Celestia's sun was shining brightly against the sky blue canvas as Scootaloo, Applebloom, Sweetie Belle, and Toby arrived at the Ponyville schoolhouse. Scootaloo pulled her scooter, and the wagon behind the same tree as the day before. Applebloom climbed out of the wagon, and turned around to offer Toby a foreleg, so he can climb out safely. Sweetie Belle climbed out last, and the four made their way onto the pathway to go inside the schoolhouse.
As they were walking along the path Diamond Tiara, along with Silver Spoon, came trotting up behind the group a couple feet away. She leaned her head closer to Silver, and said quietly. "Watch this Silver."
Silver looked up ahead at the group, and then back at her friend with a confused look. "Diamond what are you.." Before she could finish asking, Diamond galloped up to the group, and pushed through Applebloom, and Toby who was on the end. Causing him to fall to the ground.
"Hey, what's the big idea Diamond Tiara?" Applebloom asked as she kept her balance, and trotted over to Toby offering him a forehoof. "Are you ah'right Toby?" As she helped him stand up, and dusted the dirt off his clothes.
"Y-yes, I-I am okay Applebloom, thank you." He said softly as he looked up at her smiling. He bent down to get his lunch.
"Aww..ain't that a precious picture, bluh. Maybe next time runt, you should watch out where you are going." Diamond Tiara said with a snarky tone as she flicked her mane and trotted inside the schoolhouse.
Silver Spoon gasped at her friend's actions, and carefully trotted up to the four. "Toby, are you okay?" She gently reached a forehoof, and rubbed at his shoulder very gently.
He smiled up at her softly and nodded. "Y-yes Silver Spoon, thank you."
"I thought you were going to talk to her about being mean Toby, and us, Silver Spoon." Scootaloo spoke up a little bit annoyed.
"I tried to, but she was just so mad about not being in the talent show that she just ignored me." She lowered her head with a frown.
Sweetie Belle looked at her, and gently patted her on her back. "Hey now. It's okay Silver Spoon. You tried your best." She gave Silver Spoon a reassuring smile.
Toby looked up, and nodded. "Y-yes Silver Spoon, don't be upset. I-I asked Ms. Cheerilee if she could put Diamond Tiara back in the talent show tomorrow." The fillies gasped and looked down at the little colt shocked.
"Come on kids, it's almost time to start class." Ms. Cheerilee came out to greet the group.
"Yes Ms. Cheerilee." They all said in unison as they entered into the building.
Toby stopped and looked up at Ms. Cheerilee before going in. "M-Ms. Cheerilee, is it too late to participate in the talent show tomorrow?" He asked with a soft and hopeful smile.
Ms. Cheerilee smiled warmly down at him, and shook her head gently. "Of course not dear. What would you like to do?" She asked kindly.
"I-I want to play the piano Ms. Cheerilee."
She smiled brightly. "Well, that is a wonderful idea Toby. I will arrange to get a piano for tomorrow then. Now go on inside, so we can start class." He nodded up at her and walked inside.
Toby sat down at the desk on the far right side, between Sweetie Belle in the front, Applebloom in the back, and Scootaloo on his left side. They each gave him a warm smile, but still was stunned to hear that he wanted Ms. Cheerilee to let Diamond Tiara back into the talent show.
Ms. Cheerilee trotted into the classroom, and stood behind her desk. "Alright class, today we are going to be preparing for the talent show tomorrow evening." She pulled out a clipboard with what appeared to be a piece of paper which was a checklist. "First, Sweetie Belle. Do you think you could go, and ask your sister if she could make a few costumes? I have a checklist here of the costumes, and which pony will be wearing them." She looked at Sweetie Belle.
"Of course Ms. Cheerilee. I am sure Rarity will be glad to create costumes for us. She is the best fashionista in Equestria, and she always love designing something new." She smiled brightly, and got up from her desk to trot up to Ms. Cheerilee. "I can go ask her now if you would like for me to Ms. Cheerilee."
