//------------------------------//
// Season 1, Episode 1: The Crystal Princess - Part 1 
// Story: My Little Pony: Guardians of Crystal Growth 
// by Fluttercheer 
//------------------------------//

.
Today, it is exactly three years. Three years since we left Ponyville and went on our journey to find out if we still have a purpose.
We were always good at what we did, ever since we earned our cutie marks... Who would have thought that, suddenly, new-born foals are unable to get a cutie mark? It was something nopony saw coming when all those foals got born ten years ago, but then we had to find it out when they were old enough for a cutie mark, but just didn't get one, no matter how hard we tried it with them.
No scientists, doctors or mages could explain why this happened. But all three of us were so hopeful that we would find enough foals who still had the ability to get cutie marks, that the disease (or whatever caused the disappearance of cutie marks) had only affected Ponyville. I still can't believe that we found the same conditions in all of Equestria!
It was only a few days ago that we had decided to give up and to return home. All foals who could still get a cutie mark that we found were over the age of seven and it didn't take us long to help them. This was the first time we ever cursed ourselves for having gotten so good at helping other ponies...
For three years, we tried to establish ourselves as simple talent scouts, but recently, we had to realize that it's no use. Turns out, if ponies can't get marks anymore that show them what they're best at, they don't care anymore what their special talent is and just pursue all sorts of occupations and jobs they're good at.
None of us know how to continue and what our own jobs should be, now that the Cutie Mark Crusaders became pointless... But at least we can be pointless in our hometown, that's something all three of us agreed on.



Focusing her magic, the white mare with the purple and pink mane put pressure on the journal she had just written in and slammed it shut, which freed her view of the landscape in front of her again; a brown dirt path, occasionally lined with trees protruding from the wild, tall grass.
With a heavy sigh, the mare hovered the journal and her quill behind her and let them disappear inside the wagon that was harnessed to her.
“We're almost there now.” Her voice was somber, yet could not conceal the small trace of a squeak, a remnant of foalhood days from long ago.
The mare and her two friends – one wearing a thick, brown cowmare hat on top of her flowy, red mane; the other one bearing several scars and missing one of her wings – had almost reached the peak of a steep hill now.
The cowmare looked over to the white unicorn, a longing expression in her eyes. “Ah can't believe it has been three years since ah saw mah family t' last time.....” The tone of her voice was contrastingly deep compared to the unicorn mare's.
“Three years and it was all for nothing.....” the mare with the scars spoke to their right, her voice raspy and frustrated.
The two other mares turned their heads, empathy for their friend in their faces.
Mere seconds later, the trio of young mares climbed over the crest of the hill. As they had reached its peak, they stopped. They looked down on the town that spread out under them. The sun was already glowing in a bright, orange light on the horizon, a sign that nightfall was nearing, but they did pay no attention to it.
“Has it gotten bigger?” the unicorn mare asked. She squinted, then lifted a hoof and held it over her eyes.
“I don't think so.....” her pegasus friend answered. She turned her head around and scanned the town with her eyes. “Maybe a few more houses here and there. I think Ponyville stretches out farther beyond the castle and the friendship school than it did at our departure.”
In the distance, the crystal castle that was one of the town's landmarks sparkled brightly, reflecting the light of the descending sun.
“Not much has changed,” the cowmare concluded, eyes resting on the crystal structure. “Looks like friendship is still magic here.” Her lips curled up into a smile.
Her two friends nodded, now wearing smiles as well.
“Should we go down now?” the unicorn mare looked at the other two, her voice sounding upbeat now.
“No point in waiting!” the orange pegasus responded, rearing up for a moment. “The town won't come up to us!”
Unable to argue over such a fact, the mares to her left agreed. Silent again, they detracted their eyes from the town and began to move down the hill.....




























The first, warm rays of the rising sun shone down on the barn of Sweet Apple Acres. They reached inside through the windows, their light gently gracing a cowmare hat situated on a nightstand on the second floor of the old building.
