Canterlot or somewhere else. All I know is that I woke up here and now I'm attending this school. Mystic Sprinkles isn't even my real name. At least, I don't think it is. It was just the only word I can gravitate towards." "What if Mystic is your real name?" Sweetie Belle asked. Mystic shrugs then hugs her arms nervously. "There's also these, dreams, I've been having." "What dreams?" Scootaloo asked. Flashing images of a hydraulic claw and an unsettling cackle echoing through her head. Mystic gripped her head. She struggled to describing what she was seeing. "Um. Images, were I'm running away, from a man with a giant claw." The three girls were confused and worried. "Every time I think about that dream, there are these words that keep flowing through my head. Words like stole, trust, friend, magic, and betrayed. I-I think I might have stolen something from someone. I-I don't know anymore." "You don't look like the stealin' or the betrayin' type," Apple Bloom said. "And those dreams sound more like nightmares if you ask me," Scootaloo commented. "It's been bugging me all morning. I can't trust anyone because of it. People keep saying I'm something or someone else and it just doesn't sound right!" "Like who?" Sweetie Belle asked. "Yeah? Whose been telling you this?" Scootaloo asked. Mystic then told them about Thomas and what he told her. Thomas, a boy she's never met before, claimed he knew her and wanted to take her back to his home. Despite having no memory of her life, Mystic refused to believe Thomas. Especially after telling her she's actually a talking train engine that can generate magic sparkles by running on her own railway line. The way it was told to her sounded too outlandish to be true. The world she lives in now doesn't have magic or talking trains as far as she's concerned. How would there be another world beyond Canterlot High? Her memory and comprehensions were so bad she couldn't even recall events that happened to her last night or before. All she could remember were the vivid images of her running down the school hallways, a dream she seemed to be having a lot lately. Not knowing if these words of dreams were true or not, she found it much harder to trust anyone who tried convincing her of what she is or what she did; like they were all just taking advantage of her distressed memory issues and though they can trick her into believing them. She thought about all the words told to her. Betrayal, talking train, magic. Both her dreams and Thomas both made claims that involved magic somehow. But Mystic didn't feel like she stole anything from anybody. And if that's the case then maybe Thomas was also wrong about her being at talking train. If it doesn't feel right then it can't be true. So, she ran away from Thomas having had enough of everyone playing tricks on her. "But Mystic, what if Thomas is telling the truth?" Scootaloo asked. "What? That I'm a magical talking train from another world? That's just, weird, right?" she asked looking over at Sweetie Belle. "It does seem a bit un-orthodontist," Apple Bloom said using the term wrong. "You mean compared to all the crazy stuff that usually happens here?" Scootaloo said. "She said a bunch of students have been teasin' her. Maybe this Thomas fella was just doin' the same." "I'm pretty positive he was," Mystic said. "I mean, you're right, Apple Bloom. I don't feel like I'd ever steal anything or betray anyone. So then, I was right to believe he was also false." "What happened after he told you all of that?" Sweetie Belle asked. "I don't remember," She said shaking her head frustratingly. "I remember blacking out after he said I'm a magic train. I woke up and then ran away. That's when I came to this spot and started crying, assuming he really was teasing me too." "How did you black out?" Scootaloo asked. She sighed heavily. "...I don't remember." Mystic felt she was gonna tear up again. "Why is everyone in this school so mean? I just want to belong. Is that so much to ask? Sure, I have trouble remembering things, and maybe I don't know what a 'cell-phone', or a buns N burner, or a caffeeffe area is." Apple Bloom and Scootaloo share glances, guessing she meant cafeteria. "But I don't see any reason to so condescending to someone. Everyone I've met has either teased or made up stories about me." "We're not teasing you," Sweetie Belle said kindly. "Which means not everyone at CHS is mean to you, because we don't want to be!" "I, guess so." "Have you ever thought maybe you were just lookin' fer the wrong type of friends?" Apple Bloom said. "Ah can't imagine everyone in CHS has been mean to yah. Isn't there one person here who was nice to you? Someone you met who's been real friendly at all?" Mystic thought for a long time, having issues matching faces she had just seen recently. There was this weird girl she met in the library, she seemed pretty friendly at first. A girl who showed her around Canterlot High, and then there were those other girls who were with Thomas. Mystic was having trouble remembering them all of a sudden. They all seemed on board with his nonsense about her being a magical engine though, and assumed they were only in on the joke too. Friendly was not a term Mystic was familiar with. She didn't know there was such a definition to describe being nice to others. This made her nearly cry again upon realizing but instead tried with all her will to hold back her tears, which started building up within her again. She didn't want to be seen crying in front of the girls. The