"That would be wonderful dear, thank you. Here is the checklist." She handed Sweetie Belle the clipboard as Sweetie Belle turned toward her friends, and waved a forehoof as she galloped happily out of the schoolhouse toward the Carousel Boutique.
"Next, Scootaloo I would like for you to work with Snips, and Snails to get the stage set. Get the curtains set up, and also the stage lights." She looked at the three with a smile, and nod.
Scootaloo placed a forehoof up in a salute. "You got it Ms. Cheerilee. Snips, Snails, you guys ready?"
Snips spoke up first with a moderate pitched voice. "Yea, you bet Scoots. What do you say Snails, you want to make the stage look cool?" The pale blue unicorn colt with orange mane, buck teeth, and with a pair of scissors as his cute mark on his flank looked toward his best friend.
Snails replied. "Duu..sure thing Snips." Speaking with a low goofy accent, and the taller of the two. Snails has an amber coat of fur, moderate turqoise mane, and tail, black eyes that are slightly bigger than Snips, and on his flank he has the cutie mark of a snail. He as well was a unicorn colt.
The filly, and two colts got up from their desks to go outside to get to work. Scootaloo patted Toby's shoulder gently, and waved at him, and Applebloom as she left with the other two.
Ms. Cheerilee looked at Applebloom, and Toby next. "Now, Toby, and Applebloom, I would like for you two to pass out these flyers to all the residents of Ponyville." She pulled a stack of papers tied with a string in a bow to keep them all together.
Applebloom smiled over at Toby, and then looked at Ms. Cheerilee with a nod. "Ya got it Ms. Cheerilee, we won't let you down." She smiled, and got up from her desk as Toby did the same.
Toby walked up to the desk, and stretched out his arms for Ms. Cheerilee to put the flyers in them. "I-It's okay Ms. Cheerilee, I will be careful with them."
She carefully picked them up by the string with her teeth, and very gently placed them in the child's awaiting arms. "Here you go dears." She smiled warmly at the two as they walked outside.
"Alright, the rest of you, I would like for you all to go out to the playground, and make sure there isn't anything laying around." She smiled at the rest of the remaining colts, and fillies.
"Yes Ms. Cheerilee." They all said in unison as they trotted out one by one.
Ms. Cheerilee spotted Diamond Tiara, and Silver Spoon. "Oh, Diamond Tiara, could you come see me for a minute, please? Silver Spoon you can go outside if you would like." Silver Spoon nodded, and smiled a little at her friend before trotting outside.
"Yes Ms. Cheerilee?" Diamond Tiara asked with a curious look on her face as she looked up at the older mare.
"Diamond Tiara, I am very disappointed in you of how you treated Toby on his first day of school. You still have detention for a whole week, but I have decided to let you perfom in the talent show." She looked at the filly with a soft smile.
Diamond Tiara smiled brightly. "Oh, thank you, thank you Ms. Cheerilee. I can't wait for all of Ponyville to see my fabulousness." She exclaimed happily.
"You are welcome dear. Now go on outside to help the others get the playground clean." Diamond Tiara nodded, and trotted outside.
Before Toby, and Applebloom was ready to set out toward the town, Toby saw Silver Spoon. He turned, and looked up at Applebloom. "A-Applebloom, can I tell Silver Spoon something real quick?" He asked with a soft smile.
"Of course Toby, Ah' don't mind. Ah'll be waiting right here, ah'right?" She smiled warmly at him. He nodded, and carefully walked over to Silver Spoon.
"S-Silver Spoon?" He asked softly.
She turned around after facing the door waiting for Diamond Tiara to come out. She smiled down at the little colt. "Yes Toby?" She sat down on her haunches.
He looked up at her with pleading eyes. "P-please don't tell Diamond Tiara that I asked Ms. Cheerilee to let her back into the talent show. I-I just didn't want her to be mad at me for causing her to lose her spot in the talent show." He lowered his head solemnly.
