~*{Chapter One}*~
Starbloom trots down the path leading to Sweet Apple Acres and the Cutie Mark Crusaders' club house. She was excited to get started on crusading for cutie marks today, because Scootaloo mentioned something about doing some cave exploring, but she hoped it was just an off-hooved remark, and not what she had planned for today.
She reached the clubhouse and made her way up the small ramp going to the building. She opened the door to go inside and looked around. "Must be early, none of the others are here," she said softly to herself going over to her cushion near the window and took a seat the crystal on her headband lighting up and she removed her saddlebags setting it aside.
She opened the saddle bag and took out a book reading it quietly as she waited. She didn't have to wait too long, because she heard hoof steps coming up the ramp. She looked up from reading her book over at the door. Sweetie Belle and Apple Bloom entered the clubhouse with Scootaloo trailing behind.
"Howdy Starbloom, been waitin long?" Apple Bloom greeted with a smile as she walked over.
"Not that long Apple Bloom, maybe twenty minutes." She said putting her book away. Scootaloo headed to a corner and sat down with a huff, Starbloom glanced over at her tilting her head. "What's the matter Scootaloo?"
"She's just upset cause Rainbow Dash found out bout the idea for cave explorin and told her she can't" Apple Bloom said and Scootaloo just sulked more.
"Oh I see," she was a little relieved about that, but also slightly disappointed, cave exploring would've have offered a chance to find some interesting geological formations. "Well, we'll just have to find something else to do then."
Sweetie Belle finally spoke up grinning. "I know, we can go swimming and maybe earn our cutie marks as divers!" Sweetie Belle said excited by the idea, mostly because it was early summer and she wanted to swim to cool off.
"We did that already," Scootaloo said rolling her eyes a bit. "Remember? It was one of the first things we tried and we got chased by a squid."
"Oh yea," Sweetie Belle said sighing and sat down next to Starbloom.
The group sat quietly and tried to come up with ideas to get cutie marks, while they was thinking up ideas Sweetie Belle looked over at Starbloom, "What were you reading when we came in?" She asked curious about the book.
Starbloom blinked and looked at Sweetie Belle before smiling. "Oh, the newest Daring Do book. It came out a few days ago." She said nodding at Sweetie Belle.
Scootaloo jumped up causing the other crusaders to gasp and look over at the sudden movement from the little pegasus filly. "Really?! Me and Rainbow Dash has been looking everywhere for that book and it's been sold out." Scootaloo said excitedly.
"Yea, the library has a few copies of them. I'm surprised you and Rainbow Dash haven't come to borrow a copy." Starbloom said smiling. "Twilight saved a copy back for you two, the rest have been checked out."
Scootaloo shuffled from hoof to hoof trying to decide if she should stay for the crusaders meeting or go to the library to get the book. "Ummm, ummm.... meeting over!" She suddenly said before galloping out of the club house and down the ramp getting onto her scooter and took off down the path leading back to Ponyville.
The three crusaders left just sat quietly staring at the door for a few minutes, unsure what to do now. "Well... can we just go swimming now?" Sweetie Belle asked finally breaking the silence.
Starbloom and Applebloom looked at each other before looking at Sweetie Belle. "Sure Sweetie we can go swimmin at the lake here." Apple Bloom said, the three moved to their hooves and headed out of the clubhouse following the path leading to the lake. Starbloom used her magic to put her saddlebags on her back before following them out.
"So, what are we gonna do for the talent show on the last day of school?" Starbloom asked as they walked through the grove of trees to the lake. The last couple of years they had been doing different acts together with varying degrees of success.
"Well, I thought I might try my hoof at singing again. Rarity said if I get over my stage fright I might earn a cutie mark at it." Sweetie Belle said looking over at the two before adding. "But if I do we can't perform together."
"I think, that would be a good idea Sweetie Belle," Starbloom said smiling at her before looking over at Apple Bloom. "What do you think Apple Bloom?"
Apple Bloom nodded in agreement smiling at her, "Yea, we been performin together all the time maybe we should give separate acts a try."
