//------------------------------// // Subject 72: My Internal Crusade // Story: Interviews With Equestrians // by Jmaster49 //------------------------------// The next morning... “...Are you absolutely sure this is a good idea? Will they even accept me?” “You said you’ve already spoken to them before, haven’t you?” Flurry asked, “Come on. It’ll be fine.” I suppose. I was just worried that they wouldn’t want to help me out. It was a strange feeling, turning to help towards those whose lives I nearly destroyed. How could I even face them? We got off the train, and set hoof in Ponyville. My house was just up the road, but that didn’t make it any easier knowing that I could be condemned by them at any moment. Oh boy, well, may as well get it over with. Flurry took me down a familiar, yet estranged path that I didn’t want to travel down anytime soon. No, literally. She led me to Sweet Apple Acres where an old...former friend of mine used to live. “Mom always says that the first step towards healing your heart, is facing your mind,” she tilted her head up, “or did dad say that? Regardless, I know it’s true. Applebloom is gonna accept you. I just know it. She’s one of the nicest, and most chill ponies around.” As we trotted along the path that led up to the barn, I could see a very tired Applejack snoring against a tree in the distance. Age was really kind to her, because her face still looked mostly the same from when I was little. Her mane was a bit messy, but that’s what happens when you stress over work, I suppose. “Okay…” I replied with a quiet exhale to psych myself up. Come on, this was important. Now wasn’t the time to have doubts. Flurry knocked on the door, and we were greeted by a yellow mare with a red mane. She also had some reading glasses on. “Flurry Heart? Cozy?! Howdy! What brings ya’ll down to these parts? Ah was just in the middle of plannin’ mah next lesson for the school once the weekend is over.” “A lot. Mind if we come in, and explain?” We went inside, and sat at the dinner table with Applebloom. She went ahead and warmed us some apple cider on the stove for us to drink. They were so hospitable. I almost felt bad. Once Flurry Heart explained the situation, everything became clearer. “Hold up, hold up, hold up,” Applebloom sat down and put her hooves together on the table, “Ya’ll wanna head to the Badlands to try and stop some criminal?! The same guy who was manipulatin’ and harassin’ mah big sis’s old friend, Rara?!” I shied away from speaking. Was that really where Mr. Vestige was taken to? If so...wow. I don’t think many ponies traveled that far south in Equestria. But if Flurry was right, then… The alicorn nodded. “...think of it as a friendship mission. They’ve captured one of Equestria’s most successful investigators and he holds evidence that could potentially bust them wide open, as well as keep Cozy safe from harm. Don’t you wanna help somepony like that?” She took off her reading glasses. “Heh. Ya’ll are cray-cray, that’s for sure. But Ah will admit. Muh sister’s...gettin’ a bit sluggish with age, and she wouldn’t be able to handle it. Me on the other hoof? Ah’ve been thinkin’ ‘bout that fool for quite a while now.” I tilted my head. The legendary Applejack? Slowing down? Impossible! But I guess she was still a regular pony, after all. “...Sluggish?” Applebloom nodded, and leaned back in her seat. “Mm-hmm. She’s even startin’ to forget things. Big Mac ain’t farin’ much better. Granny Smith would knock the daylights outta ‘em both if she was still around,” she paused mid-sentence to giggle, and her hairbow drooped down with her ears as she sighed. “Ah, still feels like yesterday when she was around. Yappin’ at us.” “You miss her a lot, huh?” Flurry put a hoof on the earth pony’s shoulder. “I really wish I could’ve met her. The fact that she single-hoofedly founded Ponyville is epic. And your sister followed in her hoofsteps and became just as important as an Element of Harmony. And now you’re a teacher at the school of friendship.” She smiled, and looked at the alicorn. “Thanks, Flurry. Hm…” she tilted her head down. If I had to venture a guess, I’d say she was deep in thought about something. “She’s right. Granny helped build this world, and Applejack helped save it. Is it possible that Ah could do