//------------------------------// // Chapter 2 // Story: Cutie Mark Crusades #1: Scouting Things Out // by madgamer1228 //------------------------------// The Cutie Mark Crusaders caught up to Twist right outside of Sugar Cube Corner. When they told her they wanted to be Pony Scouts, she squealed with glee. “This is great you guys!” she exclaimed, “Come on, I’ll introduce you to everyone.” She took them in and introduced them to the many troop members, some of whom were fellow students from their school. There was Snips and Snails, even Featherweight. And they were all wearing Pony Scout uniforms, although the colts’ were different from the fillies’. Then Twist pointed out the troop’s leader. He was a dark grey stallion with deep navy blue hair. He wore a uniform that was a lot like the ones that the boys wore. It was made up of a light brown button up shirt that had a few very important looking medals and pins and a yellow bandana tied around his neck. When he saw Twist and her friends, he came over to them. “There you are Twist! You made it just in the nick of time, we almost started without you! If you can continue to get here on time for the next few weeks, that attendance badge will be yours for sure,” he said. He looked at the Crusaders. “And who are these young fillies you have here?” “Hi Mr. Eagle! My friends followed me here ‘cause they want to be Pony Scouts,” Twist explained excitedly. Mr. Eagle held out his hoof. “Well, howdy doo you three. I’m Golden Eagle, Pony Scout troop 403’s leader,” he said. Apple Bloom, Scootaloo, and Sweetie Belle all introduced themselves to Mr. Eagle, each shaking his hoof that he offered. “So, you want to be Pony Scouts, huh?” They nodded their heads. “That’s great! Come on, then, we’re about to start our meeting.” Mr. Eagle led them to the center of the room and had them stand next to him. “Gather around, Scouts, it’s time to start our meeting,” he called to everyone. They all stopped what they were doing and formed a circle around him. A couple waved at the Crusaders. “Okay, Scouts, welcome to this week’s Pony Scout meeting. Now, this one is very special because we have three new recruits!” Everypony tapped their hooves against the floor in applause. “Since they’re new, who wants to show them how we start our meeting?” Several of the young ponies raised their hoof into the air and started waving it around. Some were even going “Oooh! Oooh” as they did so. Mr. Eagle looked at all the scouts around him. “Hmmm. Snips, Snails. Would you two please come to the center and show us?” he asked them. They stood up and each took a place on either side of Mr. Eagle as he sent Apple Bloom and her friends to find places in the circle. “Ahem!” Snips cleared his throat, “First thing we always do is say the Pony Scout promise. And to do that, we must raise our right hooves in the air,” he and all of the other ponies did so, “and then we say the first part and you guys repeat after me and Snails.” They took a deep breath, and then launched into the promise, everypony repeating as they paused between each line. “On my honor, I will try, to serve all, and Equestria, to help any pony at all times, and to live by the Pony Scout law!” When the promise was finished and Snips and Snails took their place back in the circle, Mr. Eagle spoke. “Excellent job, everypony!” he said, “Now let’s get to business. Apple Bloom, Sweetie Belle, Scootaloo, I don’t have any uniforms at the moment, but next week I will. I do however have a few extra guides on hand, so you can take those home today. Also, I’ll assign a Pony Scout to help you all, and teach you the ropes of being a Pony Scout. Hmmm. How about you, Twist? Since they followed you here, how would you like to be their scout helper?” “I’d love that Mr. Eagle,” Twist answered. “Alright, then. I’ll leave you to it. Meanwhile, everypony else over here to finish working on our latest badge!” Mr. Eagle led the other scouts off to one side. Twist turned to her three friends. “Let’s get started on teaching you all about being Pony Scouts, guys.” --------------- “Dinner’s ready y’all!” Apple jack yelled from the dining room. “It’s about time,” said Granny Smith, shuffling in with Big Macintosh helping to support her , “I’m too old to be kept a waitin’ fer mah dinner, I ain’t got much time left!” “Eeeyup!” Big Macintosh said, nodding his head. “Then have a seat and I’ll get you yer grub,” Apple Jack said, waving her hoof at the table. She made sure that everyone else was seated comfortably, and then sat herself down. But as she looked around the table, she realized that Apple Bloom wasn’t there. “Where’s Apple Bloom?” Apple Jack asked. “She came home and went upstairs,” Big Macintosh answered, pointing in the general direction of the young foal’s room, “I don’t think she’s been come outa there at all since then.” Apple Jack sighed. “Y’all stay here an’ eat. I’ll go get her,” she said. Granny Smith and Big Macintosh immediately started to serve themselves. Apple Jack meanwhile made her way to her sister’s room. As she stood outside Apple Bloom’s door, she heard her sister muttering something under her breath. Apple Jack raised her hoof and knocked it against the door. “Apple Bloom, you alright in there? It’s time to come and eat.” She heard Apple Bloom shift around in her room, then the door opened just wide enough so that Apple Bloom’s face could be seen. “I’ll be down in just a sec,” she said. “Well, you need to come down now, or else you ain’t gettin’ any supper tonight,” replied Apple Jack. “Look, just one more minute, ‘k?” “Alright, what are you up to in there?” Apple Jack started pushing on the door, opening it wider. “I ain’t doin’ anything!” Apple Bloom tried to push the door back, but was no match for her older sister. Apple Jack managed to get the door open enough to force her way into Apple Blooms room. “If you got another poor critter locked up in here…” Apple Jack looked around. She didn’t notice anything out of place, but she did see the book that was wide open on Apple Bloom’s desk. “What’s this?” Apple Jack asked. She picked it up and began to flip through it. Then she realized what it was. “Is this a Pony Scout guide?” she asked Apple Bloom. “Yes,” replied Apple Bloom, her head hanging down. “Why do you have one? Are you wantin’ to be a Pony Scout?” “Yes,” “That’s great, Apple Bloom!” Apple Bloom lifted her head up in surprise. “What?” “What do you mean ‘What?’? I said that that’s great! I was a Pony Scout when I was your age, even Big Macintosh was.” “Really?” Apple Bloom’s head was now tilted to one side in confusion. “Mmmhmm. I was actually thinkin’ about signing you up, but I couldn’t think of how to get you interested in it.” “Well, Sweetie Belle, Scootaloo and I are all becoming Pony Scouts.” “Even better! I know that you three will have a ton of fun. But why would you want to hide it all from me?” Apple Jack watched her sister scuff her hoof on the floor. “I was kind of afraid you’d laugh at me,” she mumbled. Apple Jack shook her head, smiling. “I wouldn’t have laughed at you, Apple Bloom. I think that becoming a scout is a great thing you can do at your age, and plus, I’m your big sister.” “I know,” replied Apple Bloom sadly. Apple Jack waved for Apple Bloom to come closer. She did, and Apple Jack gave her a big squeezing hug. “Now come on. Let’s go get some supper in us before it gets cold. That, or Big Macintosh and Granny Smith eat it all!”