//------------------------------// // The Morning After. // Story: The Trial of the Cutie Mark Crusaders // by Blue Wolf //------------------------------// My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic The Trial of the Cutie Mark Crusaders By Adolphus.Arthuro (Blue Wolf) Sunlight bathed the private chambers of Princess Celestia. It streamed in through the great arched window facing out onto the royal balcony, high above the Palace of Canterlot and wrapping the occupants in it's warm, golden glow. Hardly any noise rose from the streets below, as if the light itself muffled all sound as it filled every corner of the room like a shining fog. The only sounds to be heard were the gentle breathing of the dozen or so slumbering ponies within and perhaps the occasional bee passing by the sun-drenched window. Upon the round bed in the middle of the room lay Princess Celestia. For more than a thousand years she had ruled the land of Equestria, and until now she always had risen with her sun for every day of those years that had passed. But today was different. Nestled snug under Celestia's wing was one of the two ponies who's friendship she valued more than her entire kingdom - Twilight Sparkle, Celestia's devoted student and now also her most treasured friend. The other - Celestia's younger sister Princess Luna - was currently lying against Celestia's side, exhausted from the physical and emotional strains of the previous night's events. But the memories of the desperate struggle to save Twilight were a world away now, banished by the revelations that had brought an end to the years of uncertainty, regret and fear that had haunted all three of them - and by their new forged friendship. All around the trio lay those who Celestia called family. Not merely those of her blood, but those whose friendship she trusted more than anypony else. Their presence filled the chamber, creating a reassuring sensation of security that comforted the Princess even as she slept. Many of them where the very same ones who had, - at one time or another - helped fight to save not only both of the ponies that now lay safe at her side but also her beloved niece and nephew-in-law, who lay sleeping beside them in the morning sun. It was a paradise like Celestia had never known before, and for the first time in a thousand years the Ruler of the Dawn truly felt at peace. And so the Ruler of the Sun slept on alongside her beloved Luna, both the Princesses soothed by the knowledge that the rift of a thousand years of separation between them had finally begun to heal. Outside, the sun climbed slowly higher until before long it was over halfway to it's noon peak, and yet all remained still and peaceful – as if none of the ponies wanted to wake and break the spell of the moment. Until... ------------------------------------------ Applebloom yawned sleepily as the world slowly swam into focus, the young filly's thoughts all in a muddle. Something wasn't quite right - and yet, although she couldn't place what it was - she didn't feel it was something wrong exactly, just different. She sensed no danger, so why did she feel...apprehensive? What was she lying on and why didn't it feel like her usual bed in the farmhouse at Sweet Apple Acres? And where in Equestria was she? The youngest member of the Apple family blinked against the brightness that surrounded her and began to take in the unfamiliar surroundings. She was in a richly decorated room with cloud decorated walls and a plush, purple coloured carpet – definitely not like anywhere in the farmhouse or even Ponyville for that matter. In fact, it was more like a place she'd expect to find in Canterlot... As the thought slowly worked it's way through her brain, Applebloom began to piece bits of what had happened the night before together as she waited for the last dregs of sleep to pass. Fragments of memory were slowly teased out of her befuddlement and hovered chaotically before her mind's eye – Twilight being carried out of the Library, a vivid dream of stars and moons, a familiar sight of a cauldron of steaming liquid...and the regal form of Princess Celestia. Applebloom's mind suddenly clunked into gear – and started racing at top speed as she remembered her night of adventures with the rest of the Cutie Mark Crusaders. What had occurred after they had stowed away amongst Zecora's ingredients. And more importantly, where she last remembered being... In Princess Celestia's private chambers... The olive yellow filly swallowed nervously and peeked cautiously across the room. Sure enough, not a few feet from her there lay not only the Ruler of the Day - but also Princess Luna, with Twilight only just about visible under Celestia's wing. Applebloom couldn't help but let out a small sigh of relief at the sight of the lavender mare who, it seemed - was now out of danger. Obviously Luna and the rest of Twilight's friends had succeeded in rescuing Twilight from her nightmares after the Crusaders had helped Zecora with her spell, and must have come back after she had fallen asleep. ...Wait... Applebloom's pupils shrank suddenly as the bit finally dropped, the filly freezing in place as she quickly became all too aware of a familiar pony lying right behind her, with her hooves draped protectively over Applebloom's flanks. Applejack had gone with Luna too, which meant she must also be there as well... ...and that meant Applebloom was in very deep trouble... -------------------------------------------- “Pssst!” Scootaloo groaned a little at the strange sound that cut through her dreams, shifting a little and turning her ears away from the source of the disturbance. “Pssssst!” Grunting with annoyance, Scootaloo lazily opened one eye and glared in the general direction the noise was coming from. Eventually, the fuzzy blur began to organise itself enough for Scootaloo to be able to make out what the pegasus filly took to be Applebloom, who was franticly waving her fore hooves and trying to silently communicate via semaphore various panicked messages that made