It was nighttime at Sweet Apple Acres. The sun had shown its last glow over the sky before succumbing to the stars. Tonight, Cory was put in charge of babysitting the Cutie Mark Crusaders and their slumber party, while the rest of the Apple Family were to haul a load of zap apple jam to a market over in Baltimare.
"Now you make sure Apple Bloom and her friends don't get in any trouble alright?" Applejack asked Cory as he was staring out of his window.
"I will make sure of that." Cory replied, and with that, AJ, Big Mac and Granny Smith set hoof on their journey.
A few hours passed and Cory was found still in the confines of his room whipping up another one his artistic creations from a pile mismatched items. As he was putting the finishing touches, the floor board opened. It was Applebloom dressed in what looked like an aluminum based armor in the style of a knight.
"Hey Cory." She said gleefully. "Wanna play with us?"
Cory thought for a moment and nodded back. He followed them to the living room which had now been arranged to look like a fortress from a forgotten land. The couches were made into mountains, the lamps were flagstaffs and the curtains were patches of grass. The CMC were found wearing a rather peculiar set of costumes, assumed to represent knights of the round table.
"So what do I do here?" Cory asked.
"Simple." Sweetie Belle replied. "You rescue us from one of the everfree forest creatures."
She pointed her hoof towards what seemed to be a large blanket draped over the back of another table and set of chairs. The CMC had really put thought and effort to their game of pretend. So Cory shrugged and put on the tinfoil armor, sword and shield that had been offered to him.
"Are you ready?" Applebloom asked, to which Cory nodded back.
"Rawr." Scootaloo sounded as she went behind the creature and the other two got involved in the . "I am a dangerous creature form the everfree forest."
She threw a piece of the blanket around Sweetie Belle and Applebloom as if capturing them in an invisible forcefield. The three signaled them and gave him the cue to hold his plastic sword in the air.
"Um," He thought. "Halt dangerous creature. I'm here to defeat you. I guess."
"You can never defeat me." Scootaloo proclaimed. "I'm am far too dangerous and powerful."
Cory just stood there and did nothing.
"Now you try to rescue us." Applebloom whispered.
"Oh yeah, right."
He charged towards the pretend creature and made a slight jab to the right. Before he knew it, he was tossing and turning around the floor, wrestling with Scootaloo's creation. After a few kicks and tugs against the pillows and sheets, he collapsed onto the rug. When he lifted the covers, he realized he was all alone. The CMC were nowhere to be found.
"Kids?!" He shouted. "Kids?" But nopony responded.
"Applebloom? Sweetie Belle? Scootaloo? Where are you?"
Cory Started to panic. Applejack, Big Mac and Granny Smith would be home tomorrow. He couldn't imagine what they would feel if his fun took hold of his responsibility. So he began to frantically search the house. He went through the kitchen, across the bedrooms, into the cupboards, and even in his upstairs sleeping quarters. Not a trace of them could be found. Cory was almost about to give in until heard some faint giggles coming from the barn next door. That must've been them, as only a trio of ponies could make that noise.
He cautiously entered the barn doors. It was dark and quiet in there. Only a fool would think somepony was hiding in here. The place looked deserted without a living soul to be found. That was until he saw some shadows moving on the far back wall. He cautiously stepped forward and moved in their direction. After a few tense moments...
"AAAhhh!! You found us!!!" The CMC shouted as they jumped out of bales of hay and landed on top of Cory, giving him a near heart attack in the process.
"Yeah, I guess I did." Cory proclaimed, whom was still in a state of shock.
"You've been a good playmate and foal sitter tonight Cory." Applebloom said.
"In fact, we'd like to give you a special surprise." Scootaloo added.
"A surprise?" Cory asked. "I think you surprised me enough already for one night."
"Don't worry sugarcube." Said Applebloom. "This is somethin yer gonna love."
So they quickly guided Cory to what was revealed to be a quaint treehouse nestled in the middle of the apple forest. It was rather impressive for its size, complete with a rickety staircase that let to the entrance door. The CMC grabbed him by his hand and escorted him in that direction.
"Since you've been such a great helper at sweet apple acres..." Said Applebloom.
"And that you've helped us make some amazing artwork on the side..." Added Sweetie Belle.
"And that you just might be the most awesome foal sitter we've ever had.." Scootaloo added as all three of them opened the door.
"We decided to go a little further!!" They all said together. They displayed in front of him what looked like a magenta colored sash and beret, perched on top of a wooden chair.
"Wh..What is this?" Asked Cory.
"This is your new status Cory old pal!" Applebloom claimed. "That is of course if yer up for it."
"We'd like to make you an honorary Cutie Mark Scout Master." Scootaloo explained.
"I don't know what that means." Cory said in confusion. "What is a Cutie Mark Scout Master?"
"It's just a fun little status we only recently made up." Sweetie Belle explained. "It reminds us that whenever we have our secret meetings, you are more than welcome to join in and lead in whatever activities we have in mind."
"That sounds promising." Cory commented. "Alright, I can have a go with that."
The CMC squealed and took their places at the far end of the room. Sweetie stood front and center and took out a large parchment for what was presumably a speech.
"For his tireless efforts in making Ponyville a happier place, and making our sleepover more awesome than ever, we, the cutie mark crusaders elect Cory Agees to be our friend, bosom buddy, chum of chums, homeboy, amigo, pal, confidant...."
Applebloom gave her the cue to speed it up.
"Oh yeah." Sweetie Belle giggled. "And fellow "CUTIE MARK SCOUTMASTER!!"
They all cheered and fastened the sash and beret on his hand. At first, he felt a little ridiculous, but after a few more adjustments, it made him feel proud and high above everypony else. So, soon after, they continued their little game of knights and creatures, played with a few jokes and ran around the house, until they all decided it would be time to tucker out and head to sleep.
"Thanks for hanging out with us tonight." Sweetie Belle stated as Cory hopped into his bed.
"Well, for what it's worth." Cory replied tiredly, "It was my pleasure."
"Can't wait to have adventures with you in the near future." Scootaloo added as all three of them trotted back downstairs.
"Good night bru...I mean Cory." said Applebloom.
Cory made a little, warming smile and said "Goodnight" as well.