both at the same time? We are the next generation after all…” I couldn’t stand it. I had to speak up. “...Is everything okay, AB?” “Huh? Yeah, yeah,” she looked up at the both of us, “Ya’ll said these are criminals, right? What kinda backup we gon’ have?” “Mom and dad have already formed a search party along with Tempest Shadow,” Flurry explained, “And I’m sure Pale’s teammates are gonna be notified of the situation as well. He’s their friend after all. Not only that, but this is a hot lead on a case that can potentially expose one of Equestria’s deepest secrets! If we blow it open, we’ll be seen as legends! What I have in mind for us, is to stake the place out, find the right location, and...make it a bit easier for the others, if ya catch my drift.” “...huh,” Applebloom was rather indifferent to the last bit. I suppose she didn’t like to be praised at random for acts of goodwill. Sounded a lot like somepony else I knew. “Alrighty, then. Ah gots loads of different little thangs Ah’ve been wanton’ to test out anyways,” she said as she got up from the table. I felt my pupils shrink. “Wait...what?” I could feel my heart pound. Just what kind of stuff did she have planned? Flurry looked at me with a smug, knowledgeable smile. “Relax...she’s stronger than she looks, you know. And this is her time to shine along with her friends. Trust me, she’s ready for this.” “Oh...okay…” Golly, what a rush. I couldn’t even begin to imagine what that mare had planned. “So now what?” Flurry winked at me, and turned her head. “AB! Can ya meet us at the train station later? We’re gonna go hit up your other friends!” “No problem, ya’ll,” her response was muffled from within a closet nearby. “Head on out, and I’ll meetcha there!” “Thanks! C’mon, Coze. Let’s roll.” We finished our cider, and left the Apple Farm. On our way out, we could still see Applejack lying in the fields...tired. Golly, the years were not kind to her stamina level at all. But now I started to comprehend Flurry’s little strategy. She was the type who refused to stay idle, and wanted to accomplish something so she could make the situation much easier on everypony else around her. I honestly envied her ability to think of something like that. It would at least take me a day or two to come up with something just as impactful. But could the Crusaders really be as...powerful as their sisters? I wondered… Next up, Flurry Heart led me to Carousel Boutique. Isn’t that where Sandbar and Yona worked? Oh, and it’s also where Sweetie Belle lived. Huh. I wondered how that worked. Wait a minute, this was where Sweetie Belle lived?! How could we drag her into this?! But yet again, that alicorn mare knocked on the door with such casualness. “Yoooo!” The door swung open with a pale green magical aura. “Hm? Oh, hey. What’s up, Flurry?” the white unicorn mare laid eyes on me, and squealed. “Cozy! I knew you’d come back! C’mon, get in here before somepony tries to hound Flurry for her autograph.” We were all struck with a flash of magic, and teleported inside. The door simultaneously closed also. Wow, she must have really improved on her magical skills since I last saw her when we were foals. I gave a shy wave. “Hi…” “So what brings you guys over here today? The Boutique is closed. But I’m sure you don’t wanna buy anything, right?” Flurry giggled, and waved her hoof. “Heck naw. Dad loves to buy all my clothes himself. And mom gives me her old ones. It’s a combination of cool and embarrassing, really. But no, we’re here for something else. We need your help.” Once more, I let Flurry disclose the information on what the deal was… “Wait a minute,” Sweetie Belle replied once the explanation was finished, “You mean to say that the stallion who used to be Coloratura’s manager became a crime boss? That’s seriously insane. What did Applebloom have to say?” “Oh she was rightfully annoyed, and decided to join us as soon as she found out who we’re dealing with. Wanna help us out?” The white unicorn looked to her left, then her right to make sure no one was watching. “Absolutely. If it means we can put an end to the reign of terror that Rara’s annoying manager caused, then I’m pretty much obligated to join in.” At this point, I couldn’t help but speak up. “But...Sweetie, this is like, super dangerous. We’ll be