//------------------------------// // chapter 6 // Story: The Human Hero of Ponyville // by Alex Rite //------------------------------// chapter 6 Crusaders and Canines (Part 3) It was a nice sunny morning in Ponyville, with a pleasant cool breeze. Alex had gotten up early again, ready to go to the Crusaders' clubhouse to check on them and Smokey. As he was leaving, though, Twilight caught him once again. "Going to the Crusaders' clubhouse again?" the unicorn asked. Alex flinched a bit and said, "Uh, yeah. You know me. Always ready to help them out and... stuff." Twilight was slightly suspicious of him for a second, but simply replied, "Alright, see you later." Alex said goodbye and left the library. Barely ten seconds later, Diamond Tiara barged into the library, catching Twilight's attention. "Twilight," she said, "Have I got some news for you..." Alex soon made it to the clubhouse, finding the Crusaders and Smokey inside. Alex noticed that each of the girls had a small lasso. "Hey girls," he said, "Whats with the lassos?" "We're gunna see if we can earn our cutie marks in cattle ropin'," replied Applebloom. "I volunteered to be the cow," put in Smokey. "Well, more like nominated myself then volunteered, really." "Oh cool," said Alex, "Although I'm not so sure it's safe to do it on you, Smokey." Alex was about to continue when there was a knock on the door. Everyone in the clubhouse panicked and froze for a second. Applebloom was the first to regain her composure, and she quickly grabbed a blanket and hid Smokey under it. Getting the idea, Smokey laid down quickly, and the way that he did so made him look like a table with a cover on it. With Smokey now hidden, Alex went over and opened the door. Outside, much to his fear, were Twilight, Applejack, and Rarity, who all looked angry. "Oh hey guys. Whats up?" Alex asked. "Well darling," said Rarity, "We have all heard heard from Diamond Tiara that you and the girls are hiding a diamond dog in here." It was then that Alex noticed Diamond Tiara standing there behind them, a smug grin on her face. Note to self, Alex thought, dig Diamond Tiara a grave, because after this, she is so dead. "So ya see sugarcube," Applejack continued, "We just wanted to see if she was tellin' the truth." "Oh sure," Alex said, stepping out of their way, "As you can see, there is no such creature in here." The CMC waved to the others. They were playing cards on top of the table Smokey was pretending to be. The three mares began to scowl at Diamond Tiara, who looked both shocked and defeated. Unfortunately, the floor was slightly dusty, and just then he let out a huge sneeze that flung the blanket and the crusaders off of him. "Um... excuse me," he said. Dang, it almost worked, thought Alex. Twilight, Rarity, and Applejack were silent with shock. Unfortunately, their shock subsided into anger. Even worse, it was directed at Alex. "Alex! I can't believe you!" said Twilight. "Okay, I know this looks bad," said Alex, "but I swear, Smokey is actually a really nice guy! He's totally harmless!" "Ha! As if!" said Rarity. "These creatures are nothing but dangerous brutes!" She walked up to Smokey, who was cowering in a corner. "Get out of here you horrible beast!" she yelled at him. Smokey freaked out and ran past all of them, out the door, and into the Everfree forest. "Don't be thinkin' ya'll are outta the woods, either," said Applejack to the Crusaders. "Correction," Alex said, "I'm going into the woods to find my friend." "But Alex," said Twilight, "he's a diamond dog! They're no good!" "You ever hear the phrase, 'don't judge a book by it's cover'?" Alex shot back a he ran after Smokey. "Alex is right," said Applebloom, "ya'll are bein' mean to Smokey when he's a really nice guy, and our friend!" "Yeah, and we don't abandon our friends," said Scoots as she and the rest of the CMC followed after Alex. "Girls! Wait!" screamed Rarity as she and the others ran after them, leaving Tiara with a look of smug satisfaction. Alex, Twilight, and the rest of the group were soon wandering around the Everfree. Twilight, Applejack, and Rarity had agreed to help look for Smokey since Alex and the CMC refused to go home without him. "Uh! It's so horrible in this ghastly forest!" said Rarity. "Oh relax," said Alex. "It could be worse." "How could it be worse?" asked Twilight Just then, the group was surrounded by ten angry, snarling brown bears. "You had to ask," said Alex. A black bear slowly walked into the circle. "Alex," said Sweetie Belle, "isn't that the bear that you saved Smokey from?" "I think so," said Alex. The black bear roared and lunged at Alex, who quickly dodged it while yelling, "Girls! Get together and protect yourselves! I'll take care of poppa bear here!" The others listened and fought back just as the other bears began to attack. Twilight kept them at bay with a shield spell and was able to protect the five others around her, but she couldn't do anything to help Alex. Alex fought well, dodging the black bear and getting in a few good punches, but the bear was able to get a good shot in and knocked Alex on his back. The bear roared, sensing victory, but just then it was attacked by a grey blur. "Oy! You get your paws off my friend," yelled Smokey. The bear roared again and started to attack Smokey. Smokey dodged the attack and ran over to a tree and broke off a branch. Using the branch, Smokey both blocked and attacked the black bear, eventually getting a good shot to the head and knocking the bear out cold. Seeing their leader defeated, the other bears ran away, allowing Twilight to let down her shield spell. "Thanks for the save, buddy," said Alex as Smokey helped him up. "Ya got that right, sugarcube," said Applejack. "I suppose we were wrong about you," admitted Rarity. "It's alright," said Smokey, "I don't blame ya." "Well, considering we owe you now," said Twilight, "I guess you can stay." Alex and the Crusaders cheered at hearing this, and Smokey thanked the girls. "I have one question though," said Smokey. "Can I move to the library?"