The Quill of Eternity

by Written Dreams

Chapter 15 - The Fourth Crusader

Rainbow Dash, Twilight Sparkle and Applejack were laying against the cool wood of the Cutie Mark Crusader’s clubhouse. The sun had set since they had been there, and Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle had fallen asleep, the small orange pegasus cuddling up to Rainbow Dash who was curled around her, looking more like a big sister to the tomboyish filly as she was asleep as well with the filly resting against her. Applebloom placed a blanket over the two pegasus as she walked through the tree-house, the inside dimly lit by a few candles, one on the windowsill off to the side and one in the center of the floor as Twilight Sparkle was laying in an unused sleeping bag, her eyes slowly sliding back and forth as she was reading the dragon migration book over again by candle-light. Sweetie Belle was in her own, smaller sleeping bag up against the south wall of the clubhouse near the door near Rainbow Dash and Scootaloo, who were nearer to the eastern wall.

Applejack had also fallen asleep. Although she didn’t much show it, even the hard-working farm mare was worn out from all of the running they all had done along with the emotional stress of the world they found themselves living in. Applebloom continued walking around with a rather mature look on her face as she checked to see if each of them was asleep before she slowly walked over to Twilight and laid down next to her, speaking in a rather quiet voice as to not disturb the others, “Twilight, ah was wonderin‘ if ya still wanted to hear that story before ya headed off to sleep?” Twilight Sparkle paused for a moment, her eyes scanning the contents of the book before her for another moment before her horn glowed softly and the pages she had turned, along with the cover closed before the book levitated slowly over to the small bookcase off to the side and she slowly nodded towards the farm filly with a very gentle and warm smile on her face,

“I really would like to hear it… but won‘t you need the other girls to help you tell it like the last one?” Applebloom gave her a smile, looking up at the mare as she looked down at her and shook her head,

“Nope, but I understand if ya want Rainbow or Applejack awake when I tell it.” Twilight rose her head a little from her relaxed expression and looked over to Applejack, seeing that Applebloom had draped a blanket over her as well and tilted her head a little,

“I don‘t know if AJ is really all that interested in the stories actually… besides…” She looked back to Applebloom,

“If she asks, you could tell it a second time… right?” Applebloom gave a light nod as she smiled up at Twilight before both of their ears perked hearing Rainbow Dash’s voice,

“I‘d actually enjoy hearing that story too…” A few moments later Rainbow Dash had shuffled over to Twilight and Applebloom, leaving Scootaloo nestled against her and still fast asleep, “It‘s been… interesting hearing about more of what he did while in Equestria.” Twilight let out a soft giggle as she looked over to Rainbow Dash and nodded to her slowly,

“I can‘t wait to meet him again. Even though I only met him the one time he really does leave a lasting impression on those he meets…” Twilight looked down into the fire, a very light blush appearing on the purple coat of her cheeks. Applebloom leaned a bit against Twilight as she smiled up and over to the two ponies, nodding slowly towards them in response,

“Well ah‘m more than happy to tell ya about when he came back now…” Applebloom fell silent as she thought, bringing her hoof to her chin as she gathered her thoughts, “Let‘s see now…”

“Bit of an abrupt u-turn to say the least…” Written Dreams sighed as he walked through the orchard of apple trees, his eyes slowly scanning each one and his expression seemed to be locked as one of deep concentration. Applebloom had been trotting alongside him for a good four minutes before she finally decided to speak,

“Mister Dreams what brings ya back to Sweet Apple Acres? Gonna try ta get more cider from mah big sis?” Written Dreams jumped as he heard her voice, quickly looking to her as he had leapt a few feet away from her and had stopped walking abruptly,

“Ah! Oh my…” Written Dreams let out a slow breath as he gathered himself and shook his head, “Applebloom you scared me… when did you show up?” Applebloom couldn’t help but giggle as the pegasus stared at her and walked over to him, looking up at him with a bright smile,

“Ah was walkin‘ with ya for a while but ya seemed ta be thinking‘ really hard. Whatcha doin‘ mister Dreams?” Written Dreams started walking again, the little filly trotting along with him and he looked down at her again, smiling gently before looking ahead through the trees,

“Actually one of the clues I‘ve been following has led me back to the humble Sweet Apple Acres. But…” Written Dreams slowly looked around as he continued to ponder, “There‘s nothing that really sticks out in the orchard that gives me a clue as to where to start looking for it… there‘s a good chance it‘s buried somewhere but what I‘m looking for is some kind of significant object or landmark out here in the forest that it might be located near.” Applebloom thought for only a moment before pointing ahead through the trees, her vision locked up at the pegasus before her as she smiled brightly,

