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// The Hopeful Recruit  
// Story: The New Crusader 
// by Dayvanr 
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		It was lunch time at the school, but nopony was too focused on eating. Once they saw that Gray Coat had no cutie mark it became a bit of an uproar. It was loud enough to the point Ms. Cheeriliee had to raise her voice. They began their lessons, but the students would take quick peeks the cutie markless stallion. Others kept dead on staring, earning a quick attention grabber from Ms. Cheeriliee. Normally she would call a name, or increase the volume of her voice.
Leaving him the talk of the school during lunch, for what could be more important than that. The most excited of them all however was the Cutie Mark Crusaders. They sat in their regular spot, a picnic table right outside the school house.
“Who'd a thought we would see an adult without a cutie mark”, Apple bloom said trying not to keep her voice down.
“It is rare, but if he can't find his cutie mark,” Sweetie Belle pointed out, “Then what chance do we have of ever finding ours?”
This brought their excitement to a grinding halt.
“Well,” Scootaloo said thinking about what to say next, “Everypony is different, and maybe Mr. Gray Coat just never could find out what his special talent was.”
Once again the Cutie Mark Crusader had their spirits back up, and an excellent idea ta boot.
“Are you gals thinking what I'm thinking,” Sweetie Belle asked.
“Totally,” Scootaloo all but yelled, “We should ask him to join us. Maybe then we won't have to any heavy lifting.”
“But what if our cutie marks are in heavy lifting,” Apple bloom asked.
“I'd say if that was the case, then we would have gotten those a long time ago,” remarked Sweetie Belle.
“Fair point, but we should recruit him anyways.”
“Maybe we might even get our cutie marks in recruiting,” Scootlaoo added.
“CUTIE MARK CRUSADER RECRUITERS! YAY!" they all cheered at once. This in turn earned a couple of funny looks from classmates.  Though, as always, two certain someponies came to where the crusaders were sitting.
“What are you three blank flanks yelling about this time,” Diamond Tiara asked with Silver Spoon in tow, “Something about recruiting, or whatever baby stuff you do.”
“Hello again Diamond Tiara,” Sweetie Belle groaned, “Oh, and I see you brought company. How nice.”
“If y’all must know,” Apple bloom said, “We are discussing whether or not to ask Mr. Gray Coat to join the Cutie Mark Crusaders.”
“Really,” Diamond Tiara laughed, as expected Silver Spoon joined her. About a minute later Diamond Tiara, still chuckling, continued, “Why would he want to join your little club of losers?”
“So that he may one day find his cutie mark, duh,” Scootaloo replied.
“In fact,” Sweetie Belle mildly said, “we were on our way just now to ask him. Isn't that right girls?” Her friends nodded in unison.
Sweetie Belle got up from her spot on the picnic table's seat,  Apple bloom and Scootalooo followed her lead. Then they confidently made their way to the teachers inside. 	



Gray Coat and Cheeriliee were discussing how the day was going while eating their lunch. Cheeriliee felt a little embarrassed. Normally her students behaved better then the way they acted. While Gray Coat pretty much just enjoyed his lunch, so he didn't have much of a care in the world.
“I hope the students weren't bothering you,” Cheeriliee apologized. “They just felt a little, off put.”
“About what,” he asked while chewing his sandwich. “I'm sure any group of kids would be surprised to see a new teacher just pop in one day. I should be the one apologizing for getting here so late.”
“That's fine, but. I think that they were more surprised to see that you have no cutie mark.”
Gray Coat looked at his flank, and something clicked in his head.
“Oh,” he realized,” to tell you the truth. I forget that it isn't even there. That is something pretty conversation worthy, or awkward stare worthy I guess. Honestly I don't mind anymore, granted it used to really matter to me. Then one day, I just looked in the mirror and said, 'Self. Me and I have been talking. We believe that this marking we used to wonder about, even is relevant.' From that day on I thought about my hopeful cutie mark less and less.”
“Well, I know three fillies that would never do that,” Cheeriliee chuckled.
“Which three fillies?” Gray Coat asked while looking at the attendance book.
Suddenly, shouting arose from outside were most of the students were eating. Cheeriliee seemed unfazed, but Gray coat nearly jumped out of his skin.
“CUTIE MARK CRUSADER RECRUITERS! YAY!” 
“Those three fillies,” She said calmly.
Gray Coat looked out the window and saw an orange pegasus with a short purple mane, a yellow earth pony with a red mane and a pink bow, and a white unicorn with a purple and pink mane. He took another look at the attendance book; because he was horrible with names he didn't remember their names from class sessions.
“Scootaloo, Apple bloom, and Sweetie Belle,” Gray Coat read aloud, “they're a little uh... energetic, huh?”
“You could say that,” replied Cheeriliee.    
“What was that all about? They yelled something about recruiters?”
“Those three have a little club called the Cutie Mark Crusaders. It's dedicated to finding one's cutie mark, and they do various activities to find it.”
Gray Coat thought about this club they had and could only smile. They are doing whatever it takes to get their marks, and they will always keep trying. He found it almost a little inspiring, but he had already lost interest in the subject of cutie marks long ago.
Gray Coat remembered that he still had his own lunch to eat and it was time to make up for lost time. However, before he could begin to chow down the club of discussion came into the classroom.
“Mr. Gray Coat,” the white unicorn said, he had already forgotten their names.
“Yes,” He said a little defeated as he put his sandwich back down.
“We were wondering,” said the yellow earth pony, “ if you would want join the Cutie Mark Crusaders.”
“Why do you want me to join?” Gray Coat asked, he was quite puzzled. Then for a second he remembered, but was beaten to the punch.
“Well,” The orange pegasus answered, “because you don't have your cutie mark yet. We thought you might want to join to finally get it.”  
“That's right,” he quickly said. “How do I keep forgetting about that?” After debating in his head, Gray Coat finally answered, “I don't know. I gave up on getting my cutie mark years ago. You could say that my passion in one day getting it is all gone, so I'll have to think about it.”
The bell began to ring, signaling the end of lunch.
“Anyone else wishing they could eat during class,” Gray Coat, sighed, “cause I do.”



The school day finally came to a close, and all of the students began rushing home. Almost all at least, the Cutie Mark Crusaders stayed behind to get Gray Coats answer. Unfortunately, he didn't have one yet. Thus, leaving them in suspense when they got back to the clubhouse.
“I'm not so sure he wants to join,” fretted Apple bloom. “He seemed so unsure.”
“It can't be easy having fillies you don't know asking you to join a club,” Sweetie Bell reassured.
“On the first day here too,” added Scootaloo. “Do you think we should have waited a little longer?”
“Maybe we should have,” Sweetie Belle replied. “Ok, maybe a few days wouldn't have hurt.”
“Should we also take recruiters off the list,” inquired Apple bloom.
“Yep,” answered Scootaloo with a pad and a pen.