//------------------------------// // Here comes a new Crusader! (Revised) // Story: Cutie Mark Crusaders: Test of Friendship // by JXWheeler //------------------------------// A dark-grey unicorn colt was seen stepping down from the train while moving his head shyly to the side. His mane and tail was white on the right and black on the left, his mane was parted in front of his face to make it look like bangs on either side of his cheeks. Upon closer look his white freckles were seen underneath his eyes. "Um... are you mares the ones i'm supposed to meet?" The obviously timid colt asked the question without making eye contact. The three fillies ran up to him with big smiles on their faces making him step back nervously. Scootaloo was the first to speak up of the three. "So I am guessing you must be Duo huh?" The colt just nodded now looking down shyly. "That's soo cool! So you are pretty much royalty! Do you--" Scootaloo was rudely interrupted by Sweetie Belle who bumped her out of the way making her yelp in surprise. Duo looked up and blushed lightly when he saw the white filly up close to his face. "Please excuse her, she gets very excited at potential new members." Duo just nodded at Sweetie Belle's comment still blushing a bit more deeper. "Oh!" Sweetie Belle moved back a bit and cleared her throat. "Let me introduce you to us!" One by one Sweetie Belle pointed out the fillies and mares that were around them. "This is Apple Bloom, she is Applejack's little sister, the big white unicorn here is my sister Rarity, and the orange filly you saw is Scootaloo." She then twirled around and bowed politely to Duo. "My name is Sweetie Belle!" Duo waved hello to each of them and returned Sweetie Belle's bow. Once Scootaloo got over her shock of the sudden push, she stood up and shook her head. "I notice you don't have a Cutie Mark Duo, that means you can become a Cutie Mark Crusader!" Duo raised an eyebrow and decided to speak up again. "What's a Cutie Mark Crusader?" Rarity rolled her eyes and stepped back as the three fillies suddenly got filled with even more energy than before. Apple Bloom, Scootaloo, and Sweetie Belle stood side-by-side and all shouted at once. "We are the Cutie Mark Crusaders!" This outburst caught Duo off-guard and made him fall back in shock. Once Duo regained his composure he stood up and smiled at the fillies. "Okay, how do I join the group?" Apple Bloom was now standing next to Duo as she put a hoof around his neck and pulled him into a friendly one-armed embrace as she spoke. "You silly colt, you already are a member! You just need to go through orientation!" Duo was silent due to the embrace making Applebloom blush and let go, giggling nervously. Apple Bloom took a few moments to calm herself down before speaking again. "Come on, We shall show you the way to our headquarters!" Duo nodded his head and followed the very excited fillies to the headquarters as Rarity and Applejack walked back home giggling amongst themselves. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Once the train station was out of sight, and the girls had finally calmed down, Scootaloo decided to break the silence that had befallen them, "So... since you are related to Princess Luna, does that mean you live in an awesome home in Manehattan?!" Her tiny wings fluttered at the prospect of such an image. "You must also have tons of money!" Apple Bloom added with a toothy grin. "Not to mention all the toys any filly or colt could ask for!" Sweetie Belle chipped in. Duo simply shook his head with a sigh. "I wish..." This caused all three of them to stop smiling, and frown instead. "What?! Buy you are royalty, you are supposed to be living the good life!" Scootaloo argued. Duo frowned as he quickened his pace a bit. "That's not how it works for me Scootaloo..." "Well then how does it work?" Scootaloo asked curiously. Sweetie Belle looked at Scootaloo and frowned more. "Scootaloo..." Duo stopped walking and sighed. "I don't want to talk about it..." Scootaloo groaned in annoyance as she stood in front of him. "Come on tell us! It can't be that bad your majesty." She then gave a mock bow to Duo. Sweetie Belle was now glaring at Scootaloo. "Scootaloo stop, please." Duo scowled when he saw this. "Please don't do that... and don't call me that. I don't want to be considered a noble..." Scootaloo then stood up from her bow and growled. "Why the hay not?" Duo could not take the badgering anymore as he stomped a fore hoof on the ground, before shouting as loud as he could. "I DON'T WANT TO TALK ABOUT IT OKAY?!" All three fillies gasped from the outburst, causing Scootaloo to lower her head. "Sorry dude..." Duo sighed and shook his head. "It's okay, I promise I will tell you three everything... just not right now." The three fillies nodded and continued to walk towards the clubhouse. It was then Apple Bloom decided to speak up. "Now that the formalities are out of the way, let's hurry up and induct Duo to our team!" All four of them smiled happily and rushed off to get to their destination. Duo was trailing behind, thinking of when the right time to tell them of the truth about his status as a noble would be. He simply shrugged it off and galloped faster to catch up, he figured the right time will present itself. For now, he was concentrated on joining this club and imagining the many adventures he would have in it.