“Mister Dreams… the clubhouse is the biggest tree in the orchard! Maybe that‘s where you should look first?” Applebloom tilted her head a little as she finished her sentence, the colt walking next to her pausing for a moment as he took in her words before he looked down at her with a bright grin and took into a run, Applebloom at his side,

“Of course! Thank you Applebloom!” The two arrived at the clubhouse soon after they had ran for a minute or two, given that they were already deep in the orchard to begin with. As they arrived at the clubhouse Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle were already there and greeted them, each of the two fillies giving Written Dreams a warm greeting and an embrace before Written Dreams looked around the base of the tree curiously as he circled it, the three fillies sitting in a line consisting of Scootaloo, Applebloom and Sweetie Belle in that order. He continued to circle it for a few moments before looking back to them with a smile, “Girls if I‘m right then the clue could very well be under the earth around the tree. Mind if I dig a bit? It can‘t be that far down if I‘m not the first to find it.” The three gave no objection as they nodded happily to the pegasus and he began to dig, taking only a few minutes before his head disappeared into a hole under the tree before he brought it back up, setting down a large stone tablet from his mouth and onto the ground before him, “Here it is!” Scootaloo and the other crusaders walked over to him, observing the tablet as Written Dreams repeatedly brushed it with his left wing to clear off the dirt from its surface.

Written Dreams stared down at the tablet, the pegasus remaining silent for a few minutes before he looked up at the three girls seeing the three of them staring down at the tablet themselves. Scootaloo was the first to notice he was looking at them and looked up, tilting her head towards him as she smiled brightly but also wore a look of confusion, “So… you have to go to a volcano?” Scootaloo’s smile suddenly became much wider as she rose up onto her hind legs and made motions with her front hooves like she was punching, “And battle against dragons to earn your next clue?!” The other two crusaders looked up to the pegasus before he let out a light laugh and shook his head towards them,

“Come now, I‘m not some action hero I‘m a simple adventurer…” Written Dreams smiled softly seeing Scootaloo drop back to all fours and look a little disappointed before the colt mimicked her movements, punching at the air and grinned towards them, “But I‘ll battle dragons if I have to!” The three smiled brightly and Written Dreams laid down before them, withdrawing a book from his saddlebags and opened it on the tablet, slowly turning the pages, “Dragons have always been creatures that fascinate me but I‘ve never really been able to talk to an adult one up close before. The place on this tablet…” His hoof turned the pages a few times before he rested it on the very edge of the picture showing the migration grounds, “Is here. The place where dragons finally end their migration once in about every hundred years or so. Actually…” Written Dreams looked up to the sky as he smiled and looked back to the three, “The migration should be happening sometime this year… perhaps in a few months or so. But I digress… It shouldn‘t take me more than a day or two to get there. Can I trust you three to keep that book safe? I got it from the library up in Canterlot Castle.” The Cutie Mark Crusaders all grinned happily and Sweetie Belle levitated it with her horn before she trotted up the ramp,

“Leave it to us!” Written Dreams looked to the other two and Applebloom tapped the tablet with her hoof as she continued looking down towards it,

“What should we do with the tablet? Just bury it again?” Written Dreams paused as he looked down at it, falling silent again as he thought over his answer before shaking his head and ruffled Applebloom’s hair with his hoof,

“I think you three know how important these tablets are to those searching for the quill. Perhaps you could keep it up in your tree-house and safely tucked away? Showing it only to those who ask? Can I depend on you three to do that?” Sweetie Belle walked back down the ramp, the book safely stored within the clubhouse and Scootaloo grinned as her wings buzzed excitedly,

“Of course!” Written Dreams nodded to them with a grateful smile and looked up to the north, a cool wind blowing through the trees and made the four’s manes and tails blow lightly in the breeze,

“You know girls…” The pegasus looked back to the three fillies with a light smile, “What do you think about coming with me? My company has been fairly few during my travels and having some companions sounds rather nice. Especially, from what you‘ve told me… none of you are afraid of facing possible dangers we might face on the journey.” The three filly’s expressions were blank, but soon each of their faces turned to one of deep contemplation before they all huddled together and began discussing quietly among each other, Written Dreams sitting down and eating an apple from one of the nearby trees as he patiently waited on their choice.

