//------------------------------// // Chapter the Fourth // Story: Crusader Managed Chocobos // by Magical Trevor //------------------------------// *Beep beep beep beep be-* “Ugh…” A small, white hoof poked out from underneath the emerald comforter, wiggling around every couple seconds. After several waves which hit air, a muffled grunt sounded when the hoof finally struck metal, hitting the snooze button firmly. *-ep beep beep beep b-* “Oh come on!” The small hoof bashed the alarm clock several more times, but the noise refused to abate. With a growl, the comforter shifted enough to reveal a disheveled Sweetie Belle, who stared at the now-silent clock as the alarm shifted from beeping to more of a whistle. Confused, Sweetie Belle looked upwards to her headboard where Relm stood, staring down at her owner with her beak and wings spread wide. Wincing from all the noise, Sweetie Belle forced her heavy limb up to the same height as Relm. As she inched her hoof into Relm’s beak, the light blue avian chirped happily twice. Sweetie Belle moaned as she collapsed into her bed, opting to let her brain boot up before attempting something that might make her sprain a few brain cells: how to cook breakfast. It was several days after the gala, and Canterlot was still abuzz with what happened. Rarity had said… something something about weird crystals showing up in the weirdest places, and had joined Twilight in Canterlot as they examined the strange new gems in-depth. Sweetie Belle was proud that her older sister was called upon by Canterlot for her knowledge on gems. Really. “So why am I so depressed?” Sweetie Belle mumbled to herself, sighing. Her eyes tracked the light blue chocobo chick as she fluttered around Sweetie’s head, whistling her worry. Sweetie smiled slightly as her pet started whistling a lullaby Rarity sang to her now and then. Sweetie slowly trot to a small music box on her nightstand, tracing some of the scuffs on the stained cherry wood before slipping it into her saddlebag. “Come on, Relm, we better get cleaned up or we’re gonna be late for crusading today!” Sweetie strode towards the bathroom, barely noting the additional weight on her mane as Relm alighted behind Sweetie’s horn. “Today is going to be awesome!” .o.O.o. “I know, I know, I know!” Sweetie panted, running between the microwave and the stove, trying to keep everything from burning. Relm was busy being a supervisor, chirping a fire alarm whenever Sweetie started to neglect part of the food preparation. “T-there!” Sweetie panted, the pot on the stove now safely cooling on a pad. Heaving a heavy sigh of relief, she rushed back to the microwave, carefully using a towel to remove the covered plate onto another pad. “I did it! Relm, did you set the table? They’re gonna be here any second!” “Too late!” ”Gah!” Sweetie jumped several hooves into the air, heart pounding. “Wha- Scootaloo!” Sweetie squeaked, blushing. “You don’t just break into ponies houses! You’re supposed to knock!” “But I was practicing for my lockpicking cutie mark again!” Scootaloo protested as Locke fluttered next to Relm. “It’s not my fault you left the door unlocked! That’s just boring!” “Y-yeah, well… set the table!” Sweetie flustered, turning back to grasp a pot with a towel to protect her mouth. “Abbloom ool ee ear any segon.” “I’m surprised you didn’t wait for Applebloom and Big Mac to help cook,” Scootaloo commented, flipping plates from her back onto the table. “I thought you said you were really nervous about cooking by yourself still.” Sweetie set the pot down, scuffing a hoof against the wood floor. “Well… Maybe a little… But I had Relm helping! She kept yelling at me before anything burned, so I think everything came out alright… Besides, I wanted to try!” she continued with greater confidence. “I wanna be able to make Rarity breakfast in bed whenever she gets back home from Canterlot, so I may as well practice, right?” “I guess,” Scootaloo agreed absently, lowering a spoon into the pot to see what Sweetie made. “Oatmeal? Do you at least have some brown sugar or something?” “Well yeah,” Sweetie replied, dragging a bag to the table. “I already added some, but I didn’t want to add too much in case Apple Bloom and Big Mac don’t like it that sweet.” Relm whistled, alerting the fillies to Locke, who was attempting to open the refrigerator. “Why do you want in there?” Scootaloo shrugged, before flinging the door open with a wing. Locke immediately flew inside, pecking at a carton of blueberries followed by strawberries and raspberries. The two fillies looked at each other, shrugged, then took the fruit to the table. They were dragged back, however, when Relm whistled from inside the fridge, pecking at the lid to some orange juice. Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle shared a look, before Scoots said, “Derp. Think they’ll mind, though? I mean-” “Eenope.” “Why would we not like our aunt and uncle’s juice? It’s good!” Applebloom piped up, walking into the kitchen. “You don’t think we only eat apples, do ya?” “U-uh, of course not!” Sweetie and Scootaloo chorused, grinning widely. “We uh… just thought you prefered grape juice!” Scootaloo continued. Applebloom’s eyes glazed over for a moment as she chanted, “Grape juice…” Scootaloo blinked again, before turning to Sweetie Belle. “Wait, seriously? I was only joking!” “You don’t think she has a crush on Ruby Pinch, do you?” Sweetie Belle whispered, hiding her mouth with her hoof. “What, just because her mom owns a grape farm thing?” Scootaloo whispered back, furrowing her brow. “I mean… I don’t know. She hasn’t said anything…” “Would you say if you had a crush on somepony?” Sweetie Belle countered, tilting her head. “W-what?! O-of course not!” Scootaloo said, her face turning red as her wings twitched. Before the fillies continue their discussion, however, they were reminded of their pets activities: namely, taking a bath in the oatmeal. Big Mac sghed as oatmeal went flying as the avians filled their beaks with oatmeal, before leaning their heads back to shake it out, spraying it all over. “U-um, sorry Big Mac…” The red workpony blinked as a dollop of oatmeal dropped past his vision. “Eeyup.” .o.O.o. “Cutie Mark Crusader Alchemical Ingredient Gatherers! Yay!” Zecora exchanged a glance with Big Mac before massaging her muzzle. “I admit these fillies bring me fear; my spine shivers coldly from their cheer.” “Eeyup,” Big Mac agreed, nodding slowly. The three chicks started circling Zecora’s head, chirping a song only they seemed to know. “And these little chicks of many hue... how do they fly, and do what they do?” “They’re chocobos!” the fillies said, bounding about Zecora’s clearing. “They’re magic from another world!” Zecora looked to Big Mac, who only shrugged. “There’s another blue one, but he’s with Spike,” Scootaloo explained. She whistled, and Locke stopped singing to dive-bomb Scootaloo’s mane, burrowing deep within before popping its head out. “This is Locke! He’s awesome at finding weak points in stuff! Just uh, don’t let him near any cards, okay?” “Don’t let him near cards?” Zecora echoed, eyebrows furrowing. “Why should he stay away by yards?” Applebloom stopped next to Scootaloo as well, interrupting her friend. “Well that’s ‘cause he- ya leavin’, big brother?” “Eeyup.” He raised an eyebrow, prompting Applebloom to salute. “Don’t worry, ah’ll be on mah bst behavior, right girls?” “Cutie Mark Crusader Behavior Models! Yay!” Big Mac facehooved, glancing to Zecora with glassy eyes. “With the way they have boomed, is it safe to say “I’m doomed”?” Big Mac sighed, nodding once. “Eeyup…” .o.O.o. “Spike! Tidus is getting near the crystals again!” Twilight said, her horn aglow as she levitated a quill and clipboard. “Woah!” Spike cried out as he fell from his ladder, falling on his back. His vision flickered, and he could see blue birds circling his head as they tweeted. Wait… No, it was just Tidus. “Oh, poor Spikey-wikey! Are you okay?” Rarity asked, entering his field of vision. “I am now, milady,” Spike said, his eyelids drooping as a dopey smile covered his face. Rarity tittered, holding a hoof to her mouth. “Such a gentledrake… Now, Spike, do you think you could take Tidus with you for a walk or something? He keeps-” A book fell from the shelf, landing squarely on Spike’s sniffer. “Oh my goodness!” Rarity gasped, quickly grabbing a hoofkerchief to stop Spike’s bleeding nose. “Y-yeah, a walk seems like a good idea,” Spike groaned, rolling over on the ground so he could lurch to his claws. “Just… a small walk…” “But don’t go to the big crystal room, alright Spike?” Twilight called out, looking over her shoulder. “It’s bad enough to have Tidus fluttering around this one we’re testing, but going into the big room would-” Spike tripped on a book, having been looking over his shoulder to look at Twilight as she spoke to him. As Spike lay sprawled in the dust, he slowly raised a claw with a digit raised. “Sure thing, Twi. I’ll get right on that…”