//------------------------------// // Chapter 6 - A Crushing Crusade // Story: Button's Love:The Start // by PhoenixBlaz3 //------------------------------// A Crushing Crusade The CMC were in the clubhouse, having a little drink after an unsuccessful, and, nearly tragic, crusade. "Will, thet didn't go will." stated Apple Bloom. "Tell me about it... Sweetie Belle almost died!" exclaimed Scootaloo. She was waving her arms around and accidentally sent her glass of aplle juice flying, hitting Button's head with precision. "Sorry." "Nah, it's fine, Scootaloo. I need a shower anyway." joked Button Mash. The CMC started to laugh. "But seriously, I need a shower." said Button, looking at his muddy coat. He started to remember what had happened only an hour-and-a-half ago. *** "C'mon, Sweetie Belle!" shouted Apple Bloom. All four of them were on top of a cliff, trying to get their parachuting cutie marks. Sweetie Belle was hesitating to jump. Suddenly, Scootaloo pushed a very anxious Sweetie Belle. "AAAaaaHHHHhhhhhHHHHhhhh!" screamed Sweetie Belle. She tried to open her parachute with no success. "Aahhh, my parachute is jammed!" she called. Scootaloo face-palmed, while Apple Bloom gave her a menacing glare. Button started biting his nails. "Don't worry Sweetie Belle, I'm coming!" replied Button Mash. He counted to three before he jumped. "Wow, look at thet!" pointed Apple Bloom. "Button's crazier than you." "Ha ha... Wait, are you calling me crazy?" questioned Scootaloo, poking a hoof into Apple Bloom's chest. "Wut if I ah'm?" come-backed Apple Bloom. Meanwhile, Button was using his excess fat to fall faster. Eventually, Button found Sweetie Belle, grabbing the parachute bag with his hoof. He started to climb the cliff with his three hooves, while he used his other hoof to carry Sweetie Belle. Epic voice time Narrator time The journey up the cliff was long and hazardous... and lame. Button had his hoof glued to the parachute bag, while Sweetie Belle lay unconscious. After about 15 minutes, the two fillies started getting bored. "Should we call the hospital?" asked Apple Bloom. "Probably. But not yet." answered Scootaloo. Unexpectedly, a wheezing Sweetie Belle appeared on the top of the cliff, next to Scootaloo. "Well, looks like we're fine now." joked Scootaloo. Eventually, four brown hooves found the ground, along with a propeller hat. "Uh, Sweetie Belle, you okay?" questioned Button Mash with concern. Sweetie Belle nodded. "Ummm..." Apple Bloom froze there, because SOMEHOW Button Mash just lifted a filly about 21 kg AND successfully SAVED her from certain doom... "You're strong." said Sweetie Belle, enveloping Button Mash into a bear hug. Button returned the hug. "You saved my life, by risking yours." whispered Sweetie Belle. "Thanks." "You're welcome." replied Button. Scootaloo was gagging, Apple Bloom smacking Scootaloo's plot. "What?" asked an irritated Scootaloo. "Stap acting." replied Apple Bloom. Scootaloo sighed. *** "You definitely deserve a hero cutie mark." started Apple Bloom. Button snapped back into existence. "Or a hugging cutie mark. Jeez." sniggered Scootaloo. Apple Bloom smacked her again, while looking at the two foals who were still nuzzling each other. Scootaloo was getting sick of the two ponies in their embrace. "Sorry guys, I gotta go! I need a lobotomy." exclaimed Scootaloo. She started walking out of the clubhouse where they were staying. "And Sweetie Belle, I'm sorry for pushing you." Apple Bloom looked at the time. She grinned, her devious mind forming a plan. "Well, it looks liek we 'ave enough tiem to go on another crusade. It's kinda sad that Scootaloo can't join." started Apple Bloom, loud enough for Scootaloo to hear. Scootaloo ran into the clubhouse. "I've got an idea!" exclaimed an eager Sweetie Belle. "Tiger taming!" "Uh, you sure about that Sweetie Belle?" asked Button worriedly. "You might get into trouble." "Uh-huh, how about Cave Exploring? It's not as dangerous." suggested Apple Bloom. "Sure!" shouted the gamer duo. All four fillies put their hooves together. "Count me in!" shouted Scootaloo. The four headed out of the CMC Clubhouse, and found a nearby cave. *** "G-guys, I don't think we're getting cutie marks from cave exploring." stated Sweetie Belle, talking to a well-prepared CMC. Sweetie was wearing a miner's helmet; Button had a silver miner's helmet (which he spent nearly an hour painting) and blue overalls with a small silver breastplate placed around his muscles. Scootaloo was wearing crimson red boots and plastic was wrapped around her body. Apple Bloom was in blue overalls, wore her hair in a bandana and she held a torch in one hoof, repeatedly turning it on and off to check if it worked. "Funny you say that, because we spent around 1 hour and a half to get ready for this CRUSADE!" joked Scootaloo sarcastically. "Lit's jest go into the cave." groaned Apple Bloom, feeling joyful because she was positive her torch was working. Button and Scootaloo entered first, followed by the remaining fillies. There was a peculiar light source coming from the depths of the cave: a sparkling, white light. This was followed by a roar; the roar of a fierce creature. The CMC stood there, rooted to the spot, with their mouths gaping open. When they found their legs, they turned tail and started to run. Unfortunately for them, the 'owner' of the cave had smelt new prey, and already had something on its menu: foal fille. The CMC smelt fire from its predator, noticing a set of razor-sharp teeth, flame-filled nostrils and black-scaly skin. Its eyes were blood; Apple Bloom felt agitated because she was sure that the creature had stolen the colour of her hair! The creature (which the CMC deduced as being a dragon) charged towards the scared fillies (and colt!), using its tail to knock part of the ceiling onto the floor, resulting in a small earthquake. "Let's git out of 'ere!" shouted Apple Bloom, trying to overcome the noise coming from the small earthquake. "You can say that again!" joked Sweetie Belle, trying to lighten up the mood. Thanks to the small unsettlement in the earth, a few boulders fell from the roof of the cave, and started to block up the exit. Each boulder was grey, and about 4m² in size. Apple Bloom and Scootaloo jumped over the boulders, earning themselves their safety. Button and Sweetie were next, however, now there was only a small amount of space for their exit. "No!" screamed Apple Bloom and Scootaloo, noticing that one of them wouldn't survive. (We wouldn't want that now, would we, especially since this is a ButtonBelle story). Button wrapped his hooves around Sweetie Belle, making her blush. He squeezed through the small space, just before a boulder blocked the entrance, destroying the means of the dragon releasing its rage on Ponyville. "Wow, that was close." panting an out-of-breath Sweetie Belle. "Too close." responded Button. Apple Bloom and Scootaloo sat there, wide-eyed and their mouths open. "Let's not speak of this again." "Yes." agreed the three fillies, nodding their heads in approval. The four foals headed off to the Carousel Boutique, not speaking a single word to each other, each of them in awe of their own abilities.