//------------------------------// // Part 3 // Story: The Cutie Mark Crusaders In: The Quest for the Cutie Crystal // by SunshineSprite //------------------------------// The Crusaders were relaxing in their treehouse when Applejack and Big Macintosh rushed in. “Girls! Y’all have ta git outta here! Ponyville is fallin’ apart!” Apple Bloom turned to see the wind, lightning, and terror that remained of Ponyville. Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo hugged each other, shaking rapidly and desperately trying to grip onto insanity. “Big Mac, is that true?” Apple Bloom really hoped that this was a sick joke, but she got the one short response from her big brother that she didn’t want to hear. “Eeyup,” he said. Just then, minions filled the treehouse. Everypony shrieked. Big Mac quickly grabbed the fillies and threw them out of the treehouse. Suddenly, a carriage appeared. Princess Celestia poked her head out. “Quick girls! Get in!” Apple Bloom turned to her siblings. They were being overwhelmed by the minions. “Quick, go,” they both said. “Only you can help us now! Just go! The princess will help you!!” Apple Bloom watched in horror as the minions overtook them. The last thing that they said was, “We love you, Apple Bloom!” Apple Bloom cried as her siblings disappeared among the pile of distorted figures. The three fillies piled into the carriage and into the sky. As they watched, Ponyville fell to pieces. “Well, I hope that-that P-P-Ponyville is… is… Waaaah! Rarity!” Sweetie Belle cried and cried for her sister, for she feared that she may never get to see her again. Scootaloo stroked her mane and told her that everything was going to be okay. Apple Bloom curled up into a ball, forgetting about her friends, about Ponyville, about everything. All except for her siblings, that is. She reminisced how terrified they were for her, how the minions had ponynapped them. Then she remembered Granny Smith. But she was out of town. She had gone to an apple bucking convention held in Fillydelphia. At least Granny is safe, she thought comfortably to herself. She felt a comforting hoof on her shoulder. It was the princess. “When we get back to my castle, I have to talk to the three of you about something important.” Apple Bloom nodded and laid her head in her hooves. All she did then was cry for her siblings. It looked like Sweetie Belle wasn’t the only one who wouldn’t get to see her sister again… Aria was pleased with herself as everypony in Ponyville her and her minions could find were rounded up. Just then, Discord appeared by her side. “The Mane Six are all tied up,” he replied, snickering. “Good, very good Discord. Now then, to surprise Princess Cadenza.” She clopped both hooves together and said proudly, “Bring me the guest of honor! Bring the prisoner forward.” There were muffled screams as two minions brought a struggling sack to the evil Changeling’s feet. They undid the tie and out came Princess Mi Amore Cadenza, or Cadence, with an uncomfortable thud, as well as an uncomfortable grunt in response. She was bound and had tape over her mouth. Aria looked down at the terrified Unisus. She gave muffled moans and whines as Aria brushed her matted mane from her eyes. She then told her, “Why Cadenza, you look rather dashing today. Too bad that Shining Armor isn’t here, for he had an important meeting in Manehattan. Oh well, I guess you and I get to have some fun. What do you say?” She ripped the tape from her mouth, Cadence screaming in pain. She gasped for air and said, “I, I’ll never join you! If that’s what you want.” Aria slapped her across the face. “Take this puny excuse for a princess away.” The two minions struggled as Cadence tried to get free, but to no avail. They dragged her off. Aria listened with glee to the sounds of Cadence’s cries for help. Aria then gave an evil, villainous laugh… As the Crusaders and Celestia arrived at the castle, they rushed out of the carriage, only to be greeted by Twilight’s big brother, Shining Armor. “Dear Equestria! I just heard the news! Is my love and dear sister alright!? Where are they!?” He looked baffled and exhausted from searching for Cadence. Celestia told him to stay calm and told a couple of guards to escort him to safety, despite his protests. “Come,” she said to the fillies. She led them down to the far left corridor. She opened the giant doors. The Crusaders’ faces were then covered in shock. The walls were completely destroyed. The curtains, wallpapers, and rugs were torn to shreds. The floor was cracked, and there was a small hole near where the Elements of Harmony usually were. “Aria has stolen the Elements of Harmony.” Celestia had a hint of fear in her voice. The Crusaders looked up at her with worry. The princess then walked over to where the stolen Elements’ placements were. “I hear that you’re out looking for the Cutie Crystal,” she said calmly. “Twilight Sparkle had told me everything. And that’s why I have called you here.” The Crusaders looked at one another. Sweetie Belle then spoke up. “But, we don’t have a clue as to where it is.” Celestia turned to look down at the little white unicorn. “That’s why I’m going to give you this.” She walked over to a special tablet and opened it. In the tablet was a map, but it was a very special map. She picked it up with her mouth and brought it to the Crusaders. She let it flow to the floor. “This map has a pathway drawn on it. It shows how to get to the Cutie Crystal. This map shows many parts of Equestria that nopony has ever gone to before.” She nudged the map with her nose, towards the girls. “Take this. Find the Crystal and save Equestria before it’s too late. With Aria and Discord teamed up like this, the fate of Equestria is in question. And I think that I know the answer to it, unless you three can do something. I have to stay here and fight anything that tries to take over. I also have to try to save Ponyville. I’ll head there now with Shining Armor, while you three try to find the Crystal. Go now, Cutie Mark Crusaders! I’m counting on you!” And with that, the Crusaders knew what they had to do. Apple Bloom grabbed a hold of the map and took off out the doors with her companions. “Girls, we’ve got ourselves Equestria ta save! So let’s do it!” The Crusaders then gave high hooves as they said in unison, “Cutie Mark Crusader Adventurers!!” They then ran out and into the carriage. “Quick! Get us to the farthest part of Equestria as ya can!” She said to the carriage Pegasi. The carriage then raged off into the sky.