Isabella decided today would be a perfect day to go out and get some fresh air. Just being cooped up in the Maretel with Candace's constant complaining is driving her nuts, and the boys were just trying to find a way out. However, being the second youngest of the group (next to Phineas), she actually enjoyed Equestria. It was such a peaceful place, with a lot of adorable creatures and happy-go-lucky days. If only life were that simple in the U.S.
Walking down the street, the small filly took in a deep breath as it filled her nostrils with the aroma of breads, cupcakes, apples, and dirt. What delightful smells indeed. The florist, Rose, was giving away free roses, and offered Isabella one. Taking it, she (without a problem) puts it in her mane and smiles. It was such a perfect morning.
Then chaos erupted.
As she was walking to the park, 3 familiar fillies were swinging from a rope on the tree and crashed right into her. Poor Isabella was paralyzed, she didn't even have time to blink until the impact hit her. Groaning, she rubbed the back of her head and was about to talk some sense into the girls until she recognized them.
"Ya know, Scootaloo, the next time we go crusadin', Ah'm choosin' what we're gunna do." a young filly with a country twang growled.
"Oh yeah, I bet it'll be totally amazing." remarked the young pegasus sarcastically.
The youngest among them, a white unicorn filly, looked at Isabella who was watching the scene unfold before her eyes.
"Ohmigosh, miss! Are you okay?" Sweetie Belle asked, worried and afraid she would be told on.
"I'm fine...my head just hurts." Isabella replied, reassuringly.
"We were just tryin' a new crusadin' idea, but Miss I-Can-Barely-Fly here, got us in trouble. Again." The farm-pony sighed and glared at Scootaloo.
"Hey! You went along with it! I wasn't the only one for the idea!" Scootaloo snapped.
Isabella was confused, "Crusading?"
"We're the Cutie Mark Crusaders! And we crusade for our cutie marks!" Sweetie Belle squeaked. Then she pointed to her rump to show nothing but a blank white spot. Isabella looked at hers to see a heart with a sash around it and a bunch of patches. How did she miss that?
"Oh, you mean this?" Isabella asked.
"Yeah, don't ya know what a cutie mark is?" Apple Bloom asked, confused.
"I'm not from here. I came from a different...er, dimension." Isabella said sheepishly.
"Weird. How come you get a cutie mark and you don't know what it is?" Scootaloo growled, staring at it.
"Um...what are they for anyway?"
"They show your true destiny, or your talent. Everyone in our class has one but us." Sweetie Belle sighed.
"We're tryin' to find out what our special talents are, so that we can fit in." Apple Bloom admitted.
"Yeah, and that we can be as cool as Rainbow Dash!" Scootaloo exclaimed.
"Scootaloo, not all of us look up to Rainbow Dash." Apple Bloom deadpanned.
"Everyone should, though..." Scootaloo muttered under her breath quietly.
"Maybe I can help!" Isabella chirped.
"You? How? After all, you don't know how you earned yours."
"Yes I do. I am the leader of the Fireside Girl Troop 46321, and if there is one thing we are best at, it's earning badges!" Isabella said proudly.
"Earning badges? Like a Filly Scout?" Sweetie Belle asked.
"Yes, ma'am! I've earned a lot of my badges through hard work, sweat, and Phineas!"
"Phineas? You mean the orange colt from yesterday?" Apple Bloom asked.
"He's kinda cute." Sweetie blushed.
"BACK OFF, BUB, HE'S MINE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!" Isabella growled.
Confused by the sudden outburst, the girls stepped back a little as Isabella calmed down a bit.
"Sorry, my crush instincts are going overboard." she said, embarrassed.
"I know how you feel..." Sweetie Belle said, as a certain chocolate coated colt came up in her thoughts.
"No time to think about your boyfriend now, Sweetie Belle." Scootaloo teased, "This filly is going to teach us all she knows about earning patches!"
"By the way, what's yer name?" Apple Bloom asked.
"Isabella..."
"That's an odd name...Hey! We can call you Fireside! After all, it matches your cutie mark." Apple Bloom said excitedly.
Isabella nodded, "I like the side of that.
**Meanwhile**
Phineas and the gang were creating blueprints to create a portal to go back home. Rarity was passing by when she caught a glimpse of this and came over to see what the commotion was about.
"Oh, we're just building a portal to go back home." Phineas explained, adding some adjustments onto the paper.
"So soon?" Rarity asked, "But your company here has been quite delightful!"
"...We haven't even been here a full week." Phineas muttered.
"Oh, but darling, the girls and I seem quite fond of you actually. I mean, one of Twilight's spells failed once again, Applejack's pies were burnt to crisps, Pinkie Pie turned into Pinkamena at the party...actually, those are bad examples." Rarity pondered.
