//------------------------------//
// Chapter Five 
// Story: When You Wish Upon a Star 
// by Nightshine_Eclipse 
//------------------------------//


"Be the Friend That You've Always Wanted."





The moon was just rising when Comet Blaze decided to take her normal nighttime fly. When she was back at her tree by the brook, she would always take the time at night to fly to where ever she desired. Her heart yearned to be back home, under the old oak tree and the navy blue, spotted with white, blanket that hung so high up. She wanted to be there, even if it meant being alone for the rest of her life. But instead, she was here, living with an alicorn in a tree-library. 
She silently crept out of the tree-library, being careful not to wake Twilight Sparkle, as she didn't want the purple alicorn to know she had left in the night. Thankfully, vampire-bat ponies were always quiet with their movements. 
Comet made it out the door in complete silence. Once she was outside, she let out a breath that she didn't even realize she was holding. After she walked a few steps forward, she looked back at the door for a second before letting her wings take her up. Instead of flying over head, above the treeline, she decided to fly around the town and have a look around without having anypony around to stare at her. She hated when everypony would stop and stare at her, it made her feel like she was something else, something that didn't belong.
As she flew along the roads of Ponyville, she kept feeling like something -or someone- was watching her. Comet shook her head and silently laughed at herself. Someone wouldn't follow me, nopony is probably even up at this time! she thought to herself. At least, that was what she had hoped. What pony would even be up at this time, anyways?
Suddenly, she heard a noise.
"Pssst!" 
She stopped and started looking around her. After a few seconds, she shook her head and continued to fly.
"Pssst!"
Again, she stopped and looked at the places around her. She shook her head again, after a minute, and continued flying.
"Pssst!"
This time she stopped and yelled quietly, "Who's there?"
"Over here!" 
With her ability to use sound to find the object, Comet was able to locate "over there". When she did, she saw three fillies like herself. One was an earth pony, she had a yellow coat with a pink colored mane, to be honest, she kind of looked like an apple with her coloring. Next to her was a pegasus. She had an orange pelt with a magenta colored mane. Then there was a unicorn. She had a pure white pelt with a purple and pink colored mane. All three of the fillies, also, didn't have a cutie mark. 
"Who are you three?" Comet Blaze asked, quietly.
"Ah'm Apple Bloom," the apple-colored earth pony said.
I guess that makes sense, as she is colored like an apple, Comet Blaze thought.
"I'm Scootaloo," the orange pegasus announced proudly.
"And I'm Sweetie Belle," the white unicorn said.
"And we are the Cutie Mark Crusaders!" all three of them yelled.
"The... Cutie Mark Crusaders?" Comet Blaze asked in a quiet voice, filled with confusion.
"Now that you know who we are, who are you?" the orange pegasus -Scootaloo?- asked.
"I am Comet Blaze," she replied, quietly.
The three fillies -The Cutie Mark Crusaders- started circling around Comet Blaze, making her feel very uncomfortable. The fillies circled around her, inspecting every detail they could. Eventually, they stopped circling around Comet Blaze and again stood in front of her.
"What kind of pony are ya?" the apple-colored earth pony -Apple Bloom!- asked.
"I am a vampire-bat pony," Comet Blaze answered with pride.
"Vampire-bat pony?" the pure white unicorn -Sweet Bell? No... Sweetie Belle!- asked, fear creeping into her voice.
"Do not worry, our name is just of our physical appearances and traits, not of our eating habits," Comet Blaze assured the three fillies.
"Oh," all three said.
"Why are you three out at this time of night?" Comet Blaze asked, now wondering.
"Oh! Well we were having a crusader sleepover and decided to see about the new pony in Ponyville!" the pegasus -Scootaloo- told her, excitement in her voice.
"And we wanted to see if you'd like to join us on a crusader mission to get our cutie marks!" the unicorn -Sweetie Belle- added.
"And by the looks of it, ah reckon ya'd like to?" the apple-colored pony asked, adding on to what the others said.
"Um," Comet Blaze didn't know what to say.
"Come on! Don't you want to get your cutie mark, too?" Scootaloo asked.
"Do vampire-bat ponies even get cutie marks?" the apple-colored pony asked.
"We do, yes, get cutie marks. And what type of things do you all do, trying to get your cutie marks?" Comet Blaze asked with uncertainty. 
"Everything!" they all yelled.
"Everything?" Comet Blaze repeated with fear.
"Yep! We gotta do something tonight! Maybe our cutie marks have somethin' to do with the night!" Apple Bloom exclaimed. 
"I don't think so," Comet Blaze said.
"What?" the three asked.
"I mean, think about it. What talents does your family have?" she asked the three fillies that stood before her.
"My sister owns a boutique and has an amazing sense of fashion," Sweetie Belle said.
"I think you probably have a talent in arts," she said, but the unicorn filly looked at her with confusion. "You know, like drawing, writing, dancing, or singing, or something."
"My brother and sis both have somethin' ta do with apples. Actually, my whole family does!" Apple Bloom stated.
"I think your talent probably lies with apples, like your family does," Comet Blaze told her.
"And Scootaloo's talent probably lies with her scooter!" Apple Bloom yelled.
"It could. To be honest, I can't tell you what your talents are, but I think I gave you all a good idea of where your talents probably lie," Comet Blaze stated.
"What about your cutie mark?" Sweetie Belle asked.
"Oh, I don't know. I'll probably find out what my talent is after my Journey," Comet Blaze answered.
"Your Journey?" they all asked, confused.
"That's why I am here," the vampire-bat said.
"What are you suppose to do on your Journey?" Scootaloo asked.
"I have to collect five sacred items," she replied.
"Have you found any of those items yet?" Sweetie Belle asked with wonder.
"Yes, I actually have. Twilight Sparkle and her five friends helped me find the first item," Comet Blaze told the Crusaders.
"What was it?" Apple Bloom asked with excitement.
"The plant of blue that plays you for a fool," Comet Blaze recited. The fillies looked confused by the statement, so she explained it a little further, "Poison joke."
"Ohh!" the little fillies giggled.
"I was wondering, what could you three tell me about Twilight Sparkle and her five friends?" Comet Blaze asked the crusaders.
"Well, Princess Twilight Sparkle, is the princess of friendship. She was the student of Princess Celestia. And..." the crusaders went on and told Comet Blaze about everything that had happened to Twilight Sparkle up until now. "And that is everything we know about Twilight."
"What about her friends?" Comet Blaze questioned further.
"Well, they are the holders of the Elements of Harmony," Scootaloo stated.
"My sister, Rarity, holds the element of Generosity. Pinkie Pie holds the element of Laughter," Sweetie Belle explained,
"My sister, Apple Jack, holds the element of Honesty. Fluttershy holds the element of Kindness," Apple Bloom added.
"And Rainbow Dash holds the element of Loyalty!" Scootaloo exclaimed.