She frowned at him and lifted a forehoof to very gently rub at his shoulder. "That was very sweet of you Toby to do that." She lowered head to try and look into his eyes. "Hey sweetie pie, look at me, please?"
He swallowed deeply, and raised his head to look up into her eyes.
"There, that's better." She gave him a warm smile. "I won't tell her, I promise." She gently reached her forehoof up to caringly stroke at the top of his head. "You know Toby, you have a big, and caring heart. Don't you ever feel bad about the kindness that you show, okay little guy?"
He smiled up softly, and nodded. "Th-thank you Silver Spoon." He waved at her as he turned to go back to go join Applebloom.
Silver Spoon smiled, and waved back at him. "He is such a sweet little thing. I just wish Diamond could see that." She thought to herself, she frowned as she waited for Diamond Tiara to come out.
Toby, and Applebloom were walking toward the town of Ponyville when he looked over at her while carrying the flyers. "A-Applebloom, you, Scootaloo, and Sweetie Belle aren't mad at me for asking Ms. Cheerilee to let Diamond Tiara back in the talent show, are you?"
She turned her head toward him, and gave him a soft smile. "Nah, of course not Toby. Yah, we are a bit shocked, but ya are a sweet little colt that we understand. Ya have a big heart Toby, and just maybe Diamond Tiara will see that, and change her tune." She smiled, and made a soft smirk. She trailed behind Toby some.
"M-maybe you are right Applebloom." He smiled to himself, and looked to see Applebloom was no longer beside him. "A-Applebloom where did you..wh-whoa." Applebloom carefully came up from behind Toby, and gently lifted him up onto her back.
"Haha..there ya go Toby, now ya don't have to walk all the way through Ponyville." She smiled happily as Toby sat carefully on her back, while still holding the stack of flyers.
"A-are you sure you don't mind me riding on your back though Applebloom? I-I am not too heavy am I?"
"Nah, you are light as you are small. Besides, we earth ponies are strong." She smiled to herself as they arrived in town.
*Back at the schoolhouse*
All the colts and fillies returned after completing their assigned tasks. Applebloom came trotting in with Toby riding on her back as she stopped by his desk to let him get off. He smiled up at her softly. "Th-thank you Applebloom."
She reached a forehoof up, and rubbed at the top of his head. "Don't mention it buddy." She smiled warmly at him as she trotted over to her desk. Sweetie Belle, and Scootaloo smiled at the two as they were seated at their desks.
"Alright class, I would like to thank you all for helping prepare for the talent show. You all have worked very hard, and I am very proud of all of you." She smiled happily at her class.
The last school bell rang for the day. "Remember everypony, the talent show starts at eight o' clock, but be here by seven to rehearse your acts. Have a good day, and I will see you all tomorrow evening." She smiled at her class as they all got up from their desks, and started to trot out, one by one.
Toby got up from his desk, and followed the CMC. "Bye Ms. Cheerilee." The three fillies said in unison.
Toby smiled up at her. "B-bye Ms. Cheerilee."
"Bye Toby, bye girls. Have a good day." She waved them off with a forehoof as they trotted over to the tree where Scootaloo left her scooter.
While Scootaloo was pulling the wagon with the other three riding, Applebloom looked at Toby. "Heya Toby, we have a surprise for ya, but ya have to close your eyes ah'right?" He nodded, and closed his eyes.
So he wouldn't feel scared Applebloom, and Sweetie Belle gently placed a forehoof on each of his shoulders. Sweetie Belle smiled at the little colt, and leaned her head towards his, and whispered softly. "Don't worry Toby, you will see what your surprise is soon."
Toby gave a small smile a little nervous of what the surprise was, but remained calm.
After several minutes, Scootaloo pulled up to the CMC clubhouse. "Okay buddy, keep your eyes closed." She told Toby. Applebloom climbed out of the wagon. Sweetie Belle gently placed her other forehoof on Toby's other shoulder to safely guide him towards Applebloom, who was standing sideways next to the wagon.
