//------------------------------//
// Cutie Mark Crusaders Impostors 
// Story: Grogar meets the Cutie Mark Crusaders 
// by LordCalamity 
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It was early in the morning within Sweet Apple Acres. The sun was slowly rising bringing out the orange sunlight in the Apple familiy's farm. The farm pony named Applejack walks out of her barn house and yawns for she is early to do her chores for the day. She walks over to the forest of apple trees to begin her work only to see something she didn't expect to see. Her sister Apple Bloom was bucking the trees this early in the day, she sees her buck the tree and apples fell on the baskets surrounding it. Applejack calls out to her "Good mornin' Apple Bloom! Ah see ya got started without me. Let me help ya out sis." Just as she approached her, Apple Bloom nods her head.
"No thanks Applejack, ah can handle it just fine without ya!" Apple Bloom said. "As ya can see, ah've been doing just fine on mah own." She points her hoof at the piles of baskets containing apples from the trees she has harvested. This impressed Applejack as she is looking at the hard work she has done.
"Ahm sure ya'll can handle all the work, but if ya overwork yourself then ya'll end up tired and exhausted than a pig heating up in the summer blaze."  Applejack said to her sister. "Why don't ya have a break? Let me take care of todays chores and ya'll can hang out with yer friends."  Apple Bloom was giving her a pout as she angrily glares at her.
"Now what makes you think that you could just take over my chores?" Apple Blooms said to her. "I. Don't. Need. YOUR. HELP!" She shouted in anger then she walks off to another part of the farm to continue harvesting apples.
Applejack was left alone to think that her sister yelled at her, she was confused as to why is she this upset over some chores. She sighs and then she walks over to the trees Apple Bloom has yet to claim. "I wonder what got her so upset, maybe ah should just talk to her when she takes a break." Applejack went over to the trees to begin her work at another part of Sweet Apple Acres. Unbeknownst to her, Apple Bloom glared at the direction where her sister went as her eyes glowed a sinister shade of yellow.


In another part of Ponyville stood the Carousel Boutique, where Rarity lives. She was preparing to begin making dresses for her business in fashion. The white unicorn gathered many materials in her magic, then she starts sewing the cloth to form a dress using a sewing machine. It wasn't long until she spots her sister Sweetie Belle sitting at the corner of the room pouting.
"Sweetie Belle, is something the matter darling?" Rarity asked her with concern. Sweetie Belle looks up and nods her head sideways.
"I just do not know what to do around here." Sweetie Belle responded.
Rarity raises her hoof to her chin to think for a moment and then she got an idea. "Why don't you help me around shop? I'm sure I'll need all the help making the dresses, and who better than anypony is you." She winks to her sister.
Sweetie Belle put a forced smile at her sister's suggestion. "It beats sitting around all day." She said. They spent the next few hours modeling, sewing, and decorating the clothing with blue gemstones. Sweetie was holding the materials her sister told her to hold onto them. Rarity was making great progress thanks to her little sister's efforts to help. The dresses she made were decorated with small blue gems around the waist and lined with white fabric with cyan feathers at the shoulders. Rarity had to stop to take a break and hug her sister for a job well done.
"I must say you've done a fabulous job, I couldn't have done them without you Sweetie Belle." Rarity said as she is happily hugging her sister. "Why don't you go out and have some ice cream? You certainly deserve it darling." She lets go of her and takes the dresses she worked on to hang them to be sold off in her boutique. Sweetie Belle leaves the room before waving to her sister with a smile,while Rarity waves back.
As soon as she leaves Sweetie Belle had to angrily scowl as she makes her way to the kitchen to get the ice cream. "That was annoying, having to help her make dresses what an eyesore." Sweetie rolls her eyes and walks to the kitchen. Rarity's cat Opal hisses at her, this made Sweetie growl at the cat and shoots a dark yellow magic laser at it. Opal was almost hit by the laser causing her to run away in fear, she meows in fear of the unicorn filly. "Thats right you better fear me. Soon all ponies will fear at a certain emperor of monsters." She grins evilly as her eyes glowed yellow.