"Gee, glad we could help." Candace rolled her eyes, "Listen, lady-"
"Rarity, if you please."
"Rarity, we appreciate that you guys want us to stay, but the rest of us want to go home. This isn't where we belong, and our folks are probably worried about us. I hope you understand."
"...I see." Rarity said, looking at the blueprint, "Well, if you're going build a contraption like that, I know a few gentlecolts that will give you a few supplies to start you off. Now if you'll excuse me, I have a dress to design for a client."
"Wait, you design outfits?" Candace asked.
"Only the best in Ponyville, and quite possibly Canterlot."
"Canterlot?"
"The capitol of Equestria. It's where the princesses live."
"PRINCESSES?!"
"Oh yes, the rulers of Equestria. Princess Celestia and Princess Luna, that is. Princess Cadence lives in The Crystal Empire. She's married to the prince, Shining Armour, Twilight's brother."
"TWILIGHT HAS A PRINCE BROTHER?! AND LIVES IN AN EMPIRE MADE OF CRYSTALS?!"
"Even the ponies are made of crystals, although they seem kind of soft for something so hard. I just had to touch their coat..." Rarity trailed off.
"Forget going home! I want to visit the royal people! Er, mules, I mean, ponies, whatever!"
"Tomorrow we're going to Canterlot to visit the princesses. Would you like to come with?" Rarity asked.
"Do I!" Candace exclaimed as she trotted with Rarity to her boutique. Phineas tried to call her back.
"Candace, wait! What about the...portal?" he sighed.
"Dude, you lost your sister to some pony." Buford said.
"A quite attractive one if you ask me. Meeeeeeooooowwww!" Doof meowed.
Everyone looked at the mad scientist with disgusted looks on their faces.
"What?"
***
Isabella didn't realize how much fun she was having until now. Her and the CMC were having the best time of their lives. They swam under the sea to look at mermares and mercolts (with snorkles of course), then they went sight-seeing on top of the tallest hill in town. Then they ate at the all-you-can-sweet buffet at Sugarcube Corner. Now, Isabella was telling them about everything they do for fun in the US.
"So ya guys have these boxes that give you all types of shows and movies, like you would see at a theater here?" Apple Bloom asked.
"Yep. We call it a television. We basically have this remote and it lets us change channels to watch what we want." Isabella said.
"Wow, Fireside, your world is really cool!" Scootaloo exclaimed.
"It's like what Twilight told us when she went to another dimension. Only...different!" Sweetie Belle said.
"Ah can't believe ya even have a device that lets you talk ta people whenever ya want!" Apple Bloom shouted.
"Yep, cell phones and phones are awesome. Though, it would be pretty hard to text with hooves." Isabella chuckled.
"I bet love comes easily in that world, too." Sweetie Belle said.
"Easy for you to say, everyone here seems lovable. In my world, so many people are oblivious to if someone likes them, loves them, or not." Isabella sighed.
"Well, in this world, that happens too." Sweetie Belle sighed.
"You like someone?" Isabella asked.
"O' course she likes someone. His name is Button Mash." Apple Bloom said.
"Yeah, they meet at Sugarcube Corner every week and they go to his house and make out there." Scootaloo teased, making kissy faces. Apple Bloom joined in, much to Sweetie's dismay.
"Do not!" she growled.
"Do too!"
"Do not!"
"Do too!"
"Do not times one million!"
"Do too times infinity and beyond!"
Sweetie Belle crossed her arms and pouted, "I hate it when you guys do that."
Isabella chuckled, "So, what's your problem with Button Mash?"
"He's so oblivious to everything. I try dropping hints but it still doesn't work. I just wish he would really like me."
"I feel ya, sister." Isabella said, "Phineas never pays attention to me. And even when I drop hints, only his brother Ferb picks them up. I feel like it's hopeless. Although, we used a time machine to go to the future and I found out I was going to be an aunt!"
Sweetie Belle giggled. "It's nice to have someone to talk to, even though you're like a year older than us."
Apple Bloom nodded, "Our sisters never sit us down and talk to us like this. It's usually 'Don't Do This' lectures."
Scootaloo crossed her arms, "I don't even have a sister."
Isabella chuckled, "Well then, consider me as your friend and sister."
As if on cue, the girls all hugged Isabella, much to her astonishment.
"Ah like you, Fireside. You're better than any other filly I've met." Apple Bloom said.
"Hey!" Sweetie and Scootaloo exclaimed.
"Well, besides these guys anyway." She giggled.
"I hope you never leave here!" Sweetie said.
"I hope so, too. Hey, why don't you introduce me to Button Mash?" Isabella asked.
"That's a great idea! To Button's house we go!"