"We, the Cutie Mark Crusaders, elect Comet Blaze to join us as a sister, friend, ally, bossom buddy, gal pal, compadre, chum of chums..." Sweetie Belle read off of a sheet, and was soon interrupted by Scootaloo clearing her throat. Sweetie Belle then exclaimed, "Well, you wrote this!"
"Oh, uh yeah..." Scootaloo whispered.
Sweetie Belle sighed, and continued reading, "Homegirl... Amiga... blah blah blah blah blah. Oh, yes, here. ...and fellow Cutie Mark Crusader! You are solemnly sworn in, here this day, in witness of your fellow sisters, friends, confidantes... bossom buddies... compadres..."
"Congratulations!" Scootaloo exclaimed, then whispered quietly, "I still haven't revised it!"
Comet Blaze laughed. "Thank you, girls!"
Comet Blaze decided to take a few moments and let her eyes wander around the clubhouse. She had never been in a clubhouse before, and it was a really cool place. The Cutie Mark Crusaders, and herself at the time, had been running around Ponyville, trying to do some different things. Sweetie Belle took up Comet Blaze's advice and tried to do some of the arts ideas, like painting and dancing. Apple Bloom and Scootaloo also gave those a try. 
Eventually, they decided to come to the clubhouse, which led to the initiation of Comet Blaze.
Too soon, though, the sun was starting to rise and it was time for them to head home. The Crusaders first walked to the library-tree, as the three fillies thought that it would be a good thing to walk home the new crusader. As soon as they reached the library-tree, Comet Blaze turned and looked at the other three ponies, her friends.
"What is it, Comet Blaze?" Sweetie Belle asked.
"Well, I was... uh... wondering if you might want to help me figure out the next riddle?" Comet Blaze asked the other crusaders, quietly.
"We would love to!" all three exclaimed.
"You would?" Comet Blaze replied with excitement.
"Of course!" Apple Bloom told her.
"What is the next riddle, Comet Blaze?" Scootaloo asked, her excitement was obvious.
"A strand of hair from magic itself," Comet Blaze recited.
Right after she said it, the sun was on the horizon. 
"Uh-oh, girls we gotta get back to Fluttershy's cottage!" Apple Bloom exclaimed.
"Right!" Sweetie Belle replied, "And if we get an idea, we'll come find you and tell you, Comet Blaze!"
"Alright! I'll see you soon, girls!" Comet Blaze called after them as the original three cutie mark crusaders ran towards Fluttershy's cottage. Comet Blaze shook her head and quietly headed back into the library-tree, being careful, like when she left, to not make a sound. Once she got in, she headed back up the stairs and quietly made her way to her bed. 
As soon as she lied her head on her pillow, she was out like a light.