In Ponyville, where the ponies usually live in harmony. Some ponies were hanging out with their friends and some to manage shops and other businesses. A familiar rainbow maned pegasus named Rainbow Dash was flying around town with a carefree attitude. it was until she spots a small orange pegasus riding on a scooter using her wings to speed up. Rainbow Dash flies over to her direction to greet her biggest fan.
"Hey Scoots!" She waved to Scootaloo. But then the filly rolls away from her ignoring Rainbow, who is now confused. "Huh?" Rainbow chased after Scootaloo all over Ponyville while avoiding random ponies trying to get her attention but the filly keeps ignoring her  everytime. The rainbow pegasus flies over to block her path hoping to stop and talk to her. "WAAAAAAIIIIIT!!!" Rainbow Dash braced for impact only for the scooter she was riding on skid to a stop. She opens her eyes to meet Scootaloo face to face.
"What do you want?" Scootaloo asked her as she takes of her helmet she was wearing. Scootaloo looks at Rainbow Dash with an annoyed expression. "I'm busy doing my scooter tricks, this had better be good for me to stop riding my scooter." She crosses her forehooves and pouts.
"What gives squirt? Aren't you happy to see me?" Rainbow asked her in concern.
"Not really." Scootaloo rolled her eyes.
This response caused Rainbow Dash to gasp "But why? I thought you'd might want to hang out with me." Rainbow Dash said in disbelief. "Is something bothering ya Scoots? I'm right here if you need to talk to me. Whats on your mind?" she asked the small pegasus.
"Is that what you need me for, to hang out with you? Seriously? I don't need to talk to you!" Scootaloo spoke back. "In fact, I don't need you in my life or anywhere else!" she shouted at Rainbow who is starting to show tears in her eyes. "Now if you'll excuse me, I need to get to riding my scooter without you!" Scootaloo puts her helmet back on then rapidly flaps her little wings and rides away leaving Rainbow Dash having her feelings hurt trying to pull back her tears.
"I-I don't understand, was it s-something I said?" Rainbow asks herself at the thought of having Scootaloo, the one pony to admire her awesomeness turn her away really hurt her emotionally. She wipes the tears with her hooves and try her best to hide her emotions. "Maybe I need to talk to Twilight about this, she'll know what to do." Rainbow Dash flies off into the direction of Twilight's castle hoping to get some help on her situation with Scootaloo. Meanwhile Scootaloo was busy riding the streets of Ponyville with a wicked smirk on her face as her eyes glowed a yellow coloring.


Inside Twilight's castle, she was doing some research on Grogar finding all the books that could help her to look for where he is hiding. She was hovering books with her magic to see if there is something to help her. "Hmm, nope not this one." Twilight dismisses the book. "Surely there is something about him I can find in these old books," Twilight was searching high and low until she hears someone entering her castle.
"Twilight, you gotta help me with something and I really need your help!" Rainbow Dash said as she enters the room. Twilight can tell that her pegasus friend is feeling upset so she stops her search to help her out.
"What is it Rainbow?" Twilight said with concern for her friend.
Before she could answer another pony walked in the room. They recognize Applejack walking in the room however she seemed concerned about something. "Howdy there Twilight, I was hoping you could help me with Apple Bloom." the farm pony said.
"I was hoping you could help me out with Scootaloo as well." Rainbow said.
"Wait, is there somethin goin on with ya and Scootaloo?" Applejack asked her and she nods in agreement.
"I suppose it is strange, whats wrong with them?" Twilight asks both of her friends.
Applejack tells Twilight and Rainbow her side of the story about Apple Bloom back on the farm she was bucking for apples and how she said she didn't need any help with the farm work. Twilight listens to Rainbow's story on how Scootaloo doesn't want to hang out with her anymore, which disheartened her rainbow friend. The purple alicorn was thinking to herself if the Crusaders are in Ponyville, how is Grogar able to reach them out of any ponies sight? This leaves Twilight with even more questions about Apple Bloom's and Scootaloo's behaviors. It wasn't long until their unicorn friend Rarity enters the room wearing a sparkling blue and white dress.
