//------------------------------// // Coping with the Crusaders // Story: A Trio of Terribly Untimely Teleportations // by AkwardPlatypus //------------------------------// Steve and Applejack were walking through the endless amounts of apple trees, going over to where the Cutie Mark Crusaders' clubhouse was. They were both talking, asking eachother questions and such on the way over. Steve was explaining how he thought he had gotten here. Applejack looked at Steve as if he was a maniac. "You tellin' me you went t' Tartarus t' get somethin' t' put in yer fireplace?" "If by Tartarus you mean the Nether, yes." He replied. "Why couldn't you jus' burn some wood 'r somethin'?" "Wood wasn't that common where I was from. I lived in the plans, and the nearest forest was quite a ways to the east. Not to mention that the place was crawling with creepers." "Creepers?" Steve sighed, remembering some incidents he had with creepers. "Yes. Green, crunchy walking... Things. When they get close enough to you, they basically trigger a fuse in themselves and blow themselves up." "They blow themselves up to kill ya? Why?" "Nobody is entirely sure. All we know is that it's very destructive and deadly. Lots of supplies go to repairs because of them." "Must be a nightmare livin' there." "You just need to be good with a sword to take care of them. Or in my case, the only thing I had on hand; a pickaxe." "Guessin' you're a miner?" "A miner, carpenter, blacksmith, leatherworker, gemcrafter, enchanter, swordsman, lumberjack, farmer... List goes on." Applejack blinked. "And you do this by yerself?" Steve responded with a nod, readjusting his diamond pickaxe in his hand. "I get the occasional help from the nearby villagers in return for defense against some creatures, but for the most part, yes. I'm alone." "Amazin'. I can't imagine doin' more work than applebuckin' 'round here." "Applebucking?" "Yeah, applebuckin'." She bumped a nearby tree they were walking by with her left-hind leg, and a few apples fell. Applejack caught one, and two or three came down on Steve. He managed to catch one, but picked up the others that he had dropped. "I wish getting food was that easy where I lived." He said, admiring what Applejack had just did. "I'm guessin' it ain't no trot gettin' dinner?" "Well, I can get food easily. I've found myself eating rotten flesh from zombies more and more often to survive, but, getting good food isn't easy at all." Applejack stopped in her tracks, and looked over her shoulder to Steve. "...Y' what?" "I ate rotting flesh from zombies I've killed in the mines." Applejack, astonished, decided to change the subject and keep on walking. "...Er, nevermind. So, you said you could build a house erlier?" "It'll take me a bit longer than normal, but, yes, I should be able to get a house up in a short amount of time, if i have some building materials. "Alrighty. But fer now, you're gonna stay in this here clubhouse." She used her right front leg to point to the CMC clubhouse, which was only a few meters away. They both walked up to the door in silence. Once there, Applejack told Steve to stay back and out of sight. "I wanna explain to these fillies that you ain't no harm, alright? Ain't every day y' got somepo-... Some... A Steve walkin' 'round these parts. Y' understand?" Steve simply nodded, and watched as Applejack went up the steps to the clubhouse's door. Steve hid behind a nearby tree. Applejack listened for a moment. She heard three little voices inside, as well as some hoofsteps and some other noises. They must be in there. She knocked, and yelled loudly, "Hey girls! I'm comin' in!" She opened the door and walked in. "Hope you three don't mind, but we got so--!" She cut herself off and gasped, quickly looking at the situation in front of her. Applebloom and Scootaloo both had a pairs of scissors, and were cutting pictures out of two magazines. The magazines were old Playcolt issues. Sweetie Belle was over in the corner, away from the other two. The two with the magazines looked up and gasped, seeing Applejack walk in. "Uh... Uh.. W-We can explain!" Said Scootaloo, hiding a magazine behind her back as Applejack glared at them both. "Where in the hay did you get these?!" She roared. "We found 'em in the garbage!" Applebloom said. "We saw Big Mac dump a bag in th' garbane, 'n' that reminded us! We hadn't tried dumpster-divin' yet! We found these!" Applejack facehoofed. "You know what those things are?!" "Uhh..." They both said in unison. They looked at eachother, eachothers' faces growing red with embarassment. "You three go back home, right now! Gimme them things 'n' get out! Applebloom, I expect you t' be in your bedroom early t'night!" The two nodded, hanging their heads in shame. They dropped their scissors, handed Applejack the magazines, left the cut-out photos on the floor, and walked out. Sweetie Belle, who had been sitting in the corner the whole time, sighed and walked out behind them. After the three were out of sight, Applejack went down the stairs and to the tree Steve had been hiding behind. "...I worry fer them girls sometimes. Well, coast is clear. Let's go in there." They both walked into the small clubhouse. Steve saw some of the cut out photos on the floor. "...Is that...?" Applejack looked over, and let out a little gasp. She quickly scoope dup all the photos and crumpled them up, tossing them into the corner. "...'S what I was yellin' at 'em for. Y' heard me out there, didn't ya?" "I did." He said. He recalled feeling the ground shake. Then again, I could jus tbe feeling things... I haven't eaten an actual mean for awhile. "Mhm. ...Well, this is where you'll stay fer th' night. Not much, but, it's good 'nuff, right Steve?" She said, looking around at what was once her clubhouse. "Should do. I've learned to make the best of things." "Sounds like y' need ta." "Yeah, I kind of do." He said, thinking. He looked down at Applejack after a moment. "...This is really generous of you. I just met you not that long ago, and you're already inviting me to stay in here. Thanks." "...Oh, it's nothin'. I just see you actually -work-, unlike some other ponies I know 'round here that take what I do fer granted." She rolled her eyes. "Well, I think I know where you'll be able t' build yer new house t'marrow mornin'. I'll have t' do some convincin' to yer neighbor, though." "Oh. Where would I be?" "That-a-way." She pointed her hoof towards town. "Next t' Carousel Boutique. Think there's a small lot." "Ah..." "...Place is owned by a friend 'f mine. I'll 'ave t' talk to 'er some time soon. But fer now, I'm gonna get somethin' t' eat. Wanna come with?" "Sure. What're you having?" "Apple pie and so-" "Yes." Applejack chuckled, and started walking out the door to her house. "Alrighty then."