Starbloom smiled at Apple Bloom then nodded at Sweetie Belle. "Yea, I think that might be good. I can perform some tricks with my magic or something."
The group got to the lake they was surprised to find Diamond Tiara there sitting on the dock looking at the water. "Hey Diamond, whatcha doing here by yourself?" Apple Bloom asked as they got to the lake. They walked over to Diamond Tiara on the dock.
Diamond Tiara looked up and over at the group walking over to her and smiled. "Hi, Apple Bloom, Sweetie Belle, Starbloom. I'm waiting for my dad to finish some business here at the farm."
"Oh, well do you want to go swimming with us?" Sweetie Belle asked the three reaching the edge of the dock and sitting down. "No crusading today, Scootaloo went to check out a book at the library and find Rainbow Dash."
The crusaders had been on much friendlier terms with Diamond Tiara since Family Appreciation Day two years ago. Though the bullying hadn't stopped, Silver Spoon persisted in bothering them and teasing as well as other students in the school.
Diamond Tiara thought about the idea for a few moments before smiling. "Sure that sounds good I just need to let my dad know."
"I'll let him know, I need to get some towel anyways." Apple Bloom said smiling before trotting to the farmhouse to grab some towels for them and tell Diamond Tiara's dad that she's gonna be joining them.
Starbloom removed her saddlebags and sat them on the dock before looking over at Diamond Tiara smiling, then glancing at Sweetie Belle who was by the edge of the dock. Starbloom grinned and Diamond Tiara giggled softly as Starbloom went over to Sweetie Belle and gave a push with her shoulder knocking Sweetie into the water.
"Eep!" Sweetie Belle squealed as she fell into the water. She swam up and peered up at Starbloom. "Why you!" She said before giggling, Diamond Tiara was laughing pretty hard as she watched the playful teasing. Sweetie's horn light up and she pulled Starbloom in with her which made Diamond Tiara laugh even harder.
Starbloom yelped as she fell into the water next to Sweetie Belle with a splash and splashed around getting her bearings and floated next to Sweetie Belle the two giggling and looked up at Diamond Tiara. Diamond Tiara blinked before getting lifted in Starbloom's magic, Sweetie used her own to carefully put Diamond Tiara's tiara with Starbloom's saddlebag before Starbloom dropped her into the water with them.
Diamond Tiara splashed around getting herself situated in the water looking at the two with a mock frown. "Such rude behavior," she said before grinning at them and splashed both. Sweetie Belle and Starbloom splashed her back and soon a splash fight erupted between the three.
Apple Bloom got back to the dock and heard the splashing. She put the towels by the saddlebags before charging down the dock and jumped "Cannon ball!" She yelled before hitting the water splashing all three of them. She swam up an breached the surface in the middle of the three.
All three looked at Apple Bloom with a frown before the started to giggle and started the splash fight again this time all three splashing at Apple Bloom. The group spent the better part of an hour playing in the lake, before Applejack came down and watched the fillies for a few minutes smiling.
"Alright ya'll come on out." Applejack called to them and they swam over to the dock and climbed out of the water. Once they had gotten out of the water Applejack smiled. "It's time fer lunch Sweetie, Starbloom, Tiara yer welcome to join us if you want."
The group smiled at Applejack nodding as they dried off, Diamond Tiara putting her tiara back on and Starbloom put her saddle bags on. "Alright sis, that sounds good." Apple Bloom said and they all headed to the farmhouse. But instead of going in they went around to the side where a picnic area was for outdoor gatherings like the Apple family reunions.
They took a seat at the large table, Applejack too the towels and hung them up to dry before going inside to get the lunch for the fillies. The group sat at the table and talked quietly as the heat of the sun finished drying them off. Granny Smith, Big Mac and Applejack came out shortly after with lunch placing the food on the table and joining them.
Once lunch had been completed and the dishes taken into the kitchen the group said goodbye. Starbloom, Sweetie and Tiara walked back to Ponyville together before they split each going to their own homes. Over the past year Sweetie had been staying with Rarity more and more since their parents retired and took more trips.