"Hello Twilight darling!" Rarity greets her friend joyfully. The fashionista twirls around to her friends with style. "Well, what do you girls think? Sweetie Belle helped me make this lovely gown in the boutique." Rarity said smiling over to her friends.
"Its a nice dress Rarity, but we want to know if Sweetie Belle was acting strange lately?" Twilight asks her unicorn friend. "Has she been, you know? Feeling angry? Maybe she is out of character?"
Rarity ponders for a moment thinking back at her home with her sister there. "What do you mean Twilight? Last time I saw her she was feeling bored and I offered her to help me make the dresses for the boutique and she was willing to help out." she said to her purple friend. "Now what makes you think my dear Sweetie Belle is acting strange? As far as I know she seems perfectly fine."
"Are ya sure about that?" Applejack spoke up. "Apple Bloom has been getting mad at me fer no reason and ah don't know why." The farm pony puts a hoof to her chin thinking about her sister concerning her attitude.
"Well, Scootaloo is thinking i'm not so cool anymore." Rainbow Dash said solemnly. "I want to know what is upsetting her." Rainbow's ears droop down as she feels heartbroken.
Rarity looks to both Applejack and Rainbow Dash concerned on how they feel. "I am very sorry to hear about that." she said to them. "I'm sure they'll open up to the both of you."
Before the conversation goes even further, Discord appears in a flash of light. "Twilight! I have returned and I found out where the Cutie Mark Crusaders are held!" Discord declared with his arms up. He stops and notices Applejack, Rainbow Dash, and Rarity in the room with Twilight. "I suppose you need questions that need answering?" He raises an eyebrow at the other ponies in the room.
"Discord, what are ya doin here?" Applejack asks the draconequus.
"Are they back in their homes?" Twilight asks.
Discord places his arms to his hips. "Pfft, are they back home?" Discord says as he rolls his eyes. "No! I said I found out where that old goat is keeping those fillies."
"Wait. What do you mean, an old goat is keeping the Crusaders?" Rainbow asks. 
"Oh, you haven't heard? There is a really powerful villain who came back from being imprisoned in the Bewitching Bell and is now loose somewhere and has foalnapped your little sisters." Discord said. "Well more or less in Rainbow's case." That earned him a glare from said rainbow maned pegasus.
"Are ya sure its not some prank made by you?" Applejack points her right hoof to the draconequus to see if he is lying. "I do recall ya bein Grogar to fool those bad guys to get rid of us." She raises her eyebrow.
"Now that you mention it, you did go against us to ruin Twilight's coronation by bringing back those villains to attack us." Rarity said pointing her hoof to him.
"Okay! Okay! We get it! Life lesson learned! Now can we get back on topic!" Discord shouted bringing the attention back to the ponies in the room. "What do you mean the Crusaders are back home? They are with Grogar bringing in monsters back from Tartarus to his lair." He looks to the ponies to see what is going on.
"We assumed that Apple Bloom, Scootaloo, and Sweetie Belle are back in their homes." Twilight said to Discord in confusion. "How can they be in two places at once unless." Discord holds up his lion paw up to her face.
"Hold that thought." Discord said as he pinches his forehead and sighs. "Wait one moment please." he snaps his fingers and disappears for a minute or two then he reappears in the room with the three fillies in his arms angrily shouting and flailing their hooves. He lets them go and they land on the floor and the fillies stare at him in anger.
"You dare bring us to your castle?! I should fire a death beam at..your...face?" Sweetie Belle looks around the room until she spots Rarity among the ponies in the room. She looks her with a sheepish smile. "H-Hiya Rarity." Sweetie says as she waves at her nervously.
Discord raises his lion paw to the direction of the three fillies. "Do you see what I see?" he questions Twilight and the others.
"Its just Apple Bloom, Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo. Why did ya bring em here Discord?" Applejack said.
"Why, its a simple case of mistaken identity dear Applejack." Discord answered her. "What we have here are replicas of the Cutie Mark Crusaders. Clone copies that Grogar made to trick you into believing that 'they' are your sisters." Discord crosses his arms at the crusaders with disapproval.