Steadily rising, the sun sent its rays further into the small room, until they warmed the face of the mare sleeping in the bed next to the nightstand. She stirred as she felt the slight heat, but it took until a voice from downstairs found its way into her ears that she awoke fully.
“Apple Bloom, are ya still asleep up there? We got breakfast ready fer ya!”
The mare in the bed stirred more. “Breakfast?” she mumbled. “Please don' be Sweetie Belle's half-burnt cupcakes again.....” She turned to the side, her face grimaced in disgust.
Her eyes shot open as she finally recognized the voice and as the realization where she was now kicked in. Hastily, Apple Bloom sat up in her bed. “Breakfast!” she shouted. The young mare kicked the covers off her body and jumped on all fours. “Oh, I can' wait ta finally get some real breakfast again!” she cheered while she leaped down onto the floor and rushed out of the room.
A wide grin on her face that reached from ear to ear, Apple Bloom bolted down the stairs and zipped over to the kitchen table, almost running her big sister over in the process.
Still grinning, Apple Bloom found herself looking straight into the eyes of her big brother on the opposite side of the table. Big McIntosh stared back at her, eyes wide from surprise over the sudden appearance of his youngest sister.
“Good Mornin', Apple Bloom!” he said after a moment, as his mind had processed it. He smiled warmly.
“Mornin', Big Mac!” Apple Bloom replied politely, then immediately proceeded to stick her nose into the air. Eyes closed, she sniffed, which got a chuckle out of her big brother.
“What's this smell?” she asked. “Is it..... pancakes? Or waffles?”
Before she could try any more guessing, Applejack appeared behind her and put a plate in front of her. “Both!” she exclaimed.
Apple Bloom opened her eyes and looked down in front of her, full of disbelief.
Applejack trotted around the table and put another plate in front of Big Mac, then sat down at his side, with a third plate full of the delicious treats for herself.
She looked over at her little sister, her face showing a content smile. “It's t' first time in three years me an' Big Mac have ya at t' table fer breakfast here, so ah made sure that it's extra special!” She folded one of the pancakes, took it into her hooves and began eating.
On the other side of the table, Apple Bloom was still staring down at her plate. Her face got reflected by the sirup on her pancakes. She gulped. As a little bit of drool began to form on her lips, she lifted a hoof and wiped it off, finally moving again.
The faces of her siblings couldn't have looked more amused over her reaction. “Ya don' wanna eat?” Applejack asked, her voice sounding ironic.
“Eeyup,” it came from Big Mac, the stallion signaling to be in agreement with this question.
Apple Bloom nodded, reverently, then finally reached for one of the pancakes and took a huge bite out of it. Following a sudden sparkle in her eyes, three more bites happened, then almost all of the pancake had disappeared inside her mouth.
“Thif if the bewt bweakfaft of mah life!” she spoke while simultaneously chewing down on the tasty bits.
Applejack raised an eyebrow. “Whadd'ya say?” she asked, still tongue-in-cheek.
Finished with her first bites, Apple Bloom swallowed. “Ah said: This is t' best breakfast of mah life!” She did not wait for any response, instead, she grabbed one of the big waffles next and continued her feast.
“Ah, shucks, Apple Bloom!” Applejack looked down for a moment, slightly blushing. “But ah won't deny it!” she then said, looking in front of her again. “Ah don' even remember when we had pancakes and waffles fer breakfast t' last time! Must 'ave been when Granny Smith was still with us!” Applejack lifted her pancake to her mouth to take another bite, but then stopped and let her hooves slowly sink as she realized what she just said.
All of a sudden, the temperature in the kitchen seemed to drop. The three siblings hung their heads. Now feeling unable to eat, they stared at their food heavy-hearted. It had become completely silent in the room.
After a few moments, Big Mac sighed. He looked up. “Let us not be like that, y'all. Ya know Granny wouldn't have wanted this.”
Apple Bloom looked up into her big brother's face and Applejack did a look to the left, only slightly peering at him. “Ya right, Big McIntosh.” This was all she said and then she returned her attention to her plate and slowly continued eating.
“Mhm.” Apple Bloom nodded, then followed her big sister's example.
Big McIntosh looked from Applejack to Apple Bloom, then he continued eating in silence, as well.
