//------------------------------// // Introduction // Story: Love Crusaders // by Comrade Bagel Muffin //------------------------------// Sweetie Belle relaxed on the couch in the CMC club house as she waited for Apple Bloom and Scootaloo to show up. Spring had just arrived and Winter Wrap Up had just wrapped up last week, and she was wondering if the other crusaders had noticed what she had noticed, namely about couples. Everypony she really knew was in a couple, and most ponies her age were starting to pair up too. After a few minutes she heard the dead give away of Apple Bloom hurrying up the steps of the ladder. "Hello Apple Bloom." Sweetie waved as her friend came up the stairs. Her hair was pulled back into a ponytail and her ribbon had been replaced by a yellow band. "Hey there Sweetie Belle, how're you doing?" She dropped down on the couch Next to her friend. "I'm doing well," Sweetie answered her tone had slowly become similar to Rarity's, but she still had her own little song like spin on the upper-crust accent. "How're you today?" "I'm good." Apple Bloom leaned back and stretched out. "I hope that you weren't waiting on me for to long. I would have gotten here sooner, but I promised to watch the colt till Mac and Sugar go back." "That's alright. I was just thinking about how to talk about what is on my mind right now. Thank you for letting me head up here early." "Sure no problem, I wish Scootaloo would hurry up and get here though. She does know that the meetings today right?" "I'm sure she does. I think she was partying with Rumble and Featherweight last night. So she might be nursing a bit of a hangover." "What she went clubbing and didn't invite us?!" "I think they flew her up to Cloudsdale so we couldn't have gone with her." "She could have still invited us, though." Apple Bloom crossed her forehooves. Sweetie couldn't help but give a stifled giggle at Apple Blooms behavior. "So do you want to start talking about whatever it was that you wanted to talk about and then we fill in Scootaloo when she gets here?" "No, not really. I think it would be best if we waited for her besides I don't think that we'll have to wait too long," Sweetie Belle said looking out the window. "Because unless I'm mistaken that's Rainbow Dash bringing her over right now." A few moments later Scootaloo came in through the door. "Hey girls what's up, did you miss me?" She smirked as the came into the old CMC club house. "Yeah we've been waiting for what feels like an eternity." Apple Bloom slouched in exasperation. "Oh, huh sorry I was in Cloudsdale last night and Dash was my way home." "It's okay Scootaloo she just got here a few minutes before you did," Sweetie said. Apple Bloom playfully stuck her tongue out at her friend. "Well either way I'm here now." Scootaloo flopped onto the couch next to Sweetie Belle putting her between her two friends. "So, Sweetie Belle, what's up. Why'd you call a meeting?" "Well, so, you know how like all our sisters and their friends are in relationships right?" Sweetie asked. "Well yeah?" Scootaloo nodded. "Sure do." Apple Bloom nodded. "Well. I've also noticed that there are a good number of ponies that are our age that are also starting, couple up. I saw Snips and Snails with Babs and Dinky heading out on a double date after we finished Winter Wrap up." "Ha. I knew that my cus' was seeing a colt!" Apple Bloom cheered. "I just can't believe that it's either Snips or Snails. Hmm, I wonder which one it is." "Apple Bloom focus." Scootaloo clapped her hooves bring her friend back into reality. "So, anyway Sweetie. What about it?" "Well, I was wondering if maybe it was time that we tried getting colt friends of our own," Sweetie said. "I mean our sisters seem to be having a good time of it, and shot even ponies our own age are starting to try the dating scene. So maybe we should too?" "Maybe Sweetie's right Apple Bloom. I'd feel kind of silly if you and I were the only two mares our own age that don't have a colt friend." "Well yeah. I mean I would be pretty embraced too." Apple Bloom nodded. "Well I mean it'd be the three of us as outcast again," Sweetie Belle said. Both Apple Bloom and Scootaloo gave her an incredulous look with slightly raised eyebrows. "What?" "Don't play dumb with us Sweetie." Scootaloo smirked and playfully punched her foreleg. "I'm not. What was that for?" She asked rubbing her leg, it didn't hurt, but it was the principle of the matter. "Come on Sweetie Belle everypony knows that you and Button Mash are all googoo eyes with each other." Apple Bloom smirked. "So don't play dumb with us you two have been a couple for at least a two or three years now." "W-Wait what n-no." Sweetie's white cheeks were becoming red with a growing blush. "He and I, we're just friends that all, we've never even been on a date." "Sugarcube. We're just friends." Apple Bloom smirk only grew. "And you've never stuttered or blushed about ponies talking about how much time we spend hanging out." "Well no pony ever teases me about it," she said defensively. "And besides what about you and Tender Tap or Scootaloo and Rumble?" She pointed an accusatory hoof at her two friends. "Hmm. Well you know." Apple Bloom started tapping her chin. "Tender Taps ain't exactly a bad colt as far as colts go, and he certainly ain't no Snips and Snails. Hmmm." "Rumble's already got a filly friend." Scootaloo shrugged. "And besides, we're just friends, and competitors, and team mates, and stuff. But its not really a date thing." "Wait Rumble's got a fillyfriend?" Sweetie asked. "Yeah she's in Cloudsdale, she's actually pretty cool. You know. I think they were trying to get me and Featherweight to get together. He was acting all kinds of goofy. Colts do that when their around a crush right?" Scootaloo asked, when her two friends nodded, she clapped her hooves together. "Alright Crusaders! Here's our mission." She jumped off of the couch her little wings buzzing. "This time next week we're all going to try and see if the colts we're friends with are 'coltfriend' material. Cutie Mark Crusader Triple Daters!" She put her hoof out and Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle put there hooves on hers, and repeated it with a cheer. "Cutie Mark Crusaders Triple Daters!"