"Ah'right Toby, you can just climb onto my back." She said softly to the child as Sweetie Belle helped him onto her back, then climbed out of the wagon next.
Scootaloo lead the way, while Applebloom followed behind her carefully trotting up the ramp, so not to scare Toby. Sweetie Belle followed last as she smiled brightly at the little colt riding on Applebloom's back. Scootaloo opened the door to the clubhouse, and the other two trotted in.
"Okay buddy, you can open your eyes." Scootaloo said with a smile.
Toby opened his eyes, and saw he was in small room made out of planks of plywood There was a small assortment of furniture such as a table, and a few chairs. There was a few posters on the wall with one that appeared to be a diagram of the buildings in Ponyville. "O-oh, cool. Wh-what is this place?" He asked curiously with a look of wonder, and a soft smile.
"Toby, we welcome ya to the Cutie Mark Crusaders Clubhouse." Applebloom smiled as she lowered herself a bit to let Toby climb off. "This is where we figure out ideas of how to earn our cutie marks, but also have fun."
Sweetie Belle giggled with a bright smile. "Oh, hehe..I almost forgot. Toby, we have one more surprise for you. Do you mind closing your eyes one more time?" He nodded, and closed his eyes.
Scootaloo trotted over a ladder that led to the upstairs section of the clubhouse. She carefully ascended the ladder. After a couple of minutes she came back down carrying a folded up piece of cloth on her back.
"Alright kid, open your eyes." She said with excitement.
Toby opened his eyes to see Scootaloo standing sideways in front of him with something on her back. "Wh-what is that?"
Applebloom smiled, and reached for the cloth, and unfolded it to reveal a cape that was a deep red in color on the outside, with gold silk on the inside, and on the outside was a blue shield with a yellow silhouette of a filly standing on it's hindlegs kicking it's forelegs in the air with a cape on it's back.
"We like to call this the official uniform of the Cutie Mark Crusaders." Applebloom smiled warmly at the little colt and handed the cape to Sweetie Belle. "We would like to make you an honorary member of the Cutie Mark Crusaders Toby."
The two smiled, and nodded in unison. Toby looked at each of the three fillies with a soft smile. "T-Thank you you three. I-I would like to be apart of the Cutie Mark Crusaders, but are you sure it's okay if I am not a pony?"
Scootaloo giggled, and reached up with a forehoof to rub at his head. "Of course buddy. You don't have to be a pony to be a part of our group. You are our friend, and it would be cool to have you come along with us on our adventures."
"Yah. Besides mah' cuz Babs Seed is a member as well. Maybe ya will get to meet her when we have our Apple Family Reunion in a couple months. Ah' am sure she will like ya just we all do." Applebloom smiled, and patted him on the back gently.
"Having such a little cutie like you in our group will be so much fun." Sweetie Belle exclaimed as she gave him a friendly nuzzle on the cheek. Toby blushed slightly in reaction. Sweetie Belle helped tie the cape gently around Toby's neck as it smoothly fell over his back.
Suddenly the ring of a bell could be heard. "Well, that means it is time to eat Toby, would ya like to join us? Ah' am sure Applejack and Granny Smith made plenty to eat. Scootaloo, and Sweetie Belle are going to eat as well."
"O-okay, that sounds good." He said softly.
"Awesome. First, we have to put our hooves together to make this official." She looked at the other two fillies with a soft smirk. "Ready girls?"
They nodded, and placed their three hooves together leaving space for Toby. Toby smiled softly and placed his hand in the group of hooves.
"Toby you are now officially a member of THE CUTIE MARK CRUSADERS!" The three said in unison, and all four lifted their hooves and hand in the air.
Applebloom smiled brightly, and carefully lifted Toby up onto her back. "Let's go get something to eat, shall we?" With that the four exited the clubhouse, and started toward the Apple Family home to enjoy dinner with their friend, and new Cutie Mark Crusader.