A few minutes later, Apple Bloom put the last piece of her breakfast into her mouth and swallowed it almost instantly. Then she broke the newly fallen silence.
“Ah need ta head out ta meet Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo now,” she announced.
Big McIntosh and Applejack looked up. “Right,” Applejack said, her voice sounding like she had forgotten her little sister's plans.
Apple Bloom slipped down from her seat, rounded the table to the other side and gave Big McIntosh, then Applejack, a hug, wishing goodbye to both.
“Give Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle mah regards, will ya?” Applejack inquired as Apple Bloom had released her hug.
“Sure thing!” Apple Bloom responded, now slightly more upbeat again. “And maybe ah'll bring them fer lunch later, if that's okay.”
“Sure is, Apple Bloom.” Now a smile returned into Applejack's face. “Extended family is as welcome 'ere as our own family!”
Apple Bloom acknowledged the assent with a smile of her own and a nod, then trotted away to the door. “See ya'll later!” she said, turning around at them, then opened the door and slipped through it.
Outside, Apple Bloom took a moment. She let her eyes wander over the surrounding acres and took a long, deep breath of the fresh farm air. “Sure feels good ta finally be home again!” she spoke to herself. Then she started moving and left Sweet Apple Acres for the old, well-trodden path to Ponyville.


Arrived at Scootaloo's house, Apple Bloom wasted no time to trot up the few stairs between the pillars that flanked the entrance. She raised a hoof and knocked on the door, then did a step back to wait for it to be opened.
It did not take long. Apple Bloom could hear approaching hoofsteps and a second later, the door got opened and Scootaloo poked her head out. Her mane was messy and sticking out into all directions, like she had just gotten knocked out of bed. Though, there were crumbs in the corners of her mouth, which indicated that she had breakfast already.
“Howdy, Scoots!” Apple Bloom greeted her friend, once more raising a hoof. “Ahm headin' ta see Twilight. Ya ready?”
Instead of answering the question, the pegasus mare just stared at Apple Bloom from heavy-lidded eyes. After a few seconds, she closed them and looked to the side, releasing a strong yawn. Then she stared back at Apple Bloom.
“Uh, ya alright, Scoots?” Apple Bloom asked, ears dropping slightly. “How did ya sleep?”
“As well as in most nights,” the tired mare finally responded. She yawned again. “But I'm ready.”
Scootaloo stretched out her wing and flexed it a little, then bent her forelegs, a groan leaving her mouth. As she was done with her exercise and stood tall again, her face looked slightly refreshed. “Let's go and catch Sweetie Belle,” she said, doing a step forward.
“Not like this!” A stern and rather deep voice sounded over from further inside the house.
Scootaloo twitched and gritted her teeth.
Behind her, an older pegasus mare with a turquoise coat trotted through the corridor into her direction. She took position at Scootaloo's side and, right hoof under her chin, turned her head towards her. Using her left hoof, she wiped the crumbs off Scootaloo's face. “First we need to clean your face, you didn't really think you could leave the house like this, now, did you?” As she was finished and had let go of her victim, she smiled satisfactory.
Scootaloo grimaced. “Stop doing things like this!” She turned at her stepaunt and growled, baring her teeth. “When are you finally going to realize that I am an adult! I stopped being a filly years ago, so quit treating me like one, Lofty!”
Lofty scowled, unimpressed. “Then you should quit being as reckless as one.”
“Ugh..... This isn't why I returned to Ponyville!” Scootaloo hastily smoothed her mane, then looked at Apple Bloom, hectically. “Let's leave, before I have to put up with more of this rubbish!”
Without awaiting an answer by Apple Bloom, Scootaloo left the house and trotted out onto the street. Apple Bloom looked after her, then turned around one last time, glaring at Lofty, before she followed Scootaloo.
Having caught up with her, Apple Bloom gave her friend a look of empathy. “Hard ta believe she's still actin' like this after so many years..... That event really turned 'er upside down.”
Scootaloo looked at her, a compassionate smile on her face. “Yeah.....” She looked back at the path in front of her. “But let's not talk about this. I don't want that our first day back in Ponyville is sad and all that.....”