fighting ponies with crossbows, deadly magic, and other methods of lethal force. Just how are you gonna be able to fight ponies like that?” And yet, she didn’t seem intimidated at all. In fact, just like Applebloom did earlier, Sweetie Belle went to a nearby closet in one of the hallways near the staircase that led to her room. “Do you know who you’re talking to? I’ve been watching Rarity save the world countless times over the course of my entire life. But now? She’s super busy managing all of her storefronts that she’s opened across Equestria. So she’s not exactly in a position to continue fighting all the time. That gray in her mane really concerns me…” Yikes! The illustrious Rarity’s mane was already graying?! That sounded impossible. Even so, I hope she still remained just as pretty as I remembered. But with that in mind, I don’t think it’s plausible for her to keep bearing the elements while managing her fashion empire. We simply can’t expect the saviors of the previous generation to always be around, after all… “Oh, no...I hope it’s not serious,” was all I could say in response. But Sweetie scoffed and waved her hoof. “Pfft. Nah, don’t worry. She just needs to relax as she settles down into her next stage of life.” She stopped in the middle of her actions, and tapped her hoof against her chin as she looked up at the ceiling. “I think she also has a Special Somepony, but I’m not entirely sure. Rarity doesn’t like to speak much about her personal life too much,” she said as she went back to digging through the closet. “But that aside, I’ve been honing my magical abilities over the past few years, so nothing can stop me, really. I’m a force of musical fury!” “Oh...well I guess that’s a bit comforting.” Just what could musical fury mean, though? Flurry giggled, and began to trot towards the door. “Hehehe! Perfect. Meet us at the train station later, okay SB?” “I’ll be there. Just make sure you get the others!” she cried out as Flurry and I left the Boutique/home. Well I suppose that went a bit smoother. I was also feeling a bit more confident in Flurry’s ideas. After all, these were the sisters of the Elements of Harmony. Sure, they might not have been on the same level, but their potential was boundless. Especially when you consider just how strong the Student Six were. Speaking of which, I wondered how they were doing… Anyhow, that wasn’t the hot issue at the moment. Flurry led me to a house at the edge of Ponyville next. What stood out about this one, was the two massive white pillars that held up both sides of the home. This had to be Scootaloo’s place, right? Well, the alicorn had inspired confidence in me after these past two meetings. And on the way here, she made me feel even better about this one. Scootaloo was always up for anything...right? “Hey, Scootsy!” Flurry called out as she knocked on the door. Just like the previous interactions, the door was opened up in a rather swift manner. The orange pegasus mare showed up to greet us. “Hey! What’s up, Fl--Cozy?! You’re here! Yes! Now we can teach you all about being cool!” “...cool?” I tilted my head with nervous uncertainty. There was no way on this green planet that I would ever become as cool as she was. “Um…” “Don’t worry. I already have some ideas to help you. We just need a few thousand pounds of--” Flurry cut her off. “Ahem! Sorry, Scootsy. We need to talk. Mind if we come in?” “Oh? Sure! I rarely get any visitors so this is awesome! Make yourselves at home, ladies!” Scootaloo stood aside to let us in. We went inside, and took seats on the couch. Scootaloo sat between us both. Apparently she had a movie playing on some kind of screen box. Strange. The house itself wasn’t very large, but it was very...snug. It almost had a log cabin sort of feel to it what with the hardwood floors, and sports equipment that lines the walls. Hockey sticks, tennis rackets, roller skates...golly. “So what’s the deal?” she asked as he put her hooves around our necks for an uncomfortably tight hug. “What brings you guys to my humble little shack? Heh!” Just as before, Flurry gave her the run-down. “...I see,” Scootaloo let us go, and leaned forward on the couch. “...This stallion. He’s like a father to you, isn’t he, Cozy?” As much as I wanted to deny it, I had to admit. She was