Overall the walk to Sweet Apple Acres was uneventful. I was busy trying to think of a way for me to communicate with everyone without having to do whatever the heck I did with Spike. He, on the other paw, was telling me of all the biggest things the crusaders have done to earn them the reputation that they had.
It made me question if adding a dragon and black magic kitten to their ranks was a good idea.
The biggest thing he had told about, in my opinion, was when they had tried to do something with fireworks during some summer festival. It apparently resulted in multiple cases of property damage as well as the Ponyville Fire Department having a hectic day. Really wish I could've seen it, but I hadn’t been around at the time.
It was a few minutes later that we arrived at a pink wooden house nustled nicely in a particularly large apple tree. The front door and window shutters had hearts cut into them really making it look like a girls only clubhouse, ‘We're really going to have to talk to them about redesigning.’
“Pretty sure Applejack wouldn’t let them. This place used to be hers I think.” Spike stated as he stopped in front of the walkway to the treehouse’s porch.
‘It wouldn't be a complete redesign, just replace the hearts with crossed swords and give the whole thing a new paint job.’ looking up at the apple tree the thought of this being a good base was thrown out the window, ‘Second thought, we just need to find a new place altogether. Preferably close by the tree castle, but still hidden from sight.’
Spike looked around at the surrounding orchard, “Yeah it doesn’t really say we’re professional... What are we?”
‘Adventurers Spike. We are professional adventurers.’ I stated as Spike walked up the walkway, ‘Think of it like we're treasure hunters, but we do odd jobs on the side. We're going to need a secret base though where we can hide out, plan out quests, and stash any really valuable loot.’
“A secret base? Like those cool underground bases in Con Mane Reloaded?” Spike asked as he stopped in front of the door.
‘Underground, I like that idea. Be sure to remember that later.’ Spike knocked on the door making a series of whispers spring up behind it.
After a few seconds the whispers died out and the door slowly opened to reveal a bright room with a few furnishings here and there. Most notable were the table and podium in the center of the room. Apple Boom was standing behind said podium with Sweetie Belle on her right and Scootaloo the left.
“Bout time you got here.” Scootaloo said quietly earning a ‘shh!’ from Sweetie Belle.
Apple Bloom looked down at the podium and started talking slowly and carefully, “Welcome C-M-C recruits. You’ve been officially nominated by a fellow crusader to join our ranks. If ya accept this nomination and recite the Cutie Mark Crusader oath, you’ll be considered a fellow crusader for the rest of infinity.” the little yellow filly finished with a smile, looking at me and Spike.
‘I think you mean eternity.’ I pointed out making the her look back down at the paper.
“I mean, rest of eternity.” Apple Bloom beamed as she glanced as Sweetie Belle. The unicorn in question was just closed her mouth, having no need to correct her friend, “Now do you, Spike the Dragon, and you, Scruffy the Cat-”
I meowed to get her attention back on me, ‘I’m a kitten, not a cat. There is a difference.’
“Okay, Scruffy the Kitten-”
“Daww.” Sweetie interrupted this time, “He actually goes by kitten.”
“Shh!” Scootaloo got her revenge ‘shh’.
Sweetie replied in kind with a louder ‘shh’ thus starting a war.
Spike started scratching the back of his head while I watched the war of ‘shh’. It was about this time I realized these would be my questing party.
As my paw met my face Apple Bloom slammed a gavel down on the podium, making everyone flinch, “Everypony quiet! Is this ya’ll want our newest members to think of us? Now both of ya stop interruptin me an wait your turn!”
“Sorry...” both unicorn and pegasus said quietly as they hung their heads.
“Alright. Now Spike, Scruffy, do both of you accept the nominations?”
“Yeah.” Spike nodded his head.
‘Yep.’
“An Scruffy, try to think of a way ta talk to us all at once or else the Q an A session laters just gonna get confusin.”
‘Couldn't think of a way earlier, but I'll give it another shot.’ I stated as the thought of just saying ‘nope, can’t do it, let’s do this some other time’ ran through my head.
“Okay my turn!” Scootaloo said as she rushed up just as Apple Bloom started to move away from the podium, “Now repeat after me: I am a Cutie Mark Crusader.”
“I am a Cutie Mark Crusader.”
‘I am a Cutie Mark Crusader.’
“It is my mission to find my cutie mark and help others find theirs.”
We repeated her as a strange feeling started tugging at the back of my mind. It soon faded into the background while I listened to Scootaloo say the next third line.
“We will always be loyal to each other and help when we’re needed.”
The words rang in my head like an echo as Spike and I said the line slightly louder than the last.
“No matter what, we as Crusaders will never give up!”
I recited what she said with a surprising amount of pride bubbling up in my chest.
Scootaloo hopped down to in front of the Podium and stuck her hoof out in front of me and Spike. Sweetie Belle and Apple Bloom were quick to her sides as they put their hooves next to hers. Spike made a fist and put it against the three hooves as I jumped onto his arm.
With my paw over Spike’s fist we all finished the oath:
“CUTIE MARK CRUSADERS! YAY!”
And despite my ringing ears and small headache, a smile spread across my muzzle.