Scootaloo had barely finished her sentence, as she suddenly got buried under a mountain of letters dropped right on top of her head. Hovering above her was a grey pegasus mare with blonde mane, giving Scootaloo a sheepish, apologetic grin. She flew down and landed in front of Scootaloo. “Oh, I'm so sorry!” she said. “I just opened my mailbag for one second..... I free you of those letters right away!” She reached out to the mare in front of her and began to pluck the letters off of her body.
“It's fine, Derpy!” Apple Bloom said, happily beaming at the clumsy mare. “Not like we aren't still used ta that..... And ah kind of missed that even.” She came closer and helped Derpy with freeing her friend.
“Yeah!” Scootaloo agreed, as she could finally poke her head out from under the paper mountain. “Leave it up to you to prevent a conversation from becoming even more depressing!”
Derpy halted her efforts for a moment and looked to the side with a blush. “You're still so kind.”
“Don' mention it! And, hey, how's Dinky doin'?” Apple Bloom asked, using her chance.
Derpy stuffed the last letters into her mailbag, then looked up, smiling brightly. “Oh, Dinky is doing fantastic! She writes a letter every week and her students are making so much progress at Princess Celestia's school, I'm so proud of her!” Her face turned into a grin and she reared up a little, flapping her wings.
“Great ta hear!” Apple Bloom smiled in return. “But, uh, now me and Scoots need ta hurry. We're goin' ta pick up Sweetie Belle and then have ta go and see Twilight.”
“Oh, that's okay!” Derpy closed her mailbag. “I need to continue my tour anyway, but I hope we can talk later. I'm really glad that you're back!”
“Sure thing!” Apple Bloom assured her.
Derpy exchanged a hoofbump with them and gave them a single wave, then took off into the sky again.
Apple Bloom and Scootaloo looked up and followed her with their eyes for a moment, still smiling, then they continued their way through the town.
As they knocked on the door of the Carousel Boutique, where Sweetie Belle had spent the last night, it was Rarity who opened the door for them. “Oh, good morning, darlings!” she said as she noticed their faces. Rarity stepped forward and presented each of them with a welcome hug. Back in the doorway, she gave them a charming smile. “Don't worry, I'm sure Sweetie Belle will be here any moment.”
She turned around, facing the inside of her boutique. “Sweetie Belle, darling? Apple Bloom and Scootaloo are here for your meeting with Twilight!”
“I'm coming!” it returned faintly from upstairs. A minute later, the door at the other end of the boutique opened with a green glow and Sweetie Belle trotted out gracefully. She carefully closed the door with her magic and joined Rarity's side.
“Hi, girls!” Sweetie Belle greeted them, giving them a smile. “I'm sorry for being late.”
“It's okay,” Scootaloo said. “We just arrived here. Are you ready?”
Before she could answer, Rarity interjected a question. “Sweetie Belle, darling, did you brush your mane?” Her face looked slightly nervous.
Sweetie Belle turned to her. “I did,” she confirmed swiftly, then turned her attention back to her friends. “Let's go, we don't wanna be late for–”
“A-Are you sure, Sweetie Belle?” Rarity interrupted her with another question. “Maybe I just brush it one more time!” She ignited her horn and hovered over a brush from a nearby table. Humming, she started to brush her sister's mane.
Sweetie Belle looked at Rarity from the corner of her eyes, doubtful. “Why? I said I did. And I was a filly when you brushed my mane the last time..... What's wrong, Rarity?”
Rarity's face was calm again now. “Oh, nothing, darling. We just want to make extra sure that you really look fabulous enough for meeting a princess!”
Sweetie Belle, Apple Bloom and Scootaloo exchanged glances. “Uh, Rarity? We're just going to see Twilight..... We know her for years. And you know her for years, too.” Sweetie Belle clarified, confused.
“Oho, darling, I'm not talking about Twilight! I'm talking about the other princess, of course!” She continued to hum while carefully going through Sweetie's mane.
Sweetie Belle stared blankly and so did Apple Bloom and Scootaloo. “The other princess? Who?”
