//------------------------------// // The Quest Begins // Story: The Cutie Mark Quest // by Rose_Bud //------------------------------// “The songs over now, Scootaloo.” Sweetie Belle walked over to her friend, who was lying on the ground with her hooves over her ears to block out the singing from the other ponies. “Thank goodness.” Scootaloo sighed in relief as she sat up. “I’ve had enough sappiness for one day.” “Come on, Scootaloo.” Apple Bloom smiled. “Today was fun! And I’m sure out of all the stories we heard today, one of them could help give us an idea about how to earn our cutie marks!” “Mm hm.” Sweetie Belle nodded in agreement. “Yeah!” Scootaloo jumped up. “And I think I know what we need to do. Come on crusaders! Before they decide to sing again!” Scootaloo pushed Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle out the door of Sugarcube Corner with a big grin on her face. **** “Do we really need to bring a watering can, Scootaloo?” Sweetie Belle asked looking over the various objects Scootaloo was throwing into the wagon on her scooter. “Trust me.” Scootaloo answered as she placed a bucket of apples in the wagon. “It might come in handy.” “For what? Watering flowers?” “That or catching monsters.” “How are we going to catch monsters with a watering can?” Scootaloo grabbed the handle of the watering can in between her teeth. “Like this.” She walked over to a sleeping Winona and stuck the can on her head. Winona jumped up with a yelp and ran around barking trying to shake the watering can off. Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle laughed as they watched Winona run around in circles. “What the?” Apple Bloom’s eyes widened as she walked over to her fellow crusaders, and crashed into Winona, causing her to fall on to her back on the ground. Apple Bloom shook her head and stood back up, looking down at Winona, who was trying to kick the watering can off with her hind leg. She bite down on the neck of the water can and pulled it off of Winona’s head. Winona emitted a small whine as she shook her head, and then took off into the barn. Apple Bloom shot a look of disproval at the other two fillies, who were still giggling. “Aren’t ya’ll supposed to be packing things for the trip?” “We did.” Said Scootaloo. “Look.” She pointed to the tower of items in the wagon. “We have everything we need.” “And then some.” Sweetie Belle added. “So all we need to do now is figure out where were going to head off too.” Apple Bloom pulled a map from the wagon and spread it out on the ground. “Which direction should we travel in? Where should we go?” “That’s easy.” Scootaloo said. “There’s only one place where we can find a cool way to earn our cutie marks.” She placed her hoof on the spot on the map. “I don’t know, Scootaloo.” Sweetie Belle said unsure. “Are you sure that’s such a good idea? Last time we went there things didn’t go to well.” “But this time we’re prepared. And this time I’m sure we’ll get our cutie marks!” She put on her helmet and hopped on her scooter. “Come on crusaders!” Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle exchanged glances, then put on their helmets and hopped in the wagon. “Alright!” Scootaloo grinned. “Now our quest for our cutie marks officially begins! To the Everfree Forest!” **** “Apple Jack! Apple Jack!” Rarity came trotting through the orchard of Sweet Apple Acres looking around for Apple Jack. “Apple Jack!” She called. “What’s that now?” Apple Jack threw an apple into a nearby bucket when she spotted Rarity. “Howdy, Rarity.” She said. “What can I do you for?” “Oh Apple Jack, there you are. I’m here to pick up Sweetie Belle. She and the other girls were here were they not?” “Yep indeedie.” Apple Jack replied. “They should be over by the barn.” She and Rarity walked over to the barn, expecting to find the young fillies, but instead were met by Big Macintosh. “Hey there Big Macintosh.” Apple Jack said. “You haven’t seen Apple Bloom or her friends have ya?” “Nope.” Big Mac replied. “Now that’s odd. I wonder were those youngins could have run off too.” “Oh, I do hope they haven’t gotten themselves into trouble.” Rarity said. “Now what in the hay is this doing out here?” Apple Jack asked looking at the Watering can lying on the ground. “Arf! Arf!” Apple Jack looked up. “Is that Winona?” “Eeyup.” Big Macintosh tilted his head towards the dog. “Arf! Arf!” Winona barked. “Is she trying to tell us something?” asked Rarity. “What is it Winona?” “Arf!” Winona ran up a small hill by the barn, and pointed her nose out in a certain direction. The three ponies walked up next to Winona and looked out in the direction she was pointing. “Did the girls head this way?” Rarity tried to find where they might have gone too. “I reckon they did.” Apple Jack replied. "I can see tire tracks from Scootaloo's scooter." “But why would they head out that way? There’s nothing out there except…” Apple Jack’s eyes widened. “Oh no. They didn’t” “I think they did.” Rarity gasped. “Eeyup.” Big Macintosh did not sound pleased. Apple Jack’s ears went down. “Those fillies went into the Everfree Forest!”