//------------------------------// // First Bundle // Story: Dear Fellow Crusaders // by M_D_Quill //------------------------------// To: Applebloom From: Scootaloo Dear Applebloom, Sweetie Belle is forcing me to write this letter because you are too busy bucking apples and can’t come to the hospital… which is soooo uncool… The hospital I mean, not you bucking apples! I’m not saying that bucking apples is uncool. It is very cool… kinda… So anyway… I’m in the hospital because I broke my wing trying out a new super awesome trick that I know would impress Rainbow Dash. Bad news is, well… I kinda landed wrong… Good news is I succeeded in the trick! It was absolutely undoubtedly awesome! I did a full 1080 degree turn and skidded on the clouds perfectly so they released rain to look like I was scooting on waves! Rainbow was like “Oh wow! That is soo cool!” and I was all like “I know!” Then Rainbow gasped and asked what was on my flank, and I looked and MY CUTIE MARK WAS THERE!!! I finally got it Applebloom! Not like I had any doubt that I wouldn’t be the first of the Cutie Mark Crusaders to get it, but it is sooo awesome! I can’t wait until I can show it to you! Once I get out of here I’m going to rub it in Diamond Tiara’s face! Back to my trick... I was so focused at my new totally awesome cutie mark that I didn’t see Ditzy Doo flying by, and I kinda ran into her… I fell off my scooter and crashed kinda hard on the ground with my wing sitting in an awkward angle... and Miss Doo landed on top of me… The doctor says I should be fine in a week or so, but it’s going to be such a killer waiting to get out! I wonder how Rainbow Dash survived when she broke her wing. I am going to ask her when she comes to visit! Well now that I am done with this lame letter maybe Sweetie Belle will leave me alone. See ya when I get out Applebloom! -Scootaloo ----------------------------------------- To: Applebloom & Scootaloo From: Sweetie Belle Dear Applebloom and Scootaloo, It is my first night here in Canterlot and the butterflies in my stomach are getting worse... Big sis says that I am going to do just fine with auditions, but I am not sure if I am ready to try out for Canterlot's School of Music… The auditions are taking place at the Opera House in a few days, so I have some time to practice. But I don’t know if I will be ready... especially since Fancy Pants came by today and told us who was going to be judging. Do you remember that singer pony that came to Ponyville a few years ago to look at Big Sis’s designs. She is going to be one of the judges. I think her name was Sapphire Shores. The other three are Fancypants himself, Hoity Toity and Princess Luna... I have to sing in front of the Princess! Big sis says I am going to be fabulous, but I am not sure if I am going to do any good. I don’t even have my cutie mark yet! What if I sing badly? What if they kick me out of Canterlot? What if I sound so bad that they don’t just kick me out, but they kick big sis out too for bringing such a bad singer to the Opera House! I mean this is the Princess and nobility I am singing to! I don’t know what to do… Should I just quit and go home before I embarrass myself? Sincerely, Sweetie Belle ----------------------------------------- To: Sweetie Belle From: Applebloom Dear Sweetie Belle, Did ya hit your head or somethin'? Yur about to get into the best school of music in all of Equestria! Ya can't quit now! And I doubt ya will need to worry about being run out of Canterlot. I mean, your sister is one of the bearers of the Elements of Harmony, not to mention the best friend of Princess Celestia’s personal student. Now stop all this doubtin' and go out and blow them the Princess away with your amazing voice! Scootaloo and I are rootin' for ya! Good luck... Oh wait, Twilight told me saying that was bad luck... um... Break a leg!, I guess... I don’t want ya to actually break yur leg, I want ya to do well. Ya know what ah mean. -Applebloom ----------------------------------------- To: Applebloom & Scootaloo From: Sweetie Belle Dear Applebloom and Scootaloo, I did it! I am in the School! I did the song big sis told me I should sing, from some opera she said Fancy Pants took her to on her last trip to Canterlot, and when I finished singing the judges were on their feet applauding with tears flowing out of their eyes! Princess Luna even said she would pay the tuition for me to go! I was ecstatic, and then there was a bright flash and... you won’t believe it... I GOT MY CUTIE MARK!!! I can’t believe it! Everypony