Rarity stopped for a moment, disbelief forming in her face. “Oh, haven't you heard? It's spoken about all over town..... Princess Flurry Heart arrives today!”
The pupils of the trio of young mares shrunk as they heard the name.
“Flurry Heart comes to Ponyville? Today?!” All of a sudden, the old squeak returned into Sweetie Belle's voice.
“Yes, darling,” Rarity answered, her voice sounding slightly uncomfortable now. “She is coming to see Twilight, one of the rare days she has time to visit her aunt..... “
A cold glistening appeared in Apple Bloom's eyes. “Fer real?! She's comin' ta see Twilight just when we do, too?” Her voice was noticeably raised. It caused Scootaloo to give her a careful look, that was somewhere between empathic and worried.
“Uh, yes.” Her brush was shaking slightly now, but the fashionista covered it up excellently. “Twilight showed me a picture of her niece yesterday and you should have seen it! She has grown into such a beautiful, young lady! She is only twelve, but already gives Princess Cadance a run for her bits!” She returned to her humming for a few seconds, then hovered the brush back to the table. “And there, now we are done with you! What do you say?” She held a mirror in front of her sister.
Sweetie Belle did not answer, instead, she stared at her reflection with a less than enthusiastic expression. Scootaloo and Apple Bloom had similar looks in their faces, although the latter also showed traces of anger.
Rarity noticed the tension. She hovered the mirror away. “Don't worry, girls, I'm sure there will still be plenty of time for you to tell Twilight about your journey!”
Sweetie Belle shook her head a few times, freeing herself of the paralyzis. She looked at her sister. “It's not this, Rarity, but you know what.....” She glanced at Apple Bloom. “Uh, nevermind.” Sweetie Belle looked back into her older sister's eyes. “We need to go now, Rarity, we don't want to let Twilight wait!” she said quickly, then turned away from her and trotted out of the boutique with hasty steps. In passing, she gave Apple Bloom a nudge. “Bye, Rarity, I see you later!” she shouted back at her sister without turning around.
Scootaloo followed right in her tracks, while Apple Bloom stayed behind and gritted her teeth.
After a few seconds, both Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle called out for her. “APPLE BLOOM!”
It seemed to awaken Apple Bloom from a trance. She stopped gritting her teeth, gave a last, cold look into Rarity's direction, then she turned around slowly and trudged after her friends.
Rarity looked after her, frowning. “I hope this goes well.....” she whispered, then stepped back into the boutique and closed the door behind her.


Now on the way to Twilight's castle, Apple Bloom, Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle trotted at each other's side with frowning faces. In the distance, they could already see their destination. They weren't far away anymore.
“What a bunch o' horseapples!” Apple Bloom yelled, giving her frustration and anger free reign. “Ah don't wanna see this insufferable brat for even jus' one second!”
Her friends looked at her, understanding in their faces.
“I don't look forward to this either, Apple Bloom,” Scootaloo said. “We should avoid her as best as we can.”
“Flurry Heart has chosen the worst day for visiting Twilight.....” Sweetie Belle added. “Even though it's been five years now, I still can't like her again. Now I wish we would have returned just a few days later.....”
Apple Bloom and Scootaloo gave her agreeing nods.
“But maybe we don't even have to see her,” Scootaloo suggested. “It's still morning and she will probably not arrive that early.”
“That's right,” Sweetie Belle supported the suggestion. “Plus, Twilight knows what she did, so even if Flurry Heart should arrive early, she will ensure that we can avoid her. I don't think we will run into Flurry Heart.”
Apple Bloom suddenly narrowed her eyes at something in the distance. “Ya two might wanna correct yaselves..... Talk of t' manticore and he is bound ta appear. Guess who's walkin' inta Twilight's castle right now?” She pointed ahead of them with one hoof. Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle looked up and followed it.
In front of them, just far away enough to not notice them yet, Princess Flurry Heart of the Crystal Empire – her purple and blue mane falling gracefully over her shoulders – and a guard in a golden armor trotted up the stairs at the castle's entrance.
Their mouths open, Apple Bloom, Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle stared at the scene.
“Flurry Heart,” Scootaloo said, then their faces collectively darkened.....




.