no sense at all to Scootaloo. The orange Pegasus filly shifted a little uncomfortably and tried to go back to sleep, wondering what was so urgent that Applebloom couldn't ask Applejack to help with. After all, Scootaloo thought with a smirk, her elder sister WAS right behind Applebloom - and cuddled up to her in a very cute way... Oh... Scootaloo's eyes snapped open again, a creeping panic filling her as Applebloom face-hoofed in frustration. Sure enough, there was Rarity too – snuggled close beside Sweetie Bell who lay directly opposite Scootaloo, which meant that the pony that was currently curled up with her could only be... Uh-oh... Five very cautiously thrown cushions later, Sweetie Bell was awake. The three Crusaders stared at each other. Considering the little pile of sleeping Princesses (and Prince) not five paces away, their position was looking increasingly bleak. Even if they escaped being sent to the moon - or the sun for that matter, the Crusaders knew what their sisters likely had in store for them was certainly going to be far worse. “Wh-what are we going to do now?” whispered Sweetie Bell “Shhhhhhh!!” “Shhhhhhh!!” Applebloom and Scootaloo anxiously looked round at the still sleeping ponies as Sweetie Bell cringed and lowered her whisper. “Rarity's going murder me when she wakes up!” “You think that's bad? Wait until Rainbow Dash gets hold of us...” gulped Scootaloo. “Least you don't have Applejack for ah sister...she's gonna tan mah hide six ways 'til sunday!” squeaked Applebloom. “If we don't think of something fast, blank flanks are going to be the least of our problems...” whispered Scootaloo. “Yeah...'cause we'll end up being spanked flanks too!” whined Sweetie Bell. “We gotta get out of here before they wake up......” suggested Scootaloo. “Maybe if we can just get back to Ponyville before they do, then... maybe they'll think they just dreamed us being there...or something...” “Ah don't know gals...” mused Applebloom uncertainly. “You got any better ideas?” asked Sweetie Bell Applebloom sighed. They quickly found that getting away wasn't going to be an easy task. No sooner had Scootaloo wormed her way free, Rainbow Dash's hooves sought out their prey like pythons and clamped round her tighter than ever. Applebloom wasn't having much better luck escaping from Applejack's clutches and Sweetie Bell had ended up firmly stuck in her sister's magical aura. The Crusaders all exchanged glances. A plan was needed. Cushions were carefully passed back to Scootaloo, who gingerly placed them under Rainbow Dash's hooves and wriggled out of her adoptive sister's embrace. She then turned and faced Sweetie Bell, carefully considering her route across the room before making her next move. Taking a deep breath she began to hop and somersault her way across the floor towards her target like a ninja, each acrobatic move choreographed to avoid stepping in one of the sunbeams that shone across the room from the window like security lasers. As soon as she reached Sweetie Bell, Scootaloo reached out her fore hooves for Sweetie Bell to haul herself out of Rarity's magic. After a few seconds of both crusaders tugging and straining the little unicorn filly suddenly popped free like a cork, gracefully sailing in an arc across the ceiling and coming to a perfect landing on all four hooves next to Applebloom. Scootaloo followed close behind and both ponies began to extract Applebloom from Applejack's hooves. With the last Crusader freed the three members silently high hoofed, then made an unsophisticated dash for the door leading to the tower steps. “What about the guards?” hissed Applebloom as Scootaloo reached up for the handle. “Aren't they for stopping ponies from getting in rather than getting out?” asked Sweetie Bell. “Well – I guess we're about to find out if we're about to get our cutie marks for being Super Secret Agents...” remarked Scootaloo. “All ah care about is gettin' the cutie marks tha aren't the big red ones y'all get from angry big sisters and Princesses...” muttered Applebloom. Scootaloo went to grip the door handle. “OK. Operation Sneak-out in...three...two...one!” The pegasus pulled at the handle. The door stayed firmly shut. All three froze as they looked up at the door they were trying to sneak through, which was now glowing with a bright yellow light. Sweat dripped down the faces of the Crusaders as they slowly turned to face the centre of the room – each knowing almost for absolute certain what they would find. Princess Celestia's horn was aglow with the same yellow light, the white Alicorn calmly watching them lazily out of one eye with a distinctly mischievous smile. The Crusaders gulped. With the slightest flick of her horn Celestia's magic wrapped around the escaping fillies, the three little ponies cowering a little as they were levitated gently into the air and deposited back beside their sisters. Scootaloo barely had time to recover before a pair of cyan hooves quickly encircled her barrel and dragged the pegasus back into a hug. “And where do you think you're going?” Rainbow Dash opened one sleepy eye and glared at the younger pegasus, with one eyebrow raised in disapproval. “Heh-heh...er...morning Rainbow Dash...wow...I had the weirdest dream last night and...” began Scootaloo. Rainbow Dash chuckled and gave Scootaloo a knowing smirk “Riiight... Save it kid. This time you three are busted.” Scootaloo cringed. Sweetie Bell glanced helplessly over at her friends as a blue magic glow levitated her towards Rarity, who glowered at her younger sister. A sudden squeak from Applebloom announced the moment Applejack tugged her sister back towards her by her tail and snuggled her securely back in her hooves, the farm pony giving the younger Apple a stern look. “Y'all three little fillies got some explainin' ta do once we all wake up...right Applebloom?” Applebloom's ears wilted. The three Crusaders exchanged looks as faint giggle came from Princess Celestia, who lay watching from her bed across the room. “Aww...horseapples...” chorused the fillies.