//------------------------------//
// End of the crusade 
// Story: Sorrow 
// by dedaccount 
//------------------------------//

	'Hoorayhoorayhooray!" Apple Bloom exclaimed. "Babs is comin'! Babs is comin'!."
"Now hold on a second sugarcube." Applejack said to her younger sibling. "I know you're excited n all, but try not to wear your cousin out."
"We've got so much stuff to do! We've got ta see how the crusaders in Manehattan are doin', try to get our own cutie marks..."
Applejack sighed as she put a hoof to her forehead. There was no use trying to talk to her sister when she was this excited. The train staition was unusualy empty today. She guessed no one was expecting anyone. Except her and her sister of course. 

About 20 minutes later the train from Manehattan pulled into the station. "She's here!" Applebloom squeeled with excitement.
The door opened to reveal the small orange philly. "Hey Apple-" she wasn't able to finish as her cousin rushed into her with a tackle hug. "Babs!"
"How ya doin' cus?"
"Great! Better now that you're here! Me and the other crusaders have so much planned to do!" She continued on as her and her cousin headed toward the treehouse. Applejack sighed again. That left her to do the unpacking. Again.





" Are you sure you want to go today?" Rarity said to her sister as she finished a caughing fit. "I'm sure the other crusaders would be okay if you missed just one day."
"No can do sis." The young unicorn replied. Wiping at her nose. "Babs is here today, and we're gonna get a lot done." Sweetie Belle said with enthusiasm. "That reminds me." Rarity said. "Could you pass out these fliers for my next line for me. It shouldn't take that long." She said putting saddlebags heavy with papers on Sweetie Belle's back. The philly groaned.
"Do I have to?"
"It would be much appreciated." Her sister replied, combing her mane. Sweetie sighed in dissapointment and opened the doors. "And don't talk to strangers. Strange ponies are wondering about." Rarity warned.
"I'll be fine." Sweetie replied and headed for the treehouse. Almost instantly forgetting her sister's warning.





"Sweetie you made it!" Scootaloo said as the unicorn came up the ladder. "We'd thought you might have forgotten."
"And miss the Manehattan branch of the crusaders? I don't think so!" They all began giggle until Sweetie Belle broke into a violent fit of caughing. "Are you all right Sweetie Belle?" Apple Bloom asked.
"I'll be-woah." The room began to spin as a wave of nausea rushed over the unicorn.
"Sweetie Belle?" Apple Bloom asked again. The room stopped spinning and she didn't have the urge to throw up anymore.
"I-I'll be fine."
"All right." Apple Bloom said giving Sweetie a questioning look.
"Hey Babs." 
"Heya Sweets. Whats in the bags?" Sweetie Belle groaned. She'd almost forgotten.
"Rarity gave me some fliers to pass out for her new line."
"Seriously?" Scootaloo said. "Did you tell her Babs was here?
"Yes."
"Sometimes your sister can be a killjoy." Scootaloo told her.
"Well I figured if we each cover a part of town, we can get it done faster and get to crusading!"
"Yeah!" The other ponies said, and set out for town.

Scootaloo and Apple Bloom covered the upper part of town while Sweetie and Babs got the lower. Apple Bloom complained that she wouldn't get any personal time with Babs, but they all agreed that she and Scootaloo were the fastest, that they would cover more ground. So the crusaders set off. "All right." Sweetie said to Babs. "You start by Sugarcube corner and I'll start here. We'll work toward the middle."
"Whatever you say boss." And with that the orange pony set off at a gallop.

About 20 minutes later Sweetie was almost out of fliers to hang up, but still had a few more. She began looking for empty places to put fliers and saw an alley. It was dark and she couldn't see why anypony would go down there...but she felt drawn to it. She cautiously entered the alley. "He-hello?" Nothing. She turned around only to find her exit blocked. She began to look up to see what it was but it kept going. Her eyes finally rested on a red neck tie, and moments later she was being lifted of the ground. She felt a rush of nausea and moaned. She opened her eyes to find she was looking into a face. Or rather a lack of one. She tried to scream but there was no air. All she could do was let out a small whimper. Then she heard a voice. "Forgi-" THWACK! A rock hit the thing on the back of the head and she heard Babs yell, "Leave her alone you monster!" At this the thing seemed to freeze. All of a sudden she was on the ground and the thing held Babs by the throat. A cold voice full of anger washed over Sweetie Belle. "I can show you the monster you think me to be." Tendrils erupted from his back and began to twist around his other arm. They went past his hand and ended in a deadly point. Realizing what was about to happen Sweetie began to run toward her friend. But was to late. With impossible speed the thing thrusted its arm into the chest of the philly. a flower of red sprouted from Babs' back. The thing dropped Babs and turned towards Sweetie. It took a step foward but stopped. The tendrils came up from its arm and went into its back. It brought its hands up to its face and seemed to be trembling. It closed its hands into fists and vanished.

Realizing the thing was gone Sweetie ran to her friend. "Babs!" No response. Babs no' please!" Still nothing. Sweetie Bell cradled Babs head and began to cry.