Starbloom walked to the library and went inside. "I'm home mama," She called after going in looking around, Twilight looking up from scroll and smiled over at her.
"Welcome home dear, did you have fun today?" Twilight asked putting the scroll away. "Since Scootaloo dropped by earlier no dangerous stunts to get your cutie mark?"
Starbloom smiled at Twilight, "Yea I had fun, we didn't crusade today just swam in the lake at Sweet Apple Acres. Saw Diamond Tiara there as well and she joined us. Then Applejack made us all lunch." Starbloom told her mom as she removed her saddle bags and placed them by the stairs. She'd take them upstairs later.
"That does sound like a lot of fun, I'm glad you and your friends decided to take a break from crusading to have a little fun." Twilight said smiling at Starbloom, she got up and went to the kitchen. Starbloom followed her watching as Twilight made them some tea.
Starbloom smiled and nodded taking her cup of tea sipping it, she followed Twilight back out and they sat on some cushions in a corner of the library. "Where is Spike?" Starbloom asked tilting her head faintly.
"He went into town to the market to do some shopping. We're running low on groceries, parchment and ink. I offered to go with him but he said he could handle it on his own." Twilight said smiling at Starbloom as she relaxed sipping her tea.
"Ah," Starbloom said smiling at Twilight taking a sip of her tea relaxing. "Me and the crusaders decided to perform separately at the talent show this year. Sweetie Belle is gonna sing, not sure what Apple Bloom and Scootaloo are going to do.... not sure what I'm going to do myself."
"You're a smart filly Starbloom, you'll figure something out. So will Apple Bloom and Scootaloo." Twilight said sipping her tea.
Starbloom nodded at Twilight and gave her a smile as she sat on her cushion considering what she could do as she sipped her tea. "I'll think of something still have plenty of time before the talent show."
They heard the door and looked over seeing Spike as he came into the library with two large bags in his arms. Starbloom got up and went over to help carry everything inside. "I got these Spike, kitchen right?" She asked taking the bags he had in his arms in her magic.
"Thanks Starbloom, yep in the kitchen." Spike said smiling at her before going back outside to get the last of his purchases from the wagon. Two smaller bags with the ink and parchment which he put on Twilight's desk. "That's the last of it."
"Thank you very much Spike," Twilight said smiling over at him. "How was the market today?"
Spike went over and joined Twilight in the sitting area. "It was good, prices of tomatoes went up again though." Spike said settling onto a cushion. "I swear Roma just raises the prices when she feels like it."
Twilight smiled at Spike as he sighed. "It's alright Spike, but maybe I should have a talk to her about her pricing." Twilight said as she finished her tea. She got to her hooves and went into the kitchen. Spike getting up and following after her.
"You really think it'll work talking to her?" Spike asked going over to help Starbloom put away the groceries.
"I'm sure once it gets explained to her she'll change her ways." Twilight said refilling her tea cup. "If not, we'll just get our tomatoes from another vender."
Starbloom smiled at Spike as he helped and soon everything was put away. Starbloom got her tea from the seating area and joined Twilight at the table. "But we been getting tomatoes from Roma for years." Spike said looking at Twilight. "Her crop is always the best."
"Maybe so Spike, but that doesn't mean she can keep raising prices like that. Last time we went there they was five bits for five tomatoes. The going price on tomatoes is one bit for three, that's a huge increase in price." Twilight said sipping her tea.
Spike sighed again but nodded, she was right this time he went it was six bits for five tomatoes. "Alright Twilight, that might be a good idea." Spike said taking a tea cup and sipped. "Thank you Starbloom."
"You're welcome Spike," Starbloom said giving him the cup of tea. "I'm sure Roma will come around once mama explains it to her."
Spike nodded at Starbloom smiling at her. "Yea, I'm sure you're right."
They spent the rest of the afternoon talking over what they did today, and both Spike and Starbloom helped out around the library. Spike got dinner ready in the evening, with Starbloom's help. After dinner Starbloom got ready for bed and took a shower, she had school the next morning so she went to bed early.