three girls noticed Mystic trying not to cry and looked at each other worrisome. Students at Canterlot High were usually always so inviting. Has no one at CHS really been friendly to her at all? They were upset for Mystic now. Sweetie Belle sweetly placed her hand on Mystic's shoulder for comfort. Flinching at first, Mystic looks over at Sweetie Belle smiling sympathetically. She tried to muster a smile back in return; now knowing why she felt so comfortable all of a sudden even though she was showing tears. It was clear to them that Mystic truly did seem alone in this school. A person who has no idea who she was, lost and confused, afraid to open up and without anyone to lend her a hand. It was then that Apple Bloom came up with an idea after stroking her chin for a good second. "Hmm, are you thinkin' what I'm thinkin'?" She asked her friends. Everyone looks at her. "A poor distressed girl, all lost and alone, and doesn't know who she is. It sounds to me like Mystic Sprinkles is in need of some guidance. From a group that can show her the way and help in findn' her place in this school. This is a job, fer the CMC!" "What?" Scootaloo asked confusingly. "That's what we'll do fer our club. We can help those who feel lost and alone, who don't know where they belong or discovered their true callin'. Someone like Mystic Sprinkles!" "Hey, yeah! That's an amazing idea, Apple Bloom!" Sweetie Belle said excitedly. Even Scootaloo was on board with the concept the more she thought about it. "I-I don't understand?" Mystic said. "We're gonna help recover your memories by seein' what you're good at or what you like," Apple Bloom stated. "The more activities we do, the more your memories will start becoming clear again. That way you'll finally find out who you really are!" Mystic gazes at the floor puzzled then back at Apple Bloom. "Will that work?" The three girls look at each other and shrugged. "It's a start in the right direction," Scootaloo asked. "So, then what's our club name going to be?" Apple Bloom, Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle pondered for a long time trying to come up with a good name that fits the club's initials. What works with CMC? Crusaders was required to fit in there somewhere too, which made it a lot harder to pick a name that sounded good. Sweetie Belle looked around her surroundings, then at Mystic Sprinkles looking at them perplexedly. She beamed the second she thought of a good title for their name, or rather a good enough title. "Oh, how about the Canterlot Mystical Crusaders! In dedication to our new friend Mystic Sprinkles, and our very first customer!" Mystic was put off a bit. "New, friend?" "That's right," Scootaloo winked. "You're our friend now, and we're gonna do everything we can to find out who you really are and where you belong." She didn't know how to respond. Why were these girls acting so friendly and helpful? More so, why would they bother to name a club after her? What was a club even? Was it like what Apple Bloom described, a group of people who help those in need? "You girls don't have to do this, really. I'm not worth all that trouble." "What trouble?" Sweetie Belle asked. "Your troubles? 'Cause that's what we wanna solve." Apple Bloom and Scootaloo both held out a hand for Mystic, smiling warmly while waiting until she excepts their offer. She stared confusedly at them. This was a first for anyone to be acting this nice to her. Even though Thomas and those other girls appeared to be nice, she saw through what she presumably appeared to be some kind of trickery before falling for it. It was still such a strange feeling, being treated like a friend. Is this what it felt like? "Why are you doing this?" "Because, that's what friends are for," Apple Bloom beamed. "We help each other." Mystic felt another strange sensation. Although there were tears raining down from her eyes again, she didn't feel or appeared sad, but very happy. Happy that these three girls she had just met are the first of anyone she can think of to treat her this nicely, who offer her a helping hand. Who although can't relate with what she's going through, can still understand and are willing to find a solution to her crisis. Gratitude, that was the word flowing through her head now. She didn't question why they were being so nice and eager to help her anymore. Mystic was grateful, to have finally made three new friends. Trying to rid her repetitive tears away, Mystic reaches out and grabs on to both Scootaloo and Apple Bloom's hands, pulling her back up to her feet. Sweetie Belle got up too and started jumping. "Yay! We're gonna help Mystic with her memories!" "Then It's official," Apple Bloom smiled. Apple Bloom places her hand out in front of her. Scootaloo does the sane placing hers on top of Apple Blooms, and then Sweetie Belle's on top of Scootaloo's. Finally, after picking up what the girls wanted her to do as well, Mystic Sprinkles gingerly places her hand on top of Sweetie Belle's. Everyone beamed as she did, making her smile along with them. "The Canterlot Mystical Crusaders are now in full effect!" The three girls said in unison. All of them raise their hands in the air cheering happily as their new club has been officially formed. It was hard for Mystic Sprinkles to think of another word that describe how she was feeling right now. Now that she had made three new friends who want to help her fit in and find out who she is, Mystic felt a new sense of joy she never felt before. Acceptance. To Be Continued.