After a few minutes Applebloom was the one to speak for them, taking a few steps forward as she looked towards the pegasus with a bit of a sad expression, “Well… we talked about it and even though it sounds like it would be really fun an‘ exciting we jus‘ can‘t leave with ya jus’ like that.” Written Dreams let out a light laugh as he shook his head, laying his hoof on Applebloom’s mane and patted her a few times,

“I know you all have families that would wonder where you all disappeared to so it makes sense that you would choose to stay. Just know that my offer will always be open to you if you ever decide that you‘d like to go on an adventure.” The three fillies gave him grateful smiles before Scootaloo’s eyes suddenly widened and she got the girls back into a huddle as she talked quickly, Applebloom and Sweetie Belle both nodding happily before they all turned back to Written Dreams, who was giving them a quizzical expression before Sweetie Belle ran into the clubhouse and came back out a few moments later with what seemed to be a small badge in her mouth. Applebloom took a step towards Written Dreams and smiled lightly up at him,

“Mister Dreams we all talked it over and, well… even though ya already have yer cutie mark… do ya think ya could join the Cutie Mark Crusaders as an official member?” Scootaloo spoke up, the pegasus colt in front of the three’s eyes having widened at Applebloom’s words,

“We‘d love to have you as a member Written Dreams! You‘re just so awesome and you tell the best stories!” Sweetie Belle walked over to the blue and silver pony and set the badge in his upturned hoof, Written Dreams silent as he looked down at it before he looked back up to the three girls with a soft grin,

“I‘m honored that you would want to make me a member of your group girls. And of course I accept your offer. I‘m proud to be a member of the Cutie Mark Crusaders.” The four were silent for a few moments before they each nodded to one another and took deep breathes, yelling loudly into the air in perfect unison,

“CUTIE MARK CRUSADERS FOREVER YAY!!” Written Dreams remained with the girls for a few hours, the four of them heading into the clubhouse after a while to plan future activities and ways to earn their cutie marks, although since Written Dreams already had his cutie mark he simply contributed to the pot of ideas.

Hours passed but as the crusaders prepared to leave the clubhouse for the day there was a light flapping of wings in the distance that seemed to be coming from the barn at the edge of the orchard. It steadily grew louder but around a minute later there was a light tapping at the front door of the clubhouse, Scootaloo hopped up and walked over to the door, opening it revealing Rainbow Dash standing at the door with a platter of three apple treats on her back, “Rainbow Dash!” Rainbow Dash grinned and ruffled the pegasus filly’s hair as she looked down to her,

“Hey there squirt. I was over by the barn and Applejack asked me if I could bring you guys a snack so here I am!” Scootaloo grinned up to the pegasus she looked up to as a roll-model and nodded happily as she tugged at her front hoof,

“Thanks Rainbow Dash! Since you‘re here we have to introduce our newest member to you!” Rainbow Dash tilted her head a little as she entered the clubhouse, setting down the tray on one of the side tables before she peered around the corner as Scootaloo hurried back into the larger part of the clubhouse,

“I guess I‘ll have to head back to the barn to get another for them then huh?” Rainbow Dash peered around the corner and paused as Written Dreams had stood, smiling lightly towards her as he extended his hoof towards her,

“Pleased to meet you. I‘m Written Dreams. The girls really insisted that I become a member of their club so I couldn‘t really refuse.” Rainbow Dash grinned as she shook the pegasus’ hoof and they both returned their hooves to the floor, “I‘ve actually been looking forward to meeting you Ms. Rainbow. After meeting the other five ponies representing the Elements of Harmony I felt a bit incomplete at having not met you yet.” Rainbow Dash chuckled, her mane swaying as she whipped it to the side and grinned towards him,

“Heh, well I guess ya get to feel complete now that you‘ve met all of us! So what do you know about the elements? Not us, I mean the elements themselves.”