"That doesn't make sense." Rainbow Dash spoke up. "We see them in Ponyville all the time. How can we be sure that they are impostors?" Rainbow walks up only to stop when Scootaloo hisses at her.
"Why don't we ask them what happened when they retrieved the Bewitching Bell." Discord suggested.
The Crusaders look at each other nervously as if their secret is about to be revealed to everyone in the room. They huddled and whispered to each other and nodded then looked back at Twilight and the others. The fillies were keeping their mouths shut to not reveal anything they want to know.
"Alright, girls what happened to the bell while I was gone?" Twilight asked them. They were keeping still for a few minutes while they were avoiding eye contact. "This is going to be hard."
"Scootaloo, I just want to know. Did you mean what you just said to me a while back?" Rainbow said to the younger pegasus. She leers at her hoping to back off, instead the rainbow maned pony glares back.
"Oh come now, This is ridiculous." Rarity said as she walks towards Sweetie Belle. "You can't honestly believe that these fillies would unleash a villain upon Equestria. Especially, dear Sweetie Belle." She pats her hoof to Sweetie's head. "Why I would not think that my own sister would team up with the likes of that nasty Grogar. She is far better th-." 
Sweetie Belle was trying so hard to keep her mouth closed. But, she gave in and screamed. "AAAHH!! I cannot take it anymore! Somepony make her stop talking! Its already bad enough that I had to look at her in that hideous dress!" Sweetie Belle shouted. "Yes we are clones! We were instructed by lord Grogar to take their places so you wouldn't suspect that they have gone missing!" Sweetie covers her mouth with her hooves.
Rarity was shocked at her in disbelief while Twilight and the others glare at the fake Crusaders. Apple Bloom and Scootaloo facehooved themselves as they have been revealed to be impostors. "Well there's your proof! Proof that they are the fakes and the real Cutie Mark Crusaders are with Grogar!" Discord declared pointing his finger at them while wearing a navy blue suit and spiky hair. With a snap of his fingers the clothes he was wearing disappears.
"Alright you got us." The fake Apple Bloom responded. "We are fake copies of your sisters. The three of us were keeping ya occupied while Grogar is planning to take over Equestria." She grins evilly.
Twilight light up her horn ready to cast a spell. "Where is he?" The alicorn threatened the impostors.
"We're not gonna tell you." The fake Scootaloo said. "And even if we do, you will be too late to stop him." The three clone fillies approach them with evil smiles as their eyes glowed a sinister yellow color.
The fake Sweetie Belle lights up her horn in a dark magical aura. "Since the cat is out of the bag. You'll have to go bye-bye." She fires a large energy beam only for it to transform into confetti. The Crusaders were dumbfounded at this. Twilight looks up and sees that she and her friends are safe.
"You seem to forget that I'm still here." Discord said. With a snap of his finger he traps the Cutie Mark Crusader impostors in a magic bubble. "I think we have no need for fakes in this show." He smirks and snaps his finger again and the false fillies scream in agony as they disappear into black smoke. The three fake crusaders are now gone. "Now, I think I should get back to spying on old Grogar. Whatever he is planning it has to be big." As Discord was about to leave, Applejack speaks up.
"Wait, before ya go, make sure they are safe." Applejack said to the draconequus. Discord nodded and disappears by snapping his fingers. Now she turns to Twilight with a worried expression on her face. "Whats gonna happen now Twilight?" She said to her alicorn friend.
"I don't know, but we need to prepare ourselves for whatever Grogar is planning. Lets find Pinkie Pie and Fluttershy and Starlight. We're going to need their help to stop him." She wraps her right hoof to Applejack to assure her that they will be calm. "Hopefully Discord will bring your sisters back and I promise you that they'll be fine." She gives her a sad smile.
Rarity was trying not to break down but instead she looks determined to get her sister back from the villain that stole her away. Rainbow Dash stomps her hooves in frustration then she takes to the air and dashed out of the room to go look for her other friends. As for Twilight, she gathers some paper to write to Princess Celestia about Grogar and his plan to conquer Equestria. An upcoming battle between the Elements of Harmony and the emperor of monsters is slowly approaching. The battle that will decide the fate of Equestria will soon begin.