said I was good at singing, but I never thought it was my special talent! Fancypants came up to me later and told me it was the best rendition of Vissi d'arte he had ever heard. Big Sis was running all over the chamber laughing and yelling how her sister was going to become the best opera singer in all Equestria. I think she was exaggerating a little, but it was nice to see her so happy. But the best part was when Princess Luna came up and told me that I was the best singer she has heard in over a thousand years! Then again... she was on the moon for a thousand years. I’m still overjoyed for the complement! I am starting school later on this week so I am not going to be able to show you my cutie mark until solstice break. I'm going to be pretty busy up here for a while, so write me lots of letters to keep me up on what happens in Ponyville. Sincerely, Sweetie Belle ----------------------------------------- To: Sweetie Belle From: Scootaloo Dear Sweetie Belle Rainbow Dash finally got an invitation to audition for the Wonderbolts. She asked me to be there to be part of her cheer squad! This is going to be soooo exciting!!!! -Scootaloo ----------------------------------------- To: Sweetie Belle From: Applebloom Dear Sweetie Belle, As ya have probably already read from Scootaloo's letter, she has been invited to Rainbow Dash's auditions. She’s been so excited that she really has not been a lotta help 'round here. Ah swear if ah see her surfing across the apple trees again ah can’t be held responsible for what ah am goin’ to do. The farm is a mess right now. Leaves and apples are lying everywhere! It looks like we have been slacking off and waitin’ until late autumn to harvest everything. I even got lectured by Granny Smith yesterday because I have been ‘slacking off with my chores’ when she woke up from a nap right after Scoots flew by and blew leaves all across the porch. And there is more. Scoots antics have not improved Applejack’s mood, which has been kinda bad to start with. Seems like her and Twilight got into a bit of a fight ago and she is being too stubborn to go to her and apologize. I heard her mumbling about how she wants to go see the auditions too but can't because, um... what were her words... "Why should that bookworm waste her magic on her friends when her projects are sooo important." Ah asked Rarity what happened, but she told me they were havin’ a small spat and ah shouldn’ worry ‘bout it. Ah don' know what to do. Twilight won' come out the library and ah can’t find Spike anywhere. I hate seein' my sister like this, but ah can't seem to convince her to go make up with Twilight. If ya can please write a letter to your sis so this whole thing can get fixed up, ah would be mighty grateful. -Applebloom ----------------------------------------- To: Rarity From: Sweetie Belle Dear Big Sis, I have heard of a fight between Twilight and Applejack. Can you please go talk to them? Applebloom told me that Applejack really wants to see Rainbow Dash's Wonderbolt audition, and she won't be able to without a certain spell Twilight knows. Oh, and can you do something to keep Scootaloo occupied until the auditions. From Applebloom’s letter it sounds like she is driving all of Sweet Apple Acres up the wall with her stunts. Sincerely, Sweetie Belle P.S. I'm so sorry, but I have never properly thanked you for introducing me to Octavia. She has been an amazing teacher, and I am learning so much about music from her. Thank you thank you THANK YOU! I love you so much! P.S.S. Fancypants has asked me to tell you he has missed your unique style here in Canterlot and would love you to visit soon. ----------------------------------------- To: Sweetie Belle From: Rarity Dear Sweetie, Of course I will talk to Applejack and Twilight. I am sure this is all just a big misunderstanding. And tell Fancypants that… that I… I AM GOING TO CANTERLOT ON THE NEXT TRAIN!!! I can’t believe it! Fancypants wants to see me! He asked about me specifically!!! He thinks I’m unique!!! I will be seeing you shortly Sweetie! -Rarity P.S. Oh, and I think I found a perfect way to keep your friend Scootaloo occupied until things settle down some. I am sure she will appreciate my hard work. ----------------------------------------- To: Sweetie Belle From: Scootaloo Sweetie Belle, You wouldn’t believe what I found this morning. Somepony vandalized my scooter! It was covered in ribbons and studded with some kind of red and orange gems. I can’t practice with this! I had to quickly hide it in some bushes so