“Well unfortunately, information on the elements seems to be a bit limited although once I discovered that I would be heading to Ponyville I was really looking forward to the opportunity to meet at least a few of you. I‘ve really glad I met all six of you in the end. I fell I must ask though, is your reputation true? Meaning, are you really the fastest pegasus to come out of Cloudsdale?” Rainbow Dash paused for a moment before she gave a snicker and shook her head,

“Hehe, nope! I‘m the fastest pegasus in all of Equestria! Nopony other than me has been able to pull off a Sonic Rainboom!” Rainbow Dash brought a hoof to her chest as she closed her eyes in a rather proud stance, the crusaders having begun on their snacks as the two ponies talked,

“The…” Written Dreams’ eyes had widened, his expression rather shocked before a very wide grin spread across his face, “YOU‘VE DONE A SONIC RAINBOOM?! I thought they were only a myth!! Oh I wish I could have seen you do it!” Written Dreams closed his eyes and let out a groan as he shook his head, clearly disappointed, “It must have been spectacular to behold!” Rainbow Dash snickered and whipped her mane again, grinning towards the pegasus in front of her,

“Well I pulled it off once as a filly and also a few months back during the flying competition up in Cloudsdale…” Rainbow Dash tilted her head a little as she looked at him, “Come to think of it… why didn‘t I see you there? Dark blue and silver you would have stuck out among the other ponies.” Written Dreams sat down, letting out a slow breath as he looked across to the pegasus mare in front of him,

“I received an invitation to attend but truthfully I prefer walking to flying. While flying can provide an excellent overview of surroundings… the only way to really take in everything around you is to take things slow and take in every detail so you don‘t miss anything.” Rainbow Dash raised an eyebrow at Written Dreams’ explanation and let out a bit of a laugh a moment later,

“Don‘t like flying huh? No way you‘d be able to keep up with me then.” This response made Written Dreams pause for a moment, his eyes slowly scanning the pegasus before him as he raised an eyebrow and stood back up tilting his head only slightly,

“Miss Rainbow Dash… Are you challenging me?” Rainbow Dash let out another laugh and waved her hoof towards him, seeming to shrug off his words,

“I haven‘t met the pegasus yet who could beat me. I‘ve never seen you in Ponyville before so naturally I‘m curious about your abilities to be honest but…” Rainbow then shrugged, her tail shifting a bit as she smiled lightly towards him, “You said yourself you don‘t like to fly much so it looks like I‘ll be remaining the fastest pony around here.” Written Dreams gave Rainbow Dash a bit of an odd look and shook his head before letting out a light laugh,

“Miss Rainbow Dash… let‘s put that to the test then. I would very much like to see your speed with my own eyes and I have never been one to decline a challenge once it has been made.” Written Dreams’ expression became serious as he grinned with a determined look on his face, his hoof stomping against the floor, “I‘d like you to meet me up at Cloudsdale at midnight. Tonight is a full moon and flying at night is something I rather enjoy.” Rainbow Dash had fallen completely silent as she took in what Written Dreams was saying to her and she blinked a few times before she stifled a laugh,

“You‘re… you‘re serious? Hehe, well don‘t say I didn‘t warn ya! I‘ll be flying circles around you right out of the gate!” Written Dreams and Rainbow Dash both nodded to one another and grinned as they bumped their hooves together in a sign of mutual respect between pegasi and Rainbow Dash flew off leaving Written Dreams alone, once again, with the crusaders,

“Girls I‘ve got a bit of preparing to do before I head out to the dragon migration grounds. In case I don‘t come back here before heading out…” Written Dreams stopped and looked down, seeing each of the fillies embracing him tightly in a group hug and each of them smiling warmly up at him, Applebloom speaking as she nodded to him,

“Bye mister Dreams. We‘ll be waiting for you to come back to the clubhouse and tell us even more stories!” Written Dreams nodded with a gentle smile as the fillies let him go and the pegasus walked over to the door of the clubhouse before turning his head to look back to them as he opened the door,

“I‘ll come back girls. I‘m a crusader now too remember?” He winked to them all before he spread his wings and flew towards Ponyville, disappearing from view after a few moments.

Applejack had awoken during Applebloom’s retelling of the story and now Twilight and Applejack had their eyes fixed upon the rainbow pegasus who was shifting her eyes suspiciously, “Boy I‘m beat! Time for us all to get some sleep!” Rainbow Dash quickly laid down her head and began snoring lightly, prompting Twilight and Applejack to both raise an eyebrow as they continued watching her intently but Rainbow Dash kept up the charade, continuing her fake snoring.

Minutes continued passing until both Applejack and Twilight sighed realizing Rainbow Dash wasn’t going to tell them anything about her own experiences with Written Dreams quite yet and soon each pony laid their heads down, Applebloom sleeping in an embrace with Applejack before the mares had all fallen asleep.

Comments

[Jolttix]

Story so far. Dream is a master troll. Twilight is a silly pony. Discord is a slave owner and Zocora is a zombie. Oh and Tia and Luna are holding the hamoc. Did I get that all? Good. Now, where is slendermane?