right. Pale had treated me like I was a pony, and not an unstoppable force of nature. As a result, I felt a sort of parental attachment to him for better or worse. “...Sort of. Why?” She sighed, and hesitated before she responded. “...I kind of know how it feels. To not have anypony to really watch out for me, that is.” I leaned back against the couch with my mouth slightly open and eyes full of concern. To say that I was confused was a massive understatement. I thought Rainbow Dash was always there for her, right? Weren’t they essentially sisters despite not being blood related? “...Huh? Didn’t Dash look out for you when you were little?” I asked. “On occasion,” Scoots replied with half-narrowed eyes while she looked down at the carpet. Then her eyes trailed up to a picture on the wall. It was of both Rainbow Dash and Scootaloo when she was a filly together when they camped out together. “For the most part, I was home alone and my Aunts would check up on me every now and again. My parents are adventurers/biologists/botanists who travel the world and do all sorts of crazy shenanigans in order to advance fields of science and medicine. ‘Cuz of that, they’ve rarely spent any time with me. I’m not mad at ‘em for it, though. It’s super dangerous. But sadly, we don’t have a lot in common. My Aunts and I don’t either. Granted, I’m an adult now, so they don’t really have to check up on me at this point.” “Oh...I’m so sorry to hear that,” I replied with a frown, and an uneasy gaze. But that’s when I realized; Scootaloo related to me on some level. “...But you do know what it’s like to be without parents and be alone most of the time, huh?” “For sure. Though I guess the difference between you and I is that I had friends who cared for me. While you...went...crazy…” she said the last few words slowly and carefully with a nervous look on her face. As if she figured I would snap at her. But at this point in time, I no longer harbored the capacity to do so. I just wanted to be accepted for who I was, and not what I used to be. “...Yes. You’re right. But in the end, I understand your perspective, Scoots.” “Thanks…” It looked like a massive weight had been lifted off her shoulders when she wiped sweat from her forehead, and exhaled. “So...anyway, yeah. You finally found somepony that cared about you, only for him to be taken away from you. I…” her fearful face became an angry, and fearsome grimace. “I won’t stand for it. You deserve to have someone who is willing to give you a chance in life. And even beyond that, this Svengallop guy sounds even more disgusting than when he was with Rara back then. Who knows how many other brothers, sisters, mothers, fathers, sons, or daughters his little group of dunderheads have captured.” I was nearly in tears from the pegasus’ words. Not only did she support me, but she was in full hatred against somepony who would do such a thing. It was...empowering to hear. “You...think I...?” I felt Flurry pat me on the back. Scootaloo got up from her seat on the couch, and trotted to her walk-in hallway closet. “I do, Cozy. You’ve shown that you give a feather about what you’ve done, and wanna improve. But somepony like Svengallop doesn’t care about others. He only cares about how he can plague the world with his stupid, gross mind games and other nonsense. Well not anymore. I’m gonna help you girls put a stop to it. Just let me get ready, and point me in the right direction.” Amazing. I...couldn’t believe what she had told me. I had to wipe away a tear or two and I sniffled. “...Th-thank you.” “Thanks, Scoots,” Flurry said as she took hold of my hoof, “Come on, Coze. Let’s head to the train station and wait for each of them to show up.” I nodded, and followed Flurry Heart out of the house. We went to the train station and sat on a bench as we waited for the Crusaders to arrive. “See? I told you they’d support us,” she said with a smile. I giggled, and nodded. “Hehe...you were right. Now we just gotta wait…” That’s when we’d have a visitor. A gray pegasus mare with crossed, blonde eyes approached us with a sad set of drooped ears. “Flurry Heart? Cozy Glow? I’ve got some bad news...” “Speak,” Flurry said with urgency. “Well...I’ll just say it. Doc and Vinyl have been captured as well.” We both shouted in unison. “WHAT?!”