that Rainbow Dash won’t be able to see it. I think I know who did it too. Ever since I got my cutie mark, Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon have both been quiet. At first I thought it was because they were jealous because mine is so much cooler than a stupid tiara, but now that I think about it they must have been plotting something sinister. This must be it, and done at the perfect time. You know how a lot of pranks are typically forgiven during the Nightmare Season. Well I am not as forgiving when it comes to my Scooter! Now there is no reason for concern, I have already planned out my revenge. A prank for a prank! I asked for some assistance from the two best pranksters in Ponyville and they both think my idea would be hilarious. Lets just say that after tomorrow night, both Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon will never look at a cupcake the same way again. This is going to be so much fun! I’ll let you know how things turn out. -Scootaloo --------------------------------- To: Sweetie Belle From: Scootaloo Sweetie! The plan worked flawlessly! Well... not really. But I will explain what happened in a second. Ok, this was the plan: I had Pinkie Pie invite both Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon to Sugarcube Corner to try out a ‘new cupcake recipe’. Right after they arrived, Rainbow Dash pops in because Pinkie said she needed her help. Once in the kitchen and out of site, Rainbow would start asking Pinkie what she was doing, and shortly after start screaming. She would have to stop pretty quickly (don’t want to scare those two snobs away), and Pinkie would bring out a tray of rainbow colored cupcakes! That was the plan... but things didn’t go exactly like how we wanted. Right when Rainbow started to scream, both Twilight and Fluttershy decided to walk in. Needless to say it threw the entire prank off since they both ran to the kitchens to see what was going on. Twilight was in shock and (luckily) played right into the prank by shouting out “Pinkie! What are you doing to Rainbow Dash?” right when she entered the kitchen. But what made the prank a complete success was Pinkie’s ability to improvise. Once everypony was in the kitchen, closed and locked the door and began to shout things that were hilarious. I barely was able to hold in my laughter when she called Twilight ‘Magically Delicious’ and sang about some sort of gypsy brew. And by some miracle, the kitchen fell silent for a couple minutes. When Pinkie emerged, she was carrying a tray with three cupcakes... one yellow, one purple, and one rainbow colored. You should have seen how pale Diamond Tiara turned when I took a bite of the rainbow one and asked Pinkie if she had something with a richer flavor. Pinkie glanced at the two of them and told me she might have something in stock. The two of them ran out of the store screaming! I got a heavy lecture from Twilight later that day, but it was so worth it by getting those two stuck up snobs back for messing with my scooter. I hope you are having fun with your... ew, schooling. I gotta go and try to get this frilly stuff off my scooter now. -Scootaloo ---------------------------------- To: Sweetie Belle From: Applebloom Dear Sweetie Belle, Apparently somethin’ in town happened to get everypony all panic like. Applejack came back and said two fillies were runnin’ ‘round town claimin’ that Sugarcube Corner was cookin’ up ponies and serving them as deserts. How ridiculous is that! I can’t believe some ponies would spread those kinda rumors about someplace as nice and wholesome as Sugarcube Corner. They had to shut down the store for the entire day because the Canterlot Guards were called in to inspect the place. Obviously they found nothin’ and the fillies were punished, but the nerve of them to do such a mean thing to the Cakes. The guards called it a classical Nightmare Night prank that was taken too far, but some things shouldn’t even be joked about. Sorry for the negative letter, but ah want to keep ya informed on big stuff like this. Rumors can fly around Equestria as fast as an applebat can eat an orchard, and I didn't want ya to panic if they manage to get ta Canterlot. On the good side, I’ve seen Big Mac lookin’ all shifty-like. If I don’t know any better, I think he might be hiding something. Ah’m gonna find Scoots and see if we can get to the bottom of it. Who knows, maybe I might get a detective cutie mark! -Applebloom --------------------------------- To: Scootaloo From: Sweetie Belle Dear Scootaloo, I