//------------------------------//
// A Close Call 
// Story: The Cutie Cup 
// by Mathew_The_Raridash_Fan 
//------------------------------//

The next few days, the Crusaders continued training with Rainbow Dash despite the fact that they thought it was a waste of time. Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle wanted to quit, but Scootaloo convinced them to continue by telling them that they would definitely win next year if they trained early. 

It was Friday. The sun was still rising in the sky. Apple Bloom invited Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo over for breakfast as suggested by Applejack. They enjoyed apple cobbler and engaged in small talk. The fillies were still upset that it was canceled. They decided now was the time to tell them. 

“Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon told us that the Cutie Cup was canceled,” Apple Bloom told her family. 

“Pony feather!” Granny Smith spat, “Filthy Rich came here just yesterday to wish my Apple Bloom luck!” 

The crusaders looked at each other in shock. Diamond Tiara lied to them! They were ashamed that they believed those two. The games were going to start in five minutes. They had to run if they wanted to get there on time. They got up without cleaning their messes and made their way to the door. 

Applejack stopped them, “Hold your horses! If you run there, you'll be tired out! Why don't y'all let me take you there?” 

The fillies grinned widely and hopped into the nearest cart. Applejack hooked herself up to it and ran towards the Town Hall as fast as she could. There were already a large crowd of ponies there. The Cutie Mark Crusaders found a group of other fillies. They were about to join them, but they noticed that the teams were already wearing hoof bands. 

The crusaders found a booth that was occupied by Miss Cheerilee. There were three foals talking to her. After they were finished, she gave them each matching hoof bands. Apple Bloom galloped to the booth followed by her two friends. 

“I'm sorry, but the booth is closed,” Miss Cheerilee told them. 

“Why did the three in front of us get hoof bands, then?” Scootaloo asked. 

“They got here just before the entries were closed,” Cheerilee informed. 

The fillies looked at each other in horror. They had to find a way to enter. Sweetie Belle decided to try to act like her older sister, “Miss Cheerilee, I think we can all agree that you are our favorite teacher!” 

“I'm your only teacher,” Cheerilee reminded. 

That didn't go as planned. Sweetie didn't give up though, “We misbehave when we get substitutes because we really miss you. I want to stay in school for the rest of my life so I could be with you.” She fluttered her eye lashes. 

“I had no idea you liked me that way,” Cheerilee said, taken aback. Apple Bloom and Scootaloo snickered. 

“No! I mean you're a great teacher and all, but you're too old! I mean... Rarity is much better at this.” Sweetie Belle gave up and started to leave. 

Cheerilee stopped them, “Wait!” She gave the three of them blue hoof bands with gray swirls decorated on them. They grinned and jumped up to hug her. Then they dashed off to join the others. They agreed that it was a close call.