think I agree with the guards and say that your prank did go a little too far... but I also wish I was there to watch Diamond Tiara run around screaming. Did you know you even made it into the Equestria Daily here in Canterlot. Not front page, but there is an article on page five called ‘Childish Terrorism’. My entire class was talking about it to the point that Octavia had to threaten us with extra work so we would be quiet. Strangely enough we heard some really loud laughing coming from somewhere outside. If I know it was impossible to do, I could have sworn it was coming from the royal palace. But I who could laugh loud enough to be heard from there? It seems like Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon are in some pretty big trouble now. I overheard Octavia saying to Flat Note and Treble Clef (the pianist and violinist teachers) that those ponies need to be ‘re-educated’ to have proper manners at Prim and Propers Finishing School for Fillies. I have never heard of this school, but from the shade of white the other teachers turned I do not think it is a very fun place to be. It reminded me of the shade of white everypony turned when we were trying to earn our cloning cutie mark and Pinkie Pie volunteered to be our test subject. Oh, and you are leaving for the auditions in a few days! Have fun and wish Rainbow Dash luck for me! Sincerely, Sweetie Belle ---------------------------------- To: Applebloom From: Sweetie Belle Dear Applebloom, Good luck with your detective cutie mark! You do not know how much I miss crusading with you girls. The only time I have time for nowadays is studying and practicing. Professor Octavia is really pounding the homework down on us! I thought we were taught all there is about music in Miss Cheerilee’s class, but she barely even touched the tip of the iceberg. There is classes focusing on just one area of music, much less the entire subject. We are currently learning the ‘art of the classics’ (Professor Octavia’s words, not mine). Big Sis is headed home tomorrow. I have spent most of the night listening to her both fawn over the Fancypant's compliments and complaining of how much work she will have to catch up on for this unscheduled trip. From what I have gathered, Fancypants has commissioned her a huge line. I am assuming it is for the Hearths Warming Eve Ball in a few months. From what Sis has told me, if everything goes as Fancypant's says the Carousel Boutique will be set for at least a year! I know making budget has always been hard for her working in a small town like Ponyville, but if she doesn’t have to worry about it then she can focus on her creative works. Maybe even get Sapphire Shores to buy another set for her next tour! Pet Winona for me and tell Rainbow Dash good luck at the auditions. I asked Scoots to tell her, but you know how forgetful she can be when she gets excited. I have to get back to studying. Hope to hear good news with the auditions! Sincerely, Sweetie Belle ---------------------------------- To: Sweetie Belle From: Applebloom Dear Sweetie Belle, The audition time is here and Rainbow Dash, Scootaloo, an’ Fluttershy have left for Cloudsdale. There has been word from Twilight since your sis talked to her, so unfortunately Applejack an’ Pinkie Pie are stuck here. I’ve seen Spike runnin’ around town like crazy, but when I had tried to stop him to ask him about Twilight he said he was too busy to talk an’ quickly ran away. I’m worried that she is forgettin’ ‘bout her friends... maybe after the auditions Scoots and I can try and get her to come back out. Oh, and Big Mac’s sneakiness is gettin’ stranger. At first ah thought he got a special somepony and was tryin’ to keep it from gettin’ known, but I saw him talkin’ to Carrot Top, Miss Rose, an’ Miss Cheerilee... An’ as he talked to them they all giggled and smiled all funny-like. If I didn’t know Big Mac better, I would think he had three special someponies. I’m going to wait until tomorrow morning and sneak into his room and see if I can’t find something to clear up this mystery. Applebloom ----------------------------------------- To: Applebloom From: Scootaloo Applebloom, We really need your help. The auditions didn’t go very well. Rainbow Dash didn't make the cut and now we can’t find her anywhere. Fluttershy is out looking for her right now, but I think we need to get her other friends up here in Cloudsdale to search. This city is just too big for us to handle by ourselves. Please hurry, I'